2001 Blanc de Noir. They don't make sparkling wines any more, which is a shame. I really thought this was beautiful, with a hint of yeastiness, some sweet fruit, great flavors. Not a big "Champagne" but it was lovely (better than the Domaine chandon wines I had tried last month!
)2005 Chardonnay. A rich oaky, 70% Malo style, but very elegant nonetheless. 88 points
2005 Reserve Pinot Noir (Carneros). Wow. This was quite lovely. Very much on the dark fruit side, plum and black cherry, but also very, very earthy and mushroomy, too. What won me over was the beutiful silkiness of the mouth feel. Bravo! 95 points!
2005 Tapestry (Bordeaux Blend). Somewhat green in flavor right now (seems to be common for young 2005 wines), but the tannins were, like the Pinot above, amazingly silky and beautiful in quality. 90 points.
2005 Georges de la Tour. Wow. Just wow. This utterly blows away the 2004. They were featuring this wine because it was the release weekend (on Saturday). Sure, it's too expensive and I can't afford it, but this wine was just stunning. The fruit was beautiful dark cherry and cassis. Not a hint of green pepper, here. Yet, I wouldn't classify this as a "fruit bomb" per se because there were other things that I like going on. Great mouth feel and structure. Some tobacco, some earth, some leather. What will this wine do in ten years? 98 points, which may be my highest point score ever???!!!!
Because we were expressing our appreciation, they also poured for us the 1995 GdlT. Great nose of mature cab, but the palate was not as exciting-a little thin or unexciting. 88 points
However, they then poured the 2002 Tapestry, which was singing quite nicely today. No green elements here, instead dark black cassis fruit, great leather notes. Wonderful wine 92 points. The Clone 337 bottling was much more brambly and still very tannic. I think the Clone 337 will be obviously a better wine, but in 5-10 years. 90 points with strong upside potential.
I know there are those who only drink lean European wines. I like well-made versions of American wines, too.
I also stopped at William Harrison. Just tried the new Cab Franc. My palate was shot (long day of bicycling, dehydrated perhaps?) so everything was tasting a little sweet to me. However, the nose to this Rutherford Cab Franc was beautiful-a great savory herbaceousness that bodes well for the wine.
Finally, I tried the 2005 Clos Du Val Reserve (Carneros) Pinot Noir as well. This was utterly different than the Beaulieu. If tasted blind, I might swear this was a lean Loire Valley Hippy Organic Pinot. Light ruby color, bracing acidity, cranberry and red cherry fruit. Great food wine. Six months was the recommended cellaring time before even cracking the bottle.