CT Wisconsin Offline 2

A small gathering to welcome our Texas friends. In The Coach's Room at Ruth's Chris.

• 2000 Kistler Pinot Noir Cuvée Catherine 95 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (10/5/2012)

  Similar to the previous bottle, Burgundian in its elegance, showing great ripeness and depth yet superbly balanced, fresh and youthful, with the structure for improvement.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  (10/5/2012)

  Looking fresh, with ample small bubbles. Loaded with fresh lemon and white flowers, also melon and tropical notes, with the chardonnay speaking very clearly. Yeasty, smoky, flinty DP character also comes through, terrific complexity already, finishing with lipsmacking salty sea spray. A light and elegant package, very young and acidic, even for my palate, enjoyable already but likely to improve for years.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Philippe Colin Chevalier-Montrachet 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  (10/5/2012)

  Faint but appropriate gold color. Lots of clean, fresh oak on the nose, along with a nice gunpowder undertone. Similar palate. Generally an impressive wine, youthful and modern in style, but pleasantly complex, nicely proportioned, and well balanced save for a bit of heat emerging late. Drink now or hold. Probably a fair value for decent grand cru quality.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Domaine Jean Grivot Echezeaux Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  (10/5/2012)

  Mildly corked, enough to spoil what showed signs of being a really fine wine.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1983 Château Cheval Blanc Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (10/5/2012)

  Looking fresh, with clear, deep black cherry color. Freshly cut mint and lots of tobacco on the nose and palate, otherwise enough barnyard and faint TCA to mask everything else. Drinkable, but surely not a representative bottle. Not scored. Neck fill, very clean bottle.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1983 Château Margaux 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  (10/5/2012)

  Very deep ruby-cherry color. In the glass, a raw sewage note slowly blew off to reveal primary cherry fruit and very faint Margaux perfume, then this faded away quickly into tannins and alcohol. Not a great showing, but pleasurable. Base neck fill, slight signs of dried seepage.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 93 Points

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

  (10/5/2012)

  Beautiful deep ruby color. Loaded with sweet raspberry and grape jelly on the nose. Similar palate, with some peppery alcohol. Primary, warm, very ripe and sweet but not syrupy. A really fun and impressive wine for its style. To drink now or within 5 years, as I doubt its ageability.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1945 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 98 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  (10/5/2012)

  Medium-dark cherry-garnet in the middle, to garnet-root beer color at the rim, showing really beautiful clarity and depth of color after decanting for sediment and slow oxidation for several hours. On the nose, the spirit is a bit fumey but never unpleasant, and eventually blew off with time in the glass. Showing warm Christmas spice, praline, raspberry, licorice, and a very clean, minutes-long finish. As near to a perfect Vintage Port as I have tasted. This bottle seems more youthful than mature, with the depth and weight of a wine 25 years younger. Less feminine elegance than some fine Taylor's I've tasted, but more remarkable for its depth and power. From a very clean bottle, neck fill, embossed wax capsule. The next bottle will get a 12 hour decant.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Saturday afternoon, 8 participants, at our home. Scores are probably a little stingy due to the quality of the competition. Tasted single blind.

• 2007 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (10/6/2012)

  Medium straw color. On the nose, faint alcohol fumes, white flowers, and a faint chemical note. More alcohol on the palate, with more complexity emerging, including considerable oak, stone, white flowers, and a slightly oily quality. Still more alcohol and that odd though faint chemical note through the medium finish. Enjoyable for its complexity, but this doesn't seem overly clean or destined for aging. Tasted blind. Group #3 of 8, my #3 of 8.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Peter Michael Chardonnay Point Rouge 96 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Medium-deep lemon color. Incredible nose, complex and everchanging, generous, rich. On the palate, a lovely slight oiliness, perfect balance, rich yet light, elegant and classy. Slight heat on the medium-long finish. Great chardonnay, I wrongly guessed grand cru Burgundy. Tasted blind. Group #1 of 8, my #1 of 8.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 89 Points

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

  (10/6/2012)

  Extremely light and pale lemon color. Not real generous right now, some sea shell on the nose, minimal oak, with a very tight acidic edge. This needs some age to soften it a bit, but the stuffing may not be there to ever develop into a great wine. Plainly French in style, a bit of a disppointment in this tough company. Tasted blind. Group #8 of 8, my #8 of 8.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Henri Boillot Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Perfect medium depth of color. Plenty of oak on the nose, fairly fumey alcohol. More complexity and depth on the palate, with an acidic edge and more heat through the finish. No real flaws, but not exceptional. Pressed into service today to replace a leaky grand cru Chablis. Tasted blind. Group #5 of 8, my #4 of 8.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (10/6/2012)

