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Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux and Cabs 2009 and Older
Chez Dalluge, MN
Tasted June 27, 2021 by rocknroller with 180 views
Introduction
This was the large monthly tasting group. Dave D ambitiously volunteered to host the group at his place and do all the cooking. It was an immense effort that took 4 days to prepare and bring together for our enjoyment. He enlisted the help of his daughter Julia in prep work and cooking for the event. Jason P and Big Al served as Sous Chefs on the day of the event and did great work too. There were eighteen of us gathered for what turned out to probably be record for the longest tasting we've had to date- somewhere around 8+ hours. We started down in the patio/garden area with rose and sparklers and then moved up to the deck for the extravagant main event. The rains came and chased the group inside but that did nothing to dampen our spirits as we forged through Dave's brilliant menu. Lest i neglect the wines, I think it is safe to say we had a bevy of excellent examples of both aged Bordeaux and Cabs tonight. There were a lot of small pours, socializing, and eating, so note taking took a big backseat tonight. Thanks to our gracious hosts Dave and Julia for attempting this and then knocking it out of the park. Well done!
Flight 1 - Patio Wines (10 notes)
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Roederer Estate Brut Rosé Anderson Valley
91 points
Pale salmon color. Small Pour. Firt bottle of the year; yeasty, chalky, earthy, sea air, red berries, elegant style. I love these, they punch way above the price point and always deliver. 90+ to 91pts.
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Rosé
2020 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Il Rosé di Casanova Toscana IGT
90 points
Light-medium orange salmon color. Small taste. Take a look at Bellisimo's note on the smae bottle and galeskj's note back a bit further. Both are representative of the wine. This was fresh and lively, a good mix of fruit and mineral complexity; tangy raspberry, sea air, spicebox, white pepper. I really emjoyed what I had. 90+pts.
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut Rosé Sauvage
90 points
Medium red sockeye salmon color. Second time in a few days. This bottle seemed a little more together. Nice a hot afternoon with tuna mousse.
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Rosé
2018 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé
92 points
Light-medium salmon color. Small pour. Wild strawberry, Mistral winds, rose petals, elegant and fresh, mouthwatering citrus, melon, long and bright. Drinking great. 92+pts.
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Rosé
2016 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel La Dame Rousse
90 points
Deeper Copper River Salmon solor. Small pour. Dense, strawberries, medium full bodied, spice, big but very tasty. 89 to 90pts.
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Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Rosé
92 points
Light pink color. Small pour. Brief note. Creamy delicious berries, fine wet slate minerality.
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Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé
90 points
Small pour. Brief note. Doughy, nutty, almond paste, apple, steely and a little oxidative.
Rosé - Sparkling
2015 Bortolomiol Filanda Rose Brut Millesimato Riserva
87 points
Small taste; brief note; pale ponl color, mineral, citrus and raspberry, odd palate with an acetone-like note.
White
2013 Gérard Boulay Sancerre La Côte
91 points
Small pour. Brief note. White flowers, stone, lemon, lean and brisk. Very nice. 91+pts.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Philippe Prié Champagne Cuvée Archange
90 points
Small pour. Boy I hadn't had one of these in awhile - 4 years to be precise. I suspect this one has been around in a cellar since way before then. Apple, apple peel, sour dough, chalk, vanilla cream, oxidative. 90+pts.
Flight 2 - Main Event - Table 1 Wines (13 notes)
White
2010 Araujo Estate Sauvignon Blanc Eisele Vineyard
91 points
Light gold plus color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. Saline, swampy earthy and citrusy palate, melon, earth, good breadth and a little buttery caramel as well. This was too warm on serving, but it struck much more positively than a bottle a few months ago.
White
2016 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc
94 points
Pale gold color. Small glass over 30 minutes. Brief note. White fruits, lacquer, butter brickle, honey, deep, layered and poised, young but approachable. Excellent. 93+ to 94(+)pts.
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White
2018 Antica Terra Chardonnay Aurata
93 points
Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. Very bright, lemon, brine, sea air, white pepper, great acid and minerality, pear, nectarine, long and lively with just a kiss of oak showing. Classy and well made.
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White
2016 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard Anderson Valley
91 points
Sweet and juicy golden fruits, tropical fruits, pear, oak, full bodied, richer style, some brine and lots of vanilla though there's enough acid and tartness to balance out the oak. May improve as the oak integrates more.
