San Antonio Wine Geeks

Attended by what is becoming a regular group: David Lew, Ted Chiang, John Blair, Nicole _ , Tim and Kim McIntosh. There was no specific theme, though the younger CdP's were double blind to the group and single blind to me in an effort to objectively evaluate a know RP 100 point wine.

• 2005 Louis Jadot Morgon Château des Lumières 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon

  Decanted for an hour or so but still had a shy nose of licorice and cherry. Mild;y acidic palate, chalky tannin structure, well balanced with a district cherry flavor and a mild meaty flavor. Medium finish with a little stone. Nicely made and passed for Pinot, maybe we should pay more attention to gamay. This was overshadowed a bit by the bigger wines tasted and I think would have fared better otherwise.

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• 2006 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Initially served single blind, opened but not decanted the night prior. Aromatic spicy nose with meat with a strong iron/blood note. Coarse tannic backbone with good acidity. Palate showed ripe plum with red fruit highlights with herbal spices coming out with time and leading into a lengthy finish of rock and herbs. Hints of barnyard in the nose. Quintessential Pegau, approachable with a decant now, but not showing it's full potential just yet. More spicy with more subtle fruit than my tasting last year.

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• 2007 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Quet 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Initially served single blind to me in an effort to objectively evaluate a known RP 100 wine, but it was quite obvious to myself and the group which was it given the differences in style and vintage. Opened the night before but not decanted.
  Initially shy nose with a mild barnyard character, eventually developed into an aromatic fruit driven nose of cassis and plum, with a liquor-like quality, with mineral and blood in the background. palate was very fruit forward and dense, but balanced and focused, with layers of complexity. Continued with flavors of cassis, plum, and added a blackberry elements with mineral, blood and iron notes carrying on into a long finish.
  Striking for its purity of fruit, depth and complexity, and seemed to have an "energy" and liveliness that kept it from tiring the palate. Quite impressive and should only get better as things settle down.

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• 2003 Château Sociando-Mallet 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Decanted prior. Shy nose of blackberry, black cherry, and toast. Lush low acidity palate, but never flabby, and with impressive concentration. Fine plush tannin backbone. Plenty of dark fruit flavors with some cassis highlights and a refined focused finish with cedar and a touch of coffee. Well made and focused, and a great contrast to the massive fruit driven wines at the tasting. Just starting to integrate prominent but unobtrusive oak elements and gaining some mature notes. Weight and density hint of improvement with time, certainly enjoyable now.

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• 2004 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Ripe slightly stewed nose of plum with a liquor character. Big round fruit driven palate, with some crushed rocks on a medium length finish. Lacked the spiciness of the Pegau. Struck me as more of an '03 than '04. Interesting and quite good, just overshadowed by some of the others tonight.

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• 2007 Peay Vineyards Roussanne/Marsanne Estate 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  This was quite enjoyable. Golden yellow color. Floral nose with some mild citrus. Warm lush palate with just a hint of oak and a lengthy mineral and fruit driven finish. Tasty, not too flabby or oak driven, nicely balanced.

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• 2007 Carlisle Syrah Rosella's Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  Big aromatic nose of earth and meat, with a little tar and blackberry. Dark fruit palate, very dense and concentrated, but smooth mouthfeel and not terribly tannic. Develops a spice note on a long finish. I didn't get any of the heat that David noted. Really fantastic, would be interested to compare side-by-side to the Lucia Gary's from last week. Didn't get the typical Rosella's citrus note on this bottle.

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• 2005 Torbreck The Factor 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Huge port-like nose of plum, currants and blackberries. Smooth round palate, very big and fruit driven but held the high alcohol well with only a hint of heat. Lengthy finish with a little tar. Good for the style, just not a style I prefer anymore.

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Overall a great second meeting of what will hopefully be a regular group.