Friday Walk Around Tasting at Sams Fine Wine & Spirits, Lexington SC 8/22/2014

Sams Fine Wines & Spirits, Lexington, SC
Tasted Friday, August 22, 2014 by Mike Kopanski with 384 views

Introduction

Sams has a several year long reputation for a friendly, lively, pet friendly, Friday Happy Hour tasting of 4 current market relevant wines. The traffic can be punishing, but the crowd, the wines, and the staff make it worth the hassle. This was a staff orientated tasting, so you could actually have your 4 pours from 4 different staff members, which gives you a chance for 4 different descriptions. It was 99 degrees outside, so starting with a chilled French sparkler from Provence was pure genius. I did not care for the Loire Chardonnay. The Malbec was superb for the price. The Cabernet was very much pre Parker style. Nice job Sam's

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

  • NV Les Vins de Breban Bandol Jacques Pelvas 88 Points

    France, Provence, Bandol

    A relatively rare, second review of a wine I have tasted recently. The reason for the second review is the unique emphasis on my tasting notes for this sparkler. I hope I can put into words how revealing it was with a sparkling wine to discern the flavor and aroma characteristics from the base wine, before the secondary fermentation, and the final result. The last time I tried this wine I was thrown for a loop not knowing it was Ugni Blanc. This time my palate immensely enjoyed the flavor profile of the base wine; mineral enhanced, peachy, earthy tropical fruit. Then, totally enjoyed the cute little bubbles that livened the mouth feel and provided a refreshing finish.

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  • 2012 Domaine de Bernier Chardonnay 83 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Val de Loire

    I'm not willing to give this wine much of a "Thumbs Up". Though I think it is clean and well made, I think it generally lacks much of a core of Chardonnay flavors. I know it is designed to be relatively light and elegant, but swishing it around a bit showed little if any tropical or orchard fruit nuances. Basically, I get a lot of Granny Smith apple acidity, and not much else.

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  • 2013 Ernesto Catena Malbec Padrillos 89 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza

    A really nice change of pace from the string of relatively "ho hum" Argentinian Malbec's we have tried lately. As soon as the glass gets close to your nose, some really bright, fresh, grapey fruit aromas jumps out of the glass. This is a 2013, so it may be we need to give credit to the vintage, but generally this is one of the most lively, fruity Malbecs I have ever tasted. On top of that, this wine is not just fruit. There is a commendable mid palate holding our interest until some supporting mocha, brown spice and graphite join the blackberry and even raspberry and strawberry fruit. Even the finish seems more intense and lingering than your typical $12 to $13 Malbec.

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  • 2012 Chasing Lions Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

    USA, California, North Coast

    Almost a throwback to an earlier style of Cabernet, this one, which is 95% Cabernet, exhibits many of the classic Cabernet aromas and flavors. There is a mineral earth meets mocha and green vegetables on the nose. The color is not inky dark, more of a semi opaque magenta. The palate has a slight menthol and mineral influence to some evolving, still very young, black currant and blackberry fruit. I think they are allowing the true Cabernet flavors to assert themselves with minimal intervention from oak. Very mild tannins. Moderate acidity, and nicely balanced alcohol complete a package that is relatively non typical, but quite an exhibit of Cabernet flavor in an approachable and affordable red wine.

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