Wine Watch Best of 2009 Tasting

A gorgeous evening to hold this outdoor event. The setting and limited crowd of about 55 made for a nice atmosphere, but I felt the level of wines was a definite step down from last year.

• NV G. H. Mumm & Cie Champagne Cordon Rouge Brut 88 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light to medium body style, less acidic and rounder fruit with a touch more sweetness than most Bruts.

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• NV Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  A medium bodied style, with crisp acidity with lots of apple fruit and a hint of orange zest on the finish.

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• NV G. H. Mumm & Cie Champagne Crémant de Cramant 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Full body with significantly lower carbonation that most other Champagne which takes down the perceived level of acidity and crispness and amplifies thr rich fruit and creaminess of this wine.

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• NV Perrier-Jouët Champagne Blason Rosé 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light to medium body rose that has a hint of cherry and strawberry, and med to high acidity. Nice, but better rose's out there for its price.

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• NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  The full bodied honey & biscuit style that I expect and enjoy so much. Great Champagne.

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• NV Charles Ellner Champagne Blanc de Blancs 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Medium body and acidity, low carbonation, apple cider flavors that are layered and complex. I really enjoyed this Champagne and have enjoyed this house every time I have tried.

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• 2008 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 88 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Loads of grapefruit, zesty acidity, but a bit one dimensional.

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• 2007 Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Rounder and with less acidity than most SB's. Has some floral notes from the 13% Sauvignon Musque. Has a bit of a bitter edge to it that hurt my score.

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• 2007 Beringer Vineyards Chardonnay Private Reserve 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Creamy (guessing it had a long maloactic ferm), prominant oak, but I found it a little disjointed. Perhaps some bottle age will improve it.

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• 2007 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri

  Tannic now, needs time. Reserved red fruit, with medium to high acidity. Should improve, but not sure it will end up worth the tariff.

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• 2003 Le Vigne di Zamò Friuli Colli Orientali Pignolo 87 Points

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

  Tannic, high acidity, cherry fruit. Needs time, not drinking well now.

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• 2006 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbera d'Asti Cà di Pian 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti

  Fuller bodied, lower acidity, and darker fruit than most Barbera. More of a drinking wine than a food wine.

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• 2001 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Zesty cherry fruit with blackberry notes, light to medium body, and some spiciness made for a little atypical Brunello.

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• 2001 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Le Coste 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Darker fruit and fuller body than the non Reserva. Also a little spicy that gives it a differest profile than most Brunello.

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• 2003 Fattoria Montellori Salamartano Toscana IGT 87 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  A Bordeaux blend that I found a bit sour and tannic, and with some bright acidity. Will likely improve with age.

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• 2002 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Langhe Nebbiolo 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Fruit forward for a Barbaresco and lower acidity too. Fairly New World style that also has a zesty, spicy edge.

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• 2000 Sant'Elena Merlot 83 Points

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Isonzo

  Worst wine of the tasting. Sour and unbalanced.

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• 2004 Moschioni Friuli Colli Orientali Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso 89 Points

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

  Firm tannins, dark fruit, and medium to high acidity.

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• 2004 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Lighter style, medium to high acidity, sour cherry, geared better as a food wine.

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• 2006 Braida (Giacomo Bologna) Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti

  Tannic, red cherry fruit, a hint of spice, and med-high acidity.

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• 2007 Castello Romitorio Morellino di Scansano 85 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Maremma, Morellino di Scansano

  I did not care for it, and was yet another wine from Morellino di Scansano that I found does not have enough fruit for the tannin and acidity levels.

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• 2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Rich fruit, but with tannins and acidity built on a long aging frame that is not ready now. Has the ingredients to be a great wine in the future. Wait on this.

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• 2007 Les Vignerons d'Estézargues Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues La Granacha Vieilles Vignes 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues

  Ripe and fruit forward with a hint of sweetness. Veered towards the red side of the spectrum and also had good balancing acidty. Nice CdR

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• 2007 Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhône Villages Terre d'Argile 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

  Intense dark red fruit with a kick of spice. A little overblown for my taste, but more time in the bottle may have it tone down some. If you are a fan of Central Coast rhone blends, you might want to drink this young to get that youthful intensity.

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• 2006 Mas Doix Priorat Salanques 91 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Black cherry fruit with some raspberry notes, not too forward. Nicely balanced at this stage and will improve with some age.

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• 2007 Artadi Viñas de Gain 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Dark cherry fruit that is firmer and bigger than most Rioja, with less acidity and eathiness than typically found. More in a New World style.

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• 2007 Ellman Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Alexis Skye Gap's Crown Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Some earth on the nose, but little on the palate, with pretty big fruit and medium acidity. I found it lacking the complexity and nuances I expect at this price point ($45) and would pass.

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• 2007 Ellman Family Vineyards jemma 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Rich, lush fruit, and a little sweet on the finish. I found it a little soft and forward without an ample backbone of tannin and acidity to balance it out. Definitely a pass for me at the $60+ price point.

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• 2005 Jax Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  As I was tasting this, Ari & Vince came by, introduced me to his latest babe du jour and we hugged it out (had to throw in an Entourage reference as this wine made a cameo). The wine features red fruits and has much higher acidity and less oak than most Napa cabs.

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• 2006 J.L. Chave Sélection St. Joseph Offerus 87 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

  A wine I normally like, but this bottle had very little fruit to match with a well developed frame of tannin and acidity. Might be closed now.

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• 2006 Ramey Claret 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  I liked this quite a bit more than the 05 vintage. Juicy currant fruit and well balanced acidity. Good wine for under $30.

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• 2005 Star Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley

  Predominately cherry and currant fruit with good acidity that makes for a juicy, bright style for CA cab.

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• 2007 Etude Pinot Noir Estate Carneros 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Somewhat light bodied for a CA pinot, but still fruit forward (dark cherry), and a little earthiness. More elegant style.

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• 2006 Château Lascombes 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Was drinking surprisingly well this night, and was open for business. Still tannic, with currant fruit, but enough balance to drink well right now. Of course, this will be better in 10 years + as the wine sheds its tannins and gains complexity.

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• 2005 Luna Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Big, rich fruit of plum and blackberry that I found a little overripe.

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• 2007 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  BIG lush, dark fruit, plenty of oak, but not quite OTT. Walks a fine line, but manages to keep it together. For those that like big fruit, this is a producer that you should know.

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• 2006 Bodegas Caro (Barons de Rothschild / Catena) Caro 90 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Full body, thick texture, black cherry with burnt rubber notes, medium acidty, and some tannins that need more time.

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