Zuli visit

Tasted Wednesday, November 28, 2012 - Sunday, December 2, 2012 by drrobvino with 568 views

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2008 Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico 88 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    (11/28/2012)

    No formal tasting note. Fresh, balanced, nice acidity, sour cherry and minerality, some tobacco and wet earth, nice value.

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  • 2003 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 91 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    (11/28/2012)

    From the very hot 2003 vintage. This Barolo was decanted for about 2 hours, and enjoyed over the following 2 hours.
    Medium/pale ruby color with a tawny hue, fading to a gorgeous pale tawny rim.
    Nose is developing, with med intensity notes of plums, citrus zest, minerals, licorice, tar.
    Palate shows med intensity flavors of plum, slightly sour black cherries, mint, and citrusy zest. The wine is dry, med in body and alcohol, with med acidity (for a hot vintage, the acidity is ok, but I prefer higher acid), med level, supple tannins that start to really show their stuff and flesh out over the 2 hours. The finish is med(+) and has gorgeous balance and structure. A very nice, slightly atypical Barolo (due to the vintage), but delightful and yummy nonetheless. This is a high quality wine that is drinking perfectly right now, and will likely continue to do so for the next 5-7 years, but I would err on the side of sooner than later based on today's experience.

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  • 2008 Remoissenet Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Grèves 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

    (11/28/2012)

    No formal note, this Burgundy showed nice nose and palate of strawberry and raspberry, with stony minerality, med acidity, nice balance, and a med length finish.

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Flight 2 (5 Notes)

  • 2008 Domaine Belluard Vin de Savoie Ayse Méthode Traditionnelle 87 Points

    France, Savoie, Vin de Savoie Ayse

    (11/29/2012)

    I've never had this varietal or wine before. Was looking forward to trying it based on Garagiste recommendations.
    This sparkler throws out quite a thick mousse on pouring, which dissipates rather quickly. The wine is clear, with a med lemon color, and a gentle stream of bubbles.
    The nose is clean, developing, med intensity, showing yeasty/toasty notes, oxidized apples and pears, along with a funky resinous Rhone-like quality.
    On the palate, this is a dry wine, med in body and alcohol (12% abv), with med(+) intensity flavors of red apple skin, over-ripened apples and pears, and pine resin.
    This is a good quality wine, drinking fine now and over the next few years, but isn't intended for bottle age.

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  • 2009 Diatom Chardonnay Clos Pepe Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    (11/29/2012)

    This wine was PnP out of the fridge.
    Clear, with medium lemon color fading to a watery rim.
    The nose is developing, with med intensity aromas of apricot, tangerine, slate, and lemon zest.
    The palate shows a dry wine with med body and med alcohol (the label states 14.7%, which is unbelievable). This wine haas med(+) intensity flavors of tart green apple, lime, chalk, and a mild spice, with crazy med(+)/hi acidity (from a Calif wine?), leading into a med(+) length finish full of minerality and tart white fruits.
    This is a high quality wine that is just entering into it's drinking window, but should continue to mellow and improve with bottle age over the next 3-5 years. Marvelous wine.

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  • 2006 Robert Mondavi Winery Pinot Noir Private Selection 82 Points

    USA, California

    (11/30/2012)

    PnP and consumed over 2 days, with no formal tasting note.
    Initially showed notes of balsamic and red fruits on the nose. A bit thin on the palate, with silky tannins that aren't really there in ample quantity to support the fruit, which was also pretty dried up by this point. Drinkable, but not really enjoyable.

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  • 2008 Weingut Schnaitmann Pinot Noir 91 Points

    Germany, Württemberg

    (11/30/2012)

    Opened yesterday, had a few glasses, TN from today.
    Clear, med ruby w/a slight purple hue, fading to a pale ruby rim.
    Nose is in good condition, with med/med(+) intensity, youthful aromas of strawberry and raspberry, with a background cinnamon (?) spice note and a hint of pine needles. Very nice.
    The palate shows off a dry wine that has med alcohol (13.5%) and med body, with med intensity flavors of bright red fruits, echoed from the nose, with a slight peppery spice, supported by firm yet velvety, med tannins, leading into a med length, red fruit and mineral finish.
    This is a high quality wine that is drinking beautifully now, and will likely continue to improve and drink well for the next 3-5 years, although its gorgeous now. If this is German Pinot Noir, I could really get used to this.

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  • 2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir La Colina Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    (11/29/2012)

    PnP, and consumed over 3-4 hours. No formal tasting note.
    The wine is clear, med ruby in color, with fast dropping legs.
    On the nose, the wine is in good condition, showing developing characteristics of medium-intensity wet earth, deep red cherry, plum, and clove.
    On the palate, this is a dry wine with med body and med alcohol, with med-intensity flavors of deep red and black fruits, fine-grained, med tannins that lead into a beautifully structured and balanced, medium length finish.
    This is an elegant and feminine Pinot, drinking beautifully now, and should continue to do so for the next 5-7 years.

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Flight 3 (4 Notes)

  • 2006 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 92 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    (11/29/2012)

    No formal tasting note.
    Fresh acidity, tense and fine tannins that increase with air, incredible structure, complex on the palate, nicely balanced, drinking well now and will continue to do so for 10+ years.