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Red
1992 Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Gregory Vineyard
88 points
Very dark red color, cloudy. PNP, Small glass over 40 minutes. Nose is fun, cassis, blackberry, wood and tobacco. The palate can't quite keep the alcohl in check at this point. The dark fruit is there and the wood, which comes off a little angular too. Holding together better than expected, but I'd say it's time to drink these up.
Red
1989 Château Cos d'Estournel
95 points
Very dark red/purple color. Double decanted for 1 hour; drank a glass over an hour. Wow, there's a great nose; gorgeous red fruits wafting from the glass, cherry, earth, leather, cigar, citrus peel. The palate is well integrated and full, tart cherry, great acidity, bold pencil notes, cigar wrapper, high toned and resonant with wth softened tannins and a very lengthy finish. Wow, just superb. 95+ to 96pts.
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Red
1995 Château de Fieuzal
91 points
Very dark red color. Small glass. Black currants, smoke, well integrated, full bodied, nice acidity and balance. A rare '95 that is completely ready to go.
Red
2000 Château Talbot
92 points
Very dark red color. Small glass. Same bottle as Chablis28, see his note for more, agree with his take. Brief note: Sweet cassis fruit, black cherry, mineral, somewhat gritty tannins, full bodied. Like most of the 2000's this very approachable, but benefits from air and I do think it's going to get better over the next 5 years plus. .
Red
2000 Château La Gomerie
91 points
Very dark red/purple color. Small glass. Ripe, concentrated and full bodied, blackberry, scorched earth, mineral, good length, youthful with plenty of wood yet. 91+ to 92pts.
Red
2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate
94 points
Very dark red color. PNP, drank a small glass over 30 minutes. Oh yes, this was singing tonight. Better than even expected with layers of dark berries, concentrated, gravel, dried cedar, briar, pencil lead, nuanced and refined, lovely tannins, long finish. Loved this, one my highlights.
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Red
2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve
92 points
These babies have been all over the map in the past with very good to great bottles. Very dark red color, 5mm tranisition. Small glass over 30 minutes. Woodsy, oak influence, black fruits, juicy cassis, good dry extract, graphite. I've got one of these left myself but I'm in no hurry. 92+pts.
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Red
2005 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Aphrodite
Small taste. No detailed notes. Forward, ripe and plush.
Red
2009 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five
91 points
Small taste. Showing well, brambly black and blue fruit, sweet black currants, ripe, full bodied, wood, mineral, a touch of warmth. 91+pts.
Flight 3 - Main Event Table 2 Wines (very small tastes) (6 notes)
Red
1994 Château Léoville Las Cases
93 points
Small pour of this tonight. Every bit as good still as previous bottles, the last one tasted 12/2017. Leather, cherry, red fruits, earthy, soil, great stuff in an unappreciated vintage; often words to live by...
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Red
1995 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Anniversary Release
94 points
I didn't much of this, but what I got was gorgeous and it wasn't lost on me. I love these older La Jota's, they are so well made and consistent year after year. They walk that old school line to perfection, resolved tannins, gorgeous integration of wood and mountain fruits, tertiary character with leather and cigar; outstanding.
White
2012 Domaine Comtesse de Cherisey Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru La Genelotte
90 points
Very small taste. Same bottle as Bellisimo. This was pleasant and in good shape, not real complex, but balanced and correct.
Red
2000 Château Haut-Bages Libéral
91 points
Very small taste, no notes. Drinking well, black currants, tar, dried herbs, some grip to the tannins. 91 to 91+pts.
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Red
1994 Pine Ridge Vineyards Andrus Reserve
This popped up late in the night, a nicely aged wine that still has something to give. Just a taste and it didn't leave much of an impression which may be unfair. Had this last 6 years ago, and my impression was that it's hanging in there.
Red
2009 Château Léoville Barton
Very dark red/purple color. Small pour late in the evening that got my attention. I expected this to be way too young, and on top of that it's LB which I generally want with plenty of age to begin with, but the juicy dark fruits came through and overcame the wood and tannins, especially with our steaks. Now I just have to wait another 10 or 15 years to get full the deal. Impression 93 to 95(+?)pts potential.
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