Wine Spectator's Grand Tour Las Vegas 2010

Changed the date from the actual of 4/24 to 5/1 for ease of updating notes.

Great night with four wines standing out. Chateau Palmer's 2001 was the WOTN, edging out the 1999 La Mission Haut Brion, followed by a tight race between the 2007 Almaviva and a strong showing on a QPR basis from the 06 Cinq Cepages.

Chateaus Palmer was unbelievable, as was LMHB. Great wines. I would have enjoyed either some better vintages from the bigger names, or stuff with more age on it. Still, a great event.

• 2007 Château Haut-Bailly 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Recommended by the ladies in the LMHB booth. This was really delicious and drinking well this young.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Château Pontet-Canet 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Great as usual. Met one of the owners and she was very nice. This is just such a sick sick deal on a price/value basis every single year.

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2003 Château Giscours 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Expected more. Another that had good word of mouth. Despite the good vintage it was one of the least impressive Bordeaux's of the night. Barnyard and no real fruit.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Total surprise but this was drinking fabulously.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2004 Château Cos d'Estournel 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Very tannic. Wet earth. Very good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Château Palmer 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Wine of the night at the Vegas Grand Tour. Just edging out La Mission Haut Brion. Delicious, balanced, just kept coming back for more.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1999 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Supremely balanced, delicious. Silver medal from me for the Vegas WS Grand Tour.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1999 Château Haut-Brion 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Outperformed by little brother. Less fruit than the LMHB of the same year.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Château Margaux 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Somewhat disappointing vs. my (high) expectations. Great team there though - very friendly and offered advice on vintages, particularly strong on the 96 and 89.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2005 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Yummy. The only 05 I saw at any of the Bordeaux booths.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Several standouts. Gemstone, Almaviva and Cinq Cepages were the best of this group.

• 2006 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène 86 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  I'm just simply not a fan of this wine. I had hoped to like this, especially since it's from a more lush vintage, but this was the same austere thinnish Laurene that I've had from other vintages.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2008 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Very good wine. Cherry with a decent nose.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  This held up very well to all the bigger names we had this night. Great fruit, very accessible, all in balance.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Fortis 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Big fruity Napa red wine.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 1997 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Great aged cab. Delicious and a pleasant surprise that they were pouring two wines.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Gemstone G 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  Huge luscious fruit. Showing great.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Not as balanced as normal for Insignia. Big fruit burst mid palate. Very well made though, as usual.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Mellowed out since the last time I had one of these IIRC. Still a mega flabby fruit bomb. Pleased some in the group.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2007 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva 94 Points

  Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

  Almost a 95. The rep said 07 was an incredible vintage for them and I believe it. The best, most integrated Almaviva I've ever had. Usually it's slightly lacking in fruit but has a huge finish. This is a much more well rounded wine. Bronze medal winner from me. Just edging out the Cinq Cepages.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 88 Points

  Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

  Muted nose. Crushed by the superior Almaviva on one side of them and Clos Apalta on the other.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Clos Apalta 92 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta

  Great crowd pleasing wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2004 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Wow, this was great. A lighter brunello than I'm used to but still very structured with delicious bright fruit and a great finish. 93 points

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No