Monthly Tasting Group: "Bring that Damn Bottle"
Tongue & Cheek, St. Paul, MN
Tasted Sunday, August 25, 2024 by rocknroller with 140 views
Introduction
This was the monthly big group tasting. The theme was "Bring that Damn Bottle". So the idea was to bring something that is maybe past peak, maybe it never fits the theme, maybe you just never found the right time or it got lost and forgot about. I love the theme, and everyone was prepared with a backup bottle if age was a concern. We had a group that dwindled down to 8 by the time of the tasting (RF, GA, KB, BB, JP, JG, MZ/CZ). T&C did a nice job with service and we had some fun apps. Despite a brutal atmosphere in the restaurant, a good time was had by all. Thanks to Brad for carrying the torch on this one.
NV Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Light gold color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. The blend is 70% 2014, 20% 2013 and 10% 2012. Disgorged: December 6, 2017. This has over 5 years of additional cellar time on it. Also has the old label that I really loved (newsflash: modern styling does not make everything better). This showed really well tonight. I loved the freshness and sea breezes right from the start followed by the crisp green apple, lifted and harmonious palate. Very classy, and still an amazing value.
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1995 Kalin Cellars Chardonnay Cuvée LV 94 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Appropriate medium darker gold color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. This reminds of an '88 Leflaive Batard I had a few years ago. I found this in excellent shape and completely fascinating. The nose shows golden fruits, pear, caramel, marzipan and confections, honey, dried white flowers, and nuts. The palate is full bodied with roasted nuts, Meyer lemon, pear, marzipan, caramel, honey, and a modest bit of oxidation with a long finish. In the past, I've thought these showed best near room temp. Today was very hot, and the restaurant could not keep up to maintain a cool temp inside. This was definitely better when it had more chill today.
This won't be for everyone no doubt, but they offered a window into what mature Cali Chardonnay can become in caring hands. Sad that we won't see these anymore other than what might lurk in the pipeline. 93+ to 94pts.
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2010 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard 93 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Light medium gold color. Drank a glass over an hour. Certainly a strong contrast next to the '95 Kalin LV, despite a good bit of age on the Rhys. I found this very good as expected. Meyer lemon, tangerine, a touch of honey, spicebox, saline, very crisp with nice acids and dry extract. Lots going on here and in fine shape.
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2001 Müller-Catoir Haardter Bürgergarten Riesling Spätlese 91 Points
Germany, Pfalz
Very dark gold color. Drank a glass over an hour. Stone fruits, apricot, fusil, stone on the nose. The palate is sweet, stone fruit, melon, mango, apricot, creamy, lychee, fat, a touch of citrus, unctuous, stone. Getting a bit bigger and more dessert wine like. I'd probably drink over the short term.
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1988 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Very dark red color with a 1cm transition. PNP, drank a glass over an hour plus. I was hopeful this was going to be memorable; and while I found it very enjoyable, it didn't rise to that level. The nose is a beguiling mix of mint, dried wood, dried tobacco leaf, dried herbs, licorice and subtle green pepper with a little dark fruit clinging for life. The palate shows a bit more fruit, cassis, dried wood, dried earth, spice, full bodied with the tannins hanging on but the fruit fading into the sunset. Fun to try and still a lot to like here.
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1994 Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour next to the '88 Caymus SS. Clearly in a better, more youthful place, the Ravenswood was a pleasant surprise. Nive dark fruits, more to blackberry, menthol, dried herbs, full bodied, moderate tannins, with a touch of lacquer on the palate. Not the emost elegant, but makes the grade.
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1985 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate Flawed
USA, California, Napa Valley
Vegetal, cooked fruit.
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1991 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Very dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. Woodsy, graphite, dark fruits on the nose. The palate is still showing density and some power with a fair bit of grip to the drying tannins; blackberry liqueur, earth and a touch vegetal, fading fruits. The nose was better than the palate for me. This bottle was more tired than most I've had. Thanks to Jason for sharing this backup bottle!
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2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. By the time we got to this, the heat was just making these reds tough to drink. I didn't take many notes, but I thought it had a medicinal character to it, dark and brooding tonight. I think it would have benefited substantially from some air and a cooler environment. My gut was 92pts under better circumstances.
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2010 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Very dark red/purple color. PNP, followed a glass over 45 minutes. Dense and rich, full bodied, blackberry liqueur, jammy, black cherry, white pepper. Agree with galewskj on this. I'm not really hopeful this is getting any better for my taste. No score, sub 90.
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2004 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard Flawed
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
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2005 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over 30 minutes. Green, ripe, highly extracted, syrupy, black raspbery liqueur, heat. Never my thing, but clearly past when it was best. I always ponder when that elusive moment might be with Turley.
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2001 Château de Fargues 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Very dark gold plus, plus. Drank a small glass over 20 minutes. Orange cream, boldly spicy, marmalade, honey, candied apricot, dense and juicy, rather weighty. This had a quite dark color for '01 FWTW.
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