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A Mix at Irene's

Irene's House, St. Paul

Tasted January 21, 2023 by rocknroller with 109 views

Introduction

We got togther with a nice group at Irene's. Always a culinary delight when we're there. Wonderful beef tenderloin and mushroom sauce, choclate truffles, and a splendid cake. We had a good group of wines and 11 sharing the experience (RF/CF,B/VB,JG/KG,JP,JP,SL,JS,IA). Really fun night.

Flight 1 (2 notes)

White - Sparkling
2009 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
93 points
Light medium gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes plus. Very fine bead, baked apple and orange zest on the nose, ginger cardamom. The palate is toasty, apricot, lemon tart, nutty, limestone, apple tart, quite crisp and elegant. May be at its zenith.
2 people found this helpful Comment
White - Sparkling
2008 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame France, Champagne
94 points
Light gold color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. Tonight's bottle, was a beauty of extreme finesse and complexity, offering a nose with toffee, confections, white stone, sea air, Chantilly cream, lemon and strawberries. The palate is a subline blend of patisserie cream, white chololate, light lemon, pear, with dashing red fruits that stand out. Very elegant, medium weight, this is one to sit back and contemplate. This is starting to move the curve.
3 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 2 (3 notes)

White
2015 Arnot-Roberts Chardonnay Watson Ranch USA, California, Napa Valley
93 points
Pale yellow color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. Love that nose; saline, seashore, cool fruit, Meyer lemon, hints of peach, Fevre like swampy earth. The palate shows lots of tart Meyer lemon brine, swampy goodness, really bright and energetic, long with medium weight. Love these.
White
2010 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
91 points
Medium gold color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Toffee, pear confit, white flower tones, apricot on the nose. The palate shows as quite mature, baked apple, mulled spices, saddle leather, tart lemon on the back end, full bodied. Not showing the freshness now. Probably time to go.
White
2010 Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Ma Douce USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Deep golden color. Followed a glass for 90 minutes. Showing some oxidative notes, funky, butterscotch, lemon, lemon pledge, wood spice and alcohol coming through across the palate. IMO this was flawed, at the least over the hill, but recent notes make me think this was either oxidized or poorly stored. Score reserved.

Flight 3 (2 notes)

Red
2012 Trisaetum Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge Estate USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge
92 points
Medium red garnet hued. PNP, drank a glass over 75 minutes. Very earthy with moss, soil, pencil, high toned red fruits, and black pepper. The palate hows the depth and more lush deep red cherry fruits, ripe red currants, earth, medium bodied, black pepper. Very good 92+pts.
Red
2010 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
90 points
Murky Medium plus red color. PNP, drank a glass over 75 minutes. Tart cherry, red currants, cranberry nose. The palate is ripe but sour red fruits, sour chranberry, sour cherry; a bit much.

Flight 4 (2 notes)

Red
2009 Château de Fieuzal France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
93 points
Very dark red/purple color. Slow O for several hours. Drank a glass over an hour plus. Smoke, funk, charcoal, deep pencil, roasted meat, cassis, dark berries, full bodied, satiny tannins. Very nice already, kept getting better in the glas all night.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2014 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Signature USA, California, Napa Valley
92 points
Very dark red color. Slow - O for a couple hours. Drank a glass over an hour. Classic Cali cab, in a good way; cassis, oak, red cherry, good structure, well done. 91+ to 92)pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 5 (2 notes)

Red
2018 Saint Cosme Châteauneuf-du-Pape France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
91 points
Medium ruby red color. PNP, drank a glass over 45 minutes. Tart bing cherry, earthy, herbal, medium bodied, cherry palate, traditional, surprisingly ready to go. Classy old school CdP style. 91+(+)pts.
Red
2011 Viña Cobos Malbec Argentina, Mendoza
flawed
Purple/ color. One decant with a couple hours slow-O, followed a glass for 90 minutes. Pruny, raisined, alcohol, very herbaceous garrigue, likely heat damaged. No score.

Flight 6 (1 note)

Red - Fortified
N.V. Graham Porto 20 Year Old Tawny Portugal, Douro, Porto
90 points
Light-medium dark caramel color. Small glass over 20 minutes. Caramel, raisin, fig, dried plum, heat and volatility on the finish. Tasty.
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