Important Update From the Founder Read message >

NY Wine Experience 2022

Marriott Marquis

Tasted October 20, 2022 - October 23, 2022 by MC2 Wines with 276 views

Introduction

A slightly different approach to this NY Wine Experience where I didn't take notes on everything (most notably none of the Grand Tasting wines, but also a few of the seminars and a perennial favorite the Chef's Challenge), but a fun weekend nonetheless. I very much appreciated the change from a dinner to a champagne reception (even though I skipped notes there as well). Gave us time to grab dinner at our favorite restaurant Atera.

Flight 1 - Vintage Champagne (3 notes)

Strong start out of the gate and after a rather busy Thursday it was a good way to ease into the rest of the day. '08 always a great vintage. My big surprise was how good the Dom Rose is. Drinking really well. Also interesting to hear someone say that the reason the '08s can be so good is most of the people making them also made '96 and can look back on all of the 'mistakes' from that vintage and finally got a chance to correct them. Different take.

White - Sparkling
2008 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut France, Champagne
From a magnum. Good morning to you too. Orange zest, very light and fresh, kindof melts in the mouth. A lot of the conversation was about how to manage the high acidity that '08 created. For the first time Cristal opted for malolactic fermentation (about 19%) to ease that a bit. Interesting fact. Wine is good. Not the best day that I've had it, but this is a great vintage and easy to see why.
12 people found this helpful Comment
Rosé - Sparkling
2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne Rosé France, Champagne
My surprise of the three champagnes. I guess I'd had it pre-release before but this morning it was just in a wonderful spot. All fresh red berries and young and vibrant and happy. Glad to see that we have some of these tucked away.
2 people found this helpful Comment
White - Sparkling
2008 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut France, Champagne
Highest portion of Pinot Meunier that has ever gone into a Krug which was an interesting tidbit. Still a bit shy and quiet but also evolving. This time around towards the end of the taste I got almost a char note in the background. Not in a bad/burnt way but in a 'I've never tasted that in champagne' kindof way which is fun. I think they are poking out little bits here and there but just need a lot of time.
3 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 2 - Wine Star - Josh Scott - Value Wine of the Year (1 note)

New to the Wine Experience is the calling out of a wine value of the year and this definitely seemed like a good candidate. Not easy to be right after the champagne flight but it did show well at that price point.

White
2021 Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Ok - it's a bit tough to be placed directly after the '08 Champagne flight where few would use terms like QPR or value and then be the value wine of the year (in context, it looks like you can buy multiple cases of this wine before you could buy one bottle of any of those). So resetting palate. This is young and fresh and while it has that NZ green it's not overdone at all. I can see the appeal of a warm summer day in the green hills and popping a cork here. I don't think I'd search it out, but if I needed a wine off a wine list with less wine focused friends this one I'd consider.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - Top 10 Wines - #10, #9, #8 (3 notes)

We'd had lunch with Philippe Guigal the day before so fun to see him up on stage and hear more about the Nalys purchase. And we always love Cavallotto so nice to see them getting some recognition.

Red
2018 Château de Nalys Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grand Vin France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Second time in as many days and very similar showing in both although I think I took a bit more time the day before and of course it's always nice to serve the wine with food to get the full experience. Still this is spicy and a bit fruity and a lighter texture and generally a pretty wine.
Red
2018 Salvestrin Cabernet Sauvignon Salvestrin - Dr. Crane Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
Very charming presenter as so many of them are with a bit more of the history of the Dr Crane Vineyard which I didn't know about. This is what you'd expect from more traditional style Napa - lots of fruit and more alcohol and a bit heavier in the mouth (also the cab). It does open in the glass though and so would be interesting to see how this goes with more time.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2016 Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Boschis Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
More reserved and bigger tannins in style. Grippy. Dark and a touch brooding. It's energetic and drinking well but a long life ahead and probably more time to really be in the true 'drinking window'.
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 - Wine Star - Franco Conterno (1 note)

Have not met Franco but have met Giacamo from Aldo Conterno which is a producer we always like.

