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Scott Paul and De Ponte
Tasted January 30, 2010 by David Paris (dbp) with 659 views
Introduction
Decided to hit up some wineries the day before my birthday. Only wound up making it to two before 5 o'clock rolled around, though.
Flight 1 - Scott Paul (9 notes)
White
2007 Domaine Thibert Père et Fils Saint Véran Champ Rond
84 points
Very light nose, which is slightly floral, but has quite a bit of rank aromas. Crisp on the palate with what feels to be building sweetness, then cucumber, all rounded out with some raspiness. Tart funk on the finish with some under ripe hard pear. Enjoyed the 2006 more.
Red
2006 Réyane et Pascal Bouley Volnay 1er Cru Champans
88 points
Very pretty nose, quite spicy, some funk, floral aromas, and light graphite. Tart and moderately deep feeling on the palate with some light cranberry, quite a lot of red apple, and tannins begin to build as my palate feels like it was scraped with some steel wool. Very tight finish with tart tannins.
Red
2006 Domaine Aleth Girardin Pommard Les Noizons
87 points
Much larger in scale than the previous Volnay with some big fruit, and some natural rock and brick flavors. Big red fruits on the palate, medium to full bodied, and mainly dominated by big dark red fruits. The wine feels very soft on the palate. Tannins kick on the finish with some stone, and a tartness lingers.
Red
2007 Scott Paul Cellars Pinot Noir La Paulée
88 points
Lots of green notes on the nose, green stems, green fruit, and a light charcoal. Surprising on the palate as none of that greenness follows through, instead we get fairly delicious red fruits, nice red berries, and very tart cranberry. Similar flavors are on the finish as the palate, but I also get some light asparagus.
Red
2007 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Gevrey-Chambertin
89 points
Quite a bit of dark fruit on the nose. In general, very forward, with some light oak and hot wood ash. Wow, very pleasing body, almost silky, with nice soft fruit. The palate is all about the texture, though. Tannins build several seconds later, very light, some red fruits hold, and it's very pretty but quite tight today. Could open up beautifully in just a couple years.
Red
2005 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Morey St. Denis
88 points
Large in size again, this time with really raspy funky oak and generic red fruits. Big fruit on the palate as tannins build, but the texture is overall very soft. Nice peppered cherry and raspberry on the finish. Very tight. New bottle is even tighter, but somehow more pleasing and integrated.
Red
2006 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Bel-Air
86 points
Very tight with a ton of green grass on the nose. Interesting. Very soft fruit on the palate, tart and tight. Some spice evolves into red apples on the finish. This one seems fairly shut down, but shows nice structure.
Red
2006 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers
86 points
Some burning wood embers, and maple tree bark on the nose. Tart red fruits are on a pleasing mouthfeel, as this is a bit softer and greener. Soft fruit on the finish, tannins seem a bit off balanced (excessive) with the fruit.
Red
2006 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Charmes-Chambertin
91 points
Very pretty and quite soft and pleasing aromas of flowers, real strawberries, and strawberry flavored sweet tarts. On the palate, light to medium bodied, floral, and some very pleasing candied flavors and spice. Soft integrated tannins on the finish, more sweet tarts that are very tasty, and very very spicy... more tastes and I get lychee fruit and red apples, but the spice is very pleasing.
Flight 2 (0 notes)
There was also a "secret" 2008 that Scott opened up. I'll post the wine once it's actually released, but the note goes:
Smells like an otter pop, sour sugar covered jelly candy, and a combination of a rubber garden hose and a rubber band. Big fruit on the palate, bit time big league chew bubble gum, and a plastic bag. The finish has one distinct flavor: like you took a piece of individually wrapped bubble gum, wrapped in wax paper, and just through it directly in your mouth and began chewing it without removing the paper. I found this wine very interesting and pleasing, where as the other two people in my group didn't care for it much. 88 pts.
Flight 3 - De Ponte Cellars (5 notes)
Red
2007 De Ponte Cellars Pinot Noir Clay Hill
81 points
Sharp and clean on the nose, showing a very light mix of red fruits... smells like Pinot Noir, just a very generic one. Tight on the palate, some oak, but not really tasty. Harsh and astringent on the finish.
Red
2007 De Ponte Cellars Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
83 points
Quite chemically on the nose and rather harsh. Can't really get to the fruit. Soft on the palate and still has that chemical thing, almost like a leaky bunsen burner. Also tastes of raspy oak. Tannic and green on the finish.
Red
2006 De Ponte Cellars Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
86 points
On the nose, soft, like water running through a sprinkler in the summer. There's also some bigger, pleasing fruits. Nice and soft palate with big fruits. Pleasing finish, with no faults, but nothing really stands out either. Some light tannins at the end, but basically ready to drink.
Red
2007 De Ponte Cellars Pinot Noir Estate
89 points
Again, fairly green nose. On the palate there is also a little bit of green, but it has very pleasing body and fruit. Very pure expression. Feels like the fruit here is very real, and it has great body and structure. Really good balance. The finish has equal balance of fruit and tannin, also expresses a little bit of lettuce.
Red
2007 De Ponte Cellars Pinot Noir Baldwin Family Reserve
91 points
Nose shows smoke, licorice wheel, some candied raspberries, cinnamon, and some red rooibos tea. You can almost smell the structure here. Very soft on the palate and quite pleasing, showing good fruit, some seaweed, and tannins build nicely. More cinnamon on the finish, lemon water (tartness), and nice tart red fruits. Really good wine.