Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
WineGavel Tasting
San Francisco Wine Center
Tasted May 20, 2011 by aagrawal with 671 views
Introduction
This was a very nice tasting to get to know the staff at WineGavel, a new auction site in San Francisco. There were a couple wines that I really liked (97 verget meursault, 04 castello barbaresco, but overall the wines were pretty middle-of-the-road. These wines were chosen from their online lots, so perhaps those are less well known than the in-person auction tastings which include more high-profile wines. Still, it was fun to taste through them and I'm glad I got to see the SF Wine Center facilities (very nice...).
Flight 1 (26 notes)
White - Sparkling
2006 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs
88 points
Yeasty nose, lost its stream of bubbles very quickly; palate tart, clean, good acidity; short finish. Enjoyable sparkler. 88-89
White
1997 Verget Meursault 1er Cru Charmes Vieilles Vignes
91 points
Tart nose with creamy/cheesy overtones; balanced, flavorful but tart, crisp, tangy; moderate finish. 90-91
White
2001 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine
83 points
Lemon butter nose; palate oaky at first, then balanced fruit and acid; finish is a bit watery. OK...
White
2006 Valdez Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc
80 points
Citrus fruit nose; palate isn't my style- lacks acidity and seems a bit woody/oaky with subtle fruit.
Rosé
2007 Mas des Bressades Costières-de-Nîmes Rosé
70 points
Strawberry, clean, full, almost pinot-like nose; palate is off balance with a bitter finish. I can't drink this.
Red
1990 Poderi A. Bertelli Barbera d'Asti Montetusa
86 points
Woody, funky, old world nose; palate has low fruit, good balance, decent finish.
Red
2004 Castello di Neive Barbaresco Santo Stefano
91 points
Lovely ripe, candied red currant nose; palate has nice fruit, structure. Ready to drink now but will last. Excellent! 91+
Red
2005 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
88 points
Darker fruits. A bit tannic today, more acid would be good but still enjoyable.
Red
2003 Tenimenti d'Alessandro Syrah Cortona Il Bosco
88 points
Jammy, intense. A bit showy with the alcoholic nose. Palate has oak, too big for me and could use a bit more balance. Still quite tannic and drying, but also juicy.
Red
2000 Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes
85 points
Sweet red fruit on the nose, simple; not enough on the palate; finish is a bit bitter.
Red
2000 Celler de l'Encastell Priorat Roquers de Porrera
84 points
Red fruits, simple; palate has juicy fruits, structured tannic, full bodied, a bit lacking in the acid.
Red
1993 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407
88 points
Big, ripe, red cherries with a hint of eucalyptus which provides balance. Palate is full, juicy, still tannic, could last a few more years though the fruit may not. 88-89
Red
2000 Henry's Drive Shiraz Reserve
85 points
Big, pomegranate, blackberry, raspberry; flabby but expected for this wine/region, very juicy. Short finish but good and drinkable.
Red
2005 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard
89 points
Huge, ripe, californian red fruit, raspberry, strawberry, sweet; palate has juicy fruits, could use a bit more acidity for freshness. 89-90
Red
2002 Mietz Cellars Sangiovese
flawed
This bottle was mildly corked, so I had a second bottle opened.
Red
2002 Mietz Cellars Sangiovese
87 points
2nd bottle- nose is more aromatic, spice, red fruit; palate juicy, hints of pomegranate, integrated tannins, good structure. New world style.
Red
2003 Littorai Pinot Noir Les Larmes
91 points
Lovely clear color, pure expression of raspberry; palate is juicy but simpler than other littorai pinots that I've had; medium-length finish. 90-91
Red
2007 Ancien Pinot Noir Carneros
83 points
Raspberry fruit and spice but lacks intensity; palate is a bit off balance with a bitter finish. 83-84
Red
2004 Peay Vineyards Syrah La Bruma
81 points
Somewhat alcoholic nose, falls apart with some air, red fruits; lacks structure and balance. Not my style.
Red
1998 Paradigm Merlot
85 points
Woody, oaky, red fruits, melds together. Interesting wine, but I don't know if I would actually want to drink more than an ounce tasting.
Red
1997 York Creek Vineyards Meritage
80 points
VA, nose of pickled vegetables (Noticeable, but not overwhelming). Woody, oaky.
Red
1997 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon Tanbark Hill
83 points
Full black fruits, balanced; a little hollow on the palate. 83
Red
2004 Martinelli Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa
83 points
Pomegranate nose, low acid palate, good fruits, too much EtOH on the palate.