DAWGS December 2008

This is our annual Vintage Champagne and Pinot Noir tasting for the holidays.

One domestic sparkler

• 1997 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  WIML92
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with fine, moderate beading. Noe of brioche, light sherry notes and yellow pears. Flavors of tangy yellow apples, yellow pears and pain grille. Medium to bright acidity, medium to full body. Drink over the short to medium term.

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• 1996 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  WIML90-91?
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with fine, steady beading. Nose of orange, flowers, mixed yellow fruits and some camphor with a little air time. Flavors of oranges, lemons, peaches and mixed yellow fruits. Bright acidity, medium body. Drink over the short term.

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• 1990 Pommery Champagne Cuvée Louise Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  WIML91
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Yellow to dark yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with light beading. Nose of flowers, toast and a hint of sherry. Flavors of light sherry notes with some cherry and pear flavors. Light to medium acidity and body. Feminine sort of Champagne. Ready to drink right now.

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• 1996 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  WIML93
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with fine, steady beading. Tight nose with some notes of yellow pear, apple and light notes of sherry. Flavors of tangy yellow apples, pears, lemon an ginger on the medium to long finish. Bright acidity, medium to full body. Drink now with a little air time or continue to hold.

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• 2002 Frédéric Magnien Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  WIML92
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of raspberries, black cherries, black berries, a little leather and later with more air some briar patch and maybe iodine?!? Flavors of black cherries, black berries and raspberries. Soft, almost to the point of silky on the palate. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink now with some air time or continue to hold.

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• 2002 Domaine Jean-Marc Morey Beaune 1er Cru Grèves 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  WIML92
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and glass decanted about an hour before serving. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of leather, white pepper, briar patch and mixed black fruit. Flavors of black cherries, black berries and a dash of bitters on the medium to long finish. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium body. Hold. Needs lots more time in bottle, maybe another 5-7 years before opening your first bottle. Well call it WIML92 for the moment but that's probably not fair since it's so young.

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• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Echezeaux 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  WIML90-91?
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Decanted 6 1/2 hours before serving. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of potpourri, spice, perfume, mixed red fruit with a dash of earthiness towards the end. Flavors of black cherries and black berries. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink now with a decant or hold a little longer.

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• 2002 Cameron Pinot Noir Gehrts Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  WIML94
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008.
  
  Opened and glass decanted about 1-1 1/2 hours before serving. Garnet color in the glass, slightly cloudy looking. Nose of leather, black cherries, black berries, some florals and a bit of red hills dust. Flavors of red berries, cherries and a tiny bit of red licorice. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. This wine absolutely firing on all cylinders for this tasting.

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• 2002 Witness Tree Vineyard Pinot Noir Vintage Select 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  WIML92?
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries, potpourri and some light notes of Graham crackers. Flavors of black cherries and black berries. Bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold over the short to perhaps medium term.

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• 2003 DuMOL Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  WIML90
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and decanted about 3 1/2 hours before serving. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Rich nose of berries, currants, camphor and white pepper. Rich berry flavors on the palate with cherries and a bit of currants. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Comes across as a little hot on the nose and palate so docked a little for that. Drink over the shorter towards medium term with a little air time before serving.

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• 2004 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  WIMl90
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries, a dash of mocha and some cinnamon. Flavors of rich berries, cherries and some notes of currants. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink now with some air time or continue to hold over the shorter towards medium term.

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• 2003 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  WIML92
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and decanted about 3 1/2 hours before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries and some black raspberries. Flavors of black berries and black cherries. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full body. Just a little hot on the nose but not offensive. Drink over the shorter towards medium term with some air time first.

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• 2005 Melville Pinot Noir Carrie's 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  WIML91
  
  Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and decanted about an hour I believe before being double decanted back into the bottle for transport to the restaurant and then decanted again four about an hour before serving. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of briar patch, black cherries, black berries and a bit of black raspberries. Flavors of black berries and black cherries. Light to medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink with a decant or continue to hold over the medium term.

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