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A Matter of Taste: New York
The Conrad NY | Del Posto
Tasted November 10, 2018 by MC2 Wines with 600 views
Introduction
This was our first time at this event but I suspect prob not our last. Pretty intense day though - we started with the Christophe event at 9 am and went almost straight through till around 11:30 pm at the BYO dinner.
Flight 1 - Tasting with Christophe Baron (8 notes)
What a great story and presenter! Really enjoyable session. We actually ran 30 minutes over and it was totally worth it to hear some more about how Christophe views being a vigneron (not a winemaker), the story behind the different projects and different labels, his path to Washington State. Even the reason he stayed (because there were 'Gallet-like rocks in the soil' and yet he went mostly with Northern Rhone varietals. All fun and interesting. Also - this wines are helped quite a bit by age. Really appreciated seeing the difference a few years made with the Horsepower and Bionic Frog.
Red
2014 Cayuse God Only Knows
This was quite nice and fresh. Nose is of sweet candied red fruit. In addition to the more metallic and bandaid notes that are often there, I get these really beautiful red fruits. There's a bit of an elegance to this. Less intense than other versions of this wine that I've had. Whole cluster fermentation and no new oak. This wine is actually only 90% Grenache. The other 10% is 'god only knows'.
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Red
2014 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard
First Cayuse vineyard that was planted and one of the only ones that is on its own root stock. Blend of 94% Syrah and 6% Viognier. Again there's some of that Cayuse funk and more brine and meat and olives. Maybe background red fruits. Lots of tartness here. Touch of the barnyard. And lots of black pepper.
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Comments (3)
Red
2014 Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard
This is a bit more intense than the Cailloux we had right before. It's again a lot of that brine and meat and metallic/bloody flavors. One of those polarizing wines that you love or hate. I'm in the love category.
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Red
2014 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog
This wine is always just straight up excellent. One of the vineyards that ripens earlier rather than later. There's a great balance here between the fruit and the meat. Lots of sour red fruits. Lots of savory. And all just very balanced and well done. I didn't realize this was whole cluster fermentation, but it really works for it. More muted and too young, but good potential.
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Red
2008 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog
This was really wonderful. Amazing what some age does to these wines (had next to the 2014 and it was good, but this was better). Some bloody, some red fruits. Lots of bacon fat, tobacco, a bit medicinal. This is a potpourri of flavors and all well integrated. I think it's still on the young side - will continue to let ours age - but man was it good. Really a great wine.
Red
2014 Horsepower Vineyards Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard
Had next to the 2014 GOK. Much less fruit here, much more savory. Lots of minerals. Christophe would say there's a verticality here because of how the vines are planted (very close together, taller). 100% Grenache which was procured from Beaux Freres in the Willamette Valley. For me this was a bit less tasty than the GOK although still quite fun wine.
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Red
2014 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard
Had next to the 2011 and it was interesting to see how much even a few years of bottle age helps. This is still pretty young and tight, but there's a certain cleanness to the style. A bit more intensity in the mid-palate. Pretty minerals. Lots of savory. Again tasty.
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Red
2011 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard
Really appreciated this one and what a few years can do for these. There's some more floral and fragrant notes to this than the '14. Still savory. Almost velvet in the glass. Again 100% whole cluster and only old oak barrels.
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Flight 2 - Walk around tasting (45 notes)
Didn't get to everything we wanted but lots of amazing wines here that were quite nice. It's also fun since there's a lot of spots we've either visited or will be visiting and so good to connect with the people behind the wines as well.
Red
2014 Force Majeure Syrah Force Majeure Vineyard Red Mountain
Wow is this hardcore. Tons of fruit. Very intense. Coming on the heels of the Cayuse this just felt a bit much and a bit overdone to me.
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Red
2014 Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon
Similar to the Syrah. Very intense. Lots of bright fruits. It does feel a touch much to me.
Red
2015 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Lots of black cherries in a glass. Its also a fruity style, but more balanced than the FM we had right before. There's a certain restraint (I suppose some extra acidity). Still a bit quite - nice to compare next to the 2005.
Red
2005 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
Still drinking quite young but really a beautiful wine. Fun to comparison to the 2015 which was served alongside. This was more interesting. Lots of intense black fruits. Also a bit of lavender. Well structured.
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Red
2015 Joseph Phelps Insignia
Fun to try this next to the 2002 and see where it might go. Right now it is high octane and a bit over the top. Heavier on the fruit side. Needs some time to tamp things down.
