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WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

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WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Bob Ross » Sat May 19, 2007 2:51 pm

Wine Spectator's Grand Tour 2007 Las Vegas, Venetian Hotel, May 5, 2007.

Wine Spectator's Grand Tour went on the road to Atlantic City, Chicago and Las Vegas this year. Janet and I joined two friends at the Las Vegas edition, and we all had a great time. One of the Davids "reserved" a table, and Janet and he stayed there all night, sharing chairs with passer-bys from time to time. The other David and I tasted wines, and brought back lovely examples for Janet and David to enjoy. There was plenty of food and I was amazed to see long, long lines for the roast bison -- people waited half an hour for a few slices. I suppose they wanted to squeeze every penny out of the $200 admission fee. As my tasting notes show, I focused on the wine, and was able to spend a minute or more with over 180 very good -- or at least -- very interesting wines during the three hour event.

[People complained about the $200 entry fee, but there were great wines, pours were generous, the food was excellent, folks were friendly and fun to talk with, and as a fringe benefit, we got an excellent rate at the Venetian. Well worth the entry fee if you enjoy events like this.]

The buffet tables offered excellent breads, cheeses, bison, salmon, crab raviolis, pastas, fruit and vegetables, and Fiji Water was freely available all night. There was a free tasting glass and a nice cardboard bag for carrying the glass home.

Tables were well spaced, there were about 1,500 wine lovers in attendance [I had ticket number 1047 purchased four weeks in advance], and despite some crowding for a few minutes at some tables, it was easy to get to every table over the course of the evening. The program was printed on 8 1/2" by 4 1/4" smooth light card board stock, spiral bound, and heavy enough so it was easy to take notes with no additional support. A page was devoted to each wine giving the name of the winery, the address, the web address, the name of the owner, the name of the winemaker, a small photo of the label, and the name of the wine, with room for tasting notes. I would have liked to see the name of the importer and the winery's description of their wine on offer -- the first would have helped experienced note takers like myself, and the second would have helped the many beginning wine lovers who attended. (I was able to talk to over 50 people from all over the country, and many were just beginning to learn about wine.) There were 215 pages in the program, each devoted to one wine, but I wasn't able to find a couple of wines that were listed.

One other suggestion to WS: there should be many more small tables, each with four chairs, around the outside of the exhibition area. There were about 20 tables with 40 chairs, but 20 tables was simply not enough for all the guests, and the Venetian's ballroom had plenty of room for dozens more. People were forced to sit on the floor and eat, which detracted from their enjoyment of the evening. But, this event was much more fun than the Grand Tastings I've attended in New York City, where the popular stands are so crowded it can take ten minutes to get a pour, and then one is jostled around so much it isn't fun to taste or possible to write notes. None of those problems arose in this venue.

The room was well lit, there were plenty of white backgrounds in the room, including on the program itself, so my color/hue notes are more accurate than they have been at other tastings. My notes are obviously impressions, not analytical tasting notes. But they provide me with a very nice working copy draft for my future study of many of the wines -- I plan to spend a bit of time studying Barolo, for example, and the several examples on offer make a very nice starting point.

Chris Regina, at Winecentric reviewed the Atlantic City edition of this tasting; his notes and commentary appear at Winecentric. I've incorporated Chris' tasting notes in my set with his permission -- he mentioned only his favorite wines. While we had different impressions of a couple of wines, I agree with all of Chris' comments on the mechanics of the tasting itself.

Here's Chris' note for a wine that sounds interesting, but wasn't in the program or on the floor as far as I could determine:

Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico 2003 - Made from 250 year old vines that look more like trees than vines. Wonderfully unique and packed with truckloads of powdered cinnamon. [Palm Bay Importers I believe. There's a nice description of the area at http://www.palmbayimports.com/xq/asp/VI ... rands.html $50 to $60.]

