Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting

Jason's House
Tasted Thursday, October 19, 2023 by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine with 103 views

Introduction

So.....this was set up as a sort of "Judgement of Paris" but in Eagan, MN rather than Paris, although the concept was somewhat similar. The idea here was to have several flights that pitted a French and US wine against each other. The thought was to have a Chardonnay flight, 2 older red flights and a newer red flight.

In retrospect, the red flights should have been either all older or all newer.....mixing the two was a mistake, IMO. I guess wine works both ways....have younger wines first, and they partially mask or dilute the fruit in the older wines. Have the older wines first, and they mask/dilute the tertiary or secondary flavors in the newer wines. Hence, I will try to keep liked aged wines in each tasting. Lesson learned!

Flight 1 - Champagne Starters (2 Notes)

  • NV Jacques Selosse Substance 97 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Not sure if this bottle was a hair below the last one, or if the "WOW" factor was slightly less having had this wine before. Still, an excellent wine for my palate and I am a big fan of this style. Not sure I can put my finger on why I love this wine, but probably because I find it so different from many others. Yes, I have oxidative and reductive Champagnes in the past, but this is different, while it is totally in that style, it still retains some youthfulness and a lot of complexity, minerality and fruit. This is what I imagine a top aged white Burgundy with a little effervescence would taste like.

    Nuts and bolts: This wine was golden in color, showing its age...2010 disgorgement. The bubbles were so fine, they were hard to observe, but very present on the palate, albeit, it came across as a delicate Champagne. Plenty of baked apple, citrus, Unami and saline, with hints of fresh ginger and honeycomb. Just as delicious as I remember. An expensive Champagne, but worth the money in my book. Wish I had a lot more! Easy 97 for my palate!

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  • NV Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 95 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    This was drank along side a Substance. While it from the same mold as Substance, i.e., reductive and oxidative, this retained some of the freshness of a younger Champagne, but also lost some of the complexities of Substance. It was fun to see which one people preferred, and the crowd was divided! I was clearly in the Substance camp, but I could understand why others would prefer this more traditional style (not really traditional, but more so than Substance).

    The nuts and bolts on this Champagne: Had the fine bubbles, but a little more visible than the Substance, and not as deep of a golden color. Not sure of the disgorgement date on this wine, but would guess more recent than Substance. For me, the freshness came across more in this wine, but it slightly lacked in the finish, which wasn't as long as as Substance. This wine had some brioche notes, some citrus, saline and some stone fruit, but not as much Unami and lacked the ginger and honeycomb notes. As previously stated, the finish was medium (compared to the long finish of Substance). A very pleasant wine that would have undoubtably shown even better if not drank along side the Substance. Solid 95 for my palate, and a pleasure to drink!

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Flight 2 - Chardonnay Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2013 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard 97 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    PnP....What can I say....Marcassin is my favorite Chardonnay producer. I still cannot pay secondary market prices for it, but Marcassin does totally rock!

    This flight paired this wine against a 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne. Both wines were stellar, and favorites likely came down to individual palates. For me, Marcassin was the better wine, but it was pretty even for the group, with the 2013 Marcassin edging out the 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne.

    The nuts and bolts: Creamy mouthfeel, with baked pear, apple and some citrus and stone fruit, coupled with hints of saline, butterscotch and toasted oak. Always a pleasure to drink and never disappoints!
    97+ tonight!

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  • 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 95 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

    This was pitted against a 2013 Marcassin, and held its own! The group was divided, with the 2013 Marcassin barely edging out this wine! I was in the Marcassin camp, because quite frankly, for my palate, they make the best Chardonnay! Having said that, this wine gave it a run for its money, even for my palate!

    The nuts and bolts: I loved the nose on this wine....white flowers, spice and some baked apple pie, as well as some gunpowder and sea shell notes in the background. On the palate, their was a slight creaminess (which I liked) and some pear tart apple and slate. It was fun tasting the wine unfurl in the glass as it started out a little tighter (but not too tight) and loosened up with some time and air. A very enjoyable wine that I could kick back and sip all night! Easy 95 for my palate, and always a pleasure to taste a nice Burg!

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Flight 3 - 1st Red Flight - Older (2 Notes)

  • 1996 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    This wine was pitted against a 1993 Mouton, and for my palate, was the clear winner! A stellar showing and a classic MV!

    The nuts and bolts: The nose was sublime, with the tell-tale sign of eucalyptus, earth, red fruit and some spice. Palate was equally up to the task, with plenty of red and black fruit, mushroom and forest floor, eucalyptus, anise and tar, with notes of forest floor and sweet toasted oak. The tertiary flavors were more toward the forefront than with previous bottles, sharing the spotlight with the fruit.....just where my palate enjoys wine the most! This bottle was in a perfect spot for my palate! Easily 95+ and I don't see it improving, but I also don't see it fading any time soon.

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  • 1993 Château Mouton Rothschild 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    This was pitted against a 1996 Heitz MV. I enjoyed this wine, as it is always a pleasure and a privilege to drink any First Growth Bordeaux! However, for my palate, this wine was bested by the 96 Heitz MV.

    The nuts and bolts: This wine showed the thinness of the vintage, and although it developed some decent tertiary characteristics that helped carry it, the fruit, while still present, came across as thin and diluted. Lots of earth and mushroom, with some leather and some hints of cherry and currant. Not sure this would have been better earlier in its life, and my best guess is that it would have still been pretty thin earlier, but likely improved now through the development of the tertiary flavors. 91 and still fun to taste! This wine is a true reminder of how spoiled I am and what a privileged life I lead! I mean how many people get to drink 30 year old First Growth Bordeaux?!?!

