Luis Rides Again!

The Kenwood, Minneapolis, MN
Tasted Thursday, November 17, 2022 by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine with 146 views

Introduction

This is a monthly get-together Luis puts together at a restaurant (this one at The Kenwood). The theme is always "Bring a Very Good Bottle of Wine." This was quite an eclectic showing with two wines in several categories that couldn't be more different. I probably would have done the flights differently, i.e. served the Trotanoy right after the Pinot/Burg, but no one asked me! All wines showed well! As always, good times with good friends, good food, and of course, good wines!

Flight 1 - Starter Champagne (1 Note)

Flight 2 - White Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2015 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 91 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Lean and acidic...not really my style of Chardonnay...lots of citrus and tart apple...fruit seems slightly lacking although plenty of acid....I recommend drinking up. 90-91

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  • 2016 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Totally my style of Chardonnay....creamy texture with lots of pear, melon and apple with notes of spice and sweet oak, with a nice butterscotch/oaky finish. I like these, not sure why I don't buy any....thankfully, I have friends who do! 93+ and drinking well now!

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Flight 3 - Pinot/Burgundy Flight (1 Note)

  • 2008 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge 94 Points

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

    Nice Burg....wish I had the patience to learn these wines better....don't buy many, but love drinking them when someone else who knows them picks them out. Pre-drinking thoughts: 2008 vintage, 1er...average expectations.

    This wine far exceeded my expectations, so I am likely being overly generous with my score, but I don't care because that is how I felt when drinking it! Besides, on a more objective note (yes, almost any note would be "more objective"), this is in a perfect spot for my palate. Nose showed some funk (in a good way) with cherry and plum, and hints of alcohol. Palate showed tart and dark cherry with tree bark, bramble and hints of cocoa. The wine had a short-medium finish. 93-94 including an extra point or two for the "wow" factor because it far exceeded my expectations....may have scored a point lower if it were blind, but still an outstanding Burg!

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Flight 4 - CdP Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    This wine is still holding strong! A perfectly aged CdP for my palate! Shows a nice balance between fruit and tertiary flavors, but leaning slightly tertiary. Nose is glorious with lots of funk and barnyard (in a good way) coupled with stewed cherries and lots of earth, bark, mushroom and dusty tannins. Palate is almost as good, following the nose, but to a very slightly lesser degree. Overall, a superb showing! A solid 94 points.

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  • 2007 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Nice CdP....curious how this will be down the road...if alcohol integrates better, this will be a stunner....if the alcohol/heat gets more intense, it will not be in my wheelhouse. Has the fruit right now, but needs time to better develop...we will see if the fruit can hold up. For now, nose shows lots of black cherry cherry bark and hints of chocolate and anise. On the palate, the wine shows lots of cherry, black pepper, licorice and some alcohol. 91 today, have no idea what the future. holds for this one.

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Flight 5 - Bordeaux (and Bordeaux Blend) Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2009 Clos Apalta 93 Points

    Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta

    Never had this before, that I can recall, but a very nice wine! Nose shows lots of black and red fruit, mostly currant and cassis, with notes of tar and anise. Palate shows lots of dark fruit wrapped in grippy tannins, with forest floor, herbs and licorice all wrapped in toasted oak. Very nice wine and seems to be an excellent QPR....would like to see how this develops, I think it will improve down the road, pretty darn good now! 93+

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  • 2004 Château Trotanoy 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    2 hour decant at the restaurant....This was a small mistake...meant to grab a 1998, but grabbed this instead, and didn't realize it was the wrong vintage till I got to the restaurant...not a bad mistake though, as I have wanted to taste one these anyway! Nose is nicely perfumed with cherry blossom and violets, some bramble and notes of chocolate. The palate is smooth and silky with chocolate covered cherries, some earth and some violets. A very nice wine drinking quite well now, but may develop more nuances with additional age...drink now or later. 93+ - 94 points.

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Flight 6 - Sauternes Flight (1 Note)

  • 2001 Château d'Yquem 99 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Same bottle as coravined previously...ethereal, what else can I say about it...my highest score...not sure if there is anything better (hard to imagine!), but left a point on the table just in case (who knows, in 10 years this may be better?!)

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Closing

I think everyone's wine of the night, to no surprise, was the 2001 Yquem. Reds were a different story, from talking with some of the folks, I think we all showed we have different palates, but still lots in common! We didn't formally vote, but I think the majority liked the 2001 Chavin CDP best. My Order is obvious from my notes! Thanks to all who contributed and for all who are reading this story.....Cheers!

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