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Hans Kruger Classic
Suite 100
Tasted December 1, 2008 by jjclips2 with 1,073 views
Introduction
Well, the time comes for this annual get together. Never a disappointment, always a pleasure. This one should be fun.
Flight 1 - Chardonnay (3 notes)
Some Chards to wet the palate
White
2006 Groth Chardonnay
86 points
Super buttery, toasty oak with grilled pear and burnt toast on the nose. The palate is rich and flabby with a lot of oaky spice and buttered popcorn. Not enough acidity or freshness of fruit to balance. Would appeal to some people though.
White
2007 Plumpjack Chardonnay Reserve
89 points
Rich, fruit filled aromatics of peaches and other stonefruit. Slightly floral too. Palate has a bit of glycerol, oily texture thing going on. Ripe and fat stone fruits, tropical fruits, mango, etc. Mild acidity, I desired a touch more, but overall decently balanced.
White
2006 Ramey Chardonnay Russian River Valley
91 points
Must have had an off bottle a few months back because this is my style of Chard. Very ripe and rich with a fair amount of oak and malo influence, butter and toasted popcorn, yet balanced with fresh yellow apple, pear, and acidity. Nice lingering spice on finish along with a burst of acidity and fresh fruit. Takes my vote as best white tonight.
Flight 2 - WOTN and 1 other (2 notes)
Two older Grand Cru Burgs. The Faiveley was WOTN but closely followed by 2 others.
Red
1972 Faiveley Musigny
98 points
Hmm, a 36 yr old PN? Could it be? Yes, the finest tasting Burg I have put my lips to. The aromatics are initially closed, but open into an array of spices, so exotic. Still has a fresh core of ripe raspberries with dried mushrooms, dusty earth, truffle. The palate is amazingly delicate and complex. Again to my amazement the fruit is still explosive with ripe bing cherries. Cinnamon, cola, and fresh tea leaves shine through. Kept in the glass for as long as I could make it last and it held up nicely. Such a delicate finish with warm baking spices. Still amazing how the fruit component held up. Tied for WOTN.
Red
1982 Domaine Jean Gros Richebourg
95 points
Well, not quite the '72 Musigny, but a different animal. The nose is quite a bit earthier, bordering barnyard. Still has a light, delicate cranberry and raspberry fruit component. The fruit is wrapped in brewed tea, spices, and minerality. Dried cherries on palate with spices, rich mouthfeel, and dusty tannins. A bit rustic and still showing some power. Not quite as delicate as imagined on the palate, yet still delivers amazing complexity. This was probably a beast in its youth. The minerality starts to really come through. Fantastic.
Flight 3 - The '94's (2 notes)
After having average at best previous experiences, these two redeemed themselves as great wines.
Red
1994 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux
90 points
I think I've had this 4 or so times prior and none being all that amazing. This one however is very impressive. The nose is the least favorite, limited to earthy minerality and spice. The palate is very powerful with gripping, dusty tannins right off the bat. Crisp, cleansing acidity follows, then a ripe burst of cherry and red currants. Hmm, interesting. Opens up to some nice spiciness and more ripe berry fruit. The earthiness on nose eventually integrates with the berries. While not as complete as a few others tried tonight, this one might turn into an extremely nice bottle. Hopefully I'll try again in a few years.
Red
1994 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux
94 points
Have had this a few times as well. Back to back with the '94 Echezeaux. Younger nose of strictly fruit, red berries, cherry. Very ripe. The palate has quite a bit of structure. Firm tannins and acid up front with spices, nice red cherry core, charcoal, and burnt toast. Long, long, spicy finish with refreshing acidity. Very nice.
Flight 4 - La Taches (2 notes)
Amazing wines. The '96 was near perfect.
Red
1993 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche
95 points
Quite a difference after having a '04 Echezeaux and GE. Such a rustic nose of muddy earth, dried spiced cherries, and truffles. The tannins are dusty and firm. Nice exotic spice on finish with a medium bodied mouthfeel. Shows power, yet elegance, if that ever makes sense? Finish lasts virtually forever. Well made.
Red
1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche
98 points
Comes close to WOTN, but just a touch young to fully appreciate everything that's going on. The nose shows the most exotic of the evening with coriander, cinnamon, all types of warm spices, a curry if you will. Red raspberries and black raspberries are intermixed on the palate with a touch of smoke. Very poweful palate. Tannins are still youthful, but not obtrusive enough that it masks the rest of the palate. Didn't show quite as much terroir or complexity as the '93, but with time it sure will. Amazing.
Flight 5 - Old Cali Cabs (2 notes)
After having older Burgs, these held their own in the tasting.
