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Wine Spectator 40th Anniversary
Marriott Marquis
Tasted October 21, 2021 - October 23, 2021 by MC2 Wines with 534 views
Introduction
A belated celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the NY Wine Experience. It's a bit unlikely to imagine many of the best producers in the world coming into town for a weekend right around the harvest time and yet it's been going for so long that it is just expected. Nice to rebound after a year off. For us this was a great event to reconnect with a bunch of our wine folks.
Flight 1 - Grand Tasting Thursday Night (41 notes)
There were some others that we got to but by the end of the night after 4 hours I wasn't taking the best notes anymore so I've opted to leave them out. We also went to the Grand Tasting on Fri night but as many of the wines were the same I decided not to write notes. Overall a very fun event though and great to see how many people you run into.
Red
2011 Château Cheval Blanc
Estate must have a reasonable amount of this wine since this is what they poured when we were visiting just a few months ago as well. This is pretty, red current, some leather. Very fresh. An enjoyable wine even if from a less 'great' year.
Red
2016 Pahlmeyer Thirtieth Anniversary Proprietary Red
Can tell this is new world coming off a few Bordeaux. Good fruit, some alc. It's good but a bit intense at this age.
Red
2016 Château Lynch-Bages
Bigger wine than I expected it to be. Very bold.
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Red
2016 Château Cos d'Estournel
Very accessible, drinking well, nice fruit. I think the Chateau has changed their style a bit with time and this was showing well.
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Red
2016 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series
Very plush and fruity and almost velvety in style. Good for the price point (hadn't realized they were so reasonable).
Red
2016 Château Pape Clément
Really nice wine to get to try. Pretty and also bold and powerful. Good fruits. Darker red notes. I enjoyed. Didn't realize this is the oldest estate in Bordeaux - fun fact.
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Red
2015 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Vineyard
Big and fruity wine that is still somehow a bit restrained (but def new world coming off a few Bordeaux producers). Too young but enjoyable.
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Red
2015 Château Léoville Las Cases
Much more approachable than I expected it to be. I would consider buying this (wedding year). Graphite and darker red fruits. A bit of mouth coating. Maybe some raspberry. Tasty.
Red
2015 Château Montrose
Fresh and fruity and yet feels like it's built to age.
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Red
2018 Continuum Proprietary Red
One of the wines that stood out of the Grand Tasting for me I think because there's clearly more cab franc incorporated here and I like what that does to the blend. Very pretty. Very old world in style. Young, but good potential.
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Red
2018 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace
We were referred to this table by a friend pouring who really loved this wine. A wine meant to age. More red fruits and minerals and a bit more alcohol (which I'd like to see blow off or come down).
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2017 Château d'Yquem
Generally I've struggled more with this wine since we did a full evening tasting and it was just a lot and kindof a sugar rush. In this instance though where it's a touch of sweet among a lot of big reds it was really welcome and lovely. The wine lingers forever on your tongue. Beautiful.
Red
2017 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Jerusalem Hill
Nice to see we have some of this since I enjoyed it and we left the list recently. Red fruits, bit of cherry. A touch heavier than I would expect but I think these always seem to show better with some age.
Red
2017 Résonance Pinot Noir
I really loved this wine this time around. It's got some layers to it now, a bit of rock and a bit of fruits and very elegance and light like I like my Pinot to be. Showing great.
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Red
2018 Louis Jadot Corton-Pougets Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot
Really surprised me drinking this next to the Oregon project. This is big and fruity and a lot heavier in style. Interesting.
Red
2009 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Starting to get into a good drinking spot now. It's still young but there's a bit more of a muted tone to it and definitely tasty.
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White
2011 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée
Always a gorgeous wine and nice to see them pouring it at the event. Also a bit nice to get a change of pace from the big reds. Full mouthful and just lovely.
White - Sparkling
2006 Henriot Champagne Cuvée Hemera
Very nice. A bit of sweet and almost apple notes with a really biting acidity.
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White - Sparkling
N.V. Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée
169th Edition. It's a really lovely wine. Always enjoy Krug.
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Red
2017 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera
Fun wine to try as this is a vineyard I've enjoyed with a lot of other producers. Enjoyable.
Red
2018 Hickinbotham The Peake
Lots of structure. Big fruit. It's young. Not as crazy as some Aussie wines (more restrained in that style) but still big.
Red
2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota
A very solid and good wine and yet for some reason this producer which everyone else loves never really jumps out at me. Would not turn it down, but doesn't feel like a wine to seek out.
