Epic Boys Trip

Three of my friends and I headed west to SF to watch the US Open and have some good times.

• 1997 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Coeur de Cuvée 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  (6/13/2012)

  From mag... bright yellow urine color, abundant very fine mousse. Lots of exotically spiced ripe yellow fruits… opens up with time to show lots of minerality, lots of toast and leesiness. On the palate very high acidity, a very firm and cru-like midpalate with loads of focus. Excellent balance, good length, great intensity, good complexity at this stage. Great finesse, fantastic texture, perfect expression of place. This needs at least 3-5 and will last a decade + from there... fantastic stuff!

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• 2009 Domaine Cherrier Père et fils Sancerre La Croix Poignant 82 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre

  (6/13/2012)

  Relatively deep color, quite a bit of grapefruit fruit for a sancerre, background minerality, no oak. Lacks the scratchy acid I would expect, quite full in the midpalate, low alcohol. Good balance, length, intensity… poor complexity, average finesse, a fine texture, average expression of place. Solid wine, below average Sancerre, especially if you are looking for zippy acidity, light weight, and minerality. Drink now.

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• 2006 Philippe Alliet Chinon l'Huisserie 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

  (6/13/2012)

  Deeply colored with a ruby rim. Very aromatic and quite fruit driven with plenty of ripe dark and red fruits, minimal greenness, some new oak aromas/or is that spice from the cab franc? some minerals… quite enjoyable. On the palate the wine has high acidity, a lush and round midpalate, moderately ripe tannins, low to moderate alcohol. Balanced wine with good length, great intensity, good complexity. Wine has finesse, a very pleasing texture, great expression of place. Drinking very well now though has the depth of flavor and acids/tannins to improve over the next 2-4 but I say why wait. This is the style of wine, IMO, that could really help wines from this region get some footing internationally.

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• 2009 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Mont 89 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  (6/13/2012)

  Moderate depth of color, very aromatic with loads of apple, quince, and juicy pineapple aromas. Nice background minerality, no new oak. On the palate dry with very high acidity that is enveloped by a very lush texture, low alcohol. Fantastic balance, average length, great intensity, good complexity at this stage. Wine has loads of finesse, a very full and fine texture, classic expression of place. This is drinking quite young and will improve for plenty of years to come… typical classy wine you expect from this producer and vineyard that will improve with age

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• 1998 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 94 Points

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

  (6/13/2012)

  This wine is the same aromatically every time I’ve had it, explodes out of the glass with tons of exotically spiced dark and red fruits… moderate amount of funk… nice background garrigue aromas. On the palate moderate acidity, a moderately lush and inviting midpalate, moderate amount of ripe tannins that are fully integrated, felt about 14.5%. Great balance, fantastic length, great intensity and complexity. Wine has loads of finesse, has a flawless texture, classic expression of place. Consistently the best 98 cdp I’ve had and showing no signs of fading… has been drinking at its peak for several years now. Beat up on the 98 VT, 98 Beaucastel, and 98 Clos Papes side by side tonight.

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• 1998 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

  (6/13/2012)

  Deepest color of the 3 wines (98 VT, 98 Clos Papes, 98 Pegau)… more open aromatically than I thought it would be showing plenty of mouvedre influence… lots of gamey dark fruits with hints of prune and animal fur…. Background red sour fruits from Grenache. Can't detect any new oak. On the palate quite firm acidity, a firmer, less evolved midpalate, firm tannins that are less ripe and a bit angular compared to the other three, moderate alcohol (perceptibly the least of the 4). Great balance, excellent length, great intensity, very good complexity. Wine has good finesse, a fanatastic texture, classic expression of place and winery. This needs more time to be at its best… try again in 3-5.

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• 1998 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 88 Points

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

  (6/13/2012)

  Slowest to open up (vs 98 Beaucastel, 98 Pegau, 98 Clos Papes), but it did slightly though it stayed subtle and slightly closed for most of night. Restrained red fruits with garrigue… some minerality, no new barrique aromas, minimal brett. On the palate firm acids, a firmish midpalate, moderate amount of fine, bitey tannins. Good balance and length, ok intensity, average complexity. Has some finesse, a slightly coarse texture, very good expression of place. A disappointing wine that seemed a little atypical... for some reason I don’t seem to find anything but underperforming bottles of this. Weakest of the 4 cdp's tonight by a significant margin.

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• 1998 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

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

  (6/13/2012)

  Slow to open up but then explodes with ultra ripe kirsch, red cherry, aromas. Spicy garrigue in the background. On the palate moderate acidity, the fleshiest of the four wines (98 VT, 98 Beaucastel, 98 Pegau) on the midpalate, of the four the ripest and least assertive tannins and highest perceptible alcohol to me (feels like 15%). Good balance, very good length, great intensity, ok complexity. Some finesse in there, a fine, plush texture, great expression of place. Excellent wine in a full throttle, ripe Grenache, cdp style. At its peak where it will hold for several years.

