Luis Returns!

Tilia, Mpls
Tasted Thursday, September 15, 2022 by rocknroller with 137 views

Introduction

This was the latest event for Luis' group. The theme was the usual "bring a very good bottle". This marked the triumphant return of Luis, for the first time since January. It was great to see everyone and have Luis back in the fold again. The wnes showed well, and we had some excellent dishes with great service as usual from Stephen Brown's team at Tilia.

Flight 1 - Champagne Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2002 Cristian Senez Champagne Brut Millésimé 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    Lighter-medium gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. There has been some variation in the maturity of these, but this might have been the best bottle to date. Much brighter fruit and character overall, still has that oxidative style, but it is bolstered by the red apple, grapefruit pith, bread dough and green apple peel. 91+ to 92pts.

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  • 2000 Lanson Champagne Noble Cuvée de Lanson Brut 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes plus. Well hello old friend, its been a awhile. Still drinking quite well 3 years down the road. Rather creamy textured, apple and lemon with vanilla pastry notes and Chantilly cream, chalk and slight oxidative notes. 92+pts.

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Flight 2 - Chardonnay Flight (3 Notes)

  • 2011 Chateau Montelena 40th Chardonnay Vintage 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Pale green gold color. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. Striking purity in the classic Montelena style. Gorgeous white peach dominates the nose with bright white florals, flint, and tangerine and notable lift. The nose then morphs to seductive passion fruit over the next 20 minutes. The palate delivers class and finesse; peach, tangerine, and then the passion fruit as this evolves beautifully in glass. There's the distinctive crystalline vein of minerality and the weightless medium body frame. I love this; impressive stuff. 93+pts and maybe better.

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  • 2012 DuMOL Chardonnay Isobel 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Medium gold color. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. More mature now, this show lemon oil, toasted nuts, toffee, stone and spice. The palate is full bodied, lemon, lemon oil texture, spices, toffee, stone, richer with a butter brickle note, long with a touch of lacquer on the finish. Still very good, but now mature and not as bright as in the past. I would drink these sooner than later.

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  • 2015 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series 93 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Light gold color. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. Taut and intense is how I would describe this wine. The nose is filled with brine and oyster shell, lemon-lime sweet tart nose, white flowers and good lift. The palate emerges with intensity, tangy and tart, lime, some lemon, steely, brine, good acid, modest oak notes and medium full bodied. Nothing tropical here. Curious to see where this goes. 92+ to 93pts.

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Flight 3 - Cabernet Sauvignon Flight (3 Notes)

  • 2005 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Aphrodite 89 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Very park purple/red color. Followed a glass over 90 minutes. Not sure of prep, I think it got at the least a splash decant. Well, if this is your style, you're probably going to love it. It isn't my style, and I have issues with wines that just are not balanced. I like the nose with the damp earth up front, dried eucalyptus and even a touch of menthol, followed by boisterous black fruits. The palate though is overly opulent, with blackberry cobbler, blackberry liqueur and glycerin that make it rather Port-like; oak and plum follows along with a heady dose of alcohol. Full bodied, and high octane. Will please many, for me 88-89pts.

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  • 2007 Corra Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. My first thought was this seemed a little young to me, and maybe it needs more air, but it didn't change that much in glass for me, so perhaps it is really going the other way now. This was not as expressive as a bottle 7 years ago, albeit that was a small s sample. The nose shows charcoal, woodsy, cedar chips, more brooding dark fruits. The palate is astringent, wood, tart black currant, a little dried earth, full bodied with firm tannins. 90+ to 91pts.

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  • 2009 Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    Very dark red/purple color. Splash double decanted. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. Can't remember the last time I had a Sojourn Cab, so this was fun to revisit. I really enjoyed the nose here; there's a great perfume of damp earth, truffle, violets, and dried flowers, with red and back berry fruits, that come off high toned and lifted in a good way. The palate has that mouthwatering acidity, juicy red berries and black currant, boysenberry, dried spice and great wood notes. Very good. 92+pts.

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Flight 4 - Bonus Dessert Flight (1 Note)

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