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Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting

Tasted October 9, 2018 by aagrawal with 356 views

Flight 1 (29 notes)

White - Sparkling
2009 J. Lassalle Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée Angeline France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
87 points
Mid weight, freshness with some brioche; very nice. Nice. 87
White - Sparkling
2005 J. Lassalle Champagne Premier Cru Brut Cuvée Spéciale France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
89 points
Superb acidic cut, medium persistence. Better than the Angeline. Very nice. 89-90
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Bruno Paillard Champagne Rosé Extra Brut Première Cuvée France, Champagne
88 points
Aromatic, delicate slightly floral; well balanced, nice acidic cut. 88
White - Sparkling
2002 Bruno Paillard Champagne Nec Plus Ultra France, Champagne
93 points
Stunning nose, even with a small pour, complex, deep, bruised apples; palate is a stellar blend of high acidity and aged brioche. Lovely wine. 93-94+
White - Off-dry
2011 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Hengst Vendange Tardive France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
92 points
OMG nose with caramelized peach, apricot; palate balanced but with medium sweetness, medium acidity. Nose>palate but both excellent. 92
1 person found this helpful Comment
White - Sweet/Dessert
2009 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain Sélection de Grains Nobles France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
88 points
From 375. Less aromatic; palate is thick, sweet, but lacking deep complexity. Nice. 88
Red
2016 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
85 points
Some spice but lacking complexity and depth. Disappointing for Williams Selyem. 85
Red
2013 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
90 points
Nose is more roses than tar, a bit of funk; palate is light bodied but polished, high tannins but approachable; medium finish. This comes across as a blend of traditional and slightly polished modern. Definitely needs more time, but lacks the next level excitement for me. 90
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2012 Elvio Cogno Barolo Bricco Pernice Ravera Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
93 points
Aromatic, complex, red fruit and mulch, roses; palate is light bodied, high youthful tannin, traditional in style; medium-long finish. Lovely. 93+
Red
2013 Conterno Fantino Barolo Sorì Ginestra Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
93 points
Aromatic, roses, red fruit, high aromatics; palate is light bodied, high youthful tannins, smooth and well balanced; medium finish. This is quite nice, very well put together, would love this over a meal. 92-95+
Red
2013 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
93 points
Aromatic with red fruits and some purple plums, a core of minerality, slight spice; really prominent tannins, well balanced fruit, needs 15-20 years from the vintage. Should be lovely one day. 93-96+
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2013 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
95 points
Elegant black fruit, aromatic, well balanced; full bodied, plenty of balanced fruit, surprisingly approachable tannins; long finish. Exceptional in a way that is balanced and not showy. 95+
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2015 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
89 points
Black fruit, some spice; palate is full bodied, rich, lovely black fruit, balanced; medium finish. Nice. Balanced alcohol and medium-plus acid. 89
Red
2015 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Sunbasket Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Ruby-purple; aromatic black fruit, balanced; palate is ripe but balanced, young, approachable tannins; medium finish. Nice Cab. 91
Red
2014 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos des 60 Ouvrées France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
92 points
Stunning nose of spice, red fruit, earth, Asian spice; palate is light bodied, low tannins but still with some structure, medium-plus acidity, youthful red fruit; medium finish. This is good now with a lot of potential. 92-94
Red
2015 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Bousse d'Or France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
90 points
Less aromatic than the 2014 60 ouvres, a bit deeper and richer black fruit; palate is medium bodied, darker fruit; finish is medium length. OK...90
Red
2006 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
90 points
Not that aromatic, but balanced, red fruit; palate is medium bodied, flavorful red fruit, balanced medium-plus acid; medium finish. Very nice but needs a few years. 90-91
3 people found this helpful Comment
White
2015 Kabaj Ravan-Zeleni Sauvignon Slovenia, Primorska, Goriška Brda
81 points
Skin contact fruilano. Unremarkable and kind of bland. 81
White
2005 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
90 points
Moderately aromatic nose with some richness, slightly oxidative; palate is rich, but with good acidity, slightly oxidative; medium finish. Needs some time and a bit more thoughtful meditation to appreciate. 90
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2014 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Italy, Campania, Taurasi DOCG
85 points
Moderately aromatic; palate is a bit young and rough, some fruit but not much complexity today. 85
Red
2011 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva Italy, Campania, Taurasi DOCG
87 points
Smoother more elegant red fruit, well balanced, good food wine, but not super-complex. 87
Red
2014 Antinori Tignanello Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
90 points
Aromatic, red fruit, good depth and complexity, really lovely nose; palate is medium bodied, red fruit, simpler than the nose; medium finish. Nice, but the palate falls off a bit. 90-91
White - Fortified
2000 Blandy's Madeira Verdelho Colheita Single Harvest Portugal, Madeira
90 points
500 mL. Aromatic, slightly sherried, nutty; palate is fresh, light to medium bodied, some sweetness but overall a light minerally, slightly salty palate; finish is medium-plus. 90-91
White - Fortified
1977 Blandy's Madeira Malmsey Portugal, Madeira
91 points
Caramel colored; rich nose with toffee and caramel; palate is rich, full bodied, some sweetness; medium finish. Not bad but for its age it doesn’t have enough complexity. 91
Red - Fortified
2007 Kopke Porto Colheita Portugal, Douro, Porto
88 points
Not too aromatic; sweet and balanced but lacking complexity; short-medium finish. 88
Red - Fortified
1941 Kopke Porto Colheita Portugal, Douro, Porto
90 points
Tawny; nutty, slight alcohol lift; palate is medium-full bodied, good acidity, not as much complexity as expected. 90
White
2014 Matthiasson Chardonnay Michael Mara Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
85 points
Nice overall but too late in the evening. Nose>palate. 85
Red
2015 Matthiasson Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
A bit spicy, good fruit; palate is full bodied, young. 89-90
Red
2015 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
88 points
Nose is highly aromatic, berries; but the palate is a bit overripe. 88
1 person found this helpful Comment
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