Fall Fest 2008

This was a trade tasting that Southern Wines and Spirits put on at Navy Pier. It was very crowded for a trade tasting, so it made it hard to get in more wines. There was a ton of wine being poured, so one had to pick and choose what they were going to taste

• 2005 Artesa Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: nice solid nose of cherries, cranberries, oak, and some black currants
  
  taste: a bit non-descript with nice balance possesing tones of cherries, oak, and black currants
  
  overall: a decent cab. Not much in the way of an attack, but solid mid palate and black currant finish

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• 2006 Artesa Pinot Noir Los Carneros 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  nose: decnet nose of cherries, spice, and some raspberry tones. An easy going nose with little depth but a solid profile
  
  taste: solid and not in a fruit bomb style with cherries, spice and vanillians
  
  overall: a nice pinot. Fairly non-descript, but nice feel that I'd expect from a pinot as opposed to some of the pinot bombs that come out of california

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• 2006 Artesa Pinot Noir Estate Reserve Carneros 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  nose: pronounced nose of black cherries, cola, and smokey tones that blend well together
  
  taste: well defined and balanced flavors of black cherries, cola, and some black spice tones lurking beneath
  
  overall: a very good pinot with nice acidity. Very solid and well put together with a nicely pronounced nose and a tart black cherry attack with a light black spiced finish

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• 2005 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  nose: nicely styled nose of red currants, cedar, loads of red fruits, and even bits of leather
  
  taste: very firm with slight bits of heat along with red currants, dark cherries, black currants, and some leather tones
  
  overall: can use some sideways time to calm down the heat. Very well put together with chewy tannins and a bold dark fruited attack with a black cherry finish

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• 2004 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Alexander Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  nose: full and pungent nose of roasted herbs, cranberries, black cherries, oak, and some black currants poking through
  
  taste: very light attack, but leading into good flavors of cranberries, black currants, black cherries, and cedar tones
  
  overall: If this wine just possesed something truly resembling and attack, this would be outstanding stuff. Maybe with a bit more time that will emerge, but what is there right now is excellent with a nice classic california cabernet style with a cedary finish

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• 2004 Mount Veeder Winery Reserve 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: very woody nose, just very oaked with smokehouse tones dark fruits, and some mixed berries thrown in
  
  taste: a whole lot of wood. It's not like chewing on a 2x4, but its certainly there and its also very tannic with some dark fruits and smokey tones, but there isn't much to go on here
  
  overall: Its not overdone, its just very blase in a oddly bold way. Big feel and bold mid palate, but its mostly woody tones and there isn't much fruit to go on. Its a popular style with the masses, but just doesn't do much for me right now. Maybe with a bit of time or air(as this was at a tasting) more will come out, but I wouldn't put a lot of money down on that

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• 2004 Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  nose: a more classically styled nose that goes for subtlety rather then brashness with notes of black currants, bits of oak, dark cherries, and some cranberries poking through
  
  taste: medium bodied with bits of oak, black cherries, black currants, and red currants
  
  overall: a very nice cabernet, but even though it goes for understatement, it just doesn't have that extra gear that something like montelena has to bring it to that next level. Everything is well in place and put together, but nothing really shines or really catches you.

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• 2006 Jordan Vineyard & Winery Chardonnay Russian River Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  nose: nice citrusy nose with lemon peels, peaches, lychees, and some vanilla bean tones
  
  taste: crisp feel with balanced flavors of vanilla beans, lychees, peach tones, and some toasted oak on the back end
  
  overall: a nice and balanced chard. Crisp acidity and well placed flavors with good complexity. Good citrus on the nose and a nice peach attack and a vanilla bean+toasty oak finish

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• 2005 Roth Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  nose: nice expressive fruit on the nose with plum red cherries, creamy raspberries, red currants, and some vanilla poking in there too
  
  taste: straight forward in style and on the bigger side with oak tones, red cherries, raspberries, and firm tannins
  
  overall: a pretty straight forward cab. Big feel on the palate but its not really big fruit, its just well, big. Well balanced with good tannins, this is the kind of cab that begs for a steak.

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• 2006 Chimney Rock Elevage Blanc 79 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: very bitter nose with some oak and bright citrus tones to go with the bitter fruits. An odd nose that doesn't really do much for me
  
  taste: very simple and thin with lots of oak and a lot of bitter fruits
  
  overall: average at best. This is a wine that does little for me, and brings as much to the table as the most bland person you can imagine.

