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Summer 2014 Distinguished Cellar Auction Tasting
Spectrum Wine Auctions @ San Diego Wine Storage Solana Beach
Tasted July 30, 2014 by f22nickell with 537 views
Introduction
I just booked a work trip to Southern California TRACON in San Diego when I got the email from Spectrum wine auction for this fabulous tasting opportunity in San Diego that (luckily) coincided with my trip. So, for $25, I was able to taste the following highly-rated, expensive wines.
Flight 1 - Bubbles and Whites (3 notes)
One champagne, one Riesling, and one cult California Chardonnay ... The Alsace Riesling was my favorite, hands down.
White - Sparkling
1996 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon
Again ... I just don't "get" champagne ... I enjoyed it just fine, but I couldn't tell you the difference between this bottle and a dime-store sparkler.
White
1999 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune
92 points
Clear golden yellow color. Aromas of petrol, minerals, limestone, yellow apples, honey. Silk smooth acids on the palette with hints of lemon, and yellow apples. Full bodied wine with a smooth texture and a long finish. I really enjoyed this one.
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White
2009 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard
90 points
Salted caramel and butterscotch on the nose with dried apricots and pear. Tropical fruit on the palate with good weight, richness and density. Well balanced and all in harmony. Subtle caramel over dried apricot and yellow apple skin. Not my thing, this what-I-call "California caramel" style of wine.
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Flight 2 - Pinot Noir - Burgundy (4 notes)
Two Grand Crus, a 1er, and a village wine... The village was easily my favorite.
Red
2010 Domaine Latour-Giraud Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes
89 points
Lush and creamy on the nose, red berries, herbs and spices with a hint of forest notes. Good grip on the palate, fresh and a bit tight at present. still lush, good balance and decent finish. A little short.
Red
2010 Domaine de la Vougeraie Clos Vougeot
89 points
Agree with AAGRAWAL ... Just add this wine is very Oakley and disjointed. Could come together in time, but hard to judge. Payoff seems small, not a wine to buy for me.
Red
2010 Marchand & Tawse / Pascal Marchand Mazy-Chambertin
91 points
Very reduced. Smokey, roasted coffee bean notes. Cocoa aromas. Dark red berry fruit. Grilled meats. Very nice elements. Still, no "wow" factor here.
Red
2009 Edmond Cornu & Fils Ladoix
91 points
Bright ruby red; leather and cherry nose; cherry and dry Indian spice palate that finishes fairly short, but overall this is delicious.
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Flight 3 - Pinot Noir - New World (3 notes)
Two Sonoma County and one Oregon. The Aubert was my favorite.
Red
2008 Ken Wright Pinot Noir McCrone Vineyard
89 points
Very earthy nose with raspberries. Tart palate and not as sweet as expected given the vintage. Nice strong acidity on red fruited finish.
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Red
2011 Littorai Pinot Noir The Haven
90 points
Very young and tight nose. Some stemminess, minerality, a little oak, red fruits and a little forest floor. Clean. Nice enough, but not very interesting.
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Red
2011 Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard
91 points
The wine has a beautiful garnet color, light in the glass with almost no legs. The nose was light with hints of fruit and minerals. A light fruity taste that is tart and not sweet and a smooth texture. The finish is long. My favorite of the new pinots, but not a good QPR to me.
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Flight 4 - Assortment of heavier old world reds (3 notes)
A CDP, a Brunello, and a northern Rhone. Hands down the Cote Rotie was my favorite, and WOTN for the tasting.
Red
2010 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Impériale
90 points
Lots of berry quality but a bit green and still a bit alcoholic. Smokey and elegant, yet juicy and plush.
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Red
2007 Cerbaiona (Molinari) Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
Translucent light ruby color. Big, ripe red fruit, spice, a little dried herb. Surprisingly low acid here, and delicate fine tannins. Well-balanced, but lacking some of the muscle that I expect from sangiovese. Pair with lighter Italian dishes, this is not a big, bold brunello.
Red
2003 Delas Frères Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
93 points
Started with some wonderful spring flowers, black fruits, and cherry and evolved to add some sage, tar and rubbed leather. More black than blue this always kept its feminine side in show. This was long and precise with a nice balance, focus and purity. A long finish kept it all alive for a minute plus. Beautiful.
Flight 5 - Dessert. Wines (back at my room, not part of the tasting) (2 notes)
A Washington Red Mountain Ice Wine and an Aussie Sticky. Sadly, I enjoyed the $10 Aussie sticky more than everything at the tasting save the Delas Cote Rotie and the Alsace Riesling.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2010 d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Sticky Chardonnay Riesling Semillon Pinot Gris
91 points
BVAL nailed it. Only real flaw is the acid takes a few seconds to catch up with the RS and flavors. Starts too sweet, but ends up crisp. At $10/split, this is outstanding QPR.
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2012 Kiona Chenin Blanc Ice Wine
89 points
pretty nose of citrus, ripe pear, some apple and some minerality as well as a touch of honey. Light-bodied with medium acidity. Good length. Not enough acid for me, but a decent enough ice wine that is all about freshness.
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Closing
All in all, I was disappointed with 90% of the offering. Just goes to show you that expensive, highly-sought-after wines don't necessarily translate into "good" wines for your palate.