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Fast Times at the Frey's
Tasted August 21, 2016 by galewskj with 266 views
Introduction
The theme was loosely Pinot. There was much debate about what wines to serve to match the weather, and the weather kept changing. This went from a syrah-heavy event with ribs o a Pinot-heavy event with salmon.
Flight 1 (5 notes)
White - Sparkling
2002 Philippe Prié Champagne Tradition Brut
90 points
Quite interesting and toasty. This was bigger than I remember, a little less elegant, and more straightforward.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Franck Bonville Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut
90 points
This champagne did drink like a blanc de blanc. It was lighter, more elegant, and pleasant. There was citrus and pear.
White
2010 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch
90 points
The nose is better than the palate, but the palate does improve with 30 minutes in glass. Tropical fruit, mango, bubble gum. The palate is rather flabby.
White
2008 Kistler Chardonnay Durell Vineyard
92 points
This does taste like a Kistler. Big and toasty. There is enough acidity here, but it could use more. Full-bodied.
White
1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia
92 points
Quite complex, nutty, and oxidized. This is fairly accessible, and was better received by a group of 10 of us than I anticipated.
Flight 2 (6 notes)
Red
2010 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Nuages
88 points
This smells and tastes like an amped up California pinot (I know it's not). Other than that, not that interesting.
Red
2012 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande Valley
90 points
This wine actually had Oregon florals and balance. I enjoyed it's liveliness, fruit and acid. I wrote 88, then 89, then 90, so take your pick.
Red
2010 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard
93 points
This wine seems so well-resolved right now. It's in a great place. Quite floral, some earth, crunchy cherry. My #2 wine of the night.
Red
2008 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve
93 points
Slow o'd for about 3 hours. The Domaine Serene flavor is evident in this wine - fairly full-bodied with oak, slight vanilla. There is nice spice. Tannins still evident. This wine improved in my glass over an hour. This was my favorite wine of the night.
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Comment
Red
2013 AR.PE.PE. Rosso di Valtellina
89 points
This wine needed food, and we drank it after the meal. Lots of cherries here, oak and fruit.
Red
1982 Château Sociando-Mallet
flawed
Corked. I'd decanted it an hour, with no noticable corkyness when I poured it back in the bottle. It seemed exactly like it should have - a lean old Bordeaux. In fact, even in the glass, it was not clear that it was corked. But upon swirling it and giving it air, it became apparent that it was immensely corked. This transformation has not happened to me before.
Flight 3 (1 note)
White - Sweet/Dessert
1990 Château Cru Peyraguey
85 points
A small pour at a tasting. The nose here is quite complex and intriguing. The palate is incredibly elderly, with little sweetness. I could give the nose a 91, but the palate has serious issues. Obviously well past its drinking window.