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Crown Spring Upscale Tasting
Boca Raton, FL
Tasted April 12, 2008 by vinole with 1,636 views
Introduction
A semi-annual tasting gala that is a great event for only $30. The best wines were the CA cabs and Spanish wines in this one.
Flight 1 - Champagne and Sparkling wines (5 notes)
White - Sparkling
2000 Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage
90 points
Good fruit of pear and apple on a medium bodied frame that is slightly sweet with nice acidity.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut
89 points
Medium body, reserved fruit of apple wih nice acidity. Not as yeasty as I recall from past bottles.
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White - Sparkling
N.V. Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
88 points
Stinky, almost pungent, nose. Better on the palate, with light body, some earthiness with less acidity.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Henri Abele Champagne Le Sourire de Reims Brut
87 points
Less intense and less acidity than most Champagne. Low carbonation with light body and honey flavors.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Scharffenberger Brut
87 points
A little sour on the entry, initial light body with acidity that ends with a creamy finish.
Flight 2 - White Burgundy (3 notes)
White
2006 Verget Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre
89 points
Light body, very smooth, almost creamy with light acidity.
White
2005 Verget Pouilly-Fuissé La Roche Terroirs de Vergisson
90 points
Prominent oak on a light to medium body frame with a little butter. Like a light CA chardonnay.
White
2006 Paul Pernot et ses Fils Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Folatières
91 points
More complex than other white burgs tasted. Nice touch of oak, well balanced.
Flight 3 - Red Burgundy (4 notes)
Red
2005 Henri et Gilles Remoriquet Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits
87 points
Full nose of earth and currants, fairly tannic for this level, dark cherry with a lightly sharp and earthy finish,
Red
2005 Domaine Michel & Joanna Ecard Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Peuillets
88 points
Slightly tannic and acidic, in need of a few years of aging, but with raw materials for a good wine. Cherry and blackberry flavors with a medium length finish.
Red
2004 Domaine Trapet Gevrey-Chambertin
87 points
Light garnet color, funk in the nose, sharp sour cherry on entry that smooths out on medium length finish.
Red
2005 Daniel Bocquenet Nuits St. Georges Aux St. Julien
89 points
No funk or earth on the nose, with drying tannins that need time, medium body, richer style Burgundy.
Flight 4 - Tuscan wines (5 notes)
Red
2001 Castello di Verrazzano Chianti Classico Riserva
87 points
A little funk and earth on the nose, high acidity that makes it out of balance with sharp cherry flavors.
Red
2004 Tenuta di Trinoro Le Cupole Toscana IGT
88 points
High acidity, with bright cherry flavors on a medium body frame.
Red
Red
2004 Vitanza Quadrimendo Toscana IGT
89 points
Sharp cherry and currant flavors with a solid finish.
Red
2004 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT
91 points
Bright acidity and cherry flavors with nice complexity and balance.
Flight 5 - CA Cabs (sauvignon and franc) (7 notes)
While tasting the Conn Valley, I overhear the gentleman next to me talking about Ghost Horse. It turns out he was the first writer to taste the wine, Monty Preiser ( http://www.sallys-place.com/beverages/wine/ghost_horse.htm ). He said it can hold its own with the cults, but there is no reason to pay the higher tariiff. Said Todd is a personal friend and it is not a spoof, but a real endeavor. Interesting conversation.
Red
2005 Hollywood & Vine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "2480" Napa Valley
89 points
Currants on the nose, full body, plummy, slightly overripe with somewhat short finish of 30 seconds. Expected more from this.
Red
2003 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Spring Mountain District
92 points
Currants with some drying tannins, with a little earth and heat (served too warm). Nice, full body cab with a little more complexity than the estate wine.
Red
2004 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve
94 points
Very well balanced, medium to full body, nice complexity and layers. Better than more expensive wines that were tasted alongside.
Red
2004 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
92 points
A little tart, medium body, elegant, but a little acidic right now. Needs more time.
Red
2005 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
Earthy, slightly funky nose, but then medium body rich fruit flavors, with a smooth long, polished finish.
Red
2005 Chappellet Cabernet Franc
91 points
Medium to full body. Nice cab franc with fruit to match the higher acidity of the wine.
Flight 6 - Spanish wines (6 notes)
Red
2005 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla El Nido
96 points
Starts a little sweet, but incredibly smooth and lush at this stage. Big fruit and oak, but still well balanced. Truly outstanding wine. As it was at the end of the tasting, I had three glasses as the girl kept pouring saying she didn't want it to go to waste, nor did I.
Red
2004 Finca Allende Rioja Aurus
94 points
Very smooooth. Almost sweet with spicy oak. Rich, lush cherry flavors. Drank two glasses of this at the tasting as it was at the end and the girl didn't want it to go to waste (nor did I). Great juice.
Red
2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga
93 points
A very well balanced wine, with nice structure that is rich and lush for a tempranillo wine.
Red
2004 Agrovinicola de Almodovar Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Finca Coronado
90 points
Has some drying tannins, but good fruit to back it up. Needs some time to resolve.
Red
2004 Bodegas Cenit Tempranillo Cenit
91 points
Nice dark and red fruits with some oak that is in a nice well balanced package. Medium to full body with a nice 30-35 second finish.
Red
2005 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Veraton
91 points
Starts almost a little sweet, but then brings a good backbone and nice, lush finish that is great for a wine of its price.