Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 2 *shared* VERY spectacular bottles] from 06/01/18]

Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA
Tasted Saturday, June 2, 2018 by srh with 279 views

Flight 1 (14 Notes)

  • 2017 Maîtres Vignerons de la Presqu'ile de Saint-Tropez Côtes de Provence Fleur de Mer Rosé

    France, Provence, Côtes de Provence

    N: Flowers with undertones of spice, but lacks endurance?

    P: LM body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt counterbalanced by acidity. The finish is LONG, tangy/swt, ult with HINTS of raisins. A reasonable quaff for now & through '19 that MIGHT also work with lighter fare. My VG+. [This vendor's $15.95 no longer shows ANY *current* wine-searcher competition.]

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  • 2016 Paul Pernot et ses Fils Puligny-Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet

    N: Intense & VERY attractive mushrooms & oak

    P: LM body; NICE frt VERY nicely balanced by acidity which is PROBABLY the dominant aspect of the very LONG, beautifully balanced finish. Though the middle may be lacking a bit of intensity, overall this is LOVELY stuff for now & likely through '21. My EXC-. 16/20 (2x) Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $54.95 puts it in the top 1/2 of wine-searcher's listings.]

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  • 2016 La Ferme du Mont Côtes du Rhône La Truffière

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

    N: Fairly intense earth & forest floor

    P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt BEAUTIFULLY off-set by an acidity which makes itself felt into & through the LONG, tangy/swt finish with ult hints of honey. For now & through '21, I'm guessing. Should be amazing with food! My EXC-, more if QPR a focus, this vendor's $14.95 being @ the top of wine-searcher's currently VERY limited listing. 15/20 Jancis Robinson.

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  • 2016 Lloyd Chardonnay

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    "Sourced from the Kiser, Home and Green Acres Blocks from Sangiacomo Vineyard, as well as a small amount of fruit from the Truchard Vineyard...Picked at the peak of ripeness, our Chard is barrel fermented & aged for 10 mos in AM oak. Left on the lees right until bottling."

    N: Butter, but attractive, rest tough to parse

    P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish OAK/frt met by some bitterish acidity which only resolves its bitterness as it mitigates through the long, bitterswt (35:65) finish. I'm troubled by the bitterness, not knowing WHAT to say re ageability, etc. [FYI, another more experienced felt this has R.S.] 90 pts WS. [This vendor's $29.95 is $4 < anyone else currently listed on wine-searcher.]

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  • 2015 Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Côte de Nuits Villages Mosaic

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Nuits Villages

    1,000 cs made, per WS

    N: Ripe berries, some earth?

    P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by some VERY slightly bitterish astringency which transitions into a LONG, OCCASIONALLY bitterish finish with hints of spice & swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Deserves into Winter '19, then drinking for 3 yrs more? My VG+, poss EXC-. 88 pts WS. [This vendor's $25.95 is in the middle of wine-searcher's 3 listings.]

    Note: I sensed more structure when I retasted this on 8/4/2018.

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  • 2015 Marchand & Tawse / Pascal Marchand Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Perrières

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

    100% destemmed, 18 days total vat time; Aged 16 mos in FR oak barrels, 20% new from Jupilles forest with one racking before bottling; Unfined & unfiltered

    N: Ripe, deep, rest TOUGH to parse; Intensity lurking!

    P: Med body; NICE frt fairly QUICKLY met by a puckerish astringency which slowly transitions into a very LONG, occasionally bitterish finish, but with hints of swtness to the tannins. NEEDS tons of time (I'm guessing through '22 min), then MAY wind up being a gem to drink through the 2020s. My VG+/EXC-, with all KINDS of additiona potential. [This vendor's $74.95 is $5 < than the only current wine-searcher listing.]

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  • 2015 Ernest Vineyards Pinot Noir The Settler

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    From Cleary Ranch Vyd, aged 10 mos in 30% new FR oak; 245 cs

    N: Attractive RIPE berries, rest tough to parse

    P: LM body; LOVELY, ALMOST swtish frt nicely counterbalanced by some almost swtish astringency which fairly seamlessy morphs into a LONG, nicely balanced, VERY slightly tangy finish with an attractive swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. DESERVES another 6-12 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs more min. Quite an attractive wine of which a fellow, more experienced, taster was NOT as enamored. 12.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. [This vendor's $46.95 ranks #3/4 wine-searcher current listings.]

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  • 2013 Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di S. Niccolò Toscana IGT

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

    N: Vanilla, ripe berries, earth; Intensity lurking?

    P: LM body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by a puckerish astringency (yet without ever losing the initial frt swtness) as it slowly, fairly seamlessly transitions into a quite LONG, swtly tannic finish. NEEDS into '21, poss longer, then should make its 15th without problem. A STUNNING wine! 14.0% ABV; My EXC/EXC+ with likely EXCEPTIONALITY down the line. [This vendor's $61.95 puts it @ the bottom of the top quartile of an *extremely* skewed wine-searcher listing.]

