Denise Annual Wine Fiesta

Duxton Hill
Tasted Sunday, November 30, 2008 by Alex H with 1,317 views

Introduction

A two day tasting extravaganza which I though was pretty large scale in size given it spread out over a few shops at duxton hill. Nice atmosphere for tasting wines with so many "stations" to visit. Had wished to taste over two days instead of packing all into one but had a wedding to attend. Was pretty impressed by the number of wines Denise had opened as well as the willingness to serve up expensive ones too. Wished they did this more often

Flight 1 - Bubblies! (6 Notes)

Flight 2 - Whities (7 Notes)

Flight 3 - E'sclans - The World's Most Expensive Rose (4 Notes)

A testament that roses are for serious drinkers!

  • 2007 Caves d'Esclans Whispering Angel 83 Points

    France, Provence, Côtes de Provence

    Consistent notes as per last tasted. Lovely rose at the price range. This still shows the serious looking professor that is actually quite fun when its after class hours.

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  • 2007 Château d'Esclans Côtes de Provence Rosé 85 Points

    France, Provence, Côtes de Provence

    Aged in a large barrel. Nice mushroom "ass" notes shows. Strawberry tinted. There is a comfortable dense beam of lightly-sweetened maraschino cherries. Lovely strength.

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  • 2007 Château d'Esclans Côtes de Provence Les Clans 83 Points

    France, Provence, Côtes de Provence

    Mushroom flavoured with almost earthy undertone providing backbone structure. Uniquely different from conventional rose. The structure of this rose is serious but still carries nice strawberry pith (those dark seeds on strawberries) jam.

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  • 2007 Château d'Esclans Côtes de Provence Garrus 88 Points

    France, Provence, Côtes de Provence

    The best rose I have ever tasted and scored. Without a doubt, this is complex almost like a beaune red from a cooler climate. Very floral with peach-mango body spray / spritz that makes it inviting. Wet earth compounded with minerality on the structure. The flavours revolves around the mouth, throat and belly constantly in a cycle as though it were a living microcosmic cloud. It shows itself like a middle-eastern belly dancer with face veiled and oozing mystery yet treating you ever so often with the swaying of her hips and gyrating of tooshy. Serious fun!

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Flight 4 - Prieure Roch - 50% DRC-owned but so are the prices! (5 Notes)

In general, all the wines showed high quality but nothing mind blowing to warrant very steep prices of $400 per pop. Am glad I tasted it here for a token sum.

  • 2004 Domaine Prieuré Roch Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 87 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

    Stewed hawthorne berries with spiced herbs. Cured meats and chinese medicine shop stretching through the long mile of flavours. A particular chinese herb called "du chong" - a type of bark herb features nicely with slightly savory soy sauce notes.

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  • 2005 Domaine Prieuré Roch Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 86 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

    Dark decomposing mushroom pile with soy sauce notes. Muscular dark berries provide great strength...in fact I though it just a bit too big. Still young and prodigous as it is an 05. Needs more time. At the moment the 04 does better.

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  • 2004 Domaine Prieuré Roch Clos Vougeot 85 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

    Herb-tainted cherries. Sappy and elegant hawthorne berries shines through a murky stew of red dates and cherries. Very earthy on the finish but still carrying lovely fresh acidity.

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  • 2005 Domaine Prieuré Roch Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots 85 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    Lots of soy sauce lifted by mentholly chinese dried herbs and medicine shop.Very dark cherries that have yet developed into secondary complexities. This is sappy and tannic at the moment. I feel potential though.

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  • 2005 Domaine Prieuré Roch Vosne-Romanée Les Clous 85 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée

    This is good! given it is the cheapest of the bunch of Prieure Rochs tasted. Elegant and pretty. Hawthorne flake candy boiled in water. Simple and focused cherries on the palate. Simple but true. Very likeable.

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Flight 5 - Other Pinots (5 Notes)

  • 2003 Mischief and Mayhem Chapelle-Chambertin 83 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru

    The first bottle was cooked but the second bottle turned out fine. Dark cherries framed by earthy mushroom undertones. However, this is quite dense and big and sweet cherries surfaced. Not as balanced as I would have liked it to be.

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  • 1995 Comte Senard Corton-Clos des Meix 82 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    Lovely tannins on the surface but aging chewy fruit that is waning away. Mushrooms and earthy nuances dominate with a waning finish. Drink up!

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  • 2005 Yarra Yering Pinot Noir 82 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Sweet floral nose reminiscent of chambolle. Very sweet palate of sweet strawberries and strawberry consome.

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  • 2004 Domaine Cornu Corton 86 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    Brownish tinge giving more age than should be warranted from such a young vintage. Lovely nose with nice stewed razor bright cherries scented with pungent floral tones. Leroy like flavours of nicely stewed dates, strawberries and cherries with a dash of earthyness. Daintily sweet like a first love.

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  • 2005 Domaine Cornu Corton 84 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    Not too expressive on the aromatics but its definitely more mushroomy than the 04. Bright cherries with a drop of strawberry juice and just a handful of cranberries.

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Flight 6 - Cabernet, Merlot Blends (8 Notes)

Flight 7 - Rhones (3 Notes)

Flight 8 - Aussie Shiraz and blends (6 Notes)

Flight 9 - An assortment of others (4 Notes)

Closing

All in all, a good outing! A good spread of wines and of cos... my favourite station - Prieure Roch.

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