A White Burgundy Followed By 3 Blind Reds

My in-laws were in from out of town so we wanted to do a small wine tasting with them. We started out with a White Burgundy non-blind and then went with the blinds. We each had 3 glasses in front of during the blind portion and compared color, smell, etc. side by side. I noted at the start that the wines were from around the world and all were at the same general price point.

• 1997 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Slight oxidized -- but only slightly. Deeper yellow color. Notes of apple, pear, minerals and citrus. Nice nose, but not as strong and dynamic as the Les Pucelles. Nicely integrated on the palate, but lacking some heft in the mid-palate. Good fruit. Medium finish. Nice effort, but maybe the pre-ox detracted a little. Will wait and see what happens with future bottles.

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

• 2005 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Really exquisite. The only thing holding this back from being a truly remarkable wine is the little bit of heat on the nose, which also returns at the finish. Really complex nose of oak, spice fruit, bramble, underbrush, ripe cherries and a touch of bubble gum. Again, there is a also a smidge of heat. The oak frames the wine well and will integrate over the next few years. Initially, maybe a bit astringent on the palate but very smooth. Well integrated fruit. An excellent and long finish marred only by a nip of heat. Truly excellent effort.

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

• 2002 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon 86 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  I was a little disappointed by this but I have high hopes that it will improve with time. Perfumed and floral nose. Mild oak, with a touch of salinity on the nose. Resembled stewed tomatoes. Sweet spice and herbs with a hint of nail polish remover. The nose went back and forth between good and bad, Good heft with this wine but the palate never matched what I expected. Tannic and tough to crack right now. May open up with time. Slightly bitter finish.

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

• 2001 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Very nice. Slightly bricked around the edges. Perfumed and floral nose. A tough of wild berries mixed with bright fruit all framed well by the oak. Palate was smooth, but definitely some underbrush and woody bramble adding some tannic backbone. Nice long finish. Impressive, but could be better integrated.

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

It was a great tasting with good diversity. The Domaine Serene was the consensus WOTN.