Important Update From the Founder
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T. Edward Wines Fall 2006 Portfolio Tasting
New York City
Tasted August 23, 2006 by dougsmith with 852 views
Introduction
The highlight of this tasting was getting to see Jean-Luc Thunevin again and taste through his very interesting lineup of wines. Throughout their price-points they are intriguing and well-crafted, and certainly ones I will be seeking out.
NB: the first six wines are from Thunevin's portfolio.
Flight 1 (29 notes)
Red
2004 Calandray Côtes du Roussillon Reserve
89 points
Deep ruby color. Vibrant nose of sweet primary fruit, with perhaps a touch of heat. On the palate loads of very open and interesting fresh red berries. Although this is clearly a fruit-driven wine, the freshness makes this a notch above.
Red
2004 Thunevin Présidial
89 points
Deep ruby color. Nose of primary fruit like blackberries, touch of licorice. Very pure fruit. On the palate, good balance and youthful tannin. This could probably benefit from cellaring for a couple of years.
Red
2001 Château Franc-Maillet Cuvée Jean Baptiste
92 points
This is a cuvée made under Jean-Luc Thunevin's direction; only 4,000 bottles made. Deep ruby in color. Intense nose of coffee, flowers and blackberries. Lovely. On the palate, great balance, very alluring, with a bit of a dry finish.
Red
2001 Château Prieuré-Lescours
91 points
Medium ruby color with perhaps a touch of tawny at the rim. Nose of blackberries and leather, not as modern as I'd anticipated, especially given the link to Jean-Luc Thunevin. On the palate it shows some development, quite refreshing with excellent balance, soft tannin and a long finish.
Red
2001 Virginie de Valandraud
92 points
Deep ruby color. Lovely nose of flowers and sweet blackberries with coffee notes. On the palate it is silky with good acidity; fine food wine, excellent juice.
Red
2001 Château Valandraud
91 points
Deep ruby color. Bah! This presented VERY closed; hard to make out flavors. Touch of sweet plum, smoked mint and coffee on the nose. The palate showed youthful tannin and great balance. But this needs TIME.
White
2005 Domaine Roger Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
89 points
Light lemon color. Rich nose of spice, sweet apple compote. On the palate there is a touch of residual sugar, fruity, a bit thin on the finish.
Red
2004 Domaine Roger Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape
88 points
Medium ruby color. On the nose, a mix of red and black berries, earthiness, with a touch of smoke. On the palate it is low acid but refreshingly soft. Good everyday wine.
Red
2004 Domaine Roger Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Vieilles Vignes
92 points
Medium ruby color. Intense nose of black and red fruit and wet earth; quite rich. There is real presence on the mid-palate, but it does cut off a bit at the end. Good balance.
Red
2004 Domaine Roger Perrin Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Prestige
89 points
Medium ruby color. A bit tight on the nose, with earthy and barnyardy notes, but alluring and interesting. On the palate it shows youthful tannin and promise; this should get better with a few years in the cellar. Nice QPR.
White - Fortified
N.V. La Cigarrera Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda
88 points
Light lemon color. Pungent, somewhat cheesy 'flor' notes on the nose, with good balance and a touch of salt on the palate.
White - Fortified
N.V. Gutierrez Colosia Palomino Fino Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Fino Elcano
87 points
Light lemon color. Somewhat weak on the nose, with 'flor' pungency. On the palate this comes across as slightly sweet, which is odd for a Fino. A bit weak.
White - Fortified
N.V. El Maestro Sierra Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Fino
90 points
Light lemon color. Complex notes of 'flor' pungency, with a good raciness on the palate and long finish.
Red
2003 Viña Sastre (Bodegas Hermanos Sastre) Ribera del Duero Roble
86 points
Deep ruby color. Simple black fruit with a touch of almond. A bit thin and simple on the palate as well.
Red
2000 Viña Sastre (Bodegas Hermanos Sastre) Ribera del Duero Reserva
88 points
Deep ruby color. Nose of meat and vanilla with barnyardy notes. On the palate it has good grip and a decent finish.
Red
2003 Viña Sastre (Bodegas Hermanos Sastre) Ribera del Duero Pesus
94 points
Deep ruby color. Intense, very complex nose of stones, black currants and dry herb, among other things. Very full on the palate with great balance. Very expensive wine ... only 1,200 bottles made.
Red
2002 Rotllan Torra Priorat Tirant
90 points
Deep ruby color. Funky nose, with barnyardy, dry herb and stone elements. On the palate it is quite intense, but needs time to come together.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Marco Cecchini Friuli Colli Orientali Verlit
91 points
Medium gold color. Light nose of sweet apple and spice with a touch of apricot. Presented a bit closed. On the palate, however, it is really explosive, very full bodied with great balance. If this opens up on the nose it will merit a higher score.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2003 Marco Cecchini Friuli Colli Orientali Picolit
91 points
Light gold color. Slightly closed nose of apricot, pineapple and brioche. On the palate it is quite sweet and silky, almost oily, with notes of apricot and pineapple.
Red
2001 Mauro Veglio Barolo Vigneto Arborina
90 points
Medium ruby color. Nose of sour cherry, dry cherry and leather. Lots of fruit, so it's a bit more of a modern profile. On the palate it is medium bodied with deep fruit and high tannin. Undoubtedly needs some time.
Red
2000 Mauro Veglio Barolo Castelletto
Medium ruby to tawny color. Nose was a real turnoff -- dry cherry and paint thinner. On the palate it was medium bodied and also very disappointing, thin, with a short finish. NR.
Red
2003 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir
87 points
Light ruby color. Funky nose of earth and red cherries. On the palate it has good acidity but is perhaps a bit thin.
Red
2002 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Bynum & Moshin Vineyards
89 points
Light ruby color. Complex nose of earth, mushroom, red fruit, smoke and spice. On the palate it's not as strong; decent, but a bit thin with pleasant fruit.
Red
2002 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Lindley's Knoll
89 points
Medium ruby color. Nose of tart cherry, smoke and spice. On the palate it is a bit tannic, somewhat 'Burgundian' in impression, but needs a few years in bottle.
Red
2001 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Le Pinot Rochioli Vineyard
93 points
There were only 87 cases made of this 'Library Selection' cuvée. Medium ruby color. The nose is mild but quite complex, with notes of red cherry, raspberry, damp earth and spice. On the palate it is quite wonderful and lengthy, medium bodied with great balance.
Red
2004 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir
89 points
Medium ruby. Nose of smoke, red cherry, spice and earth. On the palate it has good presence, but is perhaps a bit too straightforward.
Red
2002 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir Four Vineyards Reserve
89 points
Medium ruby to tawny color. Spicy nose, with pepper and earthy notes. Syrah-like? On the palate it has good fruit but a relatively short finish.
Red
2002 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Vineyard Reserve
78 points
Deep ruby/purple color. Muddy nose with elements of cooked fruit (pear, blackberries). On the palate it shows candied fruit and some green notes with a short finish.
Red
2002 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
84 points
Deep ruby/plum color. On the nose, prune, cooked fruit and candied plum. On the palate it has good acidity with notes of candied plum and a short finish. 600 cases a year made of this wine.
Closing
Unfortunately I had to leave the event early, so missed out on tasting a lot of very intriguing wines. Así es la vida.