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• 2010 Arianna Occhipinti Sicilia SP68 Bianco 88 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

  (6/14/2012)

  Difficult to evaluate color but no mistaking the aromatic exuberance and individuality of this wine… explosive soap, exotic spices and fruits… tons of florality… no oak/mlf/lees. On the palate the wine distinguishes itself from torrontes (which to me it smells a whole lot like) by having a high amount of fine acids and being quite fleshy… dry, low etoh. Good balance, great length, great intensity, average complexity, good finesse, average texture, who knows if this expresses its place? Overall an excellent wine that was too distinctive and torrontes smelling for me... this wine will likely find a lot of people either loving or hating it.

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• 1995 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Spuntali 95 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  (6/14/2012)

  From mag… Wow! Sometimes wines just sing… this was the case here… goes insanely aromatic early with a pandoras box of red and dark fruits that are spiced and constantly evolving minute by minute… very little savory sangio elements in here… has new barrique integrated aromas… on the palate classic sangio grosso showing high acidity, a firmish midpalate, and a very high amount of mouthcoating tannins, moderate etoh. A wine that tics all of my quality boxes emphatically with great balance, 60 sec length, great intensity, amazing complexity. Wine has loads of finesse, good texture, good expression of place (blind the tannins in this and lack of savory elements I bet would have led me to Bordeaux.) If I had another mag of this I would give it 5 years to try it again. Will be tough to top this for wine of the trip.

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• 1997 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  (6/14/2012)

  Bricking, again very closed at first (open, decanted, and rebottled for a couple of hours before serving) and while it has mature looking appearance it is anything but that on the palate. As it evolved it had loads of tar, a hint of florality, loads of cherry pir and kirsch, distant new barrique spices. On the palate very high acids and tannins, a firmish slightly coarse midpalate with good depth of flavor, moderate plus alcohol. Very good balance, great length, good intensity and complexity… very good finesse, a fine but firm texture, classic expression of place. A wine that tics all my boxes to be outstanding but just barely and really needs a lot more time and has the depth of flavor and structure to last a couple of decades.

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• 2008 Panevino Tankadeddu Isola dei Nuraghi IGT 88 Points

  Italy, Sardinia, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT

  (6/14/2012)

  Hazy with protein swirls obvious even in the dark dining room! Aromatically it screams natural wine with the lambic beer yeast aroma thing… behind that a lot interesting red fruit flavors/minerals and no new oak I could pick up. On the palate high acidity, lush and quite deep on the midpalate, low to moderate amount of quite ripe tannins, low alcohol. Balanced wine with very good length, great intensity, good complexity. Wine has finesse, a fine texture, and its expression of place is clearly trumped by its naturalness. Again a very high quality wine in a very particular style that I enjoyed very much though for its price I would drink a sour beer instead. Drinks well now and I can see no reason to age it.

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• 2010 Château Tertre de Launay Blanc 80 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers

  (6/15/2012)

  Clear color. Moderate aromatic intensity with a strong muscadelle element to it (neutral apple fruit) and some SB aromas of green pepper of gooseberry/cat’s pee… no oak/malo. On the palate is quite mild and won’t affend anyone... dry with moderate acidity, a lush midpalate, low etoh. Balanced wine with short length, average intensity, low complexity. Wine has finesse a likeable texture, good expression of place. Average to good wine that does what its supposed to.

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• 2010 Patrick Piuze Chablis Terroir de Chichée 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis

  (6/15/2012)

  Dark room again... seemed deep in color though. Aromatically a bit ripe with lemon curd and background seashell… good intensity, no new oak, no malo, some lees. Wine has high acidity, a ripe midpalate, minimal creaminess, low alcohol. Balanced wine with very good intensity, average complexity. Good finesse, a fine, slightly full texture for the appellation, very good expression of place. Nothing to write home about and ready to drink... good wine in a style that I think a lot of people would enjoy.

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• 2007 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Aux Beaux Bruns 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  (6/15/2012)

  Clearly low intensity of color even in dark surroundings. Aromatically bursting at the seams with the classic baking spiced cranberry with minerals (30% new oak?). With air it fleshes out even more. On the palate high acidity, a fleshy pinot midpalate, more tannins than I expected… moderate to high amount that are quite firm and unintegrated still. Great balance, 45 second length, great intensity, very good complexity at this stage. Great finesse, very fine texture, classic expression of place. Has depth of flavor and structure to improve with age over the next 2-4 years will hold for several after that though charming right now. Loved it!

