Dinner with great friends in Denver, Night 2
Denver, CO
Tasted Sunday, December 13, 2009 by markjanes with 924 views
Introduction
The second night back home in my old stomping ground with another group of great friends.
Flight 1 (13 Notes)
Closing
Quite an evening... was a very genuine, friendly, warm vibe with great food and tons of wine... outstanding.
NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut 85 Points
France, Champagne
Yellow gold color, moderate mousse. Aromatically of moderate intensity with a good mix of fruit (mostly red fruits), dullish, light spice from barrique, and some minerality, some toast. On the palate low to moderate dosage, moderate acidity, good effervescence, some cream and a very full bodied, rich mouthfeel. Good balance and intensity, moderate length, lowish complexity. Very nice finesse, fine texture, very expressive of Pinot based Champagne. Dependable, very good NV Champagne in a full bodied style. Drink or hold a couple of years.
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2006 Weingut Keller Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs 88 Points
Germany, Rheinhessen
Light color, straw rim. On the nose quite aromatic, fruit dominates with very pure and clean pear and stone fruits, nice florality… no barrique to speak of, some stony minerality. On the palate off dry, high acidity, no phenolics, low alcohol. Could be some botrytis (honey) in there… no leesy, diacetyl, creamy notes. Very good balance, average length, high intensity, moderate complexity. Good finesse, texture… very Hessen. I like this style for Hessen which for me when kab/spat and above in sweetness is too soft… crowd pleasing style, very clean wine, lots to like, couldn’t help but think this needs time to show its true colors. I would give this 3-5 and try again… excellent tonight, has potential to improve.
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2000 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Light color, straw rim. Moderate aromatics with minerality exceeding fruit aromas… loads of crushed seashells, citrus… can detect any new barrique notes. On the palate dry, very high acidity, no phenolics, low alcohol. No diacytls, not creamy or leesy. Balance is on the firm side, length and intensity is good, moderate complexity, low alcohol. Great finesse, a coating, firm, stony mineral texture, extremely expressive of place. I’ve had better bottles of this wine with this one being a bit firm and lacking in complexity for producer and vineyard, though it is an excellent drink especially for those who like very firm, very minerally Chablis. I would hold for a 1-3 years before trying again.
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2006 Rhys Pinot Noir Swan Terrace 89 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Very light in color, purple ruby, lightly extracted rim. Very aromatic… fruit dominant with beautifully floral red cherry, raspberry notes. Some baking spice from what seems to be more old than new French barrique use… some chalky minerality. On the palate a very smooth, moderate + acidic ascent into a fleshy midpalate… nice transition into a moderate – amount of very ripe tannins… moderate – alcohol. Great balance, good length and intensity, moderate complexity. Excellent finesse for Cali Pinot, fine texture, good expression of place. Very surprising wine for me and the style of Pinot California should be making a lot more of. Wine rounded out over the night, didn’t get crazy complex but stayed focused and pretty. Drink now or hold 1-3 years.
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2006 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 84 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Much darker in color than the Rhys with more extracted rim, aromatic wine with loads of darker fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant) exceeding fair amount of toasty oak and minimal minerality. On the palate a more abrupt ascent of moderate acidity into a very plush midpalate, smooth transition into a moderately tannic, very ripe and round finish, moderate alcohol. Good balance and intensity, average length and complexity. Has ok finesse, a fullish, plush texture, and expresses its New worldness well. A somewhat monolithic, lush, but well made wine that I would drink now or hold 1-2 years.
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2000 Domaine Trapet Chambertin 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Very light color intensity, red rim, low extraction. Very aromatic with fruit (a regal, pitty pure red cherry thing) > minerality (stony tea-like notes)…wine has a velvet smell, no real florality. some lingering well integrated new barrique spice. On the palate the wine has high acidity, a very firm and masculine yet plush midpalate, a seamless transition into a moderate -, well integrated, tannic finish. Fantastic balance, excellent length and intensity, very good complexity. Good finesse, wonderful texture managing to be be burly without being clumsy, perfect expression of place. The wine lost a little aromatic detail over the night remaining Chambertin, which for me is firm and dense yet elegant and regal. I think this is at the beginning of its peak where it will live comfortably for several years.
