Wine Watch Best of 2008 Tasting

This was the first tasting featuring wines from Andrew's "Best of" picks he made in 2008. Served outdoors on a beautiful evening with excellent hors d'oeuvres, music, and a crowd limited to 55 people made for one of the nicer retailer tastings I've been to and a good value at $35.

• NV Charles Ellner Champagne Grande Réserve Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Lively fruit and acidity. Full bodied, and rich in a style I like.

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• 1999 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Belle Epoque 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light bodied with less acidity and without the depth or complexity I expected.

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• 2007 Château Le Grand Verdus Expression 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur

  Very fruit driven and comes across as almost a little sweet. Does not have the classic white Bordeaux mineral notes or depth, rather this is a cheap fruit driven white for immediate gratification and a good QPR.

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• 2007 Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc Letter Series "B" 91 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Didn't get much on the nose, but intense fruit on the palate featuring grapefruit with some tropical fruit notes, but with enough restraint to keep it in balance. Very nice if you like the NZ style as I do.

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• 2006 Maison Alex Gambal Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos St. Jean 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Bright fruit with some apple and floral notes and a long finish. Given its ripe style and lower acidity, I would enjoy this in its youth as it is not as geared for aging.

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• 2006 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley

  Medium to full body, somewhat restrained fruit with nice acidty and a fair amount of oak. A style I like with just a little more oak than I prefer.

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• 2007 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Napa Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Medium to full body with tropical fruit notes, oak not overblown, but the fruit lacked the intensity I look for in this price point.

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• 2005 Ramey Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Medium body, light oak, and solid but reserved fruit with nice depth and complexity. This wine is more about balance and elegance than many other high end CA chards.

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• 2005 Krupp Brothers Estates Marsanne Black Bart Stagecoach Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Thick texture with bright peach and tropical fruit flavors that stood out even after tasting nearly 40 wines.

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• 2004 Vinoptima Gewürztraminer Reserve 91 Points

  New Zealand, North Island, Gisborne, Ormond

  A dessert wine like nose. Spicy fruit, sweet and rich with a heavy texture that made me ask what the alcohol level was (14.5%).

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• 2004 Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Sagrantino 87 Points

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

  High tannins and acidity with little fruit make me wonder how this will turn out as it is not giving up much today.

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• 2000 Sant'Elena Merlot Ròs di Rôl 89 Points

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Isonzo

  A merlot styled in the Pomerol fashion, but without the smoke or leather I get from those. An elegant, medium body merlot.

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• 2004 Canneto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  More tannic than the Reserva with moderate acidity, reserved fruit that is nicely balanced on a medium body frame. Earth on the nose and the palate. Spend a few bucks more and get the Reserva.

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• 2004 Canneto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  Richer, rounder and more depth than the non-Reserva and well worth the extra $6 it was offered for.

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• 2004 Moschioni Friuli Colli Orientali Pignolo 94 Points

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

  My favorite wine of the tasting among some pretty strong competition. Rich, dark fruit yet with a nimble texture and nice structure with depth and layers of flavor. Medium to full body with low acidity. One of those where fruit meets complexity and elegance which is a marriage I love.

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• 2003 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Very smooth and lush with low acidity and tannins in a forward, easy drinking style. Good for the vintage, but nothing that will excite.

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• 2004 Cantine Due Palme Salice Salentino Selvarossa Riserva 87 Points

  Italy, Puglia, Salice Salentino

  Juicy ripe dark fruit that is almost sweet with low acidity and tannin. One of the more fruit driven SS's I've had.

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• 2002 Jean-Claude Boisset Corton-Renardes 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  Austere with high tannins and and acidity with reserved red fruit. Seemed closed at this stage.

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• 2006 Maison Alex Gambal Bourgogne Cuvée Les Deux Papis 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne

  Light to med body with reserved fruit and fairly high tannin and acidity. Needs some time to smooth out, but don't expect this to become anything special.

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• 2005 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Obviously young and was pretty closed up. Medium body and lower acidity than many burgs with good, pure fruit and only a touch of earth. Should be very nice in the future.

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• 2004 Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  A riper, richer style for WA, more like some CA merlots.

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• 2005 Figge Cellars Syrah Sycamore Flat Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Seco

  Less ripe than many CA syrahs, medium body with forward dark fruit profile that remains well balanced.

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• 2005 Lapostolle Syrah Cuvée Alexandre Las Kuras Vineyard 93 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley

  Rich dark fruit with excellent balancing tannins and acidity with a long finish. Sort of a cross between CA and N Rhone syrah that I really liked.

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• 2006 Lewis Cellars Alec's Blend 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Rich dark fruit with lots of oak. A big style, much like a well made Aussie shiraz. Did get a little heat on the finish

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• 2004 Château Joanin Bécot 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  I actually liked this better than the 03 vintage as it was more true to Bordeaux. Medium body, dark fruit nicely balanced by tannin and acidity that is softer and more approachable now than many other 04's I have had.

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• 2005 Château Lascombes 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  This wine was open when tasted as I have been seeing that a lot of 05's are starting to shut down now. Opened with bright red and dark fruit then you get the big tannins that will require time to soften. The balanced package of fruit, tannin, and acidity bode well for long term aging, and still enjoyable now with decanting, but the future is what this wine is about, with an upside of 2-3 more points.

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• 2006 Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Alexandre Apalta Vineyard 89 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley

  Medium to full bodied and fairly rich for a Chilean with nice balance. Good value at this price.

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• 2005 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Medium body, dusty tannins, higher acidity, and reserved fruit more in the old Napa style.

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• 2005 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Plenty of lush fruit, but still with a nimble texture and a style that features balance over big fruit.

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• 2005 Vine Cliff Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  A big, ripe style with dark fruit and enough tannin and acidity to keep it balanced, but a little too fruit driven for me.

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• 2005 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Fairly high tannins and acidity with less prominent oak than previous vintages. This one needs some time in the cellar as it was much less ready than the 05 Larkmead I had right before it.

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• 2004 Audesirk Signature 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  I found this to be a great wine for the $22 it was offered at. Rich, dark fruit that was well balanced, had some depth and a long, smooth finish.

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• 2004 Field Stone Cabernet Sauvignon Staten Family Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  Rich, ripe dark fruit, with not too much oak, and a little heat on the finish. Well balanced, fruit driven style that is a decent value at this price.

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• 2005 ZD Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Ripe fruit with low levels of tannin and acidity that push this more towards a soft fruit driven style that I am not particularly fond of but has its fans.

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• 2005 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Rich, dark fruit, full bodied with low acidity and smooth tannins and becoming much more approachable now.

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