Adam's House

Tasted Saturday, July 3, 2010 - Sunday, July 4, 2010 by gbm with 473 views

Introduction

I suppose this is the inaugural event of our little tasting group and it was a blast. Lots of good wine and enough people to help us get through it all.

Flight 1 - Starters (1 Note)

We tried to decant this, but it just kept disappearing. I believe it was meant to go with the duck, but it was long gone by that time.

  • 1996 Château Le Bon Pasteur 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    (7/3/2010)

    Dark, cloudy red with a suggestion of bricking at the edges. Leather and lead on the nose with a hint of some remaining fruit. Tastes smooth and cedary, again with the core fruit intact but subtle. Short finish, but clean. very drinkable. My first Pomerol, I think. If they are all like this, I will need more. (4+13+17+8)

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Flight 2 - Duck (1 Note)

Duck breast with plum sauce on fried wontons. Fantastic. Probably not the best pairing with the pinot, but we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.

  • 2007 La Crema Pinot Noir Monterey 89 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey

    (7/3/2010)

    Beautiful reddish purple with great clarity. Nose was clean with fresh red fruits - cherries stand out in my memory. It's a medium to light bodied wine, with tannins to match, and a slight pepperiness on the finish. Very drinkable. (4+12+16+7)

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Flight 3 - Foie Gras (1 Note)

Foie gras on crostini with a berry sauce. I am apparently not a fan of duck liver, but the crostini and the sauce were great. The icewine played well against the berry sauce.

  • 2007 Peller Estates Cabernet Franc Icewine Andrew Peller Signature Series 89 Points

    Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA

    (7/3/2010)

    Rich, beautiful red with a hint of purple. Looks like a melted popsicle. Nose is sweet with fresh red fruits - strawberry, cherry, raspberry. The wine is surprisingly Sauternes-like which I did not expect. Very sweet, but not cloying. Went very well with the foie gras and figs on crostini. Still, though, it's not quite my thing., but OK in small doses. (4+12+16+7)

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Flight 4 - Interlude (2 Notes)

While the tenderloin was cooking and resting we had to keep ourselves busy. I think the Brunello suffered from its place in line, the lack of decanting, and it's relative youth. At another meal it might have gained two points.

  • 2007 K Vintners Syrah Morrison Lane 91 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

    (7/3/2010)

    Dark inky purple. Very funky nose - probably would have benefited from a decanter. There was some tar and maybe plum or fig, but it was almost completely obscured by the funk. Blueberries and spice on the palate - nice combination. Delicious wine. (4+12+17+8)

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  • 2004 La Lecciaia Di Pacini Mauro Brunello di Montalcino 89 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    (7/3/2010)

    Unfortunately I have no specific notes on this one. Earthy and oaky. Tannic, but very nice with the acidity playing along nicely. (4+12+16+7)

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Flight 5 - Beef Tenderloin (2 Notes)

The beef was cooked in a port wine sauce, but it was very subtle. Chef Adam remarked that he had overdone it on the cruched peppercorns, but I thought it added a lot of flavor and held up well against the Amarones. The '01 was just a touch better than the '04 despite the 2 point difference.

  • 2001 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 92 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    (7/3/2010)

    Drank against the '04. This is a deep, dark opaque purple. Dark fruit on the nose with hints of leather and that raisiny character that I love in an Amarone. This carried over to the palate which was rich and dark and smooth with the addition of some chocolate. Long smooth finish. This was the better of the two, maybe due to its age. (4+13+17+8)

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  • 2004 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 90 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    (7/3/2010)

    Similar to the 2001, but slightly more tannic and acidic. Flavors were more hidden. Probably proves what even a little age can do given that 2001 and 2004 were both stellar vintages. (4+13+16+7)

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Flight 6 - Dessert (1 Note)

Dessert was a mix of cheeses. There were two Stiltons and although I still don't understand why one was far more expensive than the second, I thought the cheaper one was better. Among the others were a goat cheese - which was great, but too mild for its company on the plate - and a Brunello?! All of it was great.

Closing

So when all was said and done, I think the first wine was the WOTN for me. Black Bart was a close second. The Amarones, though a usual favorite of mine, were a little underdone. I like them a bit heavier.

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