Clio's 7th Birthday

Todd's daughter turned 7, so we drank some wines. I tried as many as I could and took some weak notes. We ate Pork Rillettes, Duck Fat Confit Chicken Wings (fried in Duck Fat), Tater Tots fried in Duck Fat with fish sauce aioli, Humboldt Fog, and Fourme d'Ambert

• 1999 Jos. Christoffel Jr. (Christoffel-Prüm) Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Really nice raciness, sleek, with candied apple. No flab here, just straight business.

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• 2011 Zind-Humbrecht Muscat

  France, Alsace

  Lots of pine resin on the nose, then big floral aromatics. A bit lacking past the entry.

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• 2009 Frédéric Magnien Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  really tight. some red fruits but then the tight tannins kick in. Not huge tannins, just crisp and tight ones. Not obviously Vosne. Wish this were 2 decades older...

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• 2007 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  light in the glass. Blackberries and earth with a tiny bit of funk, then tight, crisp tannins. Not heavy at all, just well defined.

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• 2010 Scott Paul Cellars Pinot Noir La Paulée

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Light in color and body. Very feminine nose of red fruits. Open on the palate and forward, but then the cola and tannins build up. This is fine Oregon wine. Open for business now, but great structure. Fine tannins that should help this wine age for decades.

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• 2011 Kistler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Really forward and overtly black fruits. Thin, lacking structure and finish.

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• 2009 J.L. Chave Sélection Crozes-Hermitage Silène

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  Very dark color. Tons of Brett on the nose that didn't blow off even a day later. Some blood on the palate, animal. noticeable lack of acid.

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• 2009 Clos Apalta

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta

  Lots of blackberry on the nose, then tar. Deep rich tar. Nice acidity that carried the forward wine to another level.

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• 2008 Bodegas Luis Cañas Rioja Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  lots of alcohol on the nose, but some nice blackberry. not dusty.

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• 2010 Thomas Gerrie Wines Pinot Noir

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Great truffle on the nose with a bit of funk (brett?) Then nice dark, blackberries on the palate showing late. Smooth finish.

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• 2010 Angela Vineyards Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  A bit of blackberry Popsicle on the nose. POM (Pomegranate) Juice on the palate. Some alcohol on the finish.
  
  This was truly horrid. I threw it out immediately and tried to forget how bad it was.

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• 2003 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Vin Santo del Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Vin Santo del Chianti Classico

  Oxidized on the nose, with hazelnuts and some roasted marshmallows. Then the raisins take over in a big way. Fun, bit I'd like a bit more acidity.

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• 2008 Andrew Rich Gewürztraminer

  USA, Oregon/Washington, Columbia Gorge

  Huge notes of pineapple on the nose. Some acidity in the mouth, but mostly just overt pineapple fruit.

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The 2010 Scott Wright Paulee was the wine of the night, but man I wish I could hold the Suchots and P. Conterno for a few decades. The sleeper here the Andrew Rich Ice Wine (great with tater tots).