Super Bowl 2012

Blind Mondo Tasting

• NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Rosé 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Very fine bubbles and very crisp acidity. Light on the palate and drinkable. Dried strawberry, cherry, citrusy. Preferred this over the Agrapart.

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

• 2008 Le Rocher des Violettes Montlouis-sur-Loire Cuvée la Negrette 92 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire

  Very green color giving an indication to the very low pH. Nose is nowhere near as powerful as the palate, but it has herbs, citrus, and bitter almond. On the palate the acidity is searing and hits you on the sides of your tongue and puts a quiver in your jaw. A great apperitif wine- better than most champagne. Dry and extremely limey and lemony with a creamy texture bordering on vanilla finishing with a bitter almond note. Really intense and delicious.

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

• NV Agrapart Champagne Les 7 Crus Brut 87 Points

  France, Champagne

  Nose was very expressive and noble with its fruit and spicy oak shadings in the background, but it did not deliver on the palate. Lacked the oomph and was kind of let down. Nose was 90+.

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

• 2009 Bernard Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  Tasted blind. Very dark purple in color. Nose was interesting in that it had some red fruit buried under purple fruit under a veil of oak. Extremely drinkable and tasty (2009) for a young Dugat-Py. Structured. Minerally, smokey, and spicy on the finish.

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

• 1990 Gaja Barolo Sperss 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Reddish crimson. Sweet, perfumed red fruit. Sandalwood and a mix of red and dark fruit. Soft, sexy, and very drinkable. Zen-like balance. Still some acidity on the finish.

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

• 1989 Château Montrose 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Maroon, crimson edge with a deep, dark core. Nose of cedar, cocoa, celery seed, and red currant. Very elegant on the palate. Much better than the one we had a couple weeks earlier.

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

• 1990 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Corked. Extremely disappointing. The palate wasn't terrible, though. It is hard to totally destroy a great wine like this.

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

• 2000 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Asili 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  The most different wine of the night. Could hardly tell that this was Nebbiolo because it was so fresh with the high acid, tannins were so fine (unlike so many Barolos that have real jagged tannin), and color was completely translucent all the way through- initially presumed Burgundy. Cranberry, roses, and incense were noticeable on the nose. Lots of red fruit and red licorice on the palate as the wine had a long finish and very balanced. Kind of a Barolo epiphany- thanks, Tom!

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

• 1982 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Copper rim with a deep core. Fat and sweet with juicy, red fruit and some brown sugar. Utterly silky and despite the low pH could drink & smell this wine all day long. I also called it blind- boo yah.

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

• 2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sorì Tildìn 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Red in color looking a little more youthful. Menthol, licorice, and a mix of red and dark fruit on the nose. Viscous and powerful on the palate with lower acid with cherry fruit continuing on. Balanced and not yet showing its best.

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

• 2003 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Couldn't quite hammer this one down...you can't fool me on CdP unless I've never had the producer's wine before (not including Pignan). This was tough because the color was so light and translucent and the fruit was tart which led most to Burgundy but not me. I knew this was 100% grenache. Lots of pomegranate on the nose with sweet red and dark fruit on the palate. Candy cane also on the nose. Confectionary, sweet fruit, and viscous mouthfeel (maybe residual) finishing with a hint of bitter aspirin. Was thinking maybe '98 Centenaire. Very surprised to see how young it was.

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

• 2004 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

  Looked very new- especially in this lineup- purple with no bricking. Incense, and a hint of nail polish remover due to the new, French oak on the nose. Also a bit of red berry. Well put together on the palate with fresh berries and lots of tannic structure. A salty note and the weight told me it was Cab from Bolgheri. Very tasty, but does not deserve a higher rating until it matures. Lots of potential.

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

• 1998 Château Cheval Blanc 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Kind of disappointing for the bottle- just way too young right now. Very dark core and thin, bricking at rim. Nose of cigar. Lots of red fruit and flavors that seemed a little jagged and needed time to come together. A very interesting green note that was buried underneath (Cab Franc). Long finish and lots of potential.

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

• 1999 Mongeard-Mugneret Grands-Echezeaux 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Very light color. Had a good idea what it was when pouring it, but the nose initially reminded me of CdP with the ripe, tangy fruit and the spiciness. On the palate, though, there was lots of orange peel, spice, and a mix of tart red and dark fruit. The sweet tannins and mid-palate told me it was Burg. To sum up it was neat and satisfying. Could be garnering a higher score due to my bias or how refreshing it was after so many low acid brutes. Drink or hold. This may be unbelievable in 5-8 years.

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

• 1995 Château Angélus 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Very rich and powerful nose containing both the funk of aged Bordeaux and the ripe fruits of almost Cali Cab. Many thought it could have been '94 Dominus. I could see that but the acid was too high and the nose definitely said Bordeaux. St. Emilion makes sense. Lots of sweet fruit that almost licorice and compote. Red & black currants were strong. Fresh yet fat and fleshy for Bordeaux. A good wrap of tannin on the finish. In a good drinking window and will continue to be for a very long time.

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

• 1998 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Translucent color which seems weird for Bonneau especially in a backward vintage of CdP. Very ripe on the nose. VA was apparent. Levels were very bearable, though it did detract for me. Apple skin, fig, plum, and red raisins. If this sounds like Amarone then that is where I went...RP even notes that in the tasting note. Thinking Allegrini which RP describes some tasting like Bonneau...uncanny. The finish was smokey and pruney. Despite some negative comments the wine was extremely enjoyable.

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