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• 2005 Terlato Vineyards Syrah 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  nose: well balanced with notes of black cherries, pepper, anise, and red berry fruits working well together
  
  taste: Nice and medium bodied with black cherries, anise, and red berry fruits
  
  overall: A really solid syrah that is well balanced and well put together. Nice medium feel with a black cherry attack and red berry finish

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• 2003 Terlato Vineyards Angels' Peak 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: beautiful and expressive nose of blueberries, red cherries, red and black currants, with some lush dark florals poking their way through. Well balanced on the nose and very pretty
  
  taste: good tannins with plush tones of red cherries, red and blacck currants, with some anise and dark floral tones on teh back end
  
  overall: an outstanding wine that is well balanced with good fruit and nice tannins. Very expressive nose showing off the merlot with a plush red cherry attack and dark floral based finish

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• 2004 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: well balanced nose with cranberries, dark cherries, mint and red currants. Nice heitz style, but the hot vintage shows through a bit with this being jammy(well, jammy for heitz)
  
  taste: slightly disjointed with cranberries, dark cherries, red currants, and anise tones
  
  overall: I was expecting a bit more to be honest. Its a good solid cab, but it just didn't have that refinement that heitz brings that I love from them. Its not even that this is young, it just didn't have what I'm used to from heitz. c'est la vie

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• 2006 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  nose: nice tropical based nose with lemon cream tones, mangoes, and loads of various tropical citrus tones
  
  taste: nice and lithe on the palate with mango tones, tropical citrus tones, vanilla beans and some oak creeping in
  
  overall: an excellent chardonnay, but this one just didn't take it to the next level for me. Everything seemed in place to be outstanding, but something is lacking and I can't put my finger on it. It posseses a really good tropical citrus attack and vanilla bean finish

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• 2007 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Napa Valley 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: classic california profile with marmelade tones, toasted oak, peaches, and some white floral tones
  
  taste: fuller bodied feel with marmelade, toasted oak, and peach tones
  
  overall: a very solid chardonnay. Classic profile that fits it all to a T. Fuller body to this, but not obnoxious and presents a solid marmelade attack and peach based finish

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• 2005 Col Solare 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  nose: nice smokey backdrop with some dark cherries, red currants, and cranberry tones
  
  taste: good, but almost non-descript with red currants, various red fruits, and dark cherries
  
  overall: A solid wine, but this is very uninsprining. I've has past vintages and enjoyed them, but this was just very bland. Everything about it was solid, but it didn't have amazing balance and pure flavors or anything like that. It is what it is

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• 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: nice classically styled nose with red and black currants, dark cherries, and cranberry tones
  
  taste: good firm tannins with red and black currants, dark cherries, and cranberry tones with some oak tones hiding underneath
  
  overall: a classic cab with a good profile. Well balanced flavors with a dark cherry attack and a nice tart cranberry finish

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• 2006 Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz Lieu dit Malakoff 89 Points

  Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Pyrenees

  nose: very interesting and intriguing nose of smoke, bacon fat, loads of dark florals, with black cherries, and sour berries
  
  taste: good medium/full body to the wine with tones of bacon fat, black cherries, sour berries, and anise tones
  
  overall: an excellent shiraz showing that australian shiraz can be a whole lot more then a big barossa bomb. Great balance with a nose that offers up a lot of intrigue with a very good feel and flavors. Very smooth and polished, a quality shiraz with a bacon fat attack and black cherry finish

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• 2005 Two Hands Shiraz Lily's Garden 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  nose: big and rich aussie styled nose with blueberry pie, red cherries, eucalyptus, mint, mixed berries, and even whiffs of tobbacco
  
  taste: nicely balanced with good amounts of body providing tones of blueberry pie, red cherries, eucalyptus, mixed berry tones, and some tobbacco
  
  overall: An outstanding shiraz with a nicely polished medium/full feel. Solid tannins to back it up with a plush blueberry pie attack and mixed berry finish

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• 2005 Elderton Cabernet Sauvignon Ashmead Single Vineyard 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  nose: very intense nose, but just as interesting with loads of smoked meats, black currants, pipe tobbacco, black cherries, and mint. Not over the top at all, but intense and penetrating
  
  taste: great full feel, with gorgeous flavors of pipe tobbacco, smoked meats, black currants, black cherries, and a lot of black fruit undertones
  
  overall: this is an awesome wine. Needs time to calm down some of the exuberance, but this is a massive cab that is far from over the top. Intense, but in a way balanced that toes the line to being over the top, but it holds you down for a ride. Bold attack of smoked meats and a lush black cherry finish. This is a real stunner of a cab

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• 2004 Elderton Shiraz Single Vineyard Command 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  nose: very pure nose of eucalyptus, mint, red cherries, black berries, and smoke tones. Great balance to the nose and having good fruit without going the stereotypical barossa route
  
  taste: very elegant and filling flavors of eucalyptus, red cherries, blackberries, and smokey tones.
  
