Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
DC Crew Gem Tasting
Ardeo, Washington DC
Tasted December 22, 2010 - December 23, 2010 by manonthemoon with 924 views
Introduction
Our second annual Gem tasting for the holidays.
Flight 1 - Bubbles (3 notes)
Reminded me of the goldilocks story from long ago, the Argyle was "just right" for my palate.
WOF, Argyle
White - Sparkling
1996 Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne Liesse d'Harbonville
92 points
Darkest in color, small fine bubbles.
Nose of buttered popcorn, a little yeast
Big palate of lemon cream, buttered brioche, some mouth puckering acidity on the back.
The dense palate made this wine not seem "clean" on the finish as I would have liked, but the finish is long.
91-92
Nose of buttered popcorn, a little yeast
Big palate of lemon cream, buttered brioche, some mouth puckering acidity on the back.
The dense palate made this wine not seem "clean" on the finish as I would have liked, but the finish is long.
91-92
White - Sparkling
2000 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut
94 points
Small fine bubbles.
Nose of fresh southern buttermilk biscuits, apple, and a little cream.
Palate had an initial attack of sweet apple cider that turned tart with pie crust, a little cream, and good minerality toward the end.
Long and nice clean finish, really good balance for my palate.
93-94
Nose of fresh southern buttermilk biscuits, apple, and a little cream.
Palate had an initial attack of sweet apple cider that turned tart with pie crust, a little cream, and good minerality toward the end.
Long and nice clean finish, really good balance for my palate.
93-94
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée Rubis
90 points
Nice salmon pink color.
Small fine bubbles.
Nose of tart strawberry, earth, smoke, with a little floral action.
Palate of strawberry, earth, herb, and minerality.
Finish was average in length, but very clean.
90-91
Small fine bubbles.
Nose of tart strawberry, earth, smoke, with a little floral action.
Palate of strawberry, earth, herb, and minerality.
Finish was average in length, but very clean.
90-91
Flight 2 - Whites (3 notes)
Chave showed way too young in my opinion, Michael showed hot, and Mayacamas was my personal favorite.
WOF, Maya
White
2007 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc
92 points
Dark gold in color.
Nose was strong with ripe melon, vanilla, a little banana even, with a little spice
Palate of lemon candy, lanolin, white liorice, and some heat.
Improved with air and food. This wine probably needs a decade or so to really show its stuff.
Long finish and a very dense wine, but white rhones never really do it for me, they always seem too hot.
92
Nose was strong with ripe melon, vanilla, a little banana even, with a little spice
Palate of lemon candy, lanolin, white liorice, and some heat.
Improved with air and food. This wine probably needs a decade or so to really show its stuff.
Long finish and a very dense wine, but white rhones never really do it for me, they always seem too hot.
92
White
2005 Peter Michael Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille
88 points
Cloudy pale yellow in color.
Nose of lemon, vanilla, butter, floral, and oak/smoke.
Palate of vanilla, lemon cream, a little herb, and oak/heat on the back.
Never been a Cali Chard fan and this is a classic example why due to the large amount of heat and oak present.
88
Nose of lemon, vanilla, butter, floral, and oak/smoke.
Palate of vanilla, lemon cream, a little herb, and oak/heat on the back.
Never been a Cali Chard fan and this is a classic example why due to the large amount of heat and oak present.
88
White
1999 Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay
91 points
Mediium gold in color.
Nose of lemon, herb, and some triple cream cheese notes.
Palate was nice with lemon, herb, butter cream, and a little spice on the back.
The finish was average and the balance was good for my palate.
My favorite wine of the flight and at 25$ a good qpr.
90-91
Nose of lemon, herb, and some triple cream cheese notes.
Palate was nice with lemon, herb, butter cream, and a little spice on the back.
The finish was average and the balance was good for my palate.
My favorite wine of the flight and at 25$ a good qpr.
90-91
Flight 3 - Pinot Flight (3 notes)
The burg had the best nose of any wine at the tasting IMO, but was lacking on the palate. Oregon always seems to be my favorite site for Pinot, Cali not so much.
WOF, Groffier
Red
2008 Brick House Pinot Noir Evelyn's
94 points
Nice red pomegranite color.
Nose of mixed red berries, floral, and asian spice.
Palate of mixed raspberries, a little orange peel, a little black tea, mineral and asian spice.
The finish was abover average in length and clean, needs time to show more secondaries IMO.
93-94
Nose of mixed red berries, floral, and asian spice.
Palate of mixed raspberries, a little orange peel, a little black tea, mineral and asian spice.
The finish was abover average in length and clean, needs time to show more secondaries IMO.
93-94
Red
2001 Domaine Robert Groffier Bonnes Mares
94 points
Nose of strong red berry fruit, lots of barnyard, meat that was really nice.
Palate of Sour cherry, a little cranberry, a little mineral and spice.
The mouthfeel was great and the finish was above average.
I felt the palate was the downfall of this wine, really great nose and mouthfeel, but not complex enough on the palate to go any higher.
The wine had the best nose of any wine, probably the reason it was my WOTN.
93-94
Palate of Sour cherry, a little cranberry, a little mineral and spice.
The mouthfeel was great and the finish was above average.
I felt the palate was the downfall of this wine, really great nose and mouthfeel, but not complex enough on the palate to go any higher.
The wine had the best nose of any wine, probably the reason it was my WOTN.
93-94
Red
2001 DuMOL Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
88 points
Nose of rainer cherry candy, a little earth and spice.
Palate was candied red fruit, a touch of earth, and some spice.
The finish was average in length and for a cali wine it was somewhat balanced and not completely overdone.
There is a reason I don't own any cali pinot, I just don't get it.
88-89
Palate was candied red fruit, a touch of earth, and some spice.
The finish was average in length and for a cali wine it was somewhat balanced and not completely overdone.
There is a reason I don't own any cali pinot, I just don't get it.
88-89
Flight 4 - Young Bord Flight (3 notes)
Palmer was disappointing to me, didn't seem to show that much, way too young. Pichon had really nice structure and the Murailles was ready to go.
WOF, Pichon
Red
2001 Château Palmer
90 points
Light nose of a little cherry, coffee grinds, a little dried soil.
Palate of red cherry, leather, and underbrush, with pretty good acidity present.
Way too young to really enjoy IMO, as this was the weakest of the flight.
Palate of red cherry, leather, and underbrush, with pretty good acidity present.
Way too young to really enjoy IMO, as this was the weakest of the flight.
Red
2001 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
92 points
Nose of dark black fruit, meat, graphite.
Palate of blackberry, cherry, seared meat.
Really nice structure to this wine, my favorite of the flight.
Palate of blackberry, cherry, seared meat.
Really nice structure to this wine, my favorite of the flight.
Red
2001 Château Les Grandes Murailles
91 points
Noticably right bank.
Nose was my favorite of the fligt with black fruit, tobacco, and some herb/mint going on.
On the palate there was good black fruit, with mixed cherry, loam soil going on.
Definatly the most accessible as well.
Tasted by tooch on 12/22/2010 & rated 91 points: 2nd Annual Gem Dinner (Ardeo - Washington, DC): Thought the nose was just lovely. Wonderful floral nose with some subtle tobacco and cedar notes. Palate was on point and delicate. Good flavors of red florals, mushrooms, cranberry, and tobacco. Drinking well now and a great value buy in Bordeaux. (125 views) - report issue
Tasted by Faryan on 6/28/2010 & rated 92 points: 2001 Bordeaux (Lavandou): I was quite keen on this wine. It was in a real nice drinking window and developed some nice tertiary aromas of truffle and spice to complement a smooth but not hugely endowed framework of black fruit. A claret drinker’s right banker. It opens nicely out of the gates but can benefit from some air.
91-92
Nose was my favorite of the fligt with black fruit, tobacco, and some herb/mint going on.
On the palate there was good black fruit, with mixed cherry, loam soil going on.
Definatly the most accessible as well.
Tasted by tooch on 12/22/2010 & rated 91 points: 2nd Annual Gem Dinner (Ardeo - Washington, DC): Thought the nose was just lovely. Wonderful floral nose with some subtle tobacco and cedar notes. Palate was on point and delicate. Good flavors of red florals, mushrooms, cranberry, and tobacco. Drinking well now and a great value buy in Bordeaux. (125 views) - report issue
Tasted by Faryan on 6/28/2010 & rated 92 points: 2001 Bordeaux (Lavandou): I was quite keen on this wine. It was in a real nice drinking window and developed some nice tertiary aromas of truffle and spice to complement a smooth but not hugely endowed framework of black fruit. A claret drinker’s right banker. It opens nicely out of the gates but can benefit from some air.