Red
2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia
A favorite at the tasting. This was just delicious. More restrained than the '15. Some woodsy, red fruits, really nicely done. Will keep an eye out for this.
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Red
2014 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace
This was quite enjoyable. A more muted style which I liked. Lots of spices across the spectrum - a full cabinet of them. Very young but with some great potential. Interesting to see the difference in style to Volcanic Hill (which was not quite my vibe).
Red
2014 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill
This wine is just too much right now and coming on the heels of the Red Rock which was nice and restrained it was a bit of a surprise. Alcoholic. Darker fruits. Intense.
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Red
2015 DeLille Cellars Harrison Hill
I've liked these a lot in the past, but it wasn't quite doing it for me today. Just a high octane wine. More intense than anything. Would give it time to settle down. Fruit dominant.
Red
2007 Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard
This wine was just lovely. So very well done. Like velvet in the bottle. Well balanced. Lots of black fruits. Great structure and acidity (impressive in that year in Napa). Still on the younger side, but a beautiful wine nonetheless.
Red
2007 Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard
On the heels of the Helm I was pretty excited to try this one. Didn't really live up to it for me. This was intense. Over the top. Lower acidity and less structure. More jammy. For folks who like that style this would be 'yummy', but not really my wine.
Red
2015 Hickinbotham The Peake
Really nicely done wine. This is much more in the restrained style. Still lovely black fruits. Lots of floral. Mostly lavender. It's got a prettiness to it which I suspect is slightly higher acid. Well done and interesting.
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Red
2015 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Hapgood
Really well done wine. Lots of red fruits. More laidback in style. This is well balanced and tasty. Very enjoyable.
Red
2011 BOND St. Eden
Man I'm digging on the '11 Calis done by good producers. This wine was awesome. So awesome it seems I didn't take very detailed notes on it. Nice and restrained and a bit of the red fruit and that almost cinnamon character. One of the tops of the tasting.
White
2014 Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc
Always a favorite for me. This was again really pretty. Lots of floral. None of the green or grassy notes. Some honey. A slightly heavier style of wine (almost reminds me a bit of white rhone in palate heft). Beautiful.
Red
2015 Arkenstone Estate
Old world technique and new world fruit and the combination is just awesome. Lots of blackberry and blueberry and more spicy notes and a great structure and balance to tit. Young wine that needs a lot more time, but I'm glad we've got bottles. This always drinks really well.
Red
2016 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
Interesting to try this back to back with the 2015. This wine is a bit more restrained and elegant. Some less ripe fruit. A really nice style and I wine that I quite enjoyed.
Red
2015 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
Interesting to try next to the 2016 which was balanced and lovely. This was much more in your face and intense. Lots of blackberry. Lots of pepper. Felt a bit more overdone.
Red
2010 Chris Ringland Shiraz Randall's Hill
This is an intense wine as well, but there's also a balance to it which makes it a bit more interesting. Fruit a touch less ripe, almost a hint sour. There's good acidity to it. Tasty.
Red
2012 Chris Ringland Shiraz Dimchurch
More of the intense style again. Very bright. Riper fruit. Didn't stand ot as much as some of the others in the Chris Ringland line-up.
Red
2009 Chris Ringland Shiraz Dry Grown Barossa Ranges
This is again a really intense wine that is done in a really good way. More fruit. Some tannins. Even with the almost 9 years this is a really young wine (also most recent release). With some swirling in the glass seems to get into a better spot and mellow some. I liked it. Tasty.
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Comments (1)
Red
2007 Chris Ringland Shiraz Hoffmann
Maybe one of my favorites of the Chris Ringland line-up. There's lots of red jammy fruit and yet somehow this is a bit more elegant than I would have thought. Nice acidity that seems to stay in the background. Enjoyable.
Red
2012 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace
This is another favorite of mine from the tasting. It's just wonderful and balanced and elegant and interesting. Lots of fruit and spice and herbs and earth and its great. I look forward to seeing where this goes in many years.
Red
2015 Kay Brothers Shiraz Block 6 Amery Vineyards
Had this on the heels of the Hill of Grace and I'd say this was good and interesting but perhaps got a bit overshadowed by that wine. This is a more muted style which I tend to like.
White - Fortified
N.V. Chambers Rosewood Rare Muscat
This is very sweet and more intense and a bit nutty and some raisins and all of that. It's got a yummy style to it.
