Wine Spectator Grand Tour

Las Vegas
Tasted Saturday, May 3, 2008 by WineForRob with 1,430 views

Introduction

Great event. My first time at anything like this and I was admittedly a little overwhelmed. Like a kid in a candy store I went all over the place with no strategy or plan but still ended up getting to taste a little of everything that I wanted. I am not a spitter so over the night I did get to feeling pretty good and it will probably reflect that in my scoring and notes but I will give it a whirl anyway.

Flight 1 - France (7 Notes)

  • 2005 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne 74 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Did not like this at all. Smelled like terpentine. Slight red berry flavors with huge acidity and an earthy finish. Buy if you need nail polish remover.

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  • 2004 Château Haut-Brion 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Aromas of meat flowers and earth. Not as earth dominated as some others but still there. Cant say I appreciate it that much yet. Silky mouth feel with strong tannic structure. Good but not overwhelming.

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  • 1999 Château Lafite Rothschild 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Earth and barnyard. First overall experience with first growths and I guess I just dont get it. Now i understand these are not top vintages and are still quite young but I expected more. Red fruits poke through with more leather and a long finish. Good but not for me.

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  • 2001 Château Latour Grand Vin 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Better . More earth but not as much. More minerality or graphite but also some fruit. Something I havent really sensed in the 1st growths so far. Plum tobacco and leather with firm acidity and tannins. Did enjoy this.

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  • 2004 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Best of the bordeauxs I have had. Red and drak fruits with some leather. Strong backbone but has enough fruit to back it. Very elegant finish.

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  • 1998 Château Margaux 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Smoke flowers and some more earth. Black and red fruits with leather. Tannins are strong but somewhat drying. Fruit holds it together.

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  • 1999 Château Mouton Rothschild 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Similar to Lafite. not as much earth. More minerality and leather notes. Red fruit strong and powerful but still elegant. Guess they just all need a lot more time.

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Flight 2 - California (9 Notes)

  • 2004 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Have to admit I perfer Napa to Bordeaux. I know start throwing things at me but there it is. Wonderful cherry and plum aromas with a full bodied creamy mouth feel. Chocolate and more red fruits on the delicious finish. Yum.

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  • 2005 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Very fresh dark fruit aromas. Full bodied mouthfeel and soft as usual. More acidic backbone than normal and some slight earth notes. very good again.

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  • 2004 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

    Very bordeaux like in structure and nose. Earth tobacco with some red fruit. Obviously decanted so the tannins were tamed. Id imagine it was quite large before decanting. Just not my style but I can appreciate the minerality in the "Terroir".

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  • 2005 Gemstone G 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

    This is what I have come to expect from them. Huge chocolate and spice notes with a succulent juicy mouthfeel with the same lushness of fruit thay had in the 04. Evne more elegant finish may be touch better than last year. Went back to this several times and I know I'm not the only one.

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  • 2005 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    Either this has opened back up or they decanted nicely. Chocolate and black cherry aromas with a full bodied lush mouth feel. Fruit supports the building tannins making them come across as soft and creamy. Always one of my favorites.

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  • 2004 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Started talking to pourer about To Kalon vineyard so was obligated to try. Not usually a Mondavi fan and was not crazy about this bottle before but it seems like the spice notes have settled nicely into the rest of the wine. Still strong acidity but the To kalon fruit shines through on the long finish

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  • 2004 Joseph Phelps Insignia 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Drinking Insignia poured by Bill Phelps. Pretty cool. Amazing purity of fruit. Love the red fruits present in Insignias. very approachable for a young Insignia. Strong notes of chocolatey oak are present and the juiciness is great. Long tasty finish with strong but silky tannins.

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  • 2005 Rubicon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    Poured from magnums. Nose of dark berries with a touch of alchohol. Soft midpalate with firm acidity. Little tight but I expect will open up. Good but not as good as rest of cabs here.

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  • 2005 Sbragia Family Cabernet Sauvignon Andolsen Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Dark fruit with some menthol on the nose. Fuller bodied than I expected from sonoma. Firm acidity but supple feel. Long finish with some coffee and lots of heft.

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Flight 3 - Italy (9 Notes)

Flight 4 - Australia (1 Note)

Flight 5 - Chile (4 Notes)

These Chilean wines stole the show. The Don Melchor was amazing.

Flight 6 - Spain (2 Notes)

Flight 7 - Argentina (1 Note)

Flight 8 - Portugal (1 Note)

  • 2003 Prats and Symington Douro Chryseia 94 Points

    Portugal, Douro

    Delicious aromas of cherries and plum. Medium to full bodied mouth feel with a silky elegant finish red fruits dominate and make a real nice change from what I have been drinking tonight. very good never had a portuguese table wine before.

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Flight 9 - South Africa (1 Note)

  • 2004 Ernie Els 88 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

    Very jammy nose and midpalate. Like raspberry candy. Firm acidity but still juicy. Seems well made just the flavor profile is too unique for me.

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Closing

After all that I would say my wife and I had a great time and definitely will be doing this again.

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