Monthly Tasting Group: Interesting Whites (ABC) at Heirloom

Heirloom, St.Paul, MN
Tasted Sunday, July 8, 2018 by rocknroller with 223 views

Introduction

This was a super night at one of our favorite local restaurants for the monthly big group with a nice group of eighteen. Drinking interesting whites (anything but chardonnay) with the new menu at Heirloom was a true delight.

Flight 1 (9 Notes)

  • NV André et Michel Quenard Crémant de Savoie 87 Points

    France, Savoie, Crémant de Savoie

    Pale green color. Green fruit, apple peel, sort of a chalk like bitter character on the mid and back end. The fruit seems kind of ripe, yet it dissipates quickly into the abyss. Certainly ok, but there are other sparklers that can fill this niclhe.

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  • 2006 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour plus. A lot of marzipan and a little more toasty yeastiness on the nose, golden fruits, quince, mineral. The palate has stone fruits, yeast, moderate acid, light minerality. I like this, especially with the weight and balance, but again I am underwhelmed by what it should be. I just can't quite wrap myself around where this is going. I really have seen no significant evolution over the last several year. Sit on them and hope, or just drink them up. You make the call. 92+pts.

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  • 2012 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Abraxas Vin De Terroir Scintilla Sonoma Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 40 minutes. A field blend of 35% Riesling, 33% Pinot Blanc, 18% Pinot Gris and 14 Gewurz. This was interesting, and I do mean that in a good way. It certainly comes off Alsatian in style, but it feels more like Riesling to me and less so a blend. Very dry, fusil, lemon peel, lemon grass, mineral driven and less aromatic than expected. This was fun to try.

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  • 2012 Chateau d'Auvernier Chasselas 86 Points

    Switzerland, Three Lakes, Neuchâtel

    Rather pale color. Drank a small glass over 30 minutes plus. Nothing remarkable, but certainly a drinkable little wine. Somewhat thin on the palate, but it has a good amount of mineral character and some less distinctive white fruits.

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  • 2006 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Cuvée Ste. Catherine L'Inédit!

    France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

    Deep golden color. Followed a small glass over an hour. This seemed rather advanced to me, and it just doesn't seem to match up with most of the notes I read. Baked apple, there's some up front sweetness, ketbut the palate is quite bitter overall, bitter orange, bitter finish, angular. Probably an off bottle, this eventually went into the dump bucket, so no score.

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  • 2011 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Light golden color. Drank 1+ glass over an hour. Well this showed up tonight in a most satisfying way. We might actually have hit this at its zenith. Fantastic on the nose, great aromatics, tangerine, peach, floral, honey, hints of tropical fruits, stone minerality. The palate really has an amazing texture, viscous yet lifted and showing good balancing acidity, complicated by the array of stone fruits and bright orange citrus notes, honey, almond paste, tropicals and a very harmonious finish. This was WOTN for me. And dammit, I thought I had more, ahh well.

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  • 2016 André et Michel Quenard Vin de Savoie Chignin-Bergeron Les Terrasses 90 Points

    France, Savoie, Vin de Savoie Chignin-Bergeron

    This had a tough act to follow coming after the splendid '11 Beaucastel Blanc, but it really did an admirable job, showing a nice round palate with tropical notes, white peach, mineral, and a leaner body. Well balanced and quite tasty.

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  • 2003 Château Suduiraut 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Drank this next to the 05, this was ripe, candied, and there's a strong spicy botrytis presence that pushes the limits a bit. Orange marmalade and a spicy dense core. Not as nuanced and balanced as the 05.

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  • 2005 Château Suduiraut 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Deep golden color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes, alongside the 03. Not really surprisingly, I preferred the '05, for its brightness, impeccable balance and and seamless beauty. Great acid boost this higher with a brilliant mix of tropical fruits, full and rich with lift. So many of these '05's are full on gorgeous now.

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Flight 2 (14 Notes)

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