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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 France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
93 points
Recommended by the ladies in the LMHB booth. This was really delicious and drinking well this young.
Red
2006 Château Pontet-Canet France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
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 France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
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
2006 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
94 points
Total surprise but this was drinking fabulously.
Red
2004 Château Cos d'Estournel France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
90 points
Very tannic. Wet earth. Very good.
Red
2001 Château Palmer France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
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 France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
95 points
Supremely balanced, delicious. Silver medal from me for the Vegas WS Grand Tour.
Red
1999 Château Haut-Brion France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
92 points
Outperformed by little brother. Less fruit than the LMHB of the same year.
Red
2001 Château Margaux France, Bordeaux, Médoc, 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.
Red
2005 Château Lynch-Bages France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
92 points
Yummy. The only 05 I saw at any of the Bordeaux booths.

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 USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
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 USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
90 points
Very good wine. Cherry with a decent nose.
Red
2006 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages USA, California, Sonoma County
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 USA, California, Napa Valley
92 points
Big fruity Napa red wine.
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Red
1997 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
94 points
Great aged cab. Delicious and a pleasant surprise that they were pouring two wines.
Red
2006 Gemstone G USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville
94 points
Huge luscious fruit. Showing great.
Red
2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia USA, California, Napa Valley
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 Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
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 Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
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 Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
88 points
Muted nose. Crushed by the superior Almaviva on one side of them and Clos Apalta on the other.
Red
2006 Clos Apalta Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta
92 points
Great crowd pleasing wine.
Red
2004 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, 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
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