  Nearly perfect dark lemon color. Considerable alcohol fumes on the nose, but still showing some nice grapey chardonnay character. Less depth and interest on the palate, but showing very lovely tropical fruit and oak through the persistently warm finish. Plainly New World, well done for the style. Tasted blind. Group #4 of 8, my #2 of 8.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Perfect, regal golden-yellow color. An appealing tropical and oxidized quality on the nose, beautiful palate, clean but simple through the short, warm finish. Borderline alcohol throughout, but a bit of depth helps the balance. Tasted blind. Group #7 of 8. My #2 of 8.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Coche-Dury Meursault 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  (10/6/2012)

  Pale yellow-green. Wonderful blast of sauerkraut on the nose, elegant and balanced on the palate, marred somewhat by considerable lingering heat through the finish. A lightish style, plainly French, fascinating wine overall. Tasted blind. Group #6 of 8, my #3 of 8.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Paul Pernot et ses Fils Bâtard-Montrachet 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Oily and fumey nose, also nice gunpowder. Oily and sweet, almost Rielsing-like on the palate. Hot alcohol through the finish masks the chardonnay character. Tasted blind. Group #2 of 8, my #4 of 8.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Saturday afternoon, 8 participants, at our home. Again, my scoring is probably a little stingy, these were all beautiful wines in their own way. Tasted single blind.

• 2009 Château Léoville Las Cases 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (10/6/2012)

  Beautiful fruit, clean and straightforward. Everpresent heat and lingering tannins, this was pleasant and nicely balanced, but didn't seem special at all. Plainly French in style, but disappointing to me. Tasted blind. Group #5 of 10, my #7 of 10.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon 25th Anniversary Selection 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (10/6/2012)

  Beautiful nose, very pure, primary, jammy, almost zin-like fruit. Firm but elegant tannins fading through a sweet and pleasing finish. Some heat, but the depth here keeps the alcohol reasonably in check for now. Plainly New World, very impressive for the style. Tasted blind. Group #2 of 10, my #2 of 10.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Château Montrose 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  (10/6/2012)

  Fairly reticent nose and palate, ample smooth tannins. This probably has more to show with further aging, but what comes through now is rather generic and unpromising. Still, there is nothing unpleasant here at all. Tasted blind. Group #9 of 10, my #7 of 10.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Château Malescot St. Exupéry 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  (10/6/2012)

  Classy torrefaction and oak on the nose. Ripe dark fruits, tannins clamping firmly through the long finish. Clean, superbly balanced, really nice. Plainly French, seems younger than it is. Tasted blind. Group #3 of 10, my #1 of 10.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Very primary, super-ripe, pure fruit, marred by hot alcohol throughout. Mild but lingering tannins. Beautiful and showy for its fruit, unlikely to hold together with age and a difficult pairing with food. Plainly New World in style, overblown and just not for me at this price. Tasted blind. Group #1 of 10, my #4 of 10.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Château Pavie Macquin 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Deep and youtful color. Medicinal, animal funk on the nose. Strangely advanced on the palate. Huge, firm, building tannins. Not sure what to make of this, plainly French in style, not overly enjoyable, but not flawed. Tasted blind. Group #10 of 10, my #10 of 10.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (10/6/2012)

  A little stemmy on the nose. Oak and ripe fruit, with firm and mouthcoating tannins. Alcohol almost chokes the palate. Plainly New World, nothing special. Tasted blind. Group #8 of 10, my #7 of 10.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Château Angélus 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Some earthy funk on the nose, generally nice balance and firm, mouthcoating tannins. Some real quality here, and plainly French, but the lighter style allows the alcohol to come through a bit too strongly for this to be exceptional. Tasted blind. Group #6 of 10, my #4 of 10.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Leonetti Cellar Reserve Walla Walla Valley 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Very muted nose, showing some smoky fruit and faint horsey funk. Purer fruit on the palate, medium body. Light tannins and warm alcohol. Generally pleasant and interesting. French in style. Tasted blind. Group #6 of 10, my #3 of 10.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  A faintly metallic edge largely blew off in the glass, though the fumey alcohol didn't. Fine balance and elegant mouthfeel, with medium-firm tannins and some heat through the slightly stemmy finish. Generally French in profile, but the alcohol is still problematic for my palate. Tasted blind. Group #3 of 10, my #5 of 10.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

BYOB dinner in The Coach's Room at Ruth's Chris. Many great wines not scored late in the evening, as a day of tannins finally began to take a toll on the palate.