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Red
2016 Renato Ratti Barolo Conca
Enjoyable wine that makes me think we need to consider visiting during our upcoming trip to Piedmont. Fresh.
Red
2016 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Bricco Rocche
I have a feeling this could have been a touch off. Just didn't seem quite right but we were moving fast during the event.
Red
2017 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
Despite a terrible visit here a few years ago I still always enjoy the wine. Reminds me of a sea breeze with a bit more mineral and some red fruits along the way.
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Red
2018 Dalla Valle Maya
Pretty fun to have Maya pour you a glass of the Maya. This is quintessential big napa cabernet.
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Red
2016 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis
A wine that continues to grow on me with time. It's drinking alright today but doesn't jump out of the glass.
Red
2015 Penfolds Grange
Good to see that there was a lot of this vintage since it got poured both nights. It's a wine for aging for sure but all the right stuffing there for that.
Red
2011 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único
Even though they hold these back they're still just very big wines. Very young. Dried herbal notes. Will be great with many years.
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Red
2010 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano
Real treat to get to try this wine and the 2001 the next day (alas no notes on that one as I took the night off). This still has the oak pretty prevalent and that youthful exuberance but give it more time.
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Red
2011 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia
Big and bold. This reminded me of California winemaking in Italy. Very fruity - lots of blackberry. It's balanced though and good.
Red
2014 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT
A wine that I'd like to really like but instead it's a bit of the burgundy for me where it's a good wine but just not worth the price that gets charged for it.
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Red
2009 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Riserva Granbussia
Super super young wine. Lots of oak. Love the producer who did a really excellent visit with us a few years ago in Piedmont and know this wine turns into something special with more time (we had the 2001 earlier in the week).
Red
2011 Massolino Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda
I think we will finally be making a trek to visit Massolino after hearing good things for many years. Certainly the wine that we tried this weekend at the Wine Spectator event got me excited for our visit. It's a lovely, fresh, bright style of barolo.
Red
2016 Vietti Barolo Lazzarito
Good wine but poor note taking on my part as I didn't have much here.
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Red
2016 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto
Always really beautiful and elegant wines. There's a delicateness to this that is really something. Like what she is doing.
Red
2001 Ridge Monte Bello
Really tasty wine that was just super tonight (the second night went back and think it might have been a bad bottle because less expressive).
Red
2016 BOND St. Eden
Another one of the wines that jumped out for me. Really enjoy this vineyard and just thought this was very well done in a more balanced style.
Red
2014 Promontory
Just too much. Too big, too much alc, lots of tannins. Maybe if it has a long time?
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Red
2007 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
Bigger and bolder and very alive and somehow doesn't quite put me off the way the Promontory right before did.
Flight 2 - Friday morning (12 notes)
Included a Tribute to Ernest Gallo, Top 3 Wines of 2019, Wine Star: Gaja Family, Top 10 wines of 2020 - Wines #10, 9, 8, Wine Star: Cristie Kerr, and a panel on California Cabernet
Red
2010 San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico
Very fresh with great acid and bright red fruits. It's a quicker finish wine. Strikes me as one that really needs food (ideally some tomato based).
Red
2015 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Nice darker fruits, right level of ripeness. Very good balance to the wine. Still primary. A hint of the Veeder green in the background. Would love to see how it goes with some time - expect it might get a bit more complexity.
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Red
2016 Château Léoville Barton
Almost a bit sweeter than the Mayacamas which surprised me. It starts subtle and then has this almost sugary mid palate. Light on tannin. Feels like it's been to be very accessible. With more time it's got some woodsy notes.
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Red
2014 Gaja Barolo Conteisa
Sharper notes. There's tar and balsamic and more traditional style of barolo. Less of the fruit and floral to it. Still quite young so perhaps with some more time. Very interesting story though of Gaja building a business over many generations.
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White - Sparkling
2012 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année
Nice and bright and crisp. Served very cold and it was hard to get much flavor initially from the wine. ~65% Pinot Noir and remaining Chard. Made from 78% Grand Cru and 22% Premier Cru vineyards. As it warms up you get a bit more of the Pinot character. Still a very young wine. Would give it quite a bit of time. Has that raciness though that is very popular these days.
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Red
2018 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard
Oregon Pinot and very representative of that style to me. Nice fruits. Something on the back end that reminds me of a dark forest. Very tasty. Winemaker mentioned this was the least amount of sulfur they had every used during the winemaking. Gives it a bit more of that fresh note.
