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Wine Enthusiast's Toast of the Town
City Hall, San Francisco
Tasted April 7, 2011 by aagrawal with 989 views
Introduction
I really enjoyed this tasting. The food was world class, and the wine was very good too. Very california-centric, but there were some scattered europeans as well. Overall I was pretty impressed with the Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino and another producer's dolcetta d'alba. I have definitely developed a high-acid palate and it shows in the wines that I enjoy. I think I could drink small amounts of almost anything and appreciate it, but I don't think I can just drink glass after glass of a ripe California cab made in the last decade. The 20 year tawny port was excellent as well, though I think that is something I will have to work towards enjoying if I want to drink more than a couple of sips.
Flight 1 (34 notes)
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Louis Bouillot Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé Brut Perle d'Aurore
84 points
Yeasty nose but not overwhelming. Crisp clean fruit, refreshing. 84
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Red
2004 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo Vigneto Cerequio
89 points
Really nice red fruit, dust, floral; balanced palate with smooth round juicy fruit, not overripe, not too tannic. Ready to drink. 89
Red
2009 Pio Cesare Dolcetto d'Alba
88 points
A lovely fruity red with a bit of spice. Drinking very well now, no need to cellar.
Red
2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia
92 points
Nice fruit on the nose, soft plush palate but has big tannins. Will improve with time. A very balanced Napa cab... still ripe but not overripe. Should develop well, but won't grow to compete with the 1994 that I tried recently. 92-93+
Red
2008 Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Cinema
90 points
Really nice nose, loved the blend. Spicy and black fruits, palate is firm but nice. Drinking really well now.
Red
2005 Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon Hommage Palisades Vineyard
90 points
Ripe black fruits, big and good but too low acid for my palate.
Red
2009 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino
92 points
Stunning. Lovely fruit, mild funk, great clean acidity. Absolutely lovely right now.
Red
2006 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
Tighter and darker than the 09 Rosso that is right beside it. More tannic, needs 5 years before I can properly evaluate it. For now: 91+
Red
2006 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor
90 points
Very interesting nose of roasted bell peppers. Tannic structure but well balanced. 90+
Red
2008 Emiliana Coyam Los Robles
89 points
Quite ripe, good spices/red fruit. Drinking well now. 89-90
Red
2008 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
89 points
Ripe red fruit, good structure and balance, could use a couple of years easily. 89+
White - Sweet/Dessert
2009 Yalumba Viognier FSW Botrytis
88 points
Lovely floral nose, sweet but acidity kicks in at the end. Finish is quite short. 88-89
Red
2008 Dow Douro Vale do Bomfim
84 points
Good old world nose and quality, dusty, fruity. Palate has good weight, tannic structure, low fruit that won't last long enough for tannins to integrate or to cellar. That may be a problem.
Red - Fortified
2005 Dow Porto Late Bottled Vintage
86 points
Good weight, nose is a bit lacking. Palate is sweet, still simple at first but then wakes up a bit. Overall disappointing for an LBV. 86-87
Red - Fortified
N.V. Dow Porto 10 Year Old Tawny
88 points
Less aromatic than the 20 year Graham's. Palate is too sweet. Nice but nothing special.
Red - Fortified
Red - Fortified
N.V. Graham Porto 20 Year Old Tawny
94 points
Incredible nose with complex flavors. Palate shows great acidity, not too sweet, nice raisoned flavors with nutty spirits, very balanced. Stellar.
White - Sparkling
White
2007 S.A. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
83 points
Nose difficult to judge. Mild sweetness on the palate, lacks complexity. Drinkable but not great because it lacks vibrance. Overall I expected better. 83-84
Red
2007 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages
85 points
Subtle nice black fruits, palate is just Eh, tastes like any $20 cab.
Red
2008 Etude Pinot Noir Estate Carneros
86 points
Red fruit, spices, but doesn't have enough acid and so tastes flat and flabby on the palate. Overall that hurts the wine.
Red
2007 Stags' Leap Winery Merlot
87 points
Interesting dark nose with some dust. Palate doesn't live up with tannins, decreased acid. May improve a bit with short term age. Overall quite good. 87+
White
2009 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay
80 points
Not my style. No grape flavor from the Chardonnay... I've never been a chard fan outside of chablis.
Red
2008 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley
82 points
Overripe with unbalanced tannins.
White - Sparkling
2002 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Brut - Late Disgorged
84 points
Better than the baseline cuvee but still not distinctive. Just a generic clean and crisp sparkling wine.