WS Grand Tour (Walkaround Tasting)
New Orleans
Tasted Friday, April 26, 2024 by Decanting Queen with 41 views
Introduction
Met up with AGELVIS and Melissa to attend the Wine Spectator Grand Tour. I have never done one of these mass tastings and it turned out to be a fun time and well worth the price of admission. Great food, plenty of quality wines to try. The only thing that ran out was the Caymus, which didn't make me sad.
It would have been nice to have more winemakers or winery staff vs distributors. Many people manning the booths were just getting drunk and weren't necessarily experts on that wine. But there were a few winemakers in attendance and some reps that we had great convos with.
Flight 1 (23 Notes)
Flight 2 (2 Notes)
Closing
Wines to call out:
2021 Amaviva
2019 E. Guigal Ampuis
2003 Fonseca Porto
2020 Latour Corton-Grancey
2020 Flaccianello
2021 Sequoia Grove (Best bargain wine)
I would do an event like this again. I'm not sure I have the stamina for the NYC version but I liked this smaller setting. So glad AGELVIS and Melissa could be my partners in crime.
2021 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva 94 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
I’m be if my favorites of the tasting with plenty of room for upside. Having had older vintages, I was surprised by how approachable this ‘21 was. You really could enjoy this now.
A substantial wine of dark berries and cassis, butterscotch, licorice and spice. A hint of something CBD/herbal on the nose adds some complexity.
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2018 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia 93 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
I have always enjoyed this wine and this tasting confirmed it. Dark fruits, powerful, cherry and vanilla, dry and dusty tannins. Will get even better.
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2020 Bodegas Vatan Tinta de Toro Triton Old Vines 90 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
I preferred the Numanthia, but this would still be a killer wine on any restaurant list. Cherry, ginger, makes me think of Houston sauce and duck.
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2009 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata 94 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Not a huge Malbec fan normally but this breaks the mold for me. Drinking so nicely right now. Rich mature fruits, chocolate and spices. Descriptors sound almost port-like but the fruit is more restrained than that and it would be a perfect dinner wine.
This is a buy for dinner parties with almost winos.
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2012 Lanson Champagne Le Vintage 90 Points
France, Champagne
I am a fan of 2012 Champagne but this one isn’t there yet for me. Probably needs some time to evolve.
Right now very smooth and just fine but not special. Descriptors for me were honey and mushy fruit—as in the fruit wasn’t precise, more like applesauce and puréed pears.
Don’t get me wrong, I would be happy to drink this all day if anyone poured for me, I just have higher expectations of the vintage.
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NV Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 244 92 Points
France, Champagne
I did not spend much time on this one but I was pleasantly surprised. Would buy.
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NV Valentin Leflaive Champagne Grand Cru Le Mesnil sur Oger 15 50 Blanc de Blancs Extra B 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Agree with everything Ag says below.
One of the more interesting champagnes at the tasting. Complex and earthy. I would buy.
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2015 Tenuta Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 94 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This was one of the best Brunellos of the tasting. I am still struggling with BdM despite trying many and spending a week tasting in the region. They are still quite primary for my tastes . This one, however, had more complexity than most. Really round cherry fruit, great acid (Melissa described as pineapple) and a greenish compex nose.
I would buy. But it still puzzles me.
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2020 Delas Frères Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Like many of the wines tonight, I was surprised by the drinkability of this. I have an 09 in my cellar that I thougt needed more time, but maybe not.
This is a more rustic style than some of the other N Rhone wines we tried, but I like it to at way. It has an authenticity. Great balance of fruit and savory. Drink now or hold for more complexity.
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2019 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis 95 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
This wine is such a no brainer delicious Syrah, there isn’t much to say about it that hasn’t been said. Glad I got to taste again. Can drink now but will only get better. I always look for this at duty free in Europe!!
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2019 Torres Priorat Salmos 92 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Fun to try this, a milder more everyday priorat vs others I have tasted in the past. Would be very food friendly, easy drinking and smooth.
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2018 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 89 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Not a favorite. Light in color, still lots of wood coming through. Needs time.
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2019 Fontanafredda Barolo Serralunga d'Alba 90 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Very light berry, elegant and drinkable.
Very light body.
Maybe this will put on weight with time.
This did not help my case to disabuse AGELVIS of the idea that Nebbiolo is anything like Pinot. Normally the color is deceiving but in this case the pale color was exactly what you would expect. Also not may of the classic Barolo signatures (roses and tar) yet.
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2020 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 95 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Rating for potential, not drinkable yet.
Be of the best quality wines of the tasting IMO.
Big tannins need air but big smooth blackberries underneath. This will be delicious in 7-10+
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2018 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This got a great score from WS but this was not a fave for me. I’ll refrain from scoring because clearly there is a style of BdM that is more subtle and elegant and I am just not versant in what that should look like.
My notes say pale color, roses and cherries.
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2016 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall Napa Valley 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
This was drinking like a very average Napa cab. Very disappointed given the price point, producer and vintage. Maybe context (mass wine tasting) or maybe the bottle, but it didn’t do it for me.
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2019 Hamel Family Wines Isthmus 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Nice easy drinker. A good find, would buy if I saw on a menu.
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2020 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas Les Ruchets 94 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
A favorite of this in older vintages, Inwas impressed with how great this is now. A fruit forward, polished and modern style of Syrah, but with a complex nose of blackberries, herbs and savory.
A buy or a good restaurant choice.
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2020 Louis Latour Corton-Grancey 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
Our first taste of the evening and I think in retrospect I apppreciate it even more. This is so open and inviting, full of red and black cherries and just delicious.
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2013 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare 95 Points
France, Champagne
Lives up to the hype. See Ag’s note for details. But this is excellent now or hold. So balanced.
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2021 Seña 93 Points
Chile, Aconcagua Valley
93+ but needs some time. Excited to be able to taste this young and in comparison with the Almaviva.
This was more rustic in comparison, but in a good way for me, feels authentic. Some funkiness on the nose and possibly reduction. Definitely needs more air than it got before we tried it..
But unmistakable quality fruit underneath—plums, blackberries chocolate, spices and a long finish.
One to watch
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2021 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
The was my value wine discovery of the night. Very smooth, dusty tannins, drinking great. A good travel choice or on that kind of a restaurant menu.
Also enjoyed chatting with the winemaker Jesse Fox about his first vintage with SG
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2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
One of the few BdM’s we were able to try that had some age on it and this was a treat. Rich dark fruits, licorice and spices, right in its window right now.
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