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Flight 4 - 2nd Red Flight - Older (2 Notes)

  • 1983 Château Haut-Brion 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Slo-O for about 2.5 hours....This was pitted against a 1997 Insignia. This was the best red flight of the night for my palate and featured two outstanding wines that finished a nose apart in a photo-finish, as far as the group was concerned, with the Insignia barely edging this wine out! Of course, for my palate, the Insignia was the clear winner! Still, this wine was a joy to drink, and how often do you get to drink an outstanding 40 year old First Growth Bordeaux!?

    Nuts and bolts: The nose was slightly floral and perfumed (purple flowers) with earth, leather spice, cedar and tobacco. On the palate, this was classic Haut Brion showing plenty of gravelly notes, earth, leather, sweet tobacco and, of course, an equal amount of dark and red fruit! Haut Brion is always fun and pleasurable to drink! 94+ to 95 for me!

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  • 1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia 97 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This wine was pitted against a 1983 Haut Brion....a very tough challenge! The group was divided, but this wine came out on top, barely! For me, it was no contest, even though the Haut Brion was drinking quite well, and of course, has the pedigree! I know when it comes to older bottles, bottle variation can play a major role, but I must say, both this and the Haut Brion came across as pristine bottles. I can honestly say that this was not only the best Insignia I have tasted, but one of the best wines, period, I have tasted!

    The nuts and bolts: The nose was equal to the Haut Brion, showing some perfumed notes, earthy notes, old leather, some dark fruit and some spice. On the palate, this showed plenty of dark fruit with silky tannins, and perfect balanced with tertiary notes of earth, leather, tobacco and baking spices with hints of anise, tar and toasty oak. For my palate, this wine is in the zone where the fruit and tertiary flavors share the stage! I can't imagine this wine getting better, or it being better younger...it is in a perfect place right now....I just others have as much luck with their bottles! Solid 97 for me (and 98 is my benchmark for reds) My WOTN!

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Flight 5 - 3rd Red Flight - Younger (Merlot Based) (2 Notes)

  • 2008 Château La Violette 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    This wine was pitted against a 2012 Blanket Rive Droit. First, as others have noted, this flight may have suffered because everyone's palate was well intrenched in older wines....I know a 10 and a 14 year old wine is not exactly young, but everything is relative, as we just drank several 30 to 40 year old wines. In retrospect, I should have had a Champagne palate cleanser right before this flight to refresh everyone's palate. Oh well, live and learn! Between the two wines, the La Violette was the class of the flight, which was semi-amazing in that the Blanket showed so well just a few weeks before. I chalk it up to timing and pairing. But isn't this one reason we drink wine....to keep learning?!

    The nuts and bolts: This wine was drinking nicely, but the nuances of the tertiary flavors were lost due to the more nuanced wines that preceded it. The nose was perfumed and spiced with hints of earth and bramble. The palate showed classic violets and gobs of red and dark fruit and some chocolate along with hints of earth and leather. Still a 94 for me, but likely would have scored a point or two higher if drank at a different time, or following different wines.

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  • 2012 Blankiet Estate Rive Droite 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This wine had a 3-4 hour decant.....This wine was pitted against a 2008 La Violette Pomerol. The showing was a little disappointing, but I believe can be attributed to two factors: First, the wines that preceded the flight were older wines (see story); and second, there should have been a palate cleanser between the older wines and this flight. I was kind of surprised, even though La Violette is one of my personal favorites, that it beat out this wine, as I enjoyed my last bottle so much! Admittedly, I did think it would be a great match up, but both wines suffered greatly from my lack of thinking this through in terms of flighting all the wines. In retrospect, I should have had two different tastings....one with older wines and one with newer wines....sometimes, it is difficult to go from apples to oranges!

    The nuts and bolts: The wine was very good, but not as stellar as the last bottle. Several reasons could be responsible, and I can't even venture a guess as to which one(s) could be responsible: (1) Bottle variation (but doubtful); (2) Second time drinking this and expectations may have been unreasonably high based on how much I enjoyed this wine the first time (still doubtful, but possible); (3) This wine followed much better wines (unlikely the reason); (4) Our (my) palate(s) was synchronized to much older wines, and relative to that, nuances and tertiary notes were lost, which would otherwise have been detected (my best guess). Regardless of the reason, this wine did not show as well as it should have.

    Nose was floral and full of red cherry, spice and bramble. Palate was chalked full of chocolate covered cherries, some baking spices and some cigar box. Even with the disappointment, this wine was still a 94 for me, which is a great score, but this wine was likely even better than that! I think it is harder to be totally objective when you are drinking it with other wines, especially, as in this case, much older nuanced wines. Also, this wine didn't feel like it had those velvety tannins of the first bottle, but I attribute that to a tired palate.

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Flight 6 - Dessert Wine (1 Note)

  • 1976 Château d'Yquem 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    PnP....this wine was a treat! A perfect ending to an awesome night! It has been over 20 years since I last had this wine, and it is still stellar! The wine showed impeccable balance, as expected, between sweetness and acidity. I will admit, I expected much more caramel, which was present, but not dominant. However, there was a burnt sugar taste present, along with orange marmalade, some dried apricot and some toasted coconut. A very flavorful, well balanced wine, and a super way to end a stellar tasting! Easy 96 for me! I gave the rest of the bottle to a friend and attendee as this was his birth year wine!

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Closing

A great night with some great wines, great food, and of course, great friends! Hope you enjoyed the story and received a little vicarious enjoyment from reading about the wines! This was an excellent example of how different our palates are, and everyone had their favorites! One thing that was kind of surprising was that no one was loyal to either side and each wine stood on its own, i.e., most people (I believe everyone) voted for at least one US wine and at least one French wine!

Till next time....Cheers!

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