Important Update From the Founder

WCC Blind Whites (Not Chardonnay)

Creo’ Restaurant, Albany, NY

Tasted July 22, 2010 by kenv with 588 views

Introduction

My regular Albany group met to taste Any White but Chardonnay. As expected, the results were quite mixed.

Andy Plummer did the cooking for us and the food was excellent. Unfortunately, they still can't seem to give us a section by ourselves.

Flight 1 - Flight 1 (3 notes)

Served with Seared Tuna and a very mild Soy-Wasabi Sauce. Tasty.

White

1997 Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Saering France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

flawed

Mild sherry nose. Oxidized. Sour. Gone.

Comment

White

2000 Trimbach Gewurztraminer France, Alsace

92 points

Gorgeous tropical fruit nose. Surprisingly dry in the mouth given how sweet it is in the nose. I think it's Alsatian Pinot Gris. Mike T thinks it's Gewurz. He's right, but it doesn't have any of the lychee/rosewater flavors I'd expect.

Comment

White

2004 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Berg Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

93 points

Very dry and thick. Lots of tropical fruit in the nose, but more steely in the mouth. Long finish. Tastes like a very good dry Riesling. Did Larry bring a Wiemer Dry Reserve Riesling again?

Comment

Flight 2 - Flight 2 (3 notes)

Served with Fresh Homemade Mozzarella, Roasted Yellow Tomatoes, Prosciutto, Fresh Basil and Greens. The roasted yellow tomatoes were exquisite.

White

2003 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulée de Serrant France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières-Coulée de Serrant

flawed

Sherry nose. Nasty in the mouth. Oxidized.

Comment

White

2008 Domaine de la Perrière Sancerre France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre

84 points

Slate and peach custard nose. Tart and dry. Slight fizzy. Pleasant, no more.

Comment

White

2009 Martín Códax Albariño Rías Baixas Burgáns Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas

88 points

Fruit cocktail nose. Very dry in the mouth. A pleasant, unassuming wine. Good for a summer lunch.

Comment

Flight 3 - Flight 3 (3 notes)

Served with Sweet Breads with Chanterelle Mushrooms with Caramelized Onions and Foie Gras Butter over Angel Hair pasta. One of the best dishes in recent memory. The group agrees this is great.

White

2000 Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion Blanc France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

78 points

Not as offensive as wines 1 and 4, but tart, dry, and unappealing. Not gone, but going. And not going to a good place.

Comment

White

2003 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

91 points

Odd nose. Racy, almost burning on the finish. Very dry. Very interesting, but I'm not sure where it's going.

Comment

White

2007 Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

94 points

Big tropical nose with honey and slate. Thick, lush and expansive in the mouth. A lot of viscosity. Long and delicious. Should only get better for 3-5 years. My #2 WOTN. Group #1 WOTN. When I found out this is 62% Sémillon, that thought that fit with the lush mouthfeel, but this wine is surprisingly light on its feet as well. Very impressive!
Day 2: A little left in the bottle is just as wonderful as last night.

Comment

Flight 4 - Flight 4 (5 notes)

Served with Wild Striped Bass finished with a White Cherry Salsa with on an Arugula Salad and a Crispy Potato Pancake. Perhaps too mild after the previous course, but very nice.

White

1985 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

93 points

Floral lemon nose. Thick and exotic. Very dry long finish. Nice stuff. I would never have guessed that this wine is 20 years older than the other wines in this flight. Amazing!

Comment

White

2005 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

92 points

Lemon and sassafras nose. Viscous, dry, tasty. Nice stuff.

Comment

White

2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

flawed

Sharp, putrid, corked.

Comment

White

2006 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

93 points

Knockout nose of tropical flowers and fruit. Thick, dry, complex, very appealing. Wow! My #3 WOTN.

Comment

White

2007 Sine Qua Non Body & Soul USA, California

96 points

Stunning tropical fruit nose. Exquisite, complex lemon and tropical fruit cocktail. Loads of stones and fruit. A powerhouse wine with loads of flavor and body. My #1 WOTN. Group #2 WOTN. Should drink well for 3-5 years at least.

Comment

Closing

Hard to draw any conclusions. Two wines from 1997 and 2003 were totally gone, while a 1985 was wonderfully fresh. Two California wines were clearly at the tops, but some very nice wines from Europe as well.

WCC Blind Whites (Not Chardonnay)

Creo’ Restaurant, Albany, NY

Introduction

Flight 1 - Flight 1 (3 notes)

Flight 2 - Flight 2 (3 notes)

Flight 3 - Flight 3 (3 notes)

Flight 4 - Flight 4 (5 notes)

Closing

Report a Problem

Your report has been submitted!