• NV Jacques Selosse Initial Flawed

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Corked.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc l'Ermite 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (10/6/2012)

  Light hay color. Muted nose. Great balance on the palate, with acidity that could use 3-6 years to smooth, although this drinks fine right now. Great class and elegance.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Kongsgaard Chardonnay The Judge

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Slightly cloudy, medium yellow color. Faint mothball notes, generally muted, possibly flawed. Not scored.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1966 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Medium root beer color. No discernible life left here, too much funk for my palate. Nonetheless, it was a treat to have this bottle in the lineup this night. Substantial ullage and raised cork. Not scored.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1965 Inglenook Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Looking remarkably youthful. Some pleasant mature tertiary notes on the nose, but the funk on the palate made this undrinkable for me. Not scored.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1979 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir Chalone

  USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone

  (10/6/2012)

  Terrific depth of color, very youthful looking. Earthy, brambly nose, still showing a touch of red fruit on the palate. Well past prime but a pleasant experience. Not scored.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1989 Château Cheval Blanc 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Medium cranberry color. Nose of mushroom and forest floor. More lively on the palate, with sweet fruit along with the funk. Great balance, a classy old Bordeaux. Base neck fill, a bit of dried seepage under the capsule.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1998 Château Cheval Blanc 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Dark, crystal clear black cherry color. Great Cheval Blanc nose, but too much heat on the palate. Exceptional length, with fine, persistent tannins. This is 4 to 8 years away from peak drinking, but the unbalanced alcohol in this particular bottle makes me a seller at current prices.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Vanilla and black cherry nose. Very ripe, but the alcohol is still in fair balance and this is an enjoyable enough wine for the style.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Vanilla and dark fruit nose. The extremely hot alcohol on the palate is just too unbalanced for my palate, despite some nice generic ripe fruit. Likely to get worse with age.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Penfolds Grange 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  (10/6/2012)

  Beautiful deep crimson color. An exceptionally ripe style, smoothed and softened by the nice Grange wood treatment. Silky palate, smooth tannins, medium depth of fruit fading beneath searing heat through the finish. Still showing Grange class and a treat to drink.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1992 Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  (10/6/2012)

  Showing some youthful color in the glass. Minty, barnyard nose. Earthy palate, very ample tannins. Stemmy finish. Past prime, but still clinging to life. Not scored.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (10/6/2012)

  Gorgeous nose, beautiful oak treatment and sweet fruit, big tannins. Modern in style but impressive. Not scored.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Clos Fourtet

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Showing surprising earthiness on the nose, with leafy, tertiary notes on the palate, over a core of dark fruit. A wall of tannin arrives late and lingers. An Old World style, to revisit in 8 to 10 years. Not scored.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Château Pavie

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (10/6/2012)

  Very ripe, but less concentrated than expected. Huge tannins, but a certain flabbiness may make aging a problem. Not scored.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1995 La Jota Petite Sirah 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  (10/6/2012)

  Showing signs of maturity in the glass. Nose and palate dominated by florest floor, dry autumn leaves, with hints of minty dark fruit underneath. Some life left but time to drink up.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fumé de Pouilly 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé

  (10/6/2012)

  Tart citrus and stones. A more compact, simple version of the Silex, leaning almost to a New Zealand style. Quite enjoyable, but perhaps not for the price.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1945 Dow Porto Vintage 90 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  (10/6/2012)

  Medium-light root beer color. Some depth remains, also some youthful fruit, but the heat is overwhelming. Passable for sipping, but not a great showing, considering the potential that is obviously lurking. Neck fill, decanted 6 hours, an additional 6 hours might have helped. This was in a clear green bottle with handwritten label, Sotheby's and Christie's auction labels, and a Dow branded cork that was not readable for vintage.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Of several additional wines with notes not taken, a 2002 Kracher #12 stands out in memory as thoroughly enjoyable.

In The Coach's Room, with The Coach himself: