Wine Enthusiast's Toast of the Town
City Hall, San Francisco
Tasted Thursday, April 7, 2011 by aagrawal with 1,064 views
Introduction
I really enjoyed this tasting. The food was world class, and the wine was very good too. Very california-centric, but there were some scattered europeans as well. Overall I was pretty impressed with the Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino and another producer's dolcetta d'alba. I have definitely developed a high-acid palate and it shows in the wines that I enjoy. I think I could drink small amounts of almost anything and appreciate it, but I don't think I can just drink glass after glass of a ripe California cab made in the last decade. The 20 year tawny port was excellent as well, though I think that is something I will have to work towards enjoying if I want to drink more than a couple of sips.
NV García Carrión Moscato La Mancha Opera Prima 81 Points
Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, La Mancha
Simple but nice. 81-82
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NV Louis Bouillot Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé Brut Perle d'Aurore 84 Points
France, Burgundy, Crémant de Bourgogne
Yeasty nose but not overwhelming. Crisp clean fruit, refreshing. 84
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2004 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo Vigneto Cerequio 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Really nice red fruit, dust, floral; balanced palate with smooth round juicy fruit, not overripe, not too tannic. Ready to drink. 89
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NV Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier 83 Points
France, Champagne
Nice but nondescript.
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2009 Pio Cesare Dolcetto d'Alba 88 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba
A lovely fruity red with a bit of spice. Drinking very well now, no need to cellar.
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2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Nice fruit on the nose, soft plush palate but has big tannins. Will improve with time. A very balanced Napa cab... still ripe but not overripe. Should develop well, but won't grow to compete with the 1994 that I tried recently. 92-93+
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2008 Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Cinema 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Really nice nose, loved the blend. Spicy and black fruits, palate is firm but nice. Drinking really well now.
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2005 Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon Hommage Palisades Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Ripe black fruits, big and good but too low acid for my palate.
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2009 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino
Stunning. Lovely fruit, mild funk, great clean acidity. Absolutely lovely right now.
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2006 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Tighter and darker than the 09 Rosso that is right beside it. More tannic, needs 5 years before I can properly evaluate it. For now: 91+
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2006 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 90 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
Very interesting nose of roasted bell peppers. Tannic structure but well balanced. 90+
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2008 Emiliana Coyam Los Robles 89 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Quite ripe, good spices/red fruit. Drinking well now. 89-90
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2008 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Ripe red fruit, good structure and balance, could use a couple of years easily. 89+
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2005 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon The Menzies 85 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Ripe red fruit, flabby palate.
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2009 Yalumba Viognier FSW Botrytis 88 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully
Lovely floral nose, sweet but acidity kicks in at the end. Finish is quite short. 88-89
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2010 Yalumba Sangiovese The Y Series Rosé 75 Points
Australia, South Australia
Not impressive.
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2008 Dow Douro Vale do Bomfim 84 Points
Portugal, Douro
Good old world nose and quality, dusty, fruity. Palate has good weight, tannic structure, low fruit that won't last long enough for tannins to integrate or to cellar. That may be a problem.
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2005 Dow Porto Late Bottled Vintage 86 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Good weight, nose is a bit lacking. Palate is sweet, still simple at first but then wakes up a bit. Overall disappointing for an LBV. 86-87
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NV Dow Porto 10 Year Old Tawny 88 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Less aromatic than the 20 year Graham's. Palate is too sweet. Nice but nothing special.
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NV Graham Porto Six Grapes Reserve 72 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
No nose, palate is pure simple sugar with alcohol.
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NV Graham Porto 20 Year Old Tawny 94 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Incredible nose with complex flavors. Palate shows great acidity, not too sweet, nice raisoned flavors with nutty spirits, very balanced. Stellar.
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NV Cockburn Porto Special Reserve 84 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Sweet, tannic, nice. Very drinkable.
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NV Domaine Chandon Étoile 78 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Mild to no nose, palate difficult to pick out flavors.
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NV Ferrari Brut 81 Points
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trentino, Trento
100% BdB. Crisp nose, palate fresh but no uniqueness.
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2007 S.A. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 83 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Nose difficult to judge. Mild sweetness on the palate, lacks complexity. Drinkable but not great because it lacks vibrance. Overall I expected better. 83-84
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2007 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Subtle nice black fruits, palate is just Eh, tastes like any $20 cab.
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2008 Etude Chardonnay Estate 80 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Full bodied, buttery and oaky. Definitely not my style.
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2008 Etude Pinot Noir Estate Carneros 86 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Red fruit, spices, but doesn't have enough acid and so tastes flat and flabby on the palate. Overall that hurts the wine.
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2007 Stags' Leap Winery Merlot 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Interesting dark nose with some dust. Palate doesn't live up with tannins, decreased acid. May improve a bit with short term age. Overall quite good. 87+
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2009 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay 80 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Not my style. No grape flavor from the Chardonnay... I've never been a chard fan outside of chablis.
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2009 Penfolds Riesling Thomas Hyland 80 Points
Australia, South Australia, Adelaide
Pretty flat with no character.
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2008 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley 82 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Overripe with unbalanced tannins.
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NV Gloria Ferrer Brut 83 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
consistent with previous notes.
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2002 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Brut - Late Disgorged 84 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Better than the baseline cuvee but still not distinctive. Just a generic clean and crisp sparkling wine.
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