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Chicago Week Geeks Taste Chardonnay
Palmito
Tasted July 28, 2006 by Nanda with 527 views
Introduction
Our regular group gathered for a casual blind tasting of chards over Costa Rican cuisine. It was hot out and the casual Lakeview eatery was warm too. We quickly blasted through the blind tasting, revealed the wines, put them in ice water and enjoyed with food.
Flight 1 - Welcome Bubbly (1 note)
White - Sparkling
1998 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons
92 points
Pale yellow in color. Yeasty nose. Large beads with a fresh and crisp palate. Lingering finish.
Flight 2 - Wine A (1 note)
White
1996 Martinelli Chardonnay Gold Ridge
90 points
Golden color. In your face thick and smokey nose. Palate has big and bold fruit with honey and vanillin. A long meaty finish. Nothin delicate about this bruiser. After revealing this was 1996 folks were shocked. Tasted much younger some thought it still had "baby fat".
Flight 3 - Wine B (1 note)
White
2004 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Rully Blanc
87 points
Light gold color. Delicate and aromatic nose of white fruits, toast and smoke. For me the palate falls apart --- insufficient fruit and too much acid.
Flight 4 - Wine C (1 note)
White
2001 Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay Cuvée Alyce
88 points
Light gold color with a reticent nose of green apples. Palate has toasty oak and apples. A light body and crisp style. Well balanced and nicely put together, but lacking depth.
Flight 5 - Wine D (1 note)
My surprise WOTN --- what QPR.
White
2004 Vincent Arroyo Chardonnay
92 points
Light to medium gold color. Complex nose of honey, melons and vanillin. Palate has a similar flavor profile with oak nicely integrated into the supple fruit. Medium-to-full bodied. Well balanced with a a lingering finish. A very well put together wine. Once again shocked upon revealing that this was the Vincent Arroyo --- a notable Calistoga petite sirah and red wine producer. Great QPR at $20 from the winery.
Flight 6 - Wine E (1 note)
My #3 WOTN.
White
2001 Marcassin Chardonnay Upper Barn
90 points
Light gold in color. Toasty nose. Honey, banana and white fruits on the palate. Medium to full bodied. Fresh and well balanced. For the pedigree, this was unremarkable upon revealing.
Flight 7 - Wine F (1 note)
My #2 WOTN --- very nearly #1.
White
2004 J. Rochioli Chardonnay Russian River Valley
92 points
Light gold in color. Well integrated white fruits and toast on the nose. A seamless stream of honey, melons and toasty oak on the palate. Well balanced with a long, long finish.
Flight 8 - Wine G (1 note)
White
2004 Verget Puligny-Montrachet
88 points
Very light gold in color with a earthy nose. Light and crisp in body. Some fresh fruits, but overall not showing much. Some thought almost watery. This has got to be closed down.
Closing
Thanks to all for the good wine and company!