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Hennepin Lake's Annual Tasting (Tons of Napa Cabs)
Tasted October 30, 2013 - November 2, 2013 by 3daywinereview.com with 1,184 views
Introduction
A Richard Jennings effort tonight. Tons of Napa Cabs but enough variety mixed in. This is the only charity event I attend in Minneapolis as the rest offer plonk and charge $80 plus. Take a cue from Phil guys.
Wine of the Night
1. 2010 Ovid
2. 2001 Chateau Rieussec
3. 2010 Caymus S.S.
4. Dumol Isabel
Thank you Phil once again!
I will be buying the Caymus for once in my life. Many including me have said no but this effort is outstanding. Lewis has always been a favorite but excellent also.
Flight 1 (65 notes)
White
2010 DuMOL Chardonnay Isobel
93 points
Really showing well tonight. Rich wine with shells, minerals, fruit and subtle spices. Just enough toasted oak to add a layer of complexity. Medium to long finish and amazing depth. Really good stuff! 93+
Red
2010 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District
91 points
Nice showing on this pop and pour. Cherry, berries, subtle tannins and earth. Medium finish and drink now or hold a few years.
Red
2010 Flowers Perennial
87 points
Interesting blend and refreshing. Nothing to write home about but I would drink it. Hope it is under $20. Just saw the average tracker price and wow overpriced!!!
Red
2011 Thorn-Clarke Shiraz Shotfire (Ridge)
80 points
This is why Australia is struggling. This stuff is not drinkable. Too much eucalyptus on this one. Nothing exciting and one of the worst wines of the year candidate.
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Red
2011 Titus Cabernet Sauvignon
91 points
The only good wine at this table tonight. Yawn. Red fruits, minerals and typical Napa Cabernet qualities. Medium finish.
Red
2011 Goldschmidt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Vineyard
90 points
One of the better QPR wines of the year. Cherry, dust, herbs and minerals. Quite complex and medium finish. Drink now or later.
Red
2010 Château Pesquié Ventoux Quintessence
88 points
Nice wine with floral, mushrooms, spices and red currants. Short to medium finish but lacks acidity.
Red
2010 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon
83 points
Will not buy this brand again. Terrible balance and showing nothing of significants. Too much spice and oak and no fruit here.
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White
2008 Baron de Hoen Muscat
88 points
A pleasant surprise with sweet floral notes, spice and fruit. Short to medium finish.
Red
2009 Artadi Viñas de Gain
88 points
Nice but not $25 nice. Tight with smoke, red currants and oak. Needs some time and might open up.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée de Réserve Brut
90 points
While enjoyable I would not pay $45 for this Champagne. Floral, chalk, spices and baked apple pie. Good acidity but I can do better for less.
White
2011 CrossBarn (Paul Hobbs) Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
90 points
This is a nice Chardonnay and while not as good as the Napa it offers green apple, lime, minerals, light oak and good acidity. Enjoy with your favorite seafood dish.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2001 Château Rieussec
94 points
Excellent Sauternes and super complex with apricots, orange peel, minerals, marmalade jam and peach. Concentrated and rich. Very young and will improve with age. 94=96.
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Red
2010 Ovid Red Wine
95 points
Wine of the night. Powerhouse Napa with balance. Rich wine with cherry, blueberries, crushed rock, smoke, cedar and tobacco. This possesses a long finish that rivals any wine this year. Firm tannic structure at the present which will allow for a decade plus in the cellar. Excellent wine to try. Thanks Phil!
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White
2012 Zocker Grüner Veltliner Paragon Vineyard
87 points
Not bad for US Gruner with floral, lemon and minerals. Short to medium finish.
White - Sparkling
2010 Argyle Vintage Brut
89 points
Nice as usual with lemon, apple peal, spice and dough. Short to medium finish. Reliable.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial
85 points
About as good as the White Star days. This Champagne is about the most hit or miss offering out there. This lacks crisp acidity and balance. Dough and sweet. Wait til the next N.V. Interesting recent reviews that are in the same boat as me. Maybe someone with the House can relay the crap they just made to the masses.