Red
2014 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Romirasco Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
One of my favorite memories from our visits to Piedmont is tasting with Giacamo Conterno at Aldo Conterno and so I just have a special place in my heart for this wine. It's bright and vibrant and compelling. Darker red fruits. Drying tannin. But just jumps out of the glass. Very nice and I'm sure only getting better.

Flight 5 - Oregon Pinot Noir (4 notes)

Lots of floral going on here and it wasn't the glasses.

Red
2019 Bergström Pinot Noir Dundee Hills USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
Very floral (true throughout most of the PNs we were tasting in this flight). Lots of potpourri. More almost handsoap. It was quite intense. I actually wondered if maybe it was some soap in the glass, but nope - it just seems to be this year of Oregon Pinot.
Red
2019 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
This was a bit more on the light side although not as much as Evening Land. Again a lot of floral, maybe not quite the hand soap. There's some restraint to it. Drinks well.
Red
2019 Evening Land Vineyards Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills
Very light and bright and almost almost like drinking water but actually drinking wine. Softer in the mouth. Still get the floral.
Red
2019 Zena Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir Slope USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills
Darker fruits, more floral again, balanced with some secondary notes already poking out a bit. Made from the 667 clone.

Flight 6 - Wine Star - Maison Louis Latour & Wine #6 (1 note)

Very said to hear of Louis Latour's passing in September. He had apparently been very excited to join when he was asked in May. His brother did a stand-up job of standing in for him.

Red
1999 Louis Latour Corton-Grancey France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
More red fruits with a more herbal style. Drinks quite nicely. Easy and light and pretty.

Flight 7 - Top 10 Wines - #7, #5 (2 notes)

Definitely getting that 2018 was a good Bordeaux year.

Red
2018 Château Léoville Poyferré France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Lots of dark fruits and baking spices and while this is incredibly young it seems to have the stuffing to be a long-time wine. Interested to see how it develops with more time. Great price point for the quality of Bordeaux it is.
5 people found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
2016 Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
First impression is all oak but that's often the way with the Brunello for me. It's intense, but softens in the glass. Drying tannins up next. Just give this more time. It hasn't integrated yet.
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 8 - Mouton Rothschild Vertical (4 notes)

Always a treat to get a vertical of first growth and what a very special treat to get to try the '86 straight from the cellar. That's a special bottle

Red
2016 Château Mouton Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Very young, dark black fruits, some spice. There's a lot to like about the opening notes of this. Much too young to be drinking now, but makes you understand why Bordeaux was so keen on 2016. Drinking very nicely.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2006 Château Mouton Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Very good wine that is a touch overshadowed by its company but still tasty nonetheless. Darker fruits and baking spices and very fresh. Needs more time.
Red
1996 Château Mouton Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Starting to get into the ready to drink stage and probably of the four wines was the most in that place. Dark fruits again. A bit pretty. Some almost razor edge to it (a tighter acid). Dark library with that smell of musty books and leather chairs. Very nice.
3 people found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
1986 Château Mouton Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Beautiful dark cassis in style. Well integrated. Very young still (younger than the '96), but just lovely. Lots of spices. A wine that seems like it should live forever.
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 9 - Wine Star - Robert Kamen (1 note)

I could sit and listen to his stories all day. He went a bit over, but to my mind totally fine.

Red
2019 Kamen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Lava Block USA, California, Sonoma County
What an absolute hoot it is to listen to Robert Kamen talk about his wine (or more specifically, talk about everything but the wine itself). Half of my tasting note is around the stories rather than the wine itself which is a bigger style Napa mountain cab. Intense and deep. Needs a lot more time for my tastes. But the stories....
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 10 - Wine Star - Aurelio Montes (1 note)

We visited Chile many years ago on our honeymoon and visited Montes so it was fun to get some of the background of the winery.

Red
2015 Montes Alpha M Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Mouth coating. More spicy in style. Darker fruits. Some tannin. Intense style of wine.

