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TN: Burgundy vs. U.S Pinot Noir blind tasting....plus a dozen others!!!
Buzzini House
Tasted July 27, 2009 by Mrbuzz with 1,686 views
Introduction
Players: Mike Sai, BC Little, Edson Gonzales, Bob Summers, Brian Buzzini. The theme was a blind tasting with French Burgundy vs. U.S. Pinots. We had 9 bottles in the tasting...and ended consuming a dozen others!!! Spitting was key! Thanks everyone...GREAT wines, GREAT tasting...it was a fun way to spend a Sunday!
Flight 1 - Starters (2 notes)
Red
1997 Dobra Zemlja Syrah
92 points
Wonderful surprise! Alive as ever....super fresh, deep dark spice, Port-like dark fruit, plum skin sour, dusty dry woods, pepper, leather, little dry on the finish. Will go a few more years no problem. Tasty!
White
2007 Weingut Markus Huber Grüner Veltliner Berg
88 points
Our palate cleanser.....sharp, soapy acid, apples, peach, some raw peanut, little fume...nice, but a little out of whack for me.
Flight 2 - Mini 2002 Les Genevrieres Meursault head to head (2 notes)
White
2002 Domaine Michelot Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières
94 points
Ahhhh....first smell, I knew this was going to be good! Very Roulot-like, bright crisp lemon/lime acid, flinty smoky hazelnuts, tropical, mineral spice....drank well all day! Blew away the 2002 Louis Latour Genevrieres we had side by side.
White
2002 Louis Latour Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières
89 points
Second bottle in a week...this showed better than the first, no signs of premox, but compared to the 2002 Domaine Michelot Mère & Fille Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières...it was more oaked and less focused, not much "Meursault" to it. I did like the baked apple, lemon cut, and some mineral stone...but then I'd taste the Michelot again, and want more of that. Hard to believe same Vineyard, same year, different results.
Flight 3 - Blinded White's (3 notes)
This was a shocker....I thought maybe they would all be dead....totally NOT! Kalin steals the show!
White
1999 Ridge Chardonnay Monte Bello
92 points
Slightly oxidized, but not dead. Darker golden yellow color, baked apple, caramel, hazelnut butter. This wine went in and out of greatness. At times, oxidative...but then wonderful mineral and spice would take over. Definitely not like the last bottle I had a few years ago, but not at all dead yet. In the end, a tasty, mature Ca. Chard.
White
1999 Michel Colin-Deléger et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes
90 points
Slightly oxidized, but not dead. Similar to the '99 Ridge MB, same golden color, baked apples, nutty, some nice citrus acidity, minerals. Most of these bottles have been premox dead...but this bottle still showed some life. Quite nice at times.
White
1991 Kalin Cellars Chardonnay Cuvée LD
94 points
What a HUGE surprise! I thought this was no doubt the '99 Ridge MB...but it turned out to be this wine. Very light, green tinge color, young looking. Fresh melon, tropical fruit....reminded me of a NZ Sauvignon Blanc with some age on it. Gorgeous dried citrus spice, minerals, exotic spice...the fruit was even a little sweet. This wine is 18 years old???? WOW!
Flight 4 - Main Event (9 notes)
Red
2005 L. Tramier & Fils Pommard 1er Cru La Chanière
85 points
Closed down tight...dark berry(but lacking), sour acidity, rhubarb, some green veggi. I didn't get much out of this. Needs time.
Red
2006 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard
93 points
Big and sweet, super tasty, well balanced. Raspberry, candied cherry fruit, forest floor, dusty potpourri spice, sandalwood, stems, KB-like. My first Rhys Alpine....LOVED this!
Red
1989 Louis Jadot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle Domaine du Duc de Magenta Rouge
91 points
No doubt Burg here. Leather, dried leaves, plum/cherry fruit, rose petal, earth funk....all well polished and smooth with the age, yet still firm and alive with fresh orange acidity. Great wine!
Red
2000 Cooper Mountain Vineyards Pinot Noir Five Elements Organic
92 points
Another HUGE surprise! A Grocery Outlet purchase my Mike for $3! Dead Burg ringer...in fact, I thought without question a Burg. Jammy strawberry, leather, earth tone mulch, super fresh orange acidity, some cocoa bean. Held up well throughout the day.......I will be checkin the G.O. later in the day.....WOW.
Red
2000 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène
92 points
Deep dark color, huge plush wild berry fruit, wonderful spices, cola....all smooth and balanced. Drinking well right now, and should continue for many more.
Red
2006 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos de La Bussière
91 points
Beautiful and pretty wine...light bodied, but packed with floral spices, baking spice, candied cherry/strawberry fruit. Needs more time...but should be killer in 5+.
Red
2006 August West Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard
89 points
Sweet candied cherry/raspberry fruit, high toned alcohol...like a strawberry martini? Had some nice RRV spice...but a little too much alc. More of a cocktail wine.
Red
1999 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir West Block
92 points
Another WOW wine! Dark plush berry(blueberry?) fruit, intense exotic spice, sandalwood, forest floor. Young tasting....got better and better throughout the day.
Red
2006 Inman Family Pinot Noir
80 points
I did not care for this wine. Thought it was a ringer? Under ripe red fruit, some red wine vinegar, dry and acidic. It did, however open a little as the day went on....but still too harsh for me.
Flight 5 - Edson's blind (1 note)
BIG thanks for this....my WOTN!
Red
1999 Château Latour Grand Vin
96 points
Edsons blind....I thought Pauillac, maybe Pontet Canet '03? Friggin AMAZING! So plush yet firm with dusty graphite tannin, dark blackberry, currants, cherry fruit....leather, dry French oak spice, deep deep floral spice, creamy vanilla, smoke. I held this is my glass as long as possible. Wish I could drink this everyday! And to think how a great Vintage would be like.......truly amazing stuff!
Flight 6 - "Here try this..." (4 notes)
Red
2005 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape
93 points
Pop and pour...needed to open. Not the epiphany as the last 2 bottles I've had, but still tasty cherry/raspberry fruit, white pepper spice, smoked cherry wood, dried tobacco leaves, old leather. Well balanced, silky smooth, yet stout with structure. Can't wait to try some leftovers tonight! Great CdP.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2002 Sine Qua Non Chardonnay Mr. K The Noble Man
95 points
HUGE viscous liquid gold...loaded with sweet apricot, wild honeycomb, creme brulee crust, exotic white flower spice, tobacco. Has good acidity...but not as much as the '03 if I remember correctly. Super Alban fruit terroir of smoky hazelnut, match strike. Always a treat.
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Red
1998 Rosemount Estate Syrah Balmoral
93 points
Full bodied, blue fruits, dusty spice, pepper, smoky cedar/meat, creamy vanilla oak. Very young still, long way to go....but great tasting now!
Red
N.V. Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Lot NV 46 Bottled in 1978
89 points
Funky electrical fire thing(not off putting) at first.....surprisingly dark fruit, dirt dust, dried herbs, bayleaf, leather....didn't really scream "Heitz", or maybe it did....this was the end of the day wine after a LOT of others. For a NV wine...maybe from 1974-75 fruit?...it seems to be holding up better than expected. Will try some leftover tonight. Interesting side note...this was bottle #55,865 out of 55,865.
Closing
Again, thanks guys for the killer wines....it was fun! Lets do it again SOON!