Red
2015 PerSe Iubileus
Wow is this good. Another favorite of the tasting. These wines are so well balanced and well structured. Again a bit more of the old world influence but with new world fruit which creates such a great wine. Very pretty.
Red
2015 PerSe La Craie
Again just a spectacular wine. This I might prefer a bit to the Jubileus which is saying something since that is an awesome wine. It's got a bit more of the darker fruit and the slightly more earthy tone coming from the CF. Beautifully done.
Red
2013 Promontory
Again really enjoyable. I didn't write very detailed notes on this, but it was a wine that I revisited again at dinner. More old world in style. Really balanced. Great fruit, but also more woodsy notes. It's great.
Red
2009 Vietti Barolo Lazzarito
Very pretty wine. It's got some nice red fruits and a more woodsy character as well. Very well balanced. Looking forward to our tasting here in a few weeks.
Red
2015 Fattoria Petrolo Galatrona
I always like the way the Italians do their Merlot. This was definitely too young to be drinking, but some good stuffing. Lots of red fruits. More refined style.
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Comments (1)
Red
2010 Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso
Very fruity and a bit more intense than the Galatrona we had alongside it. This was interesting and well done.
Red
2007 Antinori Solaia
Still a super young wine but drinking pretty well. Nice fruits and a bit more earthy. Very pretty.
Red
2010 Elio Grasso Barolo Riserva Rüncot
Very pretty and very young. There's quite a bit of oak. Very crisp style though in the fruit. And generally well done.
White
2014 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée
This is a very nicely done wine. Lots of honeysuckle. A nice richness. So balanced. And very pretty.
Red
2014 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon
Brighter red fruits. More of a vibrant style of wine which is nice. Very young as you might expect, but well done.
Red
2010 Château Pavie
This wine continues to be really great, but it's also just much too young. And tight. There's a heavier tannin. Lots of fruit. Hint more oak. Check it out again in 10 years.
Red
2010 Château La Conseillante
Wow do I love this wine. Its young and not really ready yet but there's so much good here. Truffle and lavender and black fruits. I wrote awesome a few times in my book. Great wine.
Red
2015 Château La Conseillante
This again is much much too young and it's a bit tight. There's lots of potential though. More pretty. More floral. Lots of fruit and maybe some chocolate and again some truffle. It's going to be really good.
Red
2015 Château Figeac
Again very pretty wine. Lots of herbal and fruits and some more floral style. It's of course much too young to drink now, but will be great.
Red
2010 Château Figeac
Towards the end of the tasting and so the notes are a bit less detailed at this point. There was something a bit different about wine. Not quite what I expected. Still enjoyable though and a bit pretty.
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Red
2009 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Also really nice and a bit more earthy and some good fruit and generally well structured and well done. Very good.
Red
2009 Château La Fleur-Pétrus
Really interesting and beautiful. Lots of black fruits. Slightly more intense. Too young and needs a lot more time. But it's a great wine.
Red
2005 Château Mouton Rothschild
Last bottle at the tasting so glad that we got there when we did. This is very floral. Very pretty. Nicely structured.
Red
2005 Château Trotanoy
This wine surprised me a bit. I expected to like it more than I did. It was a bit intense and perhaps a touch closed down and on the heels of a bunch of really great Bordeaux I would say it was nice, but not quite at that level today.
Red
2008 Château Pape Clément
Last wine of the walkaround tasting for us so we were definitely pretty happy at this point. Again a bit more fruit and floral style. Some earthy. Very very young. Good wine.
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Comments (2)
Flight 3 - 100 Point Spanish Wines (0 notes)
This was a pretty crazy tasting when you look at the line-up. And I didn't even get all the way through it (friend's birthday that day so we had to step out a bit early). The whole reason we signed up was the Unico which didn't let me down at all. But on top of that a lot of other interesting wines. Spain is doing good things. Also appreciated getting to drink some wine with some age.
Flight 4 - Hedonist BYO Dinner (0 notes)
Ok - by this point in the day note writing was pretty tough. And I know there are other wines we drank (our table picture shows some Brewer-Clifton, Knupp Brothers, Lail Vineyards, Opus One) but I don't have strong enough recollections of those for it to be worth writing the notes. The '82 Palmer however does stick out. That was awesome.
Closing
What a day! So many great wines it's hard to name them all. We'll definitely be back.