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Monthly Tasting Group LTB 2009-01; California
by AdB
Tasted January 15, 2009 by Zweder with 173 views
Introduction
All wines were tastes not blind.
Flight 1 (3 notes)
White
2004 De Loach Chardonnay Russian River Valley
88 points
Butter, tropical fruits and grapefruit in the bouquet. Full bodied, almost fat and with a lot of taste. Not an overdose of oak. Some sweetness. Tropical fruits again and a nice bitterness in the fairly long finish.
White
2006 The Hess Collection Chardonnay Hess Shirtail Creek
85 points
Fresh bouquet with some flowers and grass. A bit fat, but also some freshness on the palate. Soft tropical, a bit of pear and a little pleasant citrus. Not great but certainly an ok wine.
White
2007 The Hess Collection Sauvignon Blanc Allomi Vineyard
81 points
Cat pee in the bouquet as well as the taste. Candy as well. A lot of citrus acidity. Some minerals. Refreshing but not interesting.
Flight 2 (3 notes)
Red
2006 Canyon Springs Merlot
79 points
Warm and boiled fruits in the bouquet. Not really nice. In the mouth the wine is round and supple. Soft tannin with just a little bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied. Above average, but nothing interesting about this wine.
Red
2004 Rockwood Winery Merlot
81 points
Overripe fruits in the bouquet. Sweet strawberries in both bouquet as taste as well. Juicy and round and soft tannin and bitterness. Ripe cherries. Not bad, not interesting either.
Red
2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Merlot
86 points
Interesting bouquet with ripe cherries. White pepper in the start. Juicy fruits, pleasant oak and soft bitterness. Harmonious wine.
Flight 3 (2 notes)
Red
2007 Ironstone Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel
85 points
Purple red. Sweet liquorice and fruits in the bouquet. Concentrated wine with a lot of sweetness. Cherrie pie. Not much complexity but a long and not unpleasant finish.
Red
2004 Woodbridge Old Vine Zinfandel
84 points
Ripe fruits in the sweet bouquet. Full bodied, round and ripe red fruits, e.g. cherries. Lacks acidity. There is some ok bitterness in the finish.
Flight 4 (2 notes)
Red
2006 De Loach Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
85 points
Light color. Inviting bouquet with some strawberries and some sweetness. Full bodied and juicy. Hardly any acidity. A bit of oak, some elegance and a lot of sweetness. Although it drinks like lemonade I thought it is pleasant drinking. No real complexity.
Red
2005 The Hess Collection Syrah Hess
87 points
Chocolate and liquorice in the bouquet. A mouth full of wine. Ripe cassis and cherries. Supple and friendly. A lot of alcohol and sweetness. Lacks real complexity, but is definitely nice with lamb or rare steak.
Flight 5 (3 notes)
Red
2004 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder
89 points
A lot of sweetness in the bouquet. Cherries. A mouth full of wine. A lot of fruits, sweetness, bitterness and good tannin which is a bit dry. There is a good dose of acidity and oak. Long and sweet finish. This is a complete wine which offers something extra.
Red
2005 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Allomi
88 points
Ripe, even a little bit overripe fruits in the bouquet. Very juicy and ripe red and black berry fruits. Long, soft and sweet finish. Will probably improve the next few years.
Red
2005 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Signature
91 points
Toasted and complex bouquet. A lot of oak. A lot of good acidity and good tannin. Dark and ripe fruits. Fills the whole mouth. Many layers. Needs some more years. 3 to start with. Complex wine.
Flight 6 (1 note)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Remi Henry Champagne Grand Cru Brut
86 points
Pleasant but not spectacular bubble. Tasty and some brioche. No real refinement.