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• 2000 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  (6/15/2012)

  Very light color, very intense and young aromatically… lemon, citrus oil, tons of minerality that continues to expand and deepen all night long… great new oak aromas, some malo, some lees contact but doesn’t feel stirred. On the palate the wine shows is grand cru ness with high acidity, a focused firm/powerful but light on its feet feel… moderate alcohol. Great balance, 45-60 sec length, great intensity, very good complexity at this very young age. Fantastic finesse, a fine texture, classic expression of place. Has depth of flavor/structure to improve over the next 3-5 and then hold for quite a while after that. Fantastic wine!

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• 2002 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

  (6/15/2012)

  Much lighter color than Tisserandot Charmes Chambertin with much less aggressive extraction. Aromatically more minerally and firm with red fruits and more subtle new barrique influence. Again no real tertiary development but there is a lot more detail/subtlties in the fruit that is there. On the palate high acidity, very firm and Grand Cru like tension in the midpalate, moderate to high tannins of average ripeness, low alcohol. Great balance and length, very good intensity and complexity at this stage. Loads of finesse, a fantastic texture and expression of place. This is a very young wine that is enjoyable now but not showing all of its colors… I won’t open my next one for another 5-7 years. Great, great wine.

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• 2002 Dupont-Tisserandot Charmes-Chambertin 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  (6/15/2012)

  Very deep color with young appearing rim showing relatively aggressive extraction methods for pinot. Aromatically this is lush and inviting with loads of dark currant, blackberry, raspberry… some barrique spice (2/3 new and all French would be my guess), background minerality, not much tertiary development. On the palate high acidity, wonderfully full midpalate with some tension in there, moderate amount of tannin that is fairly ripe, low alcohol. Great balance, good length, great intensity, reasonable complexity at this young age. Very good finesse, a fine texture, great expression of Gevrry/very good expression of Grand Cru ness. Overall a very young and powerful wine that has a lot of charm but will never be the most detailed GC out there though Charmes Chambertin for me never is the most detailed of the GC GC's. If I had this wine I would not open the next bottle for 3-5.

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• NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  (6/16/2012)

  From mag... my notes for the NV are almost always the same... rich, autolytic and toasty, powerful with surprising acidity to balance it out... great Champagne.

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• 2001 Bernard Faurie Hermitage 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (6/16/2012)

  Deeply colored, slightly hazy, red rim. Aromatically a lot of chalky minerality, nice mix of mineral tinged dark and red fruits, not much new oak influence (1/3 new and all French would be my guess), some funk (brett) and some tertiary earth aromas in there. On the palate high acidity, lush midpalate, very chalky tannins (would have taken me to Crozes Hermitage blind tannins like that) that are of moderate ripeness and moderate + amount... about half integrated, low alcohol. Very good balance, average to good length, very good intensity and great complexity. Decent finesse, a bit rustic texture wise, good expression of place. Feels like the tannins will outlive the fruit here so I say consume this over the next 5 years.

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• 1994 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (6/16/2012)

  Have had this a few times with consistent notes that I never seem to get to writing... Low to moderate depth of color, red rim showing less than aggressive efforts at extraction. Aromatically it sings with that "just coming out of adolescence" Chave type of aromatics... loads of red fruits with hints of iodine, meat, loads of exotic spices... minimal brett and any new oak use has elegantly become part of the wine and I can't pick it our from the wine. On the palate high acidity, fantastic transition into an effortlessly weighty midpalate, high amount of tannins that are of average ripeness and as well integrated as the new oak that was used to a small degree. Great balance, very good length, great intensity and complextiy. Wine has fantastic finesse, flawless texture/transitions of texture on the palate, classic expression of place and of producer. I've always enjoyed this vintage of Chave (it was always pretty friendly/charming) and think it is mature now and will drink well for another 5-9 years or so.

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• 1988 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (6/16/2012)

  Compared to the 94 Chave side by side, same red rim, moderate depth of color with a bit more sediment. Aromatically certainly in the mature phase of Chave-ness... iodine and exotic spices speak loudly over very pretty and floral red fruits, tar, slight horse saddle aromas. On the palate the wine has high acidity, a more firm midpalate that has Syrah flesh, more tannins than the 94 that are of similar ripeness and not as fully integrated yet. Great balance, excellent length, very good intensity, fantastic complexity. Wine has great finesse, flawless texture, excellent expression of place and Chave-ness. I think this is ultimately a better wine (though I guess at this point it is about better "bottles" more than better "wines") and will have a longer period of mature drinking pleasure... and boy is it a pleasure. It seems to me that the 88 is slightly underrated on CT compared to other Chave Hermitage vintages???

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4 days of fantastic golf viewing at the Olympic Club... very, very relaxing... four random quick breakfasts with stellar espressos... one fantastic lunch, a bunch of hot dog and beer lunches at the course that were fantastic in their own right... 4 fantastic dinners... a handfull of bottles of Rubentis rose, a vodka soda or two after dinner = one truly epic boy's trip.