Tasting Jury
Denver, CO
Tasted Saturday, November 22, 2008 by Tim Heaton with 859 views
Introduction
reviewed everything from Sparklers to Dessert wine
Flight 1 (28 Notes)
Closing
a mixed panel of industry professionals and lay people reviewed 25+ wines over 2 hours
2007 Garofoli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico
Italy, Marche, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico
An enjoyable table wine with lots of body and a bit of depth. Be sure to serve this one at the proper temperature (i.e. not too cold). A hint of sweetness on the nose does not (thankfully) carry through to the palate. Quite well balanced, but lacking expressive character. A great QPR wine. Drink thru 2014
https://italianwine.blog/
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Bellenda Glera Flawed
Italy, Veneto, Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene
cork'd - badly. Too bad, we were looking forward to it.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
NV Covides Cava Rosado Brut
Spain, Cava
This rose cava brut was out of balance, clumsy and overly linear in nature. The nose was unbalanced too - here, gone, here again, gone again, etc. This was the 2nd of two sparklers in a row that disappointed.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
NV Mumm Napa Brut Rosé
USA, California, Napa Valley
nothing remarkable about this sparkler. the fruit quality is avg, as is the finish, but the r/s sugar is a bit high for a brut.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux Blanc
France, Bordeaux
A fantastic showing for a bargain basement Bordeaux Blanc. Green, grassy and good - that's what you need to know here. Lemon, loam, minerals, vibrant acidity and an med + persistence. Drink this over the next 18 months. Showing well right now.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Brokenwood Cricket Pitch Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
A slightly better than average table wine. Nice white fruits and spice - but lacks a real sense of growing place. I like to look for wines of character for my own table, and this came across as a better-than-average table wine, but nothing too remarkable. Some body/texture, low acidity. Avg persistence.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc Napa Valley
USA, California, Napa Valley
Lots of texture and creaminess here for a SB -but nothing overdone. Low acidity, above average focus and a pleasing mid-palate and mouthfeel. Pear juice, citrus and a hint of papaya make this a decent table wine. Drink through 2012 for best enjoyment, approx $16
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Joseph Drouhin Saint-Véran
France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Saint-Véran
Showing quite well at the moment, but has some stuffing to last another few years as well. Lovely nose of white fleshed fruits, flowers, minerals and a terrific secondary attack. For a wine that so no malo, this has some creaminess and a well developed mid-palate. Great value. Drink thru 2011. Superb food wine at this price.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Mandolin Chardonnay
USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey
A well-made wine with nice herbaceous character, green and red fruits and an enjoyable, complex nose. A bit thin on the mid-palate, and a short finish suggest a poor structure, but the overall balance with acid-fruit-sugar is solid. If you enjoy no-oak chard, this is a decent table wine.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Robert Mondavi Winery Chardonnay Napa Valley
USA, California, Napa Valley
An above-average quaffer with a nose of white flowers, apples, pears, a hint of tropical fruits and herbs. A bit of vanilla rounds out the bouquet. An above-average persistence and an enjoyable mouthfeel (just the right amount of malo) round this solid QPR wine off nicely. Drink through 2013 for best enjoyment.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve
USA, California
As a member of the wine buying ( & consuming) public, I often hear a bunch of jokes for which VR chard is the the punchline. But at the same time, it sells - and for a reason, it's a solid value and a consistent style and experience. It would appear that there is much less oak than in past vintages, which really helps to promote the fruit and not some bouquet of popcorn and pineapple. Nice grape tannins work well with ripe white-fleshed fruits and just a hint of tropical tones. Some dark toast, but nothing overwhelms here. A decent table wine, reasonably dry and reasonably priced. Drink thru 2010.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Napa Station Chardonnay
USA, California, Napa Valley
Consistently rated by the panel of 14 as one of the better wines we reviewed during the event. Easily had the most complex and engaging nose of all the whites we reviewed. Well balanced tropical tones include kiwi, starfruit, etc. A very pleasant acid backbone and well developed mid-palate make this a very enjoyable table wine, with a decent amount of depth. A solid for those that appreciate a well-done domestic Chardonnay. Drink thru 2012, 13.5% abv and approximately 30% malo. Good effort, approx $20.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Stonestreet Chardonnay Alexander Valley
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Rich and layered with a med+ persistence. Ripe white fruits, some tropical tones and herbs form a very enjoyable table wine with vibrant acidity and a decent mouthfeel. A bit out of balance as some heat comes thru even though it is only 13.5% abv. This wine combines some native yeast with some inoculated and sees small Fr. barrique for about 6 mos. Not sure what Parker saw here to give it 92 - it's nice, but not that nice; At least not in my opinion. This seems to lack a bit of character, or growing place - which is not surprising given that its from as many as 8 separate vineyards. Drink thru 2012
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chorey-les-Beaune
I gave it an extra point since it's such a great QPR wine. A nose of violets, fresh raspberries, rhubarb, herbs and vanilla are part of this very affordable and really well balanced wine. Just the right amount of smokiness, the finish is long and the acid structure is superb. Drink thru 2016.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Trinity Oaks Pinot Noir
USA, California
