Saturday Tasting Group

Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)
Tasted Saturday, June 6, 2009 by beezer6 with 709 views

Introduction

Contributed 2002 Verite Le Desir and Edgewood Estate Napa Valley Premier Auction Malbec 2002

Flight 1 (6 Notes)

  • 2006 Linne Calodo Outsider 91 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Very nice way to start my second Knightsbridge tasting group.
    Lovely nose of spicy raspberries, cinnamon and cloves.
    Palate is obviously young with enticing acidity and though high, I don't believe the alcohol is overwhelming, though others disagreed.
    Flavors of white and pink pepper corns on top of more raspberries and some mild baking spices lead to a moderate complex and not too jammy (for a Paso Zinfandel) finish.

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  • 1995 Gaja Barolo Sperss 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Gorgeous light ruby color. Some signs of age around the rim (toffee brown).
    Nose of forest floor, light spicy cherries, some light dusty mocha on the back end.
    Palate is chewy and quite mouth drying - screaming Old World to me.
    Layers of fruit, dusty earth and light tar on the back end dominate.
    Outstanding pure and clean finish. Picked this as a Barolo blind.
    Loved my oldest Gaja, and first Sperss, experience.

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  • 2003 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Echezeaux 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

    Obnoxious yet yummy nose of rotting strawberries and super stinky mushrooms.
    Wet and mossy earth floor with some nutmeg sprinkled on top.
    Absolutely gorgeous and slightly fleshy wine from a world class vineyard.
    Evolved over two hours in the glass. Stunning strength in the nose.
    Just layers and layers of funk. SHROOMY SHROOMS EVERYWHERE!
    Awesome.

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  • 1995 Château Clerc Milon 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Many in the group guessed California - I was all over the Bordeaux earthy terroir on the back end.
    Beautiful and still lively cassis, leather and purple flowers and lightly scorched earth.
    Very nice bottle still showing excellent signs of life.

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  • 2005 Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT 94 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Young and beautifully integrated wine showing layers of different fruit, flowers and oak.
    Gorgeous young ripe raspberries, vanilla, cherries, and lightly toasted nuts with oak.
    Lengthy finish with displaying solid back bone and chewy but well rounded tannin structure.

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  • 1995 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Nice wine showing excellent aging. Maple syrup with some surprisingly pleasant rubbing alcohol aromas on the nose.
    More sweet stewed red fruit with minerality on the back end. Still some nice life in this bottling.

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Flight 2 (6 Notes)

  • 1989 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 96 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Opaque in the glass. This juice is still loaded with youth and energy.
    Hedonistic aromas of blackberries, plums, tar, anise, smoked meat and handfuls of COARSE GROUND BLACK PEPPER AND SMOKE.
    Extraordinary length on the palate showing enormous amounts of everything listed above. Black pepper, plum and anise dominate the palate.
    The finish is endless. Beautiful balance. This wine still has 30 years under its belt. Holy smoke in a bottle Batman!

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  • 2005 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Charmes-Chambertin 96 Points

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

    OUTSTANDING!!! FUNKIEST NOSE OF THE DAY (AMONGST LOTS OF FUNK!)
    Tons of crazy mushrooms and fresh alive forest floor. Exotic flowers and stinky cheese.
    Strawberries covered in blue cheese on the nose. So unique and almost TOO pungent!!
    Some nice nutmeg and cinnamon as well, but you can't get over the shrooms.
    Impeccable balance with moderate high acidity, moderate tannins and moderate alcohol.
    Fantastic. A legendary effort.

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  • 1997 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Kevin brought out blind after the 1995 as a fun themed bottle.
    Tons of medium large sediment in the glass.
    Nose of extracted cherry cough syrup.
    Dark fruit with some nice heat on the back end of the palate.
    Time to drink up. Still quite enjoyable.

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  • 2002 Vérité Le Désir 95 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Opened for five hours.
    Outstanding bottle. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this New World gem, despite their affection towards Old World juice as a whole.
    Loads of extraction showing awesome dark blackberries, burnt caramel and toasted wood on the nose.
    The palate is super focused showing rich opulent dark fruit, mocha, leather and dark toffee.
    Long finish topping out at 45 seconds. Superb balance. This is both ready to drink or can be forgotten for ten years.
    I don't believethat one can go wrong purchasing a Verite bottling for $100.

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  • 1997 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Brunello di Montalcino 94 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Unique red red red wine. Nice bright red cherries, red peppers and red flowers.
    Lots of vegetation on the nose, which continues to shine through in the palate as well.
    An interesting barn yard play on the back end as well. Really intriguing juice.
    Excellent wine to enjoy with game...which WE DID!
    Kevin hooked us up with a beautiful smoked venison leg served cool....INCREDIBLE!!
    THANKS KEVIN!

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  • 2004 Araujo Estate Syrah Eisele Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Now THIS IS MY KIND OF JUICE!
    Super heavy and extracted dark black fruit. Blackberries, boisenberries and dark cherries.
    Some incredible smoked meat on the nose as well showing chocolate and ripe fresh leather.
    Palate is bursting with life. Incredible length showing more black fruit, scorched earth, tar and loads of freshly smoked bacon.
    Bravo. Put this one away for a decade or two.

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Flight 3 (5 Notes)

  • 1955 Château Latour Grand Vin 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Ruby with some medium light brown around the rim.
    Dark cherry on the nose with some cardboard and must that eventually blew off.
    Enjoyable light mocha powder and light roast coffee on the palate with more dark cherries, cassis and leather.
    Lots of focused acidity with tannins that are still alive, but have been perfectly integrated into the juice.
    Nice showing of oak too. Honored to taste this wine. Excellent Latour with a good five years still in the oven but it's ready to drink now.

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  • 1985 Château Cos d'Estournel 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Raspberry funkwith nice creaminess on the back end.
    Awesome balance. Superb.

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  • 1921 Château Gruaud Larose 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Cloudy medium light brown in color.
    Oxidized on the nose BIG TIME.
    Soy sauce, marmalade, dried apricot on thenose.
    Palate is most definitely oxidized, but in my and one others opinion, the wine wasn't completely unenjoyable.
    An educational and pure exposure experience at the least.

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  • 2004 Domaine Perrot-Minot Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

    Not nearly as young as it should show.
    Still incredible length displaying nice funk, bright red fruit and a long finish with sublime acidity.

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  • 1994 Claude Dugat Charmes-Chambertin 91 Points

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

    Time to drink up.
    Though many thought this lacked life, I still enjoyed the wine.
    Light burnt ruby red. Brown rim.
    Dried spicy apricot on the nose...very dried.
    Funky soft white pepper play as well with a unique marshmallow component.
    Lacked energy on the finish but I believed it showed well otherwise.

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Flight 4 (4 Notes)

Closing

Thanks to Kevin for the beautiful smoked venison leg that was enjoyed during the tasting.

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