Brett's Birthday Tasting - 2013

The third annual Brett B-day bash was epic, as expected. Brett and Alyssa brought most of the bottles from their personal stash, and others chipped in a few random bottles to round it out. The wines were served with cheese, charcuterie, sushi and pizza, all of it delicious. I'm lucky to have such awesome friends who drink such diverse and unique wines. A night to remember.

• 2002 Domaine Huet Vouvray Pétillant Brut 89 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray Pétillant

  Aromas of white tea, green melon, salt and nougat. Brisk acid and minerals all over the place, I like the quince, lemon and honeycomb flavors, although they do taste like they're waning. A delicious wine, but this bottle seemed to be tiring a bit.

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• 2007 Domaine Huet Vouvray Cuvée Huet Brut 91 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Tasted alongside the 2002, I liked this better because it shows more weight and freshness. Explosive nose of peaches, green melon, toasted croissant and honeysuckle. Plush and full on the palate, but huge cut from the acid makes this work. White peach and melon fruit mixed with pie crust, limestone and minerals on a long finish. Very nice sparkler.

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• NV Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Sélection Brut 87 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Smells like honeydew, lime, salt and biscuits. Tangy acid, fresh and citrus-driven with grapefruit and tangerine. Minerals are matched with toasted biscuits. Nice cut on the finish. Not the most complex, but very enjoyable.

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• 2011 Linden Sauvignon Blanc Avenius 85 Points

  USA, Virginia, Northern Virginia

  Maybe because I tasted this alongside so many other more interesting wines, but the green notes on the nose really stuck out. I still get that lemon and orange peel, but the chive and jalapeno notes really come out and demand attention. Super tangy on the palate, those jalapeno and chive notes accent the green melon and tangerine flavors. Still, for a Virginia sauvignon blanc, I'm impressed.

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• 2002 Linden Chardonnay Avenius 88 Points

  USA, Virginia, Northern Virginia

  Wow, even at 11 years old, this Linden chardonnay is still going. Aromas of dried pineapple, honeycomb and something that reminds me of brie rind. Light and smooth on the palate, this is a very soft chardonnay with an unassuming presence on the palate (12.8% alcohol). Dried pineapple fruit, lemon peel and a nice sense of chalk and minerals on the finish. This is consistently one of my favorite Virginia chardonnays, and it's nice to see an older vintage showing well.

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• 2010 Linden Chardonnay Hardscrabble 87 Points

  USA, Virginia, Northern Virginia

  Rich nose of bruised apple, honey, peanut shell and cotton candy. Medium acid, the palate is full of juiy peach and pineapple fruit, lemon creme and peanut shell. Sweet honey and pineapple linger on the finish. A bit of a better showing than last time I tasted it.

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• 2000 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  At first I got a really stinky cheese aroma, but it sort of fell away with time, then I got more bitter lemon, toasted hazelnut and a lot of crushed rocks. High acid kicks off the palate, following by waves of honeycomb and yellow pears and apples. The fruit tastes slightly dried to me, and the wax and dried honey from the age adds complexity. Considering this was a WineBid wine, I thought it showed very well, although based on this tasting, I'd drink up over the next year or two.

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• 2007 Cameron Blanc Clos Electrique 95 Points

  USA, Oregon

  Wow, what a showing by Cameron. As always, those intense and shifting aromas seduced me: orange marmalade, pineapple, honey, lime and fennel. So fresh and pure on the palate, but the weight and intensity make this a chardonnay to behold. Grapefruit, tangerine, canteloupe melon and lime combine with crushed rocks, limestone and herbal notes of fennel and sage. Superb length. My first time with this vintage, and I'm loving it.

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• 2005 Didier Dagueneau Silex 93 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé

  What a beautiful sauignon blanc. Explosive aromatics, lime, papaya, tangerine mix with honey, white pepper and aroma that reminds me of a nice mezcal. Sharp acid sets the stage for the tangerine, grapefruit and papaya fruit, which is all juicy and fresh. The jalapeno, white pepper, limestone and onion grass flavors add tons of complexity. Long, mineral-packed finish. Not very subtle, this wine seems like it has a few more years of stuff left to unpack.

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• 2008 Dunham Cellars Riesling Lewis Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Lots of ripe white peach on the nose, white flowers, crushed rocks and minerals. Zesty acid and sugar cane sweetness make this a plump yet tangy riesling. Yellow apple and white peach fruit, backed up by an intense shot of minerals, some honeysuckle on the finish. If tasted blind, I could've been fooled that this was from Pfalz. I would enjoy trying this again in two or three years.

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• 2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 86 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Intellectually speaking, this is an intriguing rose, as always, but in the end I just can't get too excited about it. Strawberry greens, white cherries and brie rind aromas. Sherried on the palate, with flavors of dried berries, melon rind, goat cheese and olive pits. I enjoyed this with cheese and charcuterie, but not the best on its own. I love this producer's whites and reds, but I find the rosado less exciting.