White
White
2012 Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre
87 points
Let me balance out this ridiculous Cellar Tracker average. This was fine but not 93 point average. Minerals, subtle fruit and chalk. Short to medium finish.
Red
2010 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve
91 points
Excellent again. This is one of the best under $35 wines you can get out of Napa. Cherry, tobacco, minerals and toasted oak. Medium finish and nice acidity. Drink now or hold a few years.
White
2011 Landmark Chardonnay Overlook
89 points
Nice with lemon, minerals, spices and orange peel. Not over the top but certainly not a Chablis style either. Solid overall.
White
2010 Grgich Hills Chardonnay
88 points
Always good but never outstanding. Minerals, floral notes and subtle spices. A bit too much oak for me but fruit still present on the finish. Wish it was half of the cost.
White
2011 The Hess Collection Chardonnay
87 points
Candied fruit and a bit sweet meaning they are marketing to a different crowd than me. Toasted oak, pine nuts and pear. Short to medium finish.
Red
2010 Justin Vineyards & Winery Isosceles
91 points
The best Isosceles in recent memory. Big style with ripe fruit, oak and vanilla. Medium to long finish and needs some time. A lot going on which should dictate a need for the cellar.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier
92 points
Outstanding and way better than the Moet N.V. Baked pie crust, apples, biscuit, spices and wonderful acidity. This just finishes with amazing texture and depth. One of the best N.V. on the market right now!
White - Sparkling
2009 Domaine Carneros Brut
90 points
An old favorite returns with lemon, apples, spice and chalk. Complex and interesting for the price point. Nice!
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White - Sparkling
N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Brut
92 points
This must be a newer N.V. than other tasters are reviewing. This is back on my radar after a few N.V. have passed. Outstanding stuff with apple, lemon, pie crust and a streak of minerals. Complex and double the price in quality. Buy.
Red
2010 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley
88 points
This is ok but overpriced. The country club crowd's go to wine. Sweet fruit, oak and vanilla. Nothing exciting but drinkable.
Red
2010 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
85 points
No thanks and very unbalanced stuff. Oak, vanilla and spice. Where is the fruit guys?
Red
2011 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
93 points
Excellent wine however young. Complex with spice, oak, blueberries, coffee and earth. Medium to long finish. Tannic but plenty there. Age five plus and try again.
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Red
2010 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection
94 points
Outstanding wine with depth and complexity. Dark fruits, coffee, minerals and oak. Should round out over the next five years. LONG finish! My favorite Caymus wine to date.
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Red
2009 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard
93 points
Outstanding juice with forest floor, nuts, raspberries, earth and spice. Medium finish and good acidity. Balanced effort and should age for a decade.
Red
2005 Château Haut-Renaissance
87 points
Weak for an 05 with earth, pine tar and minerals. Shorter finish. Past prime.
White
2010 DuMOL Chardonnay Isobel
93 points
Wonderful stuff and balanced for Cali Chard. Lemon, apples, toasted oak and great acidity. Complex and medium to long finish.
Red
2009 The Federalist Wines The Federalist Dueling Pistols
86 points
Hard to believe this was a limited availability wine. Nothing great here and at $40 why would you buy this when you have Ridge?
Red
2011 Féraud-Brunel Côtes du Rhône Villages
89 points
Very nice with spice, Garrique, dust and earth. Medium finish and solid.
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White
2012 Olivier Leflaive Meursault
89 points
Good with orange peel, minerals, spices and subtle fruits. Short to medium finish with a saline quality.
Red
2009 Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate
92 points
Great wine with cherries, wood, chocolate and a deep richness. While tannic it shows much promise. Drink for 15 years.