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Red
2015 Bodega Piedra Negra (François Lurton) Chacayes
From a magnum. This is a big wine. Lower acid. Not exactly extra ripe though it's very full-bodied. Red fruits and soil and so the flavoring is a bit more balanced. Interesting to try.
Red
2018 Kerr Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Vineyard
Napa cabernet for sure but with some balance to the fruit. There's a bit of baking spice here too that helps keep the fruit more in check. Very big tannins. It's one of those wines where the flavor becomes almost all tannin right at the end and then it just dissapates a bit. From a vineyard in the Stags Leap region.
Red
2015 Ulysses Napa Valley
Right at the foot of the Mayacamas. When Christian bought the vineyard he liked the terroir but ended up replanting all of the vines. First vintage 2012 so these are still from vines on the younger side. All dry farmed. This is baking spice and black fruits and feels like it was built to age even with the younger vines. Wine comes through very well (use 50% new oak, but steam and smoke the flavor out of it so that the fruit is what shows).
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Red
2016 Accendo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Really interesting story behind this wine. From the previous owner of Eisele (Araujo). This is the new project which is based on buying grapes from across the valley to create the best blends of wines year over year. Nice wine. Quick finish. Strong fruit and again a bit of the spice and then there's something else there as well that I just can't quite name but helps make the wine a bit more interesting. Made by Kinsmann whom I've heard a lot more about recently so interesting to get to try one of his wines.
Red
2014 Abreu Las Posadas
Pretty awesome wine which I suppose I know but it's been awhile since we've cracked an Abreu in the Brad era. There's a lightness to it that has no business with Cali Cabernet and yet it's still got the power you want from wines from that region. Drying tannin that's softer in style. Hint of mint and some black fruits and this perfect level of fruit that is not ripe but it just right if that makes sense. Too young, but truly lovely.
Red
2018 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon
Third time this week with this wine which does sadden me because there's quite a lot of baby killing going on but what can you do? This is really lovely as always. Very young, very fine tannins, but a wine that is built to age and almost coats the mouth. Looking forward to drinking in many years.
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Flight 3 - Saturday Morning (13 notes)
Included Top 10 Wines of 2020 - Wines #7, 6, 5, Wine Star: Chuck Wagner, Wine Star: Prince Robert de Luxembourg, Chef's Challenge
For Chef's Challenge:
Eric's dish: Hiramasa Crudo; Grated Yuzu, Lemon, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Emeril's wine: Tasca d'Almerita Malvasia Salina Tunuta Capofaro Didyme 2020
Tom's wine: Bodegas Pazo de Barrantes Albarino Rias Baixes 2017
Emeril's dish: Crab Salad, Winter Squash Custard, Satsuma Truffle Vinaigrette
Michael's wine: Delomotte Brut Champange NV
Tom's wine: Domaine Serene Chardonnay Dundee Hills Evenstad Reserve 2014
Danny's dish: Pork Milanese, Pecorino, Caraway, Bagna Cauda Aiolo
Eric's wine: Schloss Gobelsburg Gruner Veltliner Kamptal Ried Lamm 2019
Tom's wine: Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolas 2009
Michael's dish: Short Rib-Oxtail Rillettes, Spiced Hudson Valley Apples, Field Greens, Toasted Baguette
Danny's wine: Fontodi Chianti Classico Filetta di Lamole 2016
Tom's wine: Chateau Lynch Bages 2009
Red
2016 Massolino Barolo
Very pretty and precise. The entry level Barolo I think for this producer whom we haven't spent nearly enough time with (but are hoping to visit in a month when we head to Piedmont). This is rose hips and tar and red fruits and very elegantly structured. Young and needs time, but this seems like a great buy.
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White
2017 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard
Take this with a grain of salt because I'm not a chard person and this is a wine that is built very much to bring out that (esp oaked) chard flavor. Smells like vanilla, very high acid and highly oaked wine. It's too much for me but I can appreciate that it is well done for the style it is.
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Comments (1)
Red
2016 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources
There's more restraint here than I would expect for a CdP. It's mostly driven by a fairly high acid level. Strong tannins at the end which kindof creates a hard stop to the wine. Nice fruit. It's something I'd look for in the future.
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Red
2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary
Chuck Wagner was one of my favorite talks at the Wine Experience. I don't necessarily buy into his form of wine, but I appreciate that while the market and popular opinion has moved against him he's sticking with what he likes (much the way I appreciated Randy Dunn did the same as Napa got bigger). This was served on the colder side and if you are going to drink it now I'd recommend that. It is big and very unapologetic about that. Made with the berries that are almost a bit raisiny at the time of harvest. Perhaps it calms down more with some age? Right now it's a wine that invites just a small sip or two.