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• 2008 Brick House Pinot Noir Evelyn's 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  Bright yet rich nose of smoky cherries, rhubarb, pepper and earth. Tangy acid on the palate, matched with bright cranberry and cherry fruit. Rhubarb and red pepper give it kick, and a bay leaf note lingers with the smooth tannins on the finish. Quite delightful.

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• 2008 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve 84 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Smells of fig, sour cherry and cedar, not all too complex. Smooth tannins, soft acid and ripe cherry and roasted fruit. Very ripe and forward with lots of toast. A decent pinot, but not on par with the other wines in the tasting.

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• 2008 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux 92 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny

  I've heard mixed reviews of this bottle, but I'm very impressed. Nose of fig, black cherry, charcoal smoke, leather and black olive, all of it complex and alive. Medium tannins, high acid and tight cherry fruit. The leather, iron, charcoal and mineral flavors are pure and long-lasting. Full of life, I'd love to try this in five years.

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• 1981 Chateau Musar 93 Points

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Well-aged Musar is such a treat. What a complex and mature nose: pickled carrot, dill, smoked meat and an aroma that reminds me of rare venison steak. Terrific acid and fine tannins provide spine as the beautifully aged flavors roll in: coffee, green olive, tomatoe paste, leather, decayinf leaves. The raspberry fruit is so subtle and soft, but there's no question this wine is all about the vegetal and savory. So complex and thought-provoking, this wine deserves some slow cooked meat and veggies and hours of contemplation.

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• 2001 Château Figeac 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Aromas of sour and black cherries, smoke, dried leaves and mushroom. Integrated acid, smoothed-out tannins and well-aged black cherry fruit flavors. Mushroom, smoked meat, dried roses and iron add complexity. Drinking well, but it's still got a ways to go.

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• 2004 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Aromatically alive and kicking, with plum, sweet cherry, chewing tobacco and mocha. Medium acid, easy-going tannins, lots of juiy cherry, plum and raspberry fruit. Savory themes of smoke, earth and tobacco add to the toasty tones. Very nice stuff that seems ready for business.

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• 2001 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog 96 Points

  USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  A simply sublime syrah. Complex and profound aromas of black plum, dried blueberry, campfire smoke, rhubarb, grilled steak and charred earth. Brisk acid on the palate, with fine-grained tannins, very elegant at 12 years of age. The blackberry and plum fruit is still rich and opulent, but the non-fruit flavors steal the show: bacon, charcoal, grilled herbs, olive brine. Always expressive, but never overbearing, and a lot of this is credit to the wonderful acid. This wine is incredibly complex and has a near endless finish. It's such an expensive and hyped wine, but like many Cayuse syrahs, I love it despite myself. I think this bottle lives up to its reputation, and it's one of the best Washington syrahs I've tasted. Brett, thanks a ton for opening this gem!

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• 2010 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Another great example of Reynvaan Family syrah kicking ass. Smells of rich, dark, Walla Walla fruit (sweet black cherries, fig, hints of red plum), but also some lavender and cinnamon. On the palate, this is so juicy and rich, with pure black and blue fruits that last. The tannins have serious structure, and the acid is lively enough to balance out against the richness of the fruit. Secondary flavors of smoke, loam and dark chocolate, and I'm loving them. Another great bottle from Brett, I need to find some of this and put it sideways for a few years, because it's got a lot of stuffing for the ages.

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• 2009 Linden Hardscrabble 88 Points

  USA, Virginia, Northern Virginia

  Linden nails it with this wine. The nose shows smoke, sweet red plum, milk chocolate and dried herbs. Plump and juicy on the palate, with fresh acid and fine tannins to support the juicy red fruit. Notes of granite, loam and mocha last on the finish. I'm enjoying the whole approach of this wine, but I think a few years in the cellar could do some good. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Even though it's aged for 21 months in 50% new French oak, the oak doesn't dominate the blend. Way to go, Linden!

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• 2010 Gramercy Cellars Syrah John Lewis Reserve 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  This is a beautiful Walla Walla syrah, but it needs a long decant or a good five years in the cellar because it's so young and compact. With swirling, the smoke, earth and black olive aromas started coming out of the deep blackberry jam. Full and velvety on the palate, with grippy tannins and enough acid to hold up against the density of the blackberry and fig fruit. The coffee bean, iron, corned beef and pepper flavors are just lovely. Just so young, though, and it needs a lot of time to develop.

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• 1988 Château Climens 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Fun way to end the evening, this Sauternes showed a lot of crazy aged characteristics, and I like it. A caramel-apple color in the glass, aromas of dried apricot, sugar being carmelized in a pan that's too hot, orange marmelade and even some sage and rich herbal notes. Honeyed and rich on the palate, this Sauternes reminds me of honeycomb, my Gramma's peanut brittle and lots of caramel. This wine has a real baked sugar theme, and even though it's kind of weird, I like it. Perhaps this wasn't aged in the best of conditions, but it was still a lot of fun.

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