This might have fared better if not tasted immediately after the Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune. But still, it is a completely different wine altogether. Not surprisingly, some at the tasting event preferred this over the C-l-B - there's an ass for every seat, I guess. Cola, raspberry pie, baked strawberries, smoke and lots of heat. Very poor fruit quality and structure/balance. Works for some, I suppose. Drink up if you plan to buy it.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Mandolin Pinot Noir
USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey
Young, green, leafy and vegetal. This probably needs a few months in the bottle before it's hit its prime, so to speak. There is some fruit lurking in the background, but really no character or depth right now. A very great smell of tomato soup was my take away at the time.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Flawed
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
slightly corked - did not evaluate further
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Mouton Cadet
France, Bordeaux
A truly solid Bordeaux value. A nose of peppercorns, some green leaf, brulee and red flowers. On the palate, balanced blend of green pepper, cassis, red berries, earth and white pepper. Good underlying acidity and a medium persistence. Drink through 2010.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Château Vignot Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Jess Jackson's Bordeaux project. Intense red fruits, soft tannins, creamy, toasty oak and a long persistence (that comes in increasing waves of enjoyment). Nicely balanced with 13.5% abv. Solid, enjoyable value at $25. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it for my own table as an affordable table wine. It has the structure to drink thru 2013.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
Young, young, and really young. This is horribly out of balance right now. Not sure if it's due to shipping from the winery or what, but this had a nose of medicinal funk and pickle juice. I'll follow up in a year and see how it is doing.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Napa Station Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, California, Napa Valley
Both Peters (I and II) of the Huwiler family worked together on this debut effort. Soft where it needs to be, and yet Cabernet firmness, too; a nod to the quality of the vintage and fruit alike. A nose of cassis and blackberry, with a creamy mouthfeel and lifting acidity. Not overdone in any way, it benefits from the complexity of Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, with 86 % Cab from 4 prestigious growing regions. Racked several times for complexity, this has seen a combo of Fr. & American oak. approx $19
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2002 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
USA, California, Napa Valley
A decent wine from a solid vintage. This shows good balance of fruits, acidity and tannin but lacks any real character. On a pop-n-pour, it's obvious Napa Cab with cassis, blackcurrant, cream, vanilla and black and red berries. Silver Oak is a bit over-rated in my book and there are a lot better values for the money out there right now. I'd say it's time to re-invent themselves, but I don't think the followers would be too appreciative of that. Drink thru 2012.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 August Briggs Petite Sirah
USA, California, Napa Valley
unimaginative fruit bomb, in my opinion. Soft and fruity with average persistence. This lacked any real character - varietal or otherwise. Almost identical to the Silver Oak Cab tasted before it. Was expecting more from A. B., drink thru 2012.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Michael-David Vineyards Petite Sirah Earthquake
USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
Solid depth and character of fruit here with a dark ruby color and an almost port-like nose. Not overly jammy, but the fruits sure are ripe. Slightly hot right now with above-average persistence. Not bad, not great. Drink thru 2011.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Langtry Petite Sirah Serpentine Meadow
USA, California, North Coast, Guenoc Valley
Consistently one of my favorite PS's. A purple-towards-opaque color with a nose of black and blue fruits, cassis, vanilla, herbs, pine tree and blackberry liqueur. Soft, caressing tannins with a broad mid-palate. The complex nose shifts every few minutes, and only gets more interesting as it does. I've been to the top of the Serpentine Meadow, with its great aspect, 2F-3F degrees cooler climate and older vines. It's a special place that produces special fruit. If you're going to drop $40 for a PS, do yourself a favor, make sure it's this bottling. Excellent. Drink thru 2020, 13.5% abv.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 EOS Petite Sirah Cupa Grandis Grand Barrel Res
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
First time with this PS producer. Unfortunately we tasted it AFTER the Langtry Serpentine Meadow PS, and it did not show quite as well. The bottle lasted into the 2nd day and we had it, alongside the Langtry, with a dish of BBQ beef tenderloin with roasted & stewed tomatoes. A mildly complex nose of dark fruits, ancient forest, asphalt, red flowers & berries and vanilla cream. Great acidity and balance but with less persistence than I was hoping for from a "barrel select"; structure is above avg, but not great. 13.5% abv and approximately $42.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1996 Château Malartic-Lagravière
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Found this in a store's bargain/closeout bin for $38. Wow, did this over-perform that price tier. A leafy green nose with black peppercorns, saddle leather, cassis and bright blackcurrant fruit. A long, building finish that lasts for nearly 45 seconds; solid structure and above average purity. Many years ahead of it still. Drink thru 2014.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1996 Château Tirecul La Gravière Monbazillac
France, Southwest France, Dordogne, Monbazillac
Another one in the closeout bin. This time for $18 for a 500ml. Terrific acidity and very bright fruits. Not exactly fresh mind you, but drinking right in the sweet spot of its maturity right now. Golden colored in the glass with a touch of acacia, nuts, almonds and honey on the nose. The crowd really enjoyed it with lemon cookies.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No