Austin Wine Tasting

9 Austinites descended upon Castle Hill Cafe to taste some great wine together. The idea of the tasting was to have 4 flights (White/Light Red/Big Red/Dessert) sectioned into the following mini-themes:

Chablis or Sancere
Vosne Romanee or Northern California Pinot
Bordeaux or California Cab
Sauternes or German Ice Wine

We did not manage to represent all categories, but we came reasonably close. But without further ado, here are the tasting notes:

• 2003 Verget Chablis Caniculus Cuvée de la Butte 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis

  Pale yellow. Very nice citrus and stone notes. Apples and a hint of nuttiness, yet round and interestingly supple. Almost seemed a little sweet on the finish. I really liked it.

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• 2002 Gérard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu 91 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre

  Pale, almost white color. Citrus, green apple, green papaya, cumin scents, freshly cut green herbs, bright floral finish. Sensation of sweetness on the finish. Lovely wine that one just can't go wrong with in the summer.

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• 1999 Moillard Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts 90 Points

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

  Dark ruby red. Dark fruit, leather, cassis, iron, blood, raspberry, candy. Quite tannic still. Tertiary flavors and a dry finish. Great nose was the best part about this wine.

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• 1995 Domaine Bertagna Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 89 Points

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

  Light ruby red. Much more red fruit than in the Moillard. Strawberry and Raspberry. Not nearly as tannic as the Moillard either. And lots of barnyard. Maybe a bit over the top on the barnyard, but still very good, elegant, and nuanced.

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• 2003 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Didn't show very well after the Burgundies. I did get all the usual cola, spice, and dark berry fruit. But the alcohol seemed to be more prominent than usual, which I attribute to this wine having followed 2 Burgundies. Still very primary and sweet. I truly think this needs to be left alone for at least another year or two before going back to it. Ron joked that this was a different grape compared to the Burgundies.

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• 2002 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Dark ruby red. Asian spice, hint of cola, nutmeg, mandarin orange peel, and a satisfying plumminess. Long finish, broad mid-palate, great texture, balance, and awesome stuffing. Nothing not to like about this wine.

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• 1994 Château Troplong Mondot 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Dark garnet red with a little opaqueness. Plum, tobacco, cassis, leather, and jammy blackberry. Relatively high acidity following the radio Coteau, but well balanced. Fleshy, round, and expansive mouthfeel. Showed significantly better than when first opened.

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• 1996 Château Calon-Ségur 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Garnet Red. Amazing nose of all that is great about left-bank Bordeaux. Cigar Box, truffle, earth, loads of cassis and dark berry fruit. Black olive tapenade and a rustic gameyness I like. Almost sweet finish and great texture and mouthfeel. Only surprise...seemingly more advanced in its evolution than I would have thought as the wine was not nearly as tannic as I would have expected.

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• 1986 Château Cos d'Estournel 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Nicely ages Bordeaux...it doesn't get much better than that. Medium garnet red. Layers of black truffle, olives, hung pheasant meatiness and loads of cigarbox. Cassis is there, but not as prevalent as in the Calon Segur. Great soft mouthfeel and silkyness. That's what my stuff will taste like in 10+ years...sigh.

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• 2000 Château Tirecul La Gravière Monbazillac 90 Points

  France, Southwest France, Dordogne, Monbazillac

  Very sweet. Low acidity. Soft, velvety texture with high viscosity that plays with aromas of tropical fruit, honey, and coconut.

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• 1988 Peter Lehmann Sémillon Botrytis 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Nice. Deep golden color. Petrol, honey, and loads of sweet tropical and apple fruit. Slightly reminiscent of an Aussie fine muscat sticky I recently had. The best thing about this wine was that it showed some nice acidity which gave it a great freshness.

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Thanks to all that attended. I had a great time and the wines were, as usual, outstanding. Looking forward to the next one.