Red
2011 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme
85 points
Send a telegram that this is about as good as a $10 Cotes du Rhone. Pass as it is boring and offers little in fruit/floral notes. When the Rhone report has this under 90 points than run away.
Red
2010 Failla Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch
92 points
Hey nice stuff with cherry, blueberries, tobacco and minerals. Medium plus finish.
Red
2010 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera
91 points
Tight but shows promise. Leather, floral, red currants and a really buttery finish. Hold. None Ribera drinkers prior to my review. These are not wines you pop and pour and drink today.
White
2011 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Russian River Valley
92 points
Always a pleasure to drink Paul Hobbs wines. One of America's best. Complex and balance which is rare in Cali Chardonnay world. Lemon, lime, spices, oak, vanilla and medium finish. Good acidity. Drink now or hold five plus years.
Red
2011 CrossBarn (Paul Hobbs) Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
92 points
For second label stuff outstanding work Paul Hobbs. Dust, funk and dark fruits. Complex and balanced wine. Medium plus finish.
Red
2009 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
92 points
Always good and love this producer. Cherry, wood, sweet tannins and chocolate. Medium plus finish and age worthy.
Red
2010 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes
Raspberries, spice and oak. A bit closed at the moment so judgment withheld. 88 to 91.
Red
2010 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Stile Blocks
91 points
MN connection done right. Head west. Tried the 09 last weekend and like it and this is equal in goodness. Cherry, wood and smoke. Medium finish.
Red
2012 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County
90 points
Good almost every year. Ripe fruit and jam like. Medium finish.
Red
2011 Prisoner Wine Company Saldo
87 points
Never a fan of Orin Swift and this didn't change anything. Over ripe and sweet oak. Dust on the finish. Should cost $15.
Red
2010 Bodega Colomé Malbec Reserva
90 points
Nice wine with bright fruits, minerals and balanced. Medium finish.
Red
N.V. Domaine Serene Syrah Rockblock "SoNo"
84 points
Found out they will not continue this project and thank goodness. Stick to Pinot Noir as this stuff is terrible. Light and lacks any Syrah character that I enjoy.
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Red
2010 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Napa Valley
88 points
Good but not $45 good. Dust, cherry and plum. Medium finish and needs some time. Hard to believe this is $65 full boat. Don't get it.
Red
2009 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
88 points
Mild funk, spice, floral and soft fruits. Short to medium finish.
Red
2010 Marchesi di Barolo Barbera d'Alba Ruvei
89 points
Rustic with floral, cherries and raspberries. Medium finish and nice.
Red
2010 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvée
91 points
I now like this wine. Cherry, dust, scorched earth and floral notes combine and ends with a solid medium finish. Nice job.
Red
2010 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
90 points
Tight and needs some cellar time with spice, minerals and heavy fruit. Oak is present and in five years I would revisit. 90+
White
2012 Talbott Chardonnay Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard
90 points
Solid under $20 Chardonnay with a clean presentation of lemon, apples, spices and pear. Short to medium finish and balanced.
White
2011 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis
84 points
Under whelmed and too acidic. Just lacks balance and too many better entry level Chablis wines to drink.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Pol Roger Champagne Brut Réserve
92 points
Outstanding offering with lemon, spices, shells and dough. Clean finish and good balance. Wish it was a little cheaper.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut
90 points
Better than the last five N.V. so I will be buying this one. Orange peel, granny smith apples, baked pie crust and chalk. Medium and solid on the finish.
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White
2011 Hugel Gentil "Hugel"
87 points
Good and interesting enough for entry level white wine. Lemon peel, apples and sweet floral notes. Short finish.
White
2012 Hall Sauvignon Blanc
87 points
Better than the last vintage. The only draw back is a bit bitter on the finish but features apples, grapefruit and floral notes.
White
White
2012 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros
90 points
Nice with lemon, spices and lime. Rich on the palate and a touch of oak. Medium finish.