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  • 2009 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

    (11/29/2012)

    No formal note, enjoyed with BBQ / grilled pork products, this wine didn't disappoint, showed its rustic nature with enough black and red fruits to support the other layered flavors of black pepper, tobacco, and moist soil. Nice, enjoyable. Will improve over the next 5-7 years.

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  • 2003 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry 97 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    (11/30/2012)

    PnP yesterday, drank a few glasses, tasting note from today after bottle recorked in cellar.
    This wine is clear, deep ruby/purple in color, with glass-coating color and fast legs.
    On the nose, this wine is in good condition, and has developing, med intensity aromas of black cherry, pure cassis, licorice, and a light minerality that is incredible.
    On the palate, this dry wine has full body, med alcohol, perfectly balanced med acidity showing med intensity flavors of cassis and black cherry notes, with perfectly matured tannins and a med(+) length finish.
    This wine is profound and gorgeous. It really is the essence of a Napa Cab, and is in a perfect drinking window right now, and should be able to drink nicely for the next 5-7 years, although I'd err on the side of sooner than later. Marvelous juice.

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  • 2008 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (11/30/2012)

    Decanted and consumed over 4 hours. No formal note.
    This wine was black as night, had notes of not-yet-fully-integrated charred oak, buttressed with rich black currant and plum, as well as anise and some distinct minerality.
    The palate revealed a tightly wound wine, way to early to currently enjoy, but a fabulous wine in the making, nonetheless. The cassis and blackberry flavors were supported by the full body and med(+) alcohol (14.6%abv listed), with firm and persistent, med(+) chewy tannins, and med acidity. The wine opened up over the 4 hours, become far more enjoyable, as the tannins started to yield a bit to the rich fruit notes, leading into the long, black-fruit-and-soil finish. The wine surely shows its pedigree and will turn into something really special, but I'd wait 5 years for the next bottle, and consume it over the following 10 years.

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Flight 4 (6 Notes)

  • NV Philipponnat Champagne Royale Réserve Brut 87 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/1/2012)

    PnP over 2 days. No formal note.
    Tasty with simple and straightforward apple notes, a bit foursquare for the price of admission.

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  • 1996 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    (11/30/2012)

    Decanted, consumed over 2 days, with no formal tasting note.
    This Graves was really tight out of the gates, with a closed and reticent nose, and firm and persistent tannins that initially kept the fruit at bay.
    Over time, the nose opened up, showing complex barnyard notes as well as black currant and licorice, wet soil, minerality, tobacco, just loads of aromas that were beautifully echoed in the palate.
    The wine showed med body, med alcohol, and the gorgeous old-world mouthfeel ushered in just enough black fruit to support all the soil-driven and tertiary flavors. This wine is classic, and will continue to improve in bottle over the next 8-10 years.

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  • 1985 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (11/30/2012)

    Gorgeous vinegar, unfortunately. My last bottle...alas.

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  • 2004 Parusso Barolo Le Coste - Mosconi 86 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    (12/1/2012)

    Decanted and consumed over 3 days, no formal note.
    This wine was very un-Barolo-like on the nose and palate. A real new world approach, the oak poked through, the fruit seemed manipulated and jammy, and there was an absence of mineral and soil notes that robbed this wine of complexity and enjoyment.

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  • 1994 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

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

    (11/30/2012)

    Decanted from 750ml and enjoyed over 6 hours, with no formal tasting note.
    This wine showed a pale ruby color, fading to a light tawny rim.
    The nose approached and ethereal lightness and elegance that I only get to experience on special occasions like this one. Beaucastel-ish notes of wet barnyard soil, a hint of garrigue, floral notes mixed with faint spiciness, with tart red cherry, raspberry, even black cherry fruits. These notes were beautifully echoed in the med/light bodied palate, with med(-) intensity flavors that were layered and complex, making the drinker pontificate endlessly over the next wave of flavors that this flirtatious wine would show. The wine had gorgeously balanced med acidity, fabulously faint tart fruits, finely matured and perfectly integrated tannins, leading to a med(+) length finish that left me reaching for another sip again and again. Lovely, and my wine of the weekend. Drink now from 750ml, I think it has reached it's pinnacle of maturity. Possibly hold larger format bottles another 5-7 years. Incredible.

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  • 2007 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (12/1/2012)

    PnP and consumed over 2 days. No formal note.
    A bit resinous and tannic, very extracted, masculine style of wine.

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 1995 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 90 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    (12/1/2012)

    Decanted and enjoyed over 4 hours. No formal note.
    Showed amazing stature for such a mature Chianti Classico Riserva. Still gave tart cherry fruit and some tobacco, coffee grounds, and soil-driven notes on the developed nose and the med-intensity palate. Nice acidity that still kept this wine fresh and on it's toes, but after 3-4 hours open, it started to thin out a bit. I'd drink any remaining bottles now, it's not going to get better, but it is very enjoyable now, and a lesson in how fine Chianti can age.

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  • 2009 Olivier Guyot Marsannay Les Favières 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay

    (12/1/2012)

    Decanted and consumed over 2 hours. No formal note.
    A great choice to finish a long weekend of tasting, drinking and visiting.
    Bright red fruits, fresh acid, super structure and balance, firm yet med tannins that supported the minerality and a little spice on the med length finish.
    Drinking perfectly now, will continue to provide enjoyment for the next 5 years, but not meant to improve with further bottle age.

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