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Wine Spectator's Grand Tour, Las Vegas NV 2012
Grand Ballroom Mirage Casino, Las Vegas NV
Tasted May 5, 2012 by wtianseter with 1,591 views
Introduction
Attended with my Son and Son-in-law. We all had a great time and got the opportunity to compare our palates on lots of super wines. 222 wines served, you needed to plan your attack. Chateau Margaux always had a significant line -- its been years since I had Margaux but no way was I going to loose the opportunity to taste more variety of wine just to taste a C. Margaux. We had to take a food break at about 1 hour in. It was great to be able to talk to the owners and winemakers at many of the stations
Flight 1 (38 notes)
Red
2009 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Boulder Bluff
92 points
This was our 2nd favorite Pinot of the night. Acid front and light smooth flavors. Lingering light and smooth tannins. The wine is what I call a feminine type character Pinot --- Light lush and smooth with only the hints of the earthiness. We had this wine with our food and it went well with all including the sweet deserts
Red
2007 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
90 points
Wine lead with sweetness and dry character. Some bite on the end. Full bodied Amarone
Red
2006 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Vista Flores
90 points
Big bold wine. Pleasing texture and good balance. Nice wine. Only 250 6-pacs available in the US; 500 total worldwide. I've got the wine distributor's card to find some if I can't easily find myself.
Red
2007 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo Vigneto Corda della Briccolina
93 points
Alcohol nose and then fruit. Taste had nice fruit that was initially light and balanced flavors that built as the wine was held in the mouth. Long lingering tannins. This was my #2 favorite Barolo of the night
Red
2008 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve
92 points
Light on the front with a great finish. Some mild bitterness. This wine is way too young for prime drinking. Really nice wine but I was disappointed that it was not better.....I enjoyed the 06 much more about 2 years ago. One person leading the pouring indicated they believed any vintage should held for drinking until it was 10 years after the vintage date
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Comment
Red
2006 Avignonesi-Capannelle 50/50 Toscana IGT
Big bold and balanced. Great sangiovese taste but smoothed and filled by the Merlot. Only had a sip -- not enough time to do a real tasting therefore no rating value
Red
2009 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection
91 points
Definitely a Napa Cab Style. Nice Oak. Lots of moderat tannins that made the finnish stay around
Red
2007 Pio Cesare Barolo
92 points
A good representation of what an outstanding Barolo should be. Lots of alcohol on the nose and taste but wine stands up to it. Love to see how it is in about 5 years
Red
2008 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor
92 points
Big fruity and nice tannin. A bit sweeter than I remember in previous vintages. This is a prototypical Chilean Cab with a touch more sweetness
Red
2009 Viña Cono Sur Pinot Noir Ocio
92 points
Taste leads with fruit and acid. A fairly big Pinot. A surprising balanced wine for SA Pinot. This was my 3rd favorite Pinot of the night
Red
2007 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo
91 points
High alcohol nose. Slightly hot on the palate. A nice nebbiolo/Barolo. Great tannin in the mouth and on the finish
Red
2008 Château Cos d'Estournel
92 points
This wine has a prototypical St Estephe nose. A good bit of fruit in the mouth and nice silky finish
Red - Fortified
2009 Croft Porto Vintage
90 points
Immediate flavore was sweet and fruity. This Port needs time to let its complexity develop around the sweetness. This wine is drinking as well as any Tawny I have had; but give it time to grow to enjoy what it can be.
Red
2007 Damilano Barolo Cannubi
95 points
My first note on this wine is a simple: Yes! It is my favorite Barolo of the evening. The fruit, alcohol, and tannins are memorable and lasted a long time with great balance. I want more!
Red
2009 d'Arenberg The Cadenzia
90 points
This wine needs time to develop. The wine has tons of Fruit and Tannin. Once developed I expect the wine will score a good 3 points higher when aged. The wine was way too tight to appreciate; its gunna be BIG.
Red
2007 Doña Paula Malbec Selección de Bodega
92 points
As good as I remember it. This is a big wine with Fruit, balance, and tannin. Nice long finish
Red
2009 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece
92 points
This is the most approachable Hall wine I have had at this yung an age. It is nice (92+) and currently drinkable but needs to be given time to develop fully. This is a big powerful wine that hits hard with chocolate, but definitely a Hall style wine
Red
2004 Château Haut-Bailly
91 points
Tar Nose. Lots of bite and some bitterness on the end. Well balanced; Wonderful long-lasting tannins. A good wine.....can use more time in bottle
Red
2005 Kanonkop Pinotage
90 points
Quite a nice Pinotage. Lighter than expected (medium body). Bite on the middle tongue and on the finish with nice tannin
Red
2010 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
91 points
Lots of fruit up front. Acid and mineral notes. Wait about 3 years for more full development
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Comment
White
2009 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne
94 points
Super wine! Minerals, acid and citrus followed by mellow butter and mild tannin. More please!
Red
1999 Luce della Vite Lucé
90 points
Nice body with good Sangiovese taste but to me something was missing. Fruity and slightly sweet residual; good tannin finish. Served from a 6l bottle (Methuselah?)
Red
2006 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Costasera
91 points
Nice mouthful of flavor but not as full a wine as I remember the non-riserva I have had. Needs time to open up fully.
Red
2010 Mollydooker Shiraz Velvet Glove
91 points
A nice wine but in my opinion not up to the hype. Big fruit bomb and full mouth wine -- Some bitterness that belies its name
Red
2004 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial
91 points
I liked this tasty wine. Full fruit and lots of dry tannins that went well together (3 years in new oak and 4 years in bottle)
Red
2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia
93 points
Big and Bold. Too early to drink; hasn't had time to mellow. Lots of tannins, nice finish
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Comment
Red
2007 Prunotto Barolo Bussia
92 points
Big full wine- lots of flavor. Good balance, moderate fruit. a good wine 92+-
Red
2007 Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche
92 points
Alcohol nose. Medium body, nice balance. Very pleasant flavor
Red
2008 St. Clement Cabernet Sauvignon Oroppas
92 points
A nice Meritage. Lots of chocolate and a smooth tannic finish
Red
2008 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc
91 points
Big, Bold. Alcohol, muted fruit and a touch of fire on the tongue
Red
2010 Siduri Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard
93 points
My favorite Pinot of the night. Smooth, balanced, Fruit & earth flavors with a lovely tannic finish
Red
2009 Château Smith Haut Lafitte
94 points
Exceptional quality wine. Fruit and balance with smooth silky tannins that last a long time
Red
2009 Spice Route Chakalaka
89 points
Big fruity and flowery wine that has a typical South American astringency on the edge. A very good value.
White
2010 Terredora di Paolo Greco di Tufo Loggia della Serra
90 points
The best GdT I have ever had. Spicy, fruity, and crisp with nice acid, but has a little edginess and sharpness. Good balance
Red
2007 Torres Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) Mas La Plana
Heavy, bold & hearty. Didn't have the opportunity to taste enough to judge nuances - no numeric rating (Good wine)
Red
2007 Vietti Barbaresco Masseria
93 points
Exceptional Barbaresco! Nice fruit and smoothness; bold yet elegant (feminine nature)
Red - Fortified
Red
2007 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
89 points
Heavy yet light color--good taste with a heavy biting edge
Closing
I found this a good experience for the price and plan to try to go to some more. All my scores are without any reference to others' scoring other than all were supposedly 90 points or greater by WS. Talk about over stressing the palate!!