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  • 2015 Fattoria Le Pupille (Elisabetta Geppetti) Saffredi Toscana IGT

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Should you be interested, I’ve uploaded info for this vintage which you can peruse at your leisure. 😉

    N: Slightly closed; Ripe, already complex, but TOUGH to parse; Intensity lurking!

    P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt fairly QUICKLY met by a puckerish astringency which doesn't come even REMOTELY close to losing the beauty of the initial frt as it SEAMLESSLY transitions into an INCREDIBLY LONG finish with that swtness to the dusty tannins. SENSATIONAL! NEEDS 3 or 4 yrs, then drinking for _ ? My EXC+, future EXCEPTIONALITY a *lock*! [This vendor's $77.95 is currently @ the head of wine-searcher's "class" by ≈ $3.]

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  • 2015 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    N: Slightly closed; Oak, berries, pyrazines? Intensity lurking

    P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, almost swtish frt quickly met by puckerish astringency which DOES lose the bulk, if not all, of its objectionality as it fairly seamlessly morphs into the quite LONG, elegant finish with hints of swtness to the OCCASIONAL bitterish tannins. NEEDS into '22, poss longer, but a potential gem... sometime. 14.5% ABV; My EXC, poss EXC+. 98 pts Suckling & his #36/Top 100 Wines for '17, 95 pts Vinous, 94 WS, 93 WA, 92 Wine & Spirits, and 16/20 Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $57.95 is $3 < the next lowest wine-searcher listing.]

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  • 2015 Penedo Borges Gran Reserva Finca Don Otaviano

    Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo, Agrelo

    Typically, 85% Malbec, 10% C.S., & 5% Syrah; Aged 12 mos in FR (70%) & AM (30%), then another 12 mos in bottle prior to release.

    N: RIPE berries & vanilla

    P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) counterbalanced by a swtish, puckerish astringency which DOES lose its bite by the LONG, reasonably pleasant finish with a mitigating swtness to the very, VERY tannins. A popular-styled wine that MIGHT improve through '18, then drink for 3 yrs more. My VG. [I could find no one else with whom to compare this vendor's $19.95.]

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  • 2014 Prisoner Wine Company Thorn

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    "77% Merlot; 23% Blend of Malbec and Syrah;" Aged in "...a combination of French and Hungarian oak barrels, 30% new."

    N: Fairly fragrant vanilla SLIGHTLY atop ripe berries?

    P: Med, poss LM, body; Nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which loses the majority of its oomph as it morphs into a LONG finish with a decided swtness (& only SPORADIC bitterness) to the very, VERY fine tannins. DESERVES/needs another yr or 2, then drinking for the ff 3 or so. My VG+, poss EXC-. 90 pts Wine & Spirits, + a Gold @ $45 from the '18 S.F. Chronicle Wine Comp. [This vendor's $27.95 is ~ $2 < anyone else on wine-searcher's fairly large list.]

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  • 2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

    France, Champagne

    Dr. Tom, *THANK* you for this experience! :)

    N: Earth, minerals

    P: LM, poss Med, body; LOVELY frt on entry with BEAUTIFULLY balancing acidity which transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with TOUCHES of bitterness to add intrigue. SUPERB! However, even though I'm *inexperienced* with vintage Champagne, my sense was that this is on its way from being predominantly lean & crisp to more of a rich nuttiness that SHOULD come with cellar time. So, I'm guessing one SHOULD drink sooner rather than later IF looking for crispness, as I suspect that it's starting to fade. 12% ABV; My EXC/EXC+. 97+ pts Vinous, 96 John Gilman, 95 pts & a "Cellar Selection" @ $199 from WE, 94 ea WA, WS, Suckling, & Decanter, 91 RJonWine, and 19 -> 17/20 Jancis Robinson (6 reviews)!

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  • 2007 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata

    Argentina, Mendoza

    Dr. Tom, this was *fabulous*! You're TOO much, you know! :)

    65% C.S. & 35% Malbec 50% ea barrel & bin fermented @ low temps, aged 24 mos in 100% new FR oak; 14.0% ABV, 5.8 grams/liter T.A., & 3.72 pH; 4,500 cs made, per WS.

    N: GORGEOUS smoke, berries, rest tough to parse

    P: MF, poss Med, body; LOVELY, ALMOST swtish frt met by balancing acidity which slowly, SEAMLESSLY transitions into a very LONG, impeccably BALANCED finish with NOTHING out of place/standing out! Drink NOW for its perfection, but I can SEE holding it for several more. They don't get MUCH better than this! My EXCEPTIONAL! 98 pts WA, 94 WE @ $120, 93+ Tanzer, & 92 WS.

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Closing

The Nuits-Saint-Georges has lots of potential, & being able to taste 3 Super Tuscans back-to-back is an opportunity I *shan't* forget -- not to mention the INCREDIBLE shared bottles! :)

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