  overall: This is what a lot of shiraz should strive to be IMO, as there is elegance and body to this. Full on the palate, this has some restraint on it while still being australian. A great wine in the making with a full attack of red cherries and a smokey finish. This is one to put down and just enjoy when it starts to hit the 10 year mark and beyond

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• 2007 Elderton Chardonnay E Series Unoaked 86 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  nose: light nose with lemon/lime tones, vanilla beans, and light citrus tones. Fairly simple nose and easy nose
  
  taste: light bodied with notes of lemon/lime and some light citrus tones
  
  overall: a very good unoaked chardonnay that is light and enjoyable. This is a good one to have on a hot day with a lemony attack and light citrus finish

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• 2005 Elderton Shiraz Nuriootpa 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  nose: very full nose with black cherries, smoke, anise, and blackberries
  
  taste: well balanced and full feel with black cherries, smoke, and blackberry tones
  
  overall: Good tannins with a full bodied feel. Nice bold attack of black cherries and a smokey+blackberry finish

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• 2006 Elderton Shiraz / Cabernet 85 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  nose: surface based nose of red cherries and blackberries. Not much else going on with the nose
  
  taste: easy going with red cherries and red currants
  
  overall: a very good and easy drinking introductory cabernet. Nice red cherry attack, but no finish

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• 2005 Ca' Marcanda (Gaja) Magari 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  nose: loaded nose of black fruits with black cherries, herbs, and nice snappy spice tones
  
  taste: very firm and chewy tannins with black cherries, herbs, spices, and anise tones
  
  overall: This is really good, but needs time to sort everything out. A lot is there to make this a stellar wine as the nose is very expressive right now, but the palate just doesn't seem to live up to the aromatics.

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• 2003 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Nose: beautifully expressive nose filled with roasted herbs, all sorts of florals, red cherries, and smoke tones. Doesn't really show off the bright or stewed fruits that some other 03 has shown
  
  taste: Nice and plush with firm tannins that provide roasted herb tones, florals, red cherries, black fruits, and anise tones. More along the lines of the vintage that I expected as there is a bit of a stewy edge to it
  
  overall: The nose is very expressive and beautiful, but the palate is a bit angular. Time should work it out and this is definitely a worthy buy for an 03 brunello. A good classic producer with a nice roasted herb attack and black fruited finish

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• 2004 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  nose: fairly fruit forward which is a bit bothersome considering that its from RDD, still that said, there is really good depth on this with well defined tones of ripe cherries, smoke, anise, and black currants
  
  taste: nice smooth and full feel with blackberries, ripe cherries, smoke, and anise
  
  overall: The polish on this is excellent. Very smooth and balanced with good body to it. I did miss though more of the black fruits that i get from RDD wines, as this was in a more forward and international style. Still, it has a really good blackberry attack and anise based finish

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• 2007 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 89 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  nose: tart nose with citrus', peach tones, and bits of green apples
  
  taste: sweet, but lacking in acid and minerality with tart citrus tones, peach tones, and green apples
  
  overall: a nice riesling, but this in a way is a bit of a dissapointment. Its a excellent wine, but the low acidity is a problem and I was certainly expecting some minerality. Its obviously young, but I was hoping for a lot more from their offering of 07. That said, its still an excellent wine with nice light aromatics and a good dancing feel on the palate with a citrus attack and green apple finish

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• 2002 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé Rosé 89 Points

  France, Champagne

  nose: very nice and balanced tones of cimmanon, red cherries, and some floral tones
  
  taste: well balanced with melding tones of cherries, floral bits, and various baking spice tones
  
  overall: an excellent rose, but just doesn't bring that extra level of depth that I'd expect from Henriot. Flavors are well defined and pure with a good clean feel on the palate

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• 1995 Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  nose: very rich nose of roasted nuts, backing spices, loads of creamy tones, figs, and lemon zest
  
  taste: rich and complex with roasted nuts, baking spices, creams, and lemon zest
  
  overall: a very beautiful champagne. Nice and rich with subtle complexity and almost no acid on the lemon zest finish. This is starting to fully enter its drinking window

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• 1990 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  nose: wonderfully delicious nose with lemon mousse tones, figs, vanilla cream notes, green apples, and some nice minerality hiding in there
  
  taste: silky and smooth with wonderful effervescance providing beautiful and rounded tones of lemon mousse, vanilla cream, green apples, and loads of baking spices
  
  overall: This is probably at its peak right now. The bubbles were on point with wonderful flavors abounding. Silky lemon mousse attack that just caressed the palate and slid into a beautiful baking spice finish

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There was a ton of wine, and a ton of people. It wasn't so crowded to where you couldn't move, but I didn't expect as many people to be there as there were. I was certainly glad I went though as there was tons to try, and lots of stuff I hadn't heard of.