Friday with Friends and Youthful Wines at Mikhail's
Queens, NY
Tasted Friday, October 19, 2007 by dougsmith with 580 views
Introduction
Nice to get together with Mikhail and the gang on Friday night to share a lineup of pretty youthful but delicious wines. The occasion was Salil Benegal's stay in NYC and three nice Rieslings he brought with him from Chicago. Great to meet Salil as well as fellow board member Brad Coelho and hang out with Bob Fyke as well.
Wines of the night for me were the Dönnhoff Kabinett and the Graillot Crozes-Hermitage. It may very well be that eventually the Spätlese will outshine the Kabinett, but I felt the Spät was a bit more closed down at the dinner. Anyhow, excellent wines all.
2004 Mount Langi Ghiran Riesling 87 Points
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Grampians
Light lemon color. Somewhat funky nose of sweat, a little chicken fat and some caraway seed. Full bodied and oily on the palate with racy acidity and a short finish.
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2003 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett 91 Points
Germany, Nahe
Light lemon color. Nose presented somewhat closed with elements of lemon zest and caraway seed. On the palate it is quite delicious, off-dry, with flavors of wild strawberries, apple peel and lemon and a long finish.
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2004 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spätlese 90 Points
Germany, Nahe
Light lemon color. This presented closed on the nose with elements of ripe apple, slate, a touch of spice and honey. Full bodied on the palate and medium sweet with flavors of melon and wild red berries. I have no doubt that this youthful wine will improve markedly with more years in bottle.
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2004 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile 89 Points
USA, California
Medium ruby color. Intriguing nose of strawberry jam and pine nuts with a touch of cooked vegetable. On the palate it has good balance and a lot of bright red fruit, but also a touch of lingering bitterness.
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2005 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
Deep ruby to violet color. Powerful nose of smoked spicy sausage and tar. On the palate, loads of cracked pepper and tart blackberries, medium bodied, very dry. After a few minutes of air the tannins showed up and it got pretty astringent. This youthful wine definitely would favor a few years in the cellar, but it is quite delicious now.
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2003 Ridge Geyserville 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Medium ruby color. This bottle wasn't at its best stage here; presented closed on the nose and never entirely woke up. Some mountain herbs and deep black fruit, touch of smoke. On the palate it has focused flavors of blackberry syrup and spice, full bodied with a long finish. Lovely wine that needs a few years in the cellar, I think, to show at its best.
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2005 Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Medium ruby color. Closed on the nose with some elements of roast meat and strawberries. Reticent on the palate as well, but one could note the focused flavors of red cherry fruit and a touch of white chocolate. This presented in its company as a delicate CdP with future promise.
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2003 Domaine des Sénéchaux Châteauneuf-du-Pape 88 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Medium ruby color. Powerful nose of kirsch and stewed strawberries, with some almond oil and garrigue. Given the powerful nose, it was a little thin on the palate; an exuberant wine but perhaps a bit topsy-turvy with the heat of 03.
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2005 Melville Syrah Estate Verna's 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Medium to deep ruby color. Milky nose with some big up-front fruit -- black raspberries. A touch of smoked meat with air. Fat on the palate with a touch of residual sugar and fine tannins. This is a delicious but relatively one-dimensional fruit bomb of a wine. Might be interesting to see what happens with a few years in the cellar.
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2003 Bertani Recioto della Valpolicella Valpantena 88 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella Valpantena
Deep ruby color. Bright strawberry shortcake nose. Semi-sweet on the palate if I remember correctly, bright acidity and youthful fine tannins. Very nice dessert-style wine with a future ahead of it.
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