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Monthly Wine Group: Domestic Pinots and Chards From Some Top Producers
Levain, Mpls
Tasted July 22, 2012 by rocknroller with 882 views
Introduction
This was our monthly tasting group event. The theme was domestic chards and pinots. About 14 of us gathered at Levain in Mpls for an outstanding tasting menu and a stellar lineup of wines. There were certainly some fine producers represented here tonight.
Flight 1 - Table 1 Champagne (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier
90 points
Ironically, I broght this wine to a tasting a week ago. I got this this event a few minutes late and this was AT 62.5 degrees when tasted. It definitely had lost its finesse, but the substance was still there. the green tree fruit and the minerality was evident. It just wasn't as lithe and lively. I'll hold my score at 90 , based on my previous experience and the fact that this was warm.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Agrapart Champagne Les 7 Crus Brut
89 points
Pale gold color. Drank one glass over 15+ minutes. I like the nose here a lot. Very fresh, lively, minerals, apple, pear. The palate is fresh, light, consisitent, the finish is a bit short. On the whole I enjoyed this quite a bit. It ended clean, and was quite pleasant. 89+pts.
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Flight 2 - Table 1 Chardonnay (5 notes)
White
2006 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
94 points
Medium light gold color. Drank one glass over 45 minutes. Wonderful nose, orange oils, butter, lemon, mineral. The palate is elegant, balanced, medium butter and lght oak, great acid, lovely tree fruits, round on the palate with a very long finish.
Outstanding, 93+ to 94pts.
Outstanding, 93+ to 94pts.
White
2007 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard
92 points
Medium light gold color. Drank one glass over 30 minutes. This was bigger than the Aubert, more overt oak and butter, not in a bad way, just different. Lemon, apple, bfutter, oak, subtle mineral. The palate is full bodied, round, opulent. Lemon, apple, oak, butter, medium finish that is more one domensional. Does what it does very well.
White
2008 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay Napa Valley
88 points
This shows citrus, some tropicals, and average length. Decent.
White
2009 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard
93 points
Medium gold color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Definitely different from the others, nice sea air, this was much more tropical on the nose, pineapple, mango, swett, ripe. The palate shows full body, lively acids, consistent tropicals plus some citrus, and a long finish.
White
2007 DuMOL Chardonnay Isobel
95 points
Medium gold color. Drank one glass over 45 minutes. This is one of those wow wines. When it makes me smile right off the bat, you know you've got a winner. This wine just screams balance, everything is aligned and seemless. The nose is wondeful, showing minerals, white flowers, lemon, nuts,. The palate is oh so elegan, balances, tropicals, citrus, delicate, great acid, and a very, very, long finsh. WOW. My white WOTN. 94-95pts.
Flight 3 - Table 1 Pinot Noir (7 notes)
Red
2009 Kutch Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard
90 points
Medium dark red color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minues. This was ripe, sweet red fruits, berries on the nise. The palate came off asl red fruited, spicy, a bit tannic, fairly round. Very good on the whole.
Red
2008 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors
93 points
Very dark red color. this had it all going on tonight. Probably my pinot of the night. Ripe, black cherry, earth, mineral, florals. The palate is fresh, not over the top, black cherry, red currants, round tannins, layered, long finish.
Red
2009 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Estate Etzel Block
90 points
Medium red color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Nose is nice, with blackcherry, a little black raspberry, vanilla, spice, lightly floral. The palate has rip darker fruits, tart, spice, medium to lighter body. Medium finish. Very similar to the old vine really.
Red
2009 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Estate Old Vine Ribbon Ridge
91 points
Medium red color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Nose is a more intriguing than the Etzel Block, showing similar dark red fruits of black cherry and raspberry, more of the earthiness that I like in my pinots, more floral, spices. The palate is also medium light in body, consistent with the nose, tart, nice mouth feel. Medium finish. Both of these wines were a bit too tart.
Red
2008 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Carneros
86 points
No detailed notes on this one, but my one word descriptor was yuck. Just very mundane.
Red
2007 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard
93 points
DArk red color. Drankone glass over 30 minutes. Nose was different from many of the night: very dusty, minerals, earth, black raspberry, some dark cherry, and spice notes. The palate was quite elegant, nice mouthfeel, round integrated tannins, consistent with the nose, good depth and layering of flavors, long finish. This is a winner.
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Red
2004 Calera Pinot Noir Jensen Vineyard
90 points
This was a bonus bottle near theend of the pinots. Drank one glass over 20 minutes. Earth, spicy, maybe some heat on the nose. The palate was a bit thin, tart, glycerin, red fruits, spicy. I liked it, but not as much as several others.
Flight 4 - Table 1 Dessert Wine (1 note)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 King Estate Pinot Gris Vin Glacé
92 points
Consistent with previous bottles. Just a great way to end a meal and the evening. 92+pts.
Flight 5 - Table 2 Wines (10 notes)
Generally smaller pours with less time to examine
White - Sparkling
N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Brut
90 points
Small pour, nice nose with biscuit, minerals, pear and apple. Crisp and fresh.
Rosé
2011 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Vin Gris of Pinot Noir
88 points
Small pour, no detailed notes, tangy, strawberry.
White
2009 Domaine Serene Coeur Blanc
88 points
No detailed notes, small but adequate pour. This wine belies its price point. Not bad, but not compelling as one would expect. White gold in color, light berry notes, adequate acid, a bit non descript.
White
2009 Kistler Chardonnay Les Noisetiers
88 points
This was disappointing compared to most Kistler's I've had. A bit bitter, acidic, lacking for fruit and personality. Serviceable, but that's about it.
White
2008 Center of Effort Chardonnay
88 points
Small pour, limited notes, a bit oaky for my preferences, citrus.
Red
2007 Roco Pinot Noir Private Stash
90 points
Small pour, medium-light red color. This was considerably lighter and more delicate in style compared to most of the nights offerings. Pleasant, but didn't get a detailed examination.
Red
2006 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard
91 points
Small pour, earth, briar, raspberry, tart, orange peel, spices.
Red
2009 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
91 points
Small pour. Definitely a bigger style, but not over the top. Ripe berry fruits, tart, nice acids, tangy, strawberry, some tannin that needs to integrate a bit, but overall a very good effort.
Red
2007 Foxen Pinot Noir Sea Smoke Vineyard
89 points
Small pour. Spicy, big, dark fruits, aromatic, some heat.
Red
2006 Saarloos & Sons Syrah Purper Hart Santa Ynez Valley
90 points
I think this is the correct wine, but not positive. Didn't get a look at the bottle. Small pour. Dark and jammy, blackberry and blueberry. Nice. 89-90pts.
Closing
My WOTN for the Chards (and overall) was the '07 DuMol Isobel, this was a wow wine for me. The Aubert was also spectacular.
My top Pinots of the night were the '08 Williams Selyem West Side Road and the '07 Rhys Family Farm.
This was a splendid event all the way around. Kudos to everyone on a great job!