A footy geeks Sunday Evening

Nathan Stambaugh was in town to watch the Pool/Olympiakos friendly at Soldier Field. So, Corey, Nathan, and I got together to drink some wine and talk about our favorite sport.

• 2004 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese 93 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  Nose: This was exquisite from the word go with green apples, pears, white fruits, quince, floral notes, and a real nice underlying minerality. There is excellent depth and class to the nose as well with pitch perfect balance.
  
  Taste: Medium bodied with racy medium+ acidity. The feel has a fatness to it, but it's more that it fills out as it goes across the palate with green apples, white fruits, quince, floral notes, a hint of petrol with a mineral base.
  
  Overall: This was fantastic. The color is still on the lighter side and it really feels like it can develop much further and provide even more enjoyment.

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• 2004 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Nose: There was a slight hint of VA on the nose at first, but it blew off with dark red cherries, some earth notes, spice tones, purple florals, and dark red fruits emerge. With air, the nose really rounds into form and balances out much more.
  
  Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity and refined tannins. Once it received some air, this really rounded into form with dark red cherries, earth notes, plums, spice tones, and some incense comes out on the back end.
  
  Overall: This was a pop and pour. It certainly benefited from air as it did blossom and really rounded into form.

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• NV Drappier Champagne Rosé Brut Nature Dosage Zero 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Nose: There is a steeliness to the nose with red berries, citrus tones, white fruits, red fruits, and a lot of mineral notes. There is good depth to the nose with a real precision too.
  
  Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity. The acidity was certainly there, but it wasn't overpowering with red berries, citrus tones, red fruits, and a lot of mineral notes.
  
  Overall: This was from a 3 year old disgorgement. This held the zero dosage very well and it showed off real good parts of the zero dosage and pinot noir.

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• 2006 Domaine Parent Pommard 1er Cru Les Épenots 91 Points

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

  Nose: While the nose is very open, there is still a lot of youthful freshness to it with tart red cherries, spice tones, earth notes, dark red florals, some licorice. There is excellent depth with some flesh to the tones as well.
  
  Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and silky tannins. The structure is there, but it isn't overpowering. While the structure isn't overpowering, there is a lot of youth to the tones.
  
  Overall: There is clearly a good amount of youth to the wine right now. It is very drinkable, but it can certainly develop and become even better.

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• 2007 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Nose: The nose is certainly on the richer and bigger side with black cherries, spice tones, orange peels, raspberries, and some cola tones. There is very good depth and while the nose is on the bigger side, it holds it together.
  
  Taste: Full bodied with medium/low acidity. The feel is bigger, but it isn't too big with good density and black cherries, orange peels, raspberries, and cola tones.
  
  Overall: This was certainly a big pinot, but it didn't feel overdone. I would like to see where this goes with more age as it still feels on the younger side.

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The time flew by very fast. I hadn't been to UrbanBelly's new location yet and everything was perfect. We had a nice small cross section of pinots and some fantastic food and conversation. Here's to the next time Nathan comes to town!