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Wine Watch Best of 2009 Tasting
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Tasted January 15, 2010 by vinole with 995 views
Introduction
A gorgeous evening to hold this outdoor event. The setting and limited crowd of about 55 made for a nice atmosphere, but I felt the level of wines was a definite step down from last year.
Flight 1 - Champagne (6 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. G. H. Mumm & Cie Champagne Cordon Rouge Brut
88 points
Light to medium body style, less acidic and rounder fruit with a touch more sweetness than most Bruts.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier
90 points
A medium bodied style, with crisp acidity with lots of apple fruit and a hint of orange zest on the finish.
White - Sparkling
N.V. G. H. Mumm & Cie Champagne Crémant de Cramant
91 points
Full body with significantly lower carbonation that most other Champagne which takes down the perceived level of acidity and crispness and amplifies thr rich fruit and creaminess of this wine.
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Perrier-Jouët Champagne Blason Rosé
90 points
Light to medium body rose that has a hint of cherry and strawberry, and med to high acidity. Nice, but better rose's out there for its price.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut
92 points
The full bodied honey & biscuit style that I expect and enjoy so much. Great Champagne.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Charles Ellner Champagne Blanc de Blancs
92 points
Medium body and acidity, low carbonation, apple cider flavors that are layered and complex. I really enjoyed this Champagne and have enjoyed this house every time I have tried.
Flight 2 - White wines (3 notes)
White
2008 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc
88 points
Loads of grapefruit, zesty acidity, but a bit one dimensional.
White
2007 Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc
87 points
Rounder and with less acidity than most SB's. Has some floral notes from the 13% Sauvignon Musque. Has a bit of a bitter edge to it that hurt my score.
White
2007 Beringer Vineyards Chardonnay Private Reserve
88 points
Creamy (guessing it had a long maloactic ferm), prominant oak, but I found it a little disjointed. Perhaps some bottle age will improve it.
Flight 3 - Italian reds (13 notes)
Red
2007 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove
89 points
Tannic now, needs time. Reserved red fruit, with medium to high acidity. Should improve, but not sure it will end up worth the tariff.
Red
2003 Le Vigne di Zamò Friuli Colli Orientali Pignolo
87 points
Tannic, high acidity, cherry fruit. Needs time, not drinking well now.
Red
2006 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbera d'Asti Cà di Pian
90 points
Fuller bodied, lower acidity, and darker fruit than most Barbera. More of a drinking wine than a food wine.
Red
2001 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino
90 points
Zesty cherry fruit with blackberry notes, light to medium body, and some spiciness made for a little atypical Brunello.
Red
2001 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Le Coste
91 points
Darker fruit and fuller body than the non Reserva. Also a little spicy that gives it a differest profile than most Brunello.
Red
2003 Fattoria Montellori Salamartano Toscana IGT
87 points
A Bordeaux blend that I found a bit sour and tannic, and with some bright acidity. Will likely improve with age.
Red
2002 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Langhe Nebbiolo
88 points
Fruit forward for a Barbaresco and lower acidity too. Fairly New World style that also has a zesty, spicy edge.
Red
Red
2004 Moschioni Friuli Colli Orientali Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso
89 points
Firm tannins, dark fruit, and medium to high acidity.
Red
2004 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino
90 points
Lighter style, medium to high acidity, sour cherry, geared better as a food wine.
Red
2006 Braida (Giacomo Bologna) Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone
88 points
Tannic, red cherry fruit, a hint of spice, and med-high acidity.
Red
2007 Castello Romitorio Morellino di Scansano
85 points
I did not care for it, and was yet another wine from Morellino di Scansano that I found does not have enough fruit for the tannin and acidity levels.
Red
2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
Rich fruit, but with tannins and acidity built on a long aging frame that is not ready now. Has the ingredients to be a great wine in the future. Wait on this.
Flight 4 - Misc. reds (15 notes)
Red
2007 Les Vignerons d'Estézargues Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues La Granacha Vieilles Vignes
89 points
Ripe and fruit forward with a hint of sweetness. Veered towards the red side of the spectrum and also had good balancing acidty. Nice CdR
Red
2007 Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhône Villages Terre d'Argile
89 points
Intense dark red fruit with a kick of spice. A little overblown for my taste, but more time in the bottle may have it tone down some. If you are a fan of Central Coast rhone blends, you might want to drink this young to get that youthful intensity.
Red
2006 Mas Doix Priorat Salanques
91 points
Black cherry fruit with some raspberry notes, not too forward. Nicely balanced at this stage and will improve with some age.
Red
2007 Artadi Viñas de Gain
90 points
Dark cherry fruit that is firmer and bigger than most Rioja, with less acidity and eathiness than typically found. More in a New World style.
Red
2007 Ellman Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Alexis Skye Gap's Crown Vineyard
89 points
Some earth on the nose, but little on the palate, with pretty big fruit and medium acidity. I found it lacking the complexity and nuances I expect at this price point ($45) and would pass.
Red
2007 Ellman Family Vineyards jemma
88 points
Rich, lush fruit, and a little sweet on the finish. I found it a little soft and forward without an ample backbone of tannin and acidity to balance it out. Definitely a pass for me at the $60+ price point.
Red
2005 Jax Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
87 points
As I was tasting this, Ari & Vince came by, introduced me to his latest babe du jour and we hugged it out (had to throw in an Entourage reference as this wine made a cameo). The wine features red fruits and has much higher acidity and less oak than most Napa cabs.
Red
2006 J.L. Chave Sélection St. Joseph Offerus
87 points
A wine I normally like, but this bottle had very little fruit to match with a well developed frame of tannin and acidity. Might be closed now.
Red
2006 Ramey Claret
91 points
I liked this quite a bit more than the 05 vintage. Juicy currant fruit and well balanced acidity. Good wine for under $30.
Red
2005 Star Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
91 points
Predominately cherry and currant fruit with good acidity that makes for a juicy, bright style for CA cab.
Red
2007 Etude Pinot Noir Estate Carneros
89 points
Somewhat light bodied for a CA pinot, but still fruit forward (dark cherry), and a little earthiness. More elegant style.
Red
2006 Château Lascombes
92 points
Was drinking surprisingly well this night, and was open for business. Still tannic, with currant fruit, but enough balance to drink well right now. Of course, this will be better in 10 years + as the wine sheds its tannins and gains complexity.
Red
2005 Luna Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
88 points
Big, rich fruit of plum and blackberry that I found a little overripe.
Red
2007 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
92 points
BIG lush, dark fruit, plenty of oak, but not quite OTT. Walks a fine line, but manages to keep it together. For those that like big fruit, this is a producer that you should know.
Red
2006 Bodegas Caro (Barons de Rothschild / Catena) Caro
90 points
Full body, thick texture, black cherry with burnt rubber notes, medium acidty, and some tannins that need more time.
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