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Wine Spectator's Grand Tour Las Vegas 2010
The Venetian
Tasted May 1, 2010 by Clarkmeister with 1,260 views
Introduction
Changed the date from the actual of 4/24 to 5/1 for ease of updating notes.
Great night with four wines standing out. Chateau Palmer's 2001 was the WOTN, edging out the 1999 La Mission Haut Brion, followed by a tight race between the 2007 Almaviva and a strong showing on a QPR basis from the 06 Cinq Cepages.
Flight 1 - Bordeaux (10 notes)
Chateaus Palmer was unbelievable, as was LMHB. Great wines. I would have enjoyed either some better vintages from the bigger names, or stuff with more age on it. Still, a great event.
Red
2007 Château Haut-Bailly
93 points
Recommended by the ladies in the LMHB booth. This was really delicious and drinking well this young.
Red
2006 Château Pontet-Canet
93 points
Great as usual. Met one of the owners and she was very nice. This is just such a sick sick deal on a price/value basis every single year.
Red
2003 Château Giscours
89 points
Expected more. Another that had good word of mouth. Despite the good vintage it was one of the least impressive Bordeaux's of the night. Barnyard and no real fruit.
Red
Red
2001 Château Palmer
96 points
Wine of the night at the Vegas Grand Tour. Just edging out La Mission Haut Brion. Delicious, balanced, just kept coming back for more.
Red
1999 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
95 points
Supremely balanced, delicious. Silver medal from me for the Vegas WS Grand Tour.
Red
1999 Château Haut-Brion
92 points
Outperformed by little brother. Less fruit than the LMHB of the same year.
Red
2001 Château Margaux
92 points
Somewhat disappointing vs. my (high) expectations. Great team there though - very friendly and offered advice on vintages, particularly strong on the 96 and 89.
Flight 2 - Other (12 notes)
Several standouts. Gemstone, Almaviva and Cinq Cepages were the best of this group.
Red
2006 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène
86 points
I'm just simply not a fan of this wine. I had hoped to like this, especially since it's from a more lush vintage, but this was the same austere thinnish Laurene that I've had from other vintages.
Red
2008 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
90 points
Very good wine. Cherry with a decent nose.
Red
2006 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages
93 points
This held up very well to all the bigger names we had this night. Great fruit, very accessible, all in balance.
Red
2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Fortis
92 points
Big fruity Napa red wine.
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Red
1997 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
94 points
Great aged cab. Delicious and a pleasant surprise that they were pouring two wines.
Red
2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia
93 points
Not as balanced as normal for Insignia. Big fruit burst mid palate. Very well made though, as usual.
Red
2006 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love
89 points
Mellowed out since the last time I had one of these IIRC. Still a mega flabby fruit bomb. Pleased some in the group.
Red
2007 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva
94 points
Almost a 95. The rep said 07 was an incredible vintage for them and I believe it. The best, most integrated Almaviva I've ever had. Usually it's slightly lacking in fruit but has a huge finish. This is a much more well rounded wine. Bronze medal winner from me. Just edging out the Cinq Cepages.
Red
2006 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor
88 points
Muted nose. Crushed by the superior Almaviva on one side of them and Clos Apalta on the other.
Red
2004 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino
93 points
Wow, this was great. A lighter brunello than I'm used to but still very structured with delicious bright fruit and a great finish. 93 points