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2001 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 85 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Moderate depth of color and extraction, red-ruby rim. Muted aromatics with dark and red fruits = soily minerality = subtle baking spice from barrique. On the palate quite brilliant really with a seamless ascent of moderate to high acidity, a nice round midpalate, a seamless transition into a very fine, moderate + tannin finish, moderate alcohol. Great balance, adequate length and intensity, low complexity. Great finesse and texture, not screaming Hermitage right now to me (though it isn't saying much aromatically). This wine struck me as in a dumb phase… dullish aromatically but with stunning texture. I think this wine will improve over the next 4-6 years. “Very good” with potential to be "outstanding" if/when it blossoms.
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2003 Copain Syrah Hawks Butte Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
Dark color and moderate + extraction, ruby-red rim. Very aromatic with a very nice earthy core of tar and tobacco… great core of dark fruits, some definite vanilla/new barrique spice in there. On the palate a bit abrupt and coarse on the ascent, a very broad midpalate, a slightly squarish descent with firmish, ripe, not completely integrated tannins, moderate alcohol. Balance is technically good, very good length and complexity, excellent intensity. Not a ton of finesse and some textural issues at the front and transition… expresses its New worldness well. Would have made a smashing blend with the La Chapelle, they would have complemented each other well. Quite impressive wine aromatically with a couple of textural issues that a perfect food match made less obvious.
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1997 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Moderate + depth of color, redish brick rim of moderate extraction. On the nose a little monochromatic with loads of dark fruit, tar, earth, and some vanilla/licorice barrique spice. On the palate the wine has very high, aggressive acidity, is somewhat firm on the midpalate, and has high, somewhat integrated tannins, moderate + alcohol. Balance on the firm side, moderate length and complexity, good intensity. Some finesse in there, very firm texture, great expression of place. After 9 hours in the decanter the wine really came around texturally, filling out the middle making the acidity and tannins more balanced, integrated. Very nice wine and very Castiglione. Will last for another decade or two.
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2005 Château Lascombes 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Dark color, ruby rim with moderate extraction. On the nose very primary and very Margaux with beautifully floral blackcurrants, raspberries, blackberries… plenty of new barrique influence, not much in the way of earthiness yet. On the palate moderate + acidity, a classic doughnut Cabernet midpalate of moderate breadth, a firmish tannic finish, moderate alcohol. Great balance and intensity, good length, average complexity at this stage. Finesse is there, texturally quite nice and big in nature, great expression of place. Obviously a very well made wine from a great vintage with a long future ahead of it. Could take a while to evolve though textural elements are in balance now… check in with it in 5-7 years to see if it is budging.
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1989 Château Lynch-Bages 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Bricking rim, moderate extraction and depth of color. On the nose good aromatics with classic Pauillac aromas of blackcurrant and cigar box… getting hints of more tertiary truffle and spice notes. On the palate still has moderate + to high acidity that is a bit scratchy, a classic claret midpalate, a very nice transition into a seamless finish of moderate + tannins that are moderately ripe and very well integrated. Great balance, very good length and complexity, good intensity. Certainly plenty of finesse there, a hint of textural coarseness at the front of the wine, classic expression of place. I have to say that the 89’s all have something up front texturally that I’m not enamored by… this wine was drinking very well though and is classic. Drink or hold for a few more years.
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1990 Château Léoville Poyferré 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
Sometimes wines dazzle… this one dazzles. Slightly younger appearing than the Lynch Bages, this thing just sings out of the gates… slightly musty but loads of blackcurrant, raspberry, blackberry fruits that are perfectly seasoned with cigar box/baking spice notes that are perfectly accented by appropriate amounts of tertiary truffle, exotic spices. On the palate the wine doesn’t let up with flawless ascent into a wonderfully textured midpalate that seamlessly transitions into a long, very well integrated, moderately tannic (with just the right ripeness) finish, moderate alcohol. Balance is flawless, length, intensity, and complexity excellent. Great finesse, very fine texture, classic expression of place. I really don’t know what more you want in Bordeaux… drinking fabulous now but will likely continue to do so for a decade or so. Interestingly, having this 90 with the 89 Lynch really highlights the textural issue I have with many 89's.
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1977 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 92 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Bricking rim, hazy opaqueness. On the nose remarkably young yet complex with grape smells, raisins, dark fruit smells, tobacco, licorice, baking spices, figs, cocoa. On the palate the wine comes across as moderately sweet with firm acidity and firm, but ripe tannins on the finish. Great balance and intensity, superb length and complexity. Lots of finesse with great texture/expression of place. Drinks great now and will age for decades… loads of complexity yet still holding strong to its youth and vigour… impressive.
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