Red
1978 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
92 points
From magnum. I'll be honest, I wasn't looking forward to having this before the tasting, nor after having 6 grand cru Burgs. However, this was one complete Cali Cab. Minty, spicy, red cherry, sweet currants and vanilla. So elegant. Velvety fruity core, suprising how much fruit is left. Nice spicy finish. Fun tasting this one. 92+
Red
1983 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
Hmm, my birthyear and out of magnum. Lets see what this offered! Surprisingly still rich with lots of black, bold fruit, rich and chocolatey. Very similar in style to new vints from Caymus. Black currants, spices, touch of menthol. A touch on the flabby side, overall. The tannins are pretty restrained and probably at or near its peak. Opens up to more dried fruits, fig, fruitcake. Pretty interesting. On par with the '78 Mondavi from mag.
Flight 6 - '83 Bordeaux from Magnum (2 notes)
Good, but not as good as the Burgs. Ducru took the cake though in this flight.
Red
1983 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
88 points
From magnum. Funky!!! Loads of barnyard and brett on the nose. Eventually integrates with the menthol, choclatey cassis, and cherry. The palate isn't quite as rustic. Mild tannins and acidity up front. Falls short on the finish. Not necessarily my favorite, but still very nice.
Red
1983 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
93 points
From magnum. Nice, huge step up from the '83 G-P-Lacoste. Quite a bit more complex. Tobacco, leather, and cassis blast from the glass to the nose. Big and rich with tons of licorice, cassis, and tobacco. Muscular finish with the tannins, fruit and acidity. This is still a full bodied powerhouse. Showing nice now, however this will probably last for quite a bit longer.
Flight 7 - The Lafites (2 notes)
'83 was good, '78 was better
Red
1978 Château Lafite Rothschild
96 points
Ooh, yeah, now we're getting somewhere. Very earthy, rustic, pencil lead and minerality with maybe a touch of brett. Sweet kirsch, cassis, spices and tobacco. Quite complex. Still an earthy palate, but the fruit still shines through the tobacco, cedar, and pencil lead. Smokey, spicy finish. Fantastic Lafite.
Red
1983 Château Lafite Rothschild
94 points
From magnum. Still quite youthful. Sweet fruit, cherry and cassis as well as pain grille, and sweet oak. Lots of pencil lead as it opens up. Very dusty, huge tannins up front. Coffee and chocolate covered cherries, tobaco, and earth. Almost a dirty finish with dusty tannins and toasty wood. Interesting how youthful this shows from magnum, yet has a lot of complexity already. Nicely balanced.
Flight 8 - The Ringer (1 note)
Absolutely amazing in every way, shape, and form. Thanks Hans
Red
1964 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux
99 points
You've got to be kidding!! First of all, this thing showed so exotic, it's the most intriguing wine, the most interesting wine I've ever had. I can't believe how fresh the fruit is. Cranberry, dried raspberry, amazing. Very floral too. Warm, toasted spices, tons of minerality. The acidity is very fresh. Overall, maybe not as complex as some of the other Burgs tasted tonight, but so complete. This is the way to end an amazing tasting.
Flight 9 - Some "Dessert Wines" (5 notes)
After having all of these older, complex, complete wines, we needed some "quaffers" for after dinner.
Red
2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Truett Nolan
91 points
Nice spicy red berry fruits, black cherries, and a touch herbal. Medium bodied, rich extraction of fruit and plenty of smokey, toasty oak. It opens into a nice rich, spicy PN with lots of oak influence.
Red
2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Sonatera Vineyard
88 points
First time w/this vineyard. Not quite as complete as the Truett Nolan in same vint. Quite a bit of extraction and IMHO, over oaked style. Sweet fruits, red berries mostly with spicy oak. Finishes hot and lacking in acidity. Good, but not quite as nice as other bottlings from this producer.
Red
2006 Dutton-Goldfield Pinot Noir Devil's Gulch
89 points
Good, but maybe a touch disappointing. I've always thought that this is a wine that needs a few years to settle down and I think this confirms that. Very high acid with almost underripe raspberries. Layered with warm spices, this is a delicate PN that is usually one of my favorites. Will revisit in a few years.
Red
2006 Ramey Syrah Shanel Vineyard
91 points
I could honestly care less about most domestic Syrah, but this caught my attention. Liquid blueberry pie on nose. Perfumed, spicy blackberries, very rich, with a smokey, bacon fat element. Firm tannins but not obnoxious. Rich black fruits and sweet oak, cedar, and vanilla. Smokey. Nicely done. Acidity is very refreshing too. Not over the top with alc (not sure the abv but it doesn't show).
Red
2005 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
91 points
Hmm. I wanted to love this one, but I guess it's still just a Cali Cab. Ripe, rich, and lacking acidity. Super bold black fruits, cherry and cassis. Chocolate ganache, black raspberries, and toasty oak.
Closing
Everything was stunning with a few ringers that words would not justify their presence. This was the most amazing wine dinner I've attended. Justin, wish you were there bud. Looking forward to next year's!!