Thanksgiving

Tasted Thursday, November 24, 2016 by csimm with 326 views

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Reserve 93 Points

    USA, California, North Coast

    Of three sparkling wines tasted side-by-side (with a Frank Family rose and a Thienot Champagne), this was a close second for me, just behind the beautiful Thienot (my #1). Others thought the Thienot was #2 and the Schramsberg was #1; but all agreed they were very close in overall profile and drinkability. Of course the Schramsberg is triple the price of the Thienot.

    The Schramsberg was very smooth and creamy, but kicked out a bit of a dry bitter apple/pear flavor on the back end. Not bad by any means, but just a hair distracting from the seemingly smoother texture on the initial attack. A very good sparkler and drinking good now. For those holding any bottles, this might be best left alone for another few years in hopes the bitter finish mellows out a little more.

    92-93 points for me.

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  • 2011 Frank Family Vineyards Brut Rosé Sparkling 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This was universally #3 out of three sparklers tasted side-by-side (#1 was a Thienot Champagne, #2 was a 2007 Schramsberg Reserve).

    Same as my notes from almost a year ago, except that I did bump this up a point because a nice strawberry cream flavor emerged briefly mid-palate that helped to smooth out some of the other more bitter citrus notes.

    Still finished a bit too dry for my preference. I was a ultimately bored with this sparkler, and just kept going back to the other two. 89-90 generous points from me.

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  • NV Thienot Champagne Brut 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    This was the #1 sparkler of the night; tasted side-by-side with two others (#2 was a 2007 Schramsberg Reserve; #3 was a Frank Family Brut Rose). I was honestly shocked at the depth and wonderful mid-palate texture this exhibited right out of the bottle. Really nice creamy almond, vanilla effervescence, lemon citrus, poached pear, yellow apple, and brioche.

    Decent QPR in the $30-40 range, especially compared to its competition tonight. I ordered more right after we had this flight. Really well done for what I thought it was going to deliver. A really nice surprise. Highly recommended. All of us in the group - wine geeks and non-connoisseurs alike - thought this was the favorite of the night. The 2007 Schramsberg Reserve was pretty darn close, but at a fraction of the price, the Thienot was a clear overall winner.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 2012 TOR Chardonnay Cuvée Torchiana 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Exact same as my notes from 2/3/16. Was tied with a 2012 Littorai Heintz Chardonnay until we served the turkey...the Littorai really complimented the bird much better. The Tor had a bit of a tropical note that didn't pair as well (not a ding on the wine necessarily, but it had trouble competing with the Littorai once we realized it paired better than the Tor.

    93 points for the Tor, which is likely where it will remain for me point-wise. This was drinking well after about an hour of air. I would suggest not serving this overly cool. Cellar temperature is better.

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  • 2012 Littorai Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    This gained points more because it was an absolutely phenomenal pairing with the turkey dinner (compared to a 2012 Tor Torchiana it went head-to-head with). The Tor was good, but the Littorai was a beautiful balance of being both rich and finessed.

    6 months ago I felt the Littorai was a little too delicate to warrant a better score, but it showed really well this time around. Everyone at the table preferred this over the Tor (though it was fairly close for some).

    94 points for the Littorai.

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Flight 3 (4 Notes)

  • 2012 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley

    Same as all of my previous notes on this wine. This went head-to-head against a 2009 Williams Selyem RRV, 2013 Rivers Marie Sonoma Coast, and 2013 Eric Kent Sascha Marie. In actuality, all of the wines performed very well. They were all different wines in many aspects.

    The group was all over the map in terms of preference. The Talley was #1 for a few folks. The WS was pretty much #1 for me and a few others. The RM really kicked into gear after an hour and "wowed" a number of other people over the other wines. Some were better at different times. The WS and RM were likely my overall favorites.

    I still think the Talley could use another year in bottle. It was pretty smooth on PnP, but a tad reserved and a little linear in the beginning. Nice subtle forest floor, black currant, and porcini mushroom notes toward the very end. Hold until 2018 if you have the patience. 92-93+ points at best, especially on the final sips.

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  • 2013 Eric Kent Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Sascha Marie 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Previous notes apply. All this needs is a little more time. Approximately 4 total hours in a decanter allowed this wine to stretch it legs a bit and fatten up. Final sips were the best. As previously mentioned, hold for another year.

    I bumped this up a point this go-around, as the mid-palate filled in a little nicer than before. This still had trouble competing with a trio of other pinots consisting of a 2009 Williams Selyem Estate RRV, a 2012 Talley Rosemary's, and a 2013 Rivers Marie Sonoma Coast.

    92 points is probably as high as this will ultimately land for me.

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  • 2013 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Same notes as before. Stood strong with a 2009 Williams Selyem Estate RRV, a 2012 Talley Rosemary's, and a 2013 Eric Kent Sascha Marie. Considering price, the RM destroyed the others QPR-wise. It was very energetic, with gobs of saturated red raspberry, orange peel, pomegranate, muddled strawberry, and a hint of spicebox.

    3-4 hours in the decanter woke this up even more. I might be underscoring it a bit, but it was competing with other wines that also delivered at least fairly equally throughout the night. 93+ points at minimum.

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  • 2009 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Although opinions varied and seemed to change throughout the night as all of the wines took in more air, the Williams Selyem pretty much ended up as WOTN among 4 pinots. The others were also very good, including a 2012 Talley Rosemary's, a 2013 Eric Kent Sascha Marie, and a 2013 Rivers Marie Sonoma Coast.

    The WS was clearly the most ready to drink right out of the gate. This had good energy and also kicked out some nice earth and tobacco notes to compliment the core of black raspberry/cherry fruits and some subtle cola flavors.

    Drink now and over the next few years. 93-94 points for me.

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