Wednesday Afternoon Wine Tasting

Was invited to a Wednesday afternoon Pinot luncheon with a small group. Kevin and Vicki prepared a great lunch and we proceeded to taste some pretty darn good wines! Thanks to all who brought these wonderful wines, and a special "THANK YOU" to Kevin and Vicki for the appetizers, lunch and hosting this wonderful event....oh, and of course, for inviting me!

• 2002 Deutz Champagne Cuvée William Deutz 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  This was a pleasant surprise! The Champagne showed why 2002 was marked as a spectacular vintage. I have not had many Deutz Champagnes, and after drinking this, I don't know why! The wine showed lots of toasted brioche, chalk and spice on the nose, with classic sea shell. The palate was equally nice with with toast, slate, oysters, green apple and some melon and a hint of Meyers Lemon. The fruit and minerality of the Champagne kept you continuously sipping the elixir until it was all gone! Thankfully, it was not a large crowd, and our host graciously poured us more! 94+ and a very good QPR!

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• 2004 Pommery Champagne Cuvée Louise Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Another winner! Not quite as good as the 2002 Deutz, but pretty darn close! Nose showed hay/straw, brioche seashell spice and some chalk. Palate showed roasted almonds, yeasty bread, green apple, saline with hints of citrus and spice. Drinking quite nicely! 92+ to 93 for my palate!

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• 2014 Kistler Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  It's Kistler...of course it's good! PnP...drank a small glass over the course of 10 mins....what can I say, I have no will power when it comes to wines I like! Nose shows poached pear, green apple, straw, lemon, and white flowers. Palate has a well rounded, creamy mouthfeel with pear, melon chalk and slight notes of honeysuckle wrapped in brine. The toasty oak is well-integrated and everything is in balance. A great wine, in a great place, and drinking extremely well! Laying these down for 6-8 years seems perfect! My last bottle, and I wish I had more....easy 94+ for me!

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• 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  This was one of my least favorite of the four pinots we tasted (see tasting story - tied with 2002 Vincent Bouzereau Corton-Clos des Fiètres). This wine had a much better nose than palate. Nose showed cherry, spice, bramble, cedar and vanilla with some earthy notes. Palate was lean (like the vintage) but did show some light cherry notes, bark and hints of spice and bramble. I would say the nose was 94 and the palate was 90, giving the wine a score of 92 for my palate.

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• 2012 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Ceras 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  With out a doubt, the best pinot of the group. I like Antica Terra and I like the 2012 vintage in Oregon....this showed all the good traits of the vintage! Wine was constantly evolving in the glass, which is always a treat! Nose initially showed cherry blossom, spice, sweet tobacco and some vanilla, it later added some dark molasses notes. Palate showed plenty of red and black cherry, some dark plum, cherry bark and cedar with hints of baked pie crust. A pleasure to drink! 94 to 94+....bravo!

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• 2012 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Archery Summit Estate 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Decanted for one hour then poured back in bottle for transport. I think in general Archery Summit is overpriced, although they make some pretty good wines in some vintages. The 2010 is my favorite, but this is not too far behind. The nose shows typical Dundee Hill cherry notes with some bramble and spice. I thought the nose was good, but not quite as expressive as the 2011 St Innocent or 2012 Antica Terra Certas. The palate however was much better than the St Innocent and on par with Antica Terra. It showed plenty of red and dark cherry, some plum notes, and some cedar and cherry bark notes, with hints of earth and baking spice. Just a hair below my last bottle, but still quite tasty! 93+ for me today.

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• 2002 Vincent Bouzereau Corton-Clos des Fiètres 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  This was a very interesting Pinot. The nose showed typical cherry notes, but also seemed to exhibit some roasted meat, bark, earth, tea leaves and tobacco....the most interesting nose of all the pinots! Palate showed more tertiary flavors of blood and wood, followed by some muted cherry flavors. This showed less fruit than my palate would like. I am sure some would appreciate this style more than I....I enjoyed the wine, but preferred the 2012 Oregon pinots to this one. 92- to 92 for me.

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• 2005 Château Suduiraut 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  A nice treat to end the tasting! I find Suduiraut to be pretty spotty....sometimes, like 1989, they fail miserably and other times, like 2001, they knock out out of the park! This wine actually exceeded my low expectations! It showed all the typical hallmarks of a good Sauternes, i.e., stone fruit, honeycomb, and orange marmalade, with hints of vanilla. However, the wine, while not at all cloying, could have had more acidity to take it to the next level. A solid 93 and a great ending to a great tasting with some great friends!

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One of the reasons I stay in Minnesota is the great group of friends I have made since moving here 22 years ago! Everyone is so nice and so willing to share their passion for wine, open their homes and offer genuine friendship...what more can anyone expect or ask for? Special thanks to Kevin for hosting, and thank you for sharing reading this and allowing me to share my notes and experience with you! Cheers!