South FL WS Forum Offline

MLV and JC once again hosted our offline at their lovely home and provided a fabulous menu of numerous appetizers, salads, and entrees of lamb, roast beef, and halibut.

The Kerpen was the consensus white WOTN.

• 2001 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese * 95 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  A little petrol on the nose and palate, along with some nice botrytis and smoke and predominate pear fruit. Moderately sweet with medium acidity. Long, complex finish. This is an excellent riesling entering its peak now. Certainly white WOTN for almost everyone.

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• 2007 Domaine Vrignaud Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Light color and light bodied, with mineral and wet stone notes coming through the reserved and somewhat tart lemon and green apple fruit. A nice example of Chablis that will probably round out and improve some over the next couple of years.

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• 2007 Ketcham Estate Viognier 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  A more reserved and drier style than most CA viognier, and comes across as a little tart and with a little heat (this was too warm when I got to it). There are some floral components, but they are more muted than other viognier I have had. This was probably better when cooler.

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• 2005 Newton Chardonnay Unfiltered 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  I got a fair amount of oak and some butter notes along with fairly big, lush fruit, but not enough acidity to balance it out, and so it came across as flabby. To me, this was a stereotypical big CA chard (which is not my style), but my score is more reflective of the fact it doesn't distinguish itself from much lower priced wines of the same style rather than penalizing it for its style.

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• 2005 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Some prominent oak upfront, but has nice acidity to balance out the focused fruit. Didn't get any butter notes, with apple and pear fruit, then got some citrus towards the finish as the acidity asserted itself. A well balanced style of CA chardonnay that features the fruit you expect, but has enough restraint and layered complexity to set it apart from most. Would have preferred less oak though.

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I believe Huerta de Albala got the red WOTN.

• 2007 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  I liked this much better than the 05 Kutch RRV I tried previously as it had more reserved fruit and was better balanced. A little cherry cola and spice, but not much earthiness I would have liked to see.

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• 2004 Core Hard Core 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  A blend of mourvedre, grenache, and cab. Surprisingly light colored and also quite cloudy. Lush raspberry and strawberry fruit with a hint of sweetness, but not OTT. Nice wine that features pure, focused fruit in a well balanced style.

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• 1997 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Unfortuately, the cork on this was saturated nearly to the top, and this bottle appeared oxidized and did not show well. Was drinkable, offering some rather tart cherry flavors, but the normal rich layered fruit was missing and the wine just fell flat.

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• 1999 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  JC opened a bottle of this at the end of the offline in hopes of converting a non-Italophile in the group. I will reserve score as it was very tight upon opening and needed probably 1-2 hours of air to strut its stuff. Couldn't stay that long to find out, but I am sure it was enjoyed by others later that night or the next day.

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• 2001 Château Sociando-Mallet 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Olive on the nose. On the palate, it's chaulky and earthy and still a little tannic, featuring currant fruit. This was opened, but not decanted, for 1.5 hours before resealing and then decanted for 1.5 hours prior to tasting, but the last sips were still the best. This needs another 2-3 years to enter its optimum drinking window (which could result in 1-2 point higher score), but is still a nice drink today

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• 1999 Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Superiore Flawed

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

  This bottle was defective (not corked - either cooked or ozidized or both) and was barely drinkable. Disappointing.

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• 2005 Huerta de Albalá Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz Taberner #1 93 Points

  Spain, Andalucía, Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz

  Rich, lush dark fruit, yet very nicely balanced with acidity and smooth tannins, and almost no heat. The peak is probably still 1-3 years away, but drinking very well this night. The consensus red WOTN.

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• 2004 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This was a disappointing showing of this wine, as it came across as closed and somewhat tart despite decanting for 1.5 hours. Some earthiness, with red fruit and some unresolved tannis. This has more of an Old World profile for a Napa cab, and it seemed to be in a dumb phase after having marvelous experiences earlier with this wine. Will hold my remaining bottles for a few more years before I open again.

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• 2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga 93 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Jack was kind enough to open one of the bottles I bought on his behalf and brang to him that night. Very similar impression as from my retailer tasting of 4/08. A very dark, rich and lush wine with blackberry and dark cherry fruit that is nicely balanced with medium acidity and little, if any, heat for such a massive wine. The tannins are quite obvious and more time will soften them and better integrate the oak. A great wine with a great future.

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• 2005 Copain Les Copains James Berry Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Jammy raspberry and currant fruit, with oak and some smoky butter notes on the finish often found in Paso syrah. Also a bit of heat. A nice wine, but didn't quite come together in a way that I found compelling.

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• 2006 Linne Calodo Nemesis 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Rich fruit of currant, plum, and blueberry with a little booziness in the middle, but finishes clean and pure. Carries itself deftly for a wine of its size and ripeness with a nice balance of acidity and smooth tannins.

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• 2006 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  I didn't like this quite as much as when I had it at the winery last year, probably because I was drinking it with a fair number of Old World wines. Quite a bit of oak, but it works well with the rich and lush cab and syrah blend of dark fruit, low to medium acidty, and a long smooth finish. Thanks to Jack for bringing this on my behalf for my birthday.

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Wasn't a clear winner here, both showed well.

• 2005 Château Doisy-Daëne 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Much lighter in color than an 05 Rieussec served next to it. It was also lighter bodied and less sweet and rich, but was nicely balanced with acidity, and was drinking slightly better now to my taste. However, I don't think this stands to improve as much and is a less concentrated wine.

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• 2005 Château Rieussec 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  This was quite a bit darker gold than the 05 Doisy Daene served side by side, and it was richer and more sweet on the palate. However, it also had less acidity and came across as slightly cloying, and reminded me of some 03 Sauternes I have had. Still drinking nicely, and I think this one will benefit from aging more than the Doisy Daene as it is more concentrated and can go the distance better.

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