Starting the New Year right (Columbus Berserkers offline #3)
Chris P's
Tasted January 4, 2014 by David_T with 603 views
Introduction
A dozen of us gathered the first Saturday of the New Year for the third Columbus Berserker offline. Thanks to Chris for hosting, this time we were fortunate enough to have two couples from Dayton join us. The theme was broad, simply "start the New Year right". We had quite a range of wines and they all fit the bill. It was great to see new faces and meet old friends, I'd say this was the best we've had yet.
Flight 1 (20 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Tradition
91 points
Bready, yeasty, apple citrus nose. The palate is very acidic (which I loved, some not quite as much) with sour green apple. Bright mouthfeel.
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée Rubis
91 points
Everyone enjoyed this. Pleasant nose with strawberry, cream and yeast. The palate matches with under-ripe strawberry adding a nice amount of citrus. Also quite acidic.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Bodega Dominio Buenavista / Veleta Brut
88 points
Drier and less acidic than the Champagnes we tasted. Both the nose and palate show apples, a distinct orange note and some bread. A pleasant sparkler.
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White
2011 Le Grappin Savigny-lès-Beaune Blanc
89 points
This smells of apples with a hint of oak. The flavors are a bit simple/light but fresh with apples and melon.
White
2008 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Embrazées
I wrote down the name of this wine but no formal notes. I remember thinking it didn't have much going on, not flawed or premoxed just perhaps shut down?
White
2010 Young Inglewood Vineyards Chardonnay
92 points
I'm not always a Cali chard fan but this one I really enjoyed. The nose is vibrant- apple and spice, additional aromatics that I couldn't pinpoint but enjoyed. The palate is complex but quite balanced with baking spice, ginger, apple, herbs, minerals, light acid and just a hint of oak. Really nice, should last a while.
White
2012 Bodega Dominio Buenavista / Veleta Vijiriega
88 points
Always enjoyable to try new a new grape variety. This vijiriega shows tons of almond notes on both the nose and palate along with cream, citrus and light acid. Will definitely be picking some to drink poolside during the summer months.
Red
2009 Bodega Dominio Buenavista / Veleta Nolados
89 points
A 40/40/20 blend of cab sauv, cab franc and tempranillo. Nice notes of herbs & black fruit. Light acid/tannins but enough to add noticeable structure.
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Red
2012 Bodega Dominio Buenavista / Veleta Tempranillo Joven
91 points
This impressed me. A lovely nose of black fruit, plum and florals. Smells smooth if aromas can have a texture. The flavors match the aromas, the palate is also smooth yet structured with good tannins/acid.
Red
2001 Tenuta Oliveto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
91 points
This has aged very nicely. The nose and palate match with notes of rose petal, leather, brick, cherries, herbs and earth. Balanced body with integrated structural components- medium+ tannins, medium acid.
Red
2000 Vino Bambino Pinot Noir
89 points
Notes of red cherry and cocoa on the nose, adding spice to those on the palate. Medium acidity, light tannins. A short finish but overall pleasant. This seems at or just past its peak so I'll be opening my bottles sooner rather than later.
Red
1995 Chateau Musar
91 points
Notes of brick, balsamic and red fruit on the nose; balsamic, cherries and herbs/spice on the palate. I forgot to jot down the structure but I recall it to be good. I always find Musar to be both complex and unique.
Red
2010 Château de la Bonneliere Touraine Ante Phylloxera Clos de Maulevrier
93 points
Intriguing. Seductive. Floral. Cherry. Mint. Herbs. Very balanced with medium tannins/acid. Very enjoyable. I kept coming back to the word seductive as I sipped it.
Red
2011 Lagier Meredith Tribidrag
92 points
Aromas of dark red/black fruit, herbs/spice, black pepper and violets. The palate shows similar dark fruit, just a touch jammy, with herbs, earth and florals. Just a touch of oak, just shy of medium acid and medium tannins. Drinkable now with a bit of air and should age very nicely.
Red
2009 Young Inglewood Vineyards Right Bank Blend
90 points
Textbook Bordeaux blend. Red & black currant, hints of herbs, tar & minerals. High tannins, medium acidity.
Red
2011 Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch
91 points
Notes of cassis, blackberry and coffee on both the nose and palate. Very young but should have a good life ahead of it with big tannins, medium acidity and a long finish.
Red
2011 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Little Hill
93 points
Thanks to Dusty for bringing this. A baby but what a treat, coming from someone who doesn't always enjoy RRV pinots. Red cherry, raspberry and spice aromas. The palate has very pure fruit that matches the nose. Incredibly balanced, soft mouthfeel and just delicious to drink.
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2009 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Réserve
94 points
Wow. Lovely aromatics of honey and concentrated stone fruit juice. Despite the lack of numerous descriptors, what's there is so pure and pleasant I could smell it for hours. The palate matches with honey & stone fruit juice. Again pure and lovely. Some found it a bit sweet but I thought it had good acidity to add structure & balance. This should age for decades.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2009 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux
92 points
My notes are similar to the reserve with honey & stone fruit but this was drier. Some liked that better, I prefered the reserve.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1990 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Heissenberg Sélection de Grains Nobles
95 points
My 1500th tasting note added to Cellartracker :) Also my WOTN though some found it too sweet. I hate to use honey & stone fruit again, I need to expand my vocabulary but both were here again, this time with a nice age on them. Delicious, mouthwatering acidity and a finish that went on and on and on.