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Red
2003 Château Haut-Brion
Beautiful red fruits, leather, very tasty. Does not even remotely seem like a super hot year. This is very balanced. Very well balanced and elegant. Just a great wine.
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White
2020 Tasca D'Almerita Tenuta Capofaro Didyme Salina IGT
Wow - definitely liked this. A bit of a surprise wine but it was just perfect with Eric Riperts crudo. Brings out the yuzu in the dish. Very crisp and fresh and that went well with the roundness of the olive oil. Worked on its own as well although certainly improved with the food.
White
2017 Pazo de Barrantes Albariño Rías Baixas La Comtesse
Just a very different style from the Malvasia and while I think this could work as well it wasn't quite as nice as the other. On the heels of that it comes across as almost a hint sour. Very dry. Crisp. A touch green. Very fresh. A good food wine still.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Delamotte Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
This benefited from me not being a chard person which was the other choice. Very bright and fresh and crisp and a great value for the wine. It's lemon and lightness and makes the food almost a bit less intense (a crab salad by Emeril). Works very well.
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White
2014 Domaine Serene Chardonnay Evenstad Reserve
Elegant structure. It's chardonnay so not my wine, but if it was my wine this is the type of chard I'd be interested in.
White
2019 Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner 1ÖTW Ried Lamm
This surprised me as I thought for sure I'd prefer the red wine as the pairing but I found myself coming out here. It's very fresh, some white fruits, a hint of green, it just balances the fried pork so well and pulls out flavor and calls less attention to the fact that the food is served room temperature.
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Red
2009 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata
Lovely wine on its own. It's a big Malbec with red fruits and tannin and starting to get leather and just starting to get a bit more secondary. Needs more time but I think this is going good places.
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Red
2016 Fontodi Chianti Classico Filetta di Lamole
This is a wine that is purely about food. It's very high acid. Almost hard to drink on its own but with the fat in the meat that cuts and it elevates both the dish and the wine. No comparison though with the Lynch Bages although of course it's a much more reasonable price point.
Red
2009 Château Lynch-Bages
This wine was lovely on its own or with the pairing and for me it was the better wine with the food perhaps because it's also just the better wine. Goes nicely with the dish - perhaps the tannin with the meat? I get tobacco and maybe a bit of fruit. This is not really in drinking window for me but I suspect would be for quite a lot of folks. Drinking nicely at the moment.
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Flight 4 - Saturday Lunch - La Masseria (1 note)
Haven't been to this place in awhile and might need to make it a more standard part of the Wine Spectator experience. Food was delicious.
Red
2005 Roagna Barolo Vigna Rionda
flawed
The wine was not quite right although we still drank it. First bottle was tons of brett. Second bottle was better although still not as expressive as a Roagna normally is. Less delicate and more barnyard.
Flight 5 - Post Spectator dinner w/Friends (5 notes)
Not part of the event but makes it easier since I wrote these notes first from memory. And it was in the wine-soaked weekend!
White - Sparkling
2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne
Continues to be a great wine but almost feel a bit bad drinking so young since this feels like one of the ones that will age stupendously. It’s bright and fresh and just slightly tight.
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White - Sparkling
1992 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon
This is prob a bit more advanced for its age than it should be but I don’t think it was the best year and bought on secondary market so never know about the storage either. Still, it’s very tasty in that way aged champagne is where maybe a hint of oxidation that turns the flavors more caramel.
Red
2018 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Obelin
From a magnum. Maggie’s wines are always very refined snd this was no different. Pretty with a bit of floral and a bit of fruit. Restrained and yet also kindof juicy in nature. Young wine but enjoyable.
Red
1964 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva
Opened and decanted for close to 5 hours when we drank it which is often the key with these old Barolos. It was drinking very well. Tar and roses. Great acid. A nice food wine that expresses a certain elegance that's surprising with so many years.
Red
1979 Château Trotanoy
Surprising how good this was. From a magnum. We decanted for sediment in the morning and rebottled and then brought to dinner that evening. It was great. Darker fruits and round notes and very expressive wine. Will have to continue to keep an eye out since there aren't so many great wines from 79.
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Closing
This is of course never the only wine event happening at this time and so interesting to have a week where it was rather intense. Looking forward to some dry time now!