Champs, Burgs, Barolos, Malbecs @ Leo's

Leo & Connies's in Eastchester, NY
Tasted Friday, May 20, 2011 by kenv with 830 views

Introduction

What fun! Leo and Connie had a terrific set of guests visiting on the same evening: Michael Twelftree (Winemaker and co-owner of Two Hands Winery); Patrick d'Aulan (President of the Edonia group & Owner of Alta Vista) and his wife Christine; Philippe Rolet (Chief Winemaker & Estate Manager for Alta Vista) and his wife Vanessa; and locals Greg Tatar and Ray Tuppatsch.

Flight 1 - Flight 1: Vintage Champagne (4 Notes)

All (most?) brought by Ray. With Champagnes this age, it's not surprising my reviews were a bit mixed, but the Drappier was wonderful and the Bollinger was truly great! Served with fresh oyster, cured meats, and sashimi!

Flight 2 - Flight 2: White Burgundy (2 Notes)

One was odd, one was terrific. Served with Leo's fabulous Tuscan Bean Soup.

Flight 3 - Flight 3: Red Burgundy (3 Notes)

Really enjoyed all 3 of these, but the two Clos de Bèze were just terrific. Served with 2 main courses: A delicious sauted chicken and a tender and tasty braised beef.

Flight 4 - Flight 4: Giacosa Barolo (2 Notes)

Served with 2 main courses: A delicious sauted chicken and a tender and tasty braised beef. The 1987 showed best for me, but others preferred the 1990.

  • 1987 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche di Castiglione Falletto 95 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Gloriously complex nose of truffles and dried red fruits. Clearly at its peak, it is drinking beautifully now. Good body, excellent length, great sense of harmony. Seemed to me that about half the people preferred this to the 90 Falletto Riserva and half preferred that.

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  • 1990 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba 94 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    A touch of something not quite right in the nose. I thought it might be a touch oxidized, but Michael Twelftree, Greg Tatar, and Patrick d'Aulan all thought it was part of the complexity and used other words to describe it. it does have a long piercing finish with a lot of truffle and forest floor. About half the group preferred this to the 87 Rocche.

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Flight 5 - Flight 5: Gemstone California Cabernet (1 Note)

May have suffered from its placement in this dinner.

  • 2001 Gemstone G

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

    Maybe it was coming after all the Burgundies and Barolos, but man did this taste thick and gunky in a very heavy-handed way. Over-ripe. Yuck.

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Flight 6 - Flight 6: Horizontal of Alta Vista Single Vineyard Malbecs (3 Notes)

Poured and introduced by Philippe Rolet, chief winemaker and estate manager for Alta Vista, with some obvious and deserved pride. All 3 of these are very young but have great potential. Philippe said they have made these since 2001. These are all 100% Malbec. The 3 vineyards are all at about 1000 meter of elevation, but are separated by about 150 km from north to south. Each has a different soil and old vines. The picking dates vary among the vineyards, but otherwise the wines vinified in exactly the same way.

Closing

I can't recall when I've met such a fun and diverse group of people at a tasting. The wines were equally fun and diverse. My top 5 wines included a Champagne, a white Burgundy, a red Burgundy, a Barolo, and a Malbec!

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