Flight 11 - Pingus Vertical (3 notes)

First time with Pingus and can see why there's the hype. Not the cheapest (although as he pointed out during the q&a it is cheaper than DRC)....

Red
2018 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Very young, deep, tannic blackberry and yet there's this kindof clean line that comes through. It's incredibly primary, but it does seem like there's an interesting wine in its future.
Red
2016 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Really lovely. Dark cassis. And a bit compelling and interesting and actually the wine that I wanted to go back to when the spot next to us never got filled and there was extra Pingus to try. This is a bit different than the other two. Not exactly sure how to pinpoint it, but there's just a 'compellingness' to this wine. Too young of yet, but a wine to keep track of.
Red
2010 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Deep and dark and fruity, a bit more alcohol, some freshness, almost like a wood shavings. Has more age than the other two but it's still a baby. Suspect if this wine just started getting made in the mid-90's that none of them are truly ready yet.

Flight 12 - Top 10 Wines - #4, #3, #2 (3 notes)

Lots of favorites in here.

Red
2018 Merum Priorati Priorat Destí Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Verve and energy, lots of fruit, maybe a bit of the balsamic, hints of drying tannin at the end. This is a wine designed for the hedonist palate.
Red
2016 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Just a beautiful wine even if it is quite young. Lovely eucalyptus, darker fruits, great balance. Hints of vanilla bean. It drinks well and is honestly just tasty.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2018 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Really lovely, blackberry, lavender, young, fresh. Seems to have a ton of ageability. Would love to try it again towards the end of my life.
4 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 13 - Dominus Vertical (4 notes)

A wine we don't spend as much time with as we probably should from California but I do always enjoy them.

Red
2018 Dominus Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
The wine of the year from Wine Spectator and part of the last vertical. This was fresh and bright and herbal and very much the old world style shining through but with the new world fruit.
4 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2013 Dominus Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
Again more of that new world fruit, very pulled together, young, lots of pepper, a hint of age but 2013's seem like they will go for a long time. Still drinking too young.
Red
2006 Dominus Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
Fresh. Lots of tannins (mouth coating) but it fades with time. Fruit. Interesting wine. Still young.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2002 Dominus Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
So very young. Lots of big fruit. Almost no age here (at least could tell the '06 had had 16 years - this feels almost like it could have been released last year). Perhaps a bit less depth to it. Wonder how it will evolve longer term.

Flight 14 - Dinner @ Atera (3 notes)

Wow - what can I say? Pretty much every time the chef(s) outdo themselves.

LOBSTER | Tomato, Basil
AEBESKIVER | Crab, Comte, Lime
KALUGA CAVIAR | Custard, Bonito
IBERICO HAM | Tuna, Onion, Pepper
LANGOUSTINE | Squash, Citrus
KING SALMON | Spinach, Daikon, Roe
SQUID | Foie Gras, Shrimp, Scallion
SHORT RIB | Salsify, Miso
DUCK | Pear, Carrot, Balsamic
APPLE | Hazelnut, Vanilla
CHOCOLATE | Currant, Thyme
LEMON | Cream, Chocolate
OLIVE OIL | Citrus
SORGHUM | Peanut

Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Ulysse Collin Champagne Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut Les Maillons France, Champagne
Yikes! What happened to this producer. I used to buy these bottles for very normal grower prices and they were generally available and then they weren't. You can see why though - wine is bright and fruity and enjoyable. Always a more lean style to me but it works.
Red
2016 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny
I always love this wine and this is no different. More herbal and slightly savory and just a bit of black fruit and while it's baby killing at this point it's still so enjoyable it feels almost ok.
1 person found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
2017 Domaine de la Grange des Pères Vin de Pays de l'Hérault France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
Not a wine that we've spent a lot of time with but it is very enjoyable. Similar in style to the Le Bourg with the more herbal and almost slightly savory notes just with a different grape.

Closing

So many great wines - hard to keep up with them all.

© 2003-24 CellarTracker! LLC.

Report a Problem

Close