91-92
Flight 5 - Rhone wine Flight (3 notes)
2003 is not for me, dried fruit, overoak, extraction, and prunes make my palate cringe in fear, so these two wines suffered. I am not sure if this hurt or helped the Frog in comparision. My wife gave the Frog a 95 and I really enjoyed it, but was afraid the company wasn't up to the task.
WOF, Frog
Red
2003 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape
90 points
Nose of prune, dried cherry, and anise with oak or heat showing.
Palate of black fruit, prune, some stewed fruit as well, with a little coffee, spice, a little hot as well.
Confirmed with one attendee who works for the distributor that the bottle isn't flawed, but typical for that vintage of Charvin.
89-90
Palate of black fruit, prune, some stewed fruit as well, with a little coffee, spice, a little hot as well.
Confirmed with one attendee who works for the distributor that the bottle isn't flawed, but typical for that vintage of Charvin.
89-90
Red
2002 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog
94 points
Really nice complex nose of blackberry, black cherry, olive, cabbage, bloody meat, and smoke.
Palate of black cherry, black berries, olive, seaweed, chocolate, a little spice still going on at the end.
Long finish and exceptional mouthfeel as always and a great balance to this wine as well.
By far my favorite wine of the flight.
Tied for my WOTN.
93-94
Palate of black cherry, black berries, olive, seaweed, chocolate, a little spice still going on at the end.
Long finish and exceptional mouthfeel as always and a great balance to this wine as well.
By far my favorite wine of the flight.
Tied for my WOTN.
93-94
Red
2003 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire
88 points
Nose of cherry, black raspberry, bourbonesque note with oak as well.
Palate of dried fruit, a little cherry, grape fruit rollup, chocolate, oak, and heat showing on the tail.
Not sure the temp of the wine when tasted but the score is based on what I tasted.
87-88
Palate of dried fruit, a little cherry, grape fruit rollup, chocolate, oak, and heat showing on the tail.
Not sure the temp of the wine when tasted but the score is based on what I tasted.
87-88
Flight 6 - Aged Flight (3 notes)
1989 Beau was the most disappointing wine given the hype, must of been flawed was the consensus from people who have had a lot of aged Beau. La Miss was a really nice wine and the Mondavi seemed rather simple to me. Some people loved it, but it wasn't for me.
WOF, La Mission
Red
1989 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Limited notes of a nose of cherry, floral, meat, and barnyard.
Palate of cherry, meat and earth.
I think this bottle might of been flawed because it definately didn't seem to live up to the hype.
90-91 if scored
Palate of cherry, meat and earth.
I think this bottle might of been flawed because it definately didn't seem to live up to the hype.
90-91 if scored
Red
1994 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
92 points
Nose of black fruit, graphite, some tobacco.
Palate of black fruit, tobacco, little earth.
Structure was the best of the flight.
91-92
Palate of black fruit, tobacco, little earth.
Structure was the best of the flight.
91-92
Red
1987 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
88 points
Nose of cherry, a little earth, and dried leather.
Palate of cherry, some leather, tomato, and a little mint.
Seemed simple compaired the other wines in the flight.
88-89
Palate of cherry, some leather, tomato, and a little mint.
Seemed simple compaired the other wines in the flight.
88-89
Flight 7 - Desert Flight (3 notes)
Palate was pretty fried by this flight, but I really enjoyed the Donnhoff as it was just enough sweetness for my palate. The Roth Lay was excellent as well, but not as good as a previous offering that we shared from this producer.
WOF, Donnhoff
White - Off-dry
2005 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese
93 points
Nose of Banana, pineapple, a little floral.
Palate was nice wit more banana peel, tropical fruit, a little petrol, and good minerality to keep this from being over the top.
My favorite of the flight.
93
Palate was nice wit more banana peel, tropical fruit, a little petrol, and good minerality to keep this from being over the top.
My favorite of the flight.
93
White - Off-dry
2004 Darting Ungsteiner Honigsäckel Scheurebe Auslese
89 points
Honey, vanilla, and herb on the nose.
Palate of honeysuckle, candied grapefruit, a little cloying, but long finish.
89-90
Palate of honeysuckle, candied grapefruit, a little cloying, but long finish.
89-90
White
2005 Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein Winninger Uhlen Riesling "R" Roth Lay
92 points
Banana, pineapple, honey, and mineral on both the nose and palate.
Nice light, non-cloying style.
91-92
Nice light, non-cloying style.
91-92
Closing
The food was solid all the way around and helped refresh the palate for the large amount of wine present. Great time to catch up with old friends and new ones as well. Can't wait for next year.