Wines From Around the Globe Overwhelmed My Taste Buds

I had a great time with Dan Hammer tonight and his friends from Flyer Talk. Dan and Flyer Talk are the source of the killer ticket to Hawaii for $277 this fall that popped up on Social Hall recently. Lovely company, people coming in from all over the world to meet for just a few days to make their online lives offline. That are likely more passionate about flying than many of us here are about wine. Thanks for letting me crash, Dan.

I think my taste buds were just overwhelmed or confused by the quantity and variety of bottles on the table. A lovely gentleman asked me what my favorite wine was and I couldn't even guess what my top three might be. Certainly, 14 bottles in less than three hours had lots to do with it, but I usually know my own mind better than I did tonight. Despite the five dinners I have coming up in the next week being similar bacchanals, I am going to try to pare down to five or six bottles over an evening. This was fun, but a crazy pace. It was the wine version of speed-dating.

• 2005 Cantina Terlan Müller-Thurgau

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

  Interesting. First time I'm having this grape. Tastes like a blend of two things I know well, but can't recall. Slightly sweet.

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• 2007 Garlider-Kerschbaumer Müller-Thurgau Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler St. magdelena

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Not as sweet as the first, apples and acid and citrus are the overwhelming notes on the palate here. Interesting, but not a buy.

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• 1998 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Others thought this wasn't ready, but couldn't argee if it was too old or too young. In any case, it wasn't ready today. Not a traditional big cali cab, but okay. "Burgundian" was thrown around a few times. I got a raisiny quality. Fine, but nothing I'd buy.

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• 1997 Beringer Vineyards Zinfandel North Coast

  USA, California, North Coast

  Tannic, alcohol on the midpalate, a little sediment. Very nice and I came back for more of this one. But I'd have a young one before I'd have this again. This wasn't lacking fruit, but I like mine with a bit more.

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• 1995 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut

  France, Champagne

  Yeast was the predominate note on the nose and the palate. I got this interesting taste of lemons. Not sour lemons nor sweet lemons as in lemonade. Just lemons. Citrus on the back of this. Many ooh'd and aah'd over this. It was just champagne to me.

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• 2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Now we get something with some body to it! Bright translucent cherry color (whereas the ones before this had been burgundy with some brown mixed in). Traditional Sea Smoke. Cherry, sweet candied flavors, but not as much as last year. More balanced now. Very nice.

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• 2004 Erath Pinot Noir Prince Hill

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Earthy!! Not balanced, not nuanced. Just E-A-R-T-H-Y with big capital letters. Hard to find the fruit behind the Great Wall of Earth here.

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• 2006 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Oddly effervescent at first. This blew away, but was flat. Better after an hour. Some cherries, but not much else.

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• 2002 Kilikanoon Shiraz Covenant

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  This was the first opaque wine on the table. An Aussie shiraz that others said was elegant and balanced. I liked it, but would like to have had it alone to focus on it.

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• 2005 Domaine Serene Syrah Rockblock "SoNo" Flawed

  USA, Oregon

  Corked.

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• 1997 Château Valandraud

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Lots of the french earthiness that I don't prefer. However, there was more fruit here than I normally find on French wines.

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• 2001 Van Der Heyden Petite Sirah

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  I don't know the price point of this, but it didn't taste as well-produced as other things on the table. There was particularly sweet fruit, even for me, which is saying a lot. The first red that didn't stand up to the others.

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• 2001 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  I am in the definite minority in thinking this had a short finish. This is the best Italian wine I've ever had. Mind you, I don't prefer Italian wine, but this was smooth and kep the traditional characteristics of that terroir at bay. If I'd had a full glass of this, I would not have minded.

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• 1989 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  This is not one of the better sauternes I've had. I like more sweetness on mine. Not much fruit here. Pretty light orange color.

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Fairway continues to deliver. I didn't stick around for the final bill, but you can't beat this for less than $60 bucks in NYC. Also, tonight we actually got a bit of wine service there, which I've never gotten before. Someone opened all our bottles, brought wine buckets to chill the whites, brought dump buckets and extra glasses and only had to be asked once. Unusual based on my prior experiences. This was a deal and my steak and salad were good.