Crown Fall 08 Upscale Tasting

Boca Raton, FL
Tasted Saturday, November 8, 2008 by vinole with 1,682 views

Introduction

Another good tasting that this S. FL merchant does twice a year. Always tough to get in the best wines over the two hours.

Flight 1 - Champagne & Sparkling wines (6 Notes)

Flight 2 - Chardonnay and other whites (9 Notes)

Flight 3 - Burgundy & Pinot (6 Notes)

Flight 4 - Italian (8 Notes)

Flight 5 - Misc Reds (7 Notes)

  • 2002 Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc Premier Etage 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Bright, rich cherry fruit with acidity in check and drinking well now. Medium body.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Taltarni Shiraz 87 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Pyrenees

    Cool climate makes for a much different shiraz than the stereotypical fruit bomb. Lighter body and more red fruits showing, but my score was hurt by an odd slightly salty, astringent finish.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 89 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Dark cherry flavors with some acidity and some oak. Good Rioja.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Bodegas Vizcarra Ribera del Duero JC Vizcarra 90 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Dark cherry fruit with a fair amount of oak. Medium body and lower acidity than most RdD's. Rich for this price point and a good QPR.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2003 Clarendon Hills Syrah Hickinbotham 93 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon

    Thick texture, intense, full bodied wine primarily of blackberry and plum, and smoke and oak. Despite the richness and lushness, did not seem flabby or overripe, as there was ample balancing acidity. Great wine for its style.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2006 DuMOL Syrah Russian River Valley 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Rich plum, blackberry, and blueberry fruit that was not overripe or hot on the finish. Big, full bore style, but still smooth and well balanced

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2006 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha Campo de Borja 91 Points

    Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja

    Dark, ripe fruit with LOTS of oak. Despite the ripeness and the big size of the wine, I didn't detect heat on the smooth finish. Well balanced wine, but you have to like oak which kept my score down.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 6 - Bordeaux and Cabs (16 Notes)

  • 2005 Château Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Tannic, but doesn't have the level of fruit I've found in other 05's. Needs time, but I doubt will turn into anything special.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2001 Château Beau-Site 86 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Was very closed with little fruit behind the tannin and acidity. Surprising for the generally early drinking 01 vintage. Needs a few more years before ready, and is still questionable that there is enough fruit here.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Château Rauzan-Ségla Ségla 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    The tannins were there as expected, but surprisingly approachable now and still open with rich fruit that has become a trademark of the vintage.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2001 Château Batailley 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    This has improved with another year in the bottle and came across as lush and approachable. Medium body and the tannins and acidity have resolved nicely at this stage.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A more reserved Napa cab, being only medium body and and having higher acidity than most, with currants on a 30-35 sec finish.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Reserved fruit for a Napa cab blend, nicely balanced, and quite smooth and approachable right now. An elegant wine, and the acidity did not jump out at me this time (though I had just finished a flight of Old World wines).

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Tikal Júbilo 90 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza

    Medium body, with dark fruit flavors, nicely balanced, but a little thin on the mid-palate for this price point.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Medium bodied and dialed back a little for a Napa cab. A well made wine, but nothing that made me take notice.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Col Solare 89 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    Dark red fruit flavors with some oak with a soft finish. The wine seems to lack focus and is a step down from previous vintages.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Sacrashe Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    Reserved currant fruit, but still a lively and juicy mouthfeel. Some oak and tannin there, but a nice smooth finish.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon Signature 90 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco

    Nice dark fruit, some acidity with nice balance. One of the better Argentine cabs I've had as it didn't have vegetal flavors or too much earth.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2003 Clarendon Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Brookman 90 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon

    Both red and dark fruit on the entry with more acidity than some, medium to full body, and a nice smooth finish.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2003 Tudal Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A ripe, plush wine, with red and dark fruit and an extra dash of acidity, that is smooth and approachable now.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Sonoma Mountain 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain

    Big fruit, but too soft from a lack of enough tannin and acidity as I often find with Sonoma cabs.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    Richer fruit than some previous Pine Ridge wines I have had, with some light acidity and smooth tannins that balance well. I find this has a little more intensity than some of the more restrained offerings in the past.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2005 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    An intense wine, with big currant fruit, and some considerable tannin with ample balancing acidity. Very nice wine, but recommend holding for at least a couple of years to let it settle down.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

×
×