WS "Top 10 2004" Tasting
New York Marriott Marquis
Tasted Saturday, October 22, 2005 by trankin with 950 views
Introduction
At Wine Spectator's New York Wine Experience 2005. First seminar on Saturday morning.
Note that this tasting excluded the Masseto merlot which was tasted on Friday (at a tasting I unfortunately had to miss).
Flight 1 (7 Notes)
Reds first, in the order they were presented. I was torn for my favorite between the Greg Norman Shiraz and the Flaccianello - ultimately decided to go with the Shiraz as I thought it was drinking better tonight.
Flight 2 (2 Notes)
There were 2 sweet whites in the top 10.
Closing
To my surprise, I have to say I thought the Suduiraut was much better than the Rieussec.
All in all, a great tasting! Mostly wines that are still too young, but there's an awful lot of potential.
Next tasting - First Growths!
1999 Greg Norman Australia Estates Shiraz Reserve 95 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast
Reddish purple, thick wine. Nose of bright red fruit, red raspberry, preserves, craime fraiche. Wonderful, deep, dark, brooding wine. Thick dark berries and preserves, blackberry, cassis, black pepper. Powerful. Soft tannins. My WOTF.
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2002 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes 93 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
Dark red, medium/full-bodied. Nose of red fruits and alcohol. Licorice, white pepper, cherries on the palate. Smooth, rich mouthfeel, subtle tannins. Excellent wine. Truly excellent QPR at release price of $24.
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2001 Clos Apalta 93 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta
Red, translucent, but still thick. Nose of alcohol and cherries. Clearly very youngt, relatively sharp tannins with a bit of an edge. Cherries, earthy wood, gravel, pepper, thyme? Needs at least 5 years. Very nice but will be better.
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2000 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Dark red, hint of rust color, transparent. Nose of alcohol, earth, bing cherries. Tart cherries, tannins predominate. Glycerinic mouthfeel. Needs a lot of time. Strikes me that the wine will improve and could be much better several years from now.
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2001 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 96 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Thick, purple wine. Beatiful big fruit on the nose, with blueberries and sweet cream shining through. Yum. Dark blueberries and dark fruits, cherries, violets. A touch acidic, with big, rounded tannins. Probably the best wine of the flight but still much too young. Give it time.
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2001 Château Lafite Rothschild 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Medium-dark red, medium-full bodied. Nose of soil and deep, brooding fruit overpowered by earth. Thick, mellow, with deep dark fruit. Sweet, very soft tannins, rather round. Almost strawberry but darker and thicker. Described by the winemaker as "Not a blockbuster...restful" which is spot on.
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2001 Peter Michael Les Pavots 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Dark red, thick. Nose of alcohol with subtle fruit. Deep red, slightly sweet, with thin tannins streaking through an otherwise round wine. Some licorice. Good wine, but didn't quite do it for me. Might improve with time.
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