And, here is Chris' tasting note on one of the Ports; I rarely taste port at large tastings -- they tend to make it impossible for me to taste other wines, and in any event, it's hard for me to taste more than one or two ports:

Ramos Pinto Tawny Port 20 Year Old - Amber color with nuts and oak on the nose and pure hazelnuts on the finish. I went back and ended the night with this one and left smelling the glass on the way home.

***
Wine Spectator carried a report on the event written by Thomas Matthews, which I've deleted from this report for the reasons discussed below.

***

The Davids, Janet and I capped the evening listening to Bill Maher present a generous hour and a half of conservative bashing at the Hard Rock Cafe. :-)

Regards, Bob

Key:

WC = Chris Regina, Winecentric.

Wine Searcher Pro = WSP

I use stars mainly for searching out wines I like from my diary, but they provide some indication of how much I liked a particular wine:

1 star = undrinkable;
2 stars = ok in a pinch;
3 stars = buy if nothing different or better appears;
4 stars = a really good wine or a really fascinating wine;
5 stars = a wonderful wine.

Tonight's tally:

5 stars -- 21 wines
4 - 4+ stars -- 101 wines
3 - 3+ stars -- 53 wines
2 - 2+ stars -- 8 wines

Total 183 wines tasted; 32 not tasted.

[Note: the search and replace function isn't working exactly right on my word processor -- my only way of counting tasting notes using Not Tab Light and Word -- there are five wines in limbo from a statistical point of view -- but this is a pretty good estimate of what happened by the numbers. These discrepancies used to bother me enormously, but after writing over 35,000 tasting notes, one gets a little blasé about a few numbers plus or minus.]

ARGENTINA

Achâval-Ferrer Quimera Vino Tinto Mendoza Argentina 2004. Roberto Cipresso, winemaker. Blend of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Deep red color, deep hue, intense aroma of fruit with mineral notes, very good fruit and spice tastes, medium mouth finish, excellent balance with fine tannins and good acidity, long finish with excellent fruit, mineral and spice notes. 5*. Remarkable. And this wine sells for about $22 in northern New Jersey. :-)

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Reserva Vina Hormigas Reserva Mendoza Argentina 2005. Attilio Pagli and Alberto Antonnini, winemakers. 13.3% alcohol. [Hormigas = ants.] The winery says that 2005 was an excellent year for Malbec. http://www.altoslashormigas.com/ Ruby red color, deep hue, very good fruit aroma and taste, hints of pleasant sweetness, light tannins and acidity in excellent balance, long finish, very satisfying, and it reminded me of an Auxerrois from Cahors. Very pretty and a good QPR. 4*. About $18.

Bodega Catena Zapata Catena Alta Malbec Mendoza Argentina 2003. Jose Galante, winemaker. http://www.catenawines.com/ One oddity from the website; it indicates that the vintage was 2001 but the bottle is labeled 2003 -- typo? 14.2% alcohol; 18 months in French oak. Red color, medium hue, good fruit aroma and taste, quite sweet and a bit cloying, medium mouth feel, relatively short finish, pretty enough but a little boring. 3*. Around $40. [WA notes shows me how little I understand wine: "Rated: 94. Flashy yet seductive. Vivid purple and blue fruits are layered with exotic mocha and spice notes. Long and powerful, but creamy and pure on the finish, with fine acidity stretching it out. Drink now through 2011. 2,500 cases made." :-( ] [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "This 100% Malbec 94 PT stunner pops out of the glass with creamy blueberry and blackberry. Wow!"] [I'm always fascinated at how different people react to the same wine -- of course the three tasters quoted here are tasting different bottles -- but this is a good example of why it's always best to trust your own palate.]

Cheval des Andes Vistalba Argentina 2002. Pierre Lurton, winemaker. I hate websites that give me messages like this: "You don't have the latest version of Macromedia Flash Player. Vous n'avez pas la dernière version de Macromedia Flash Player." In fact, after five minutes with a fast connection, the Flash Player still wasn't loaded. The wine was 4* according to my notes, but I'm not going to encourage rudeness to winelovers by describing the wine further.

Bodegas y Vinedos O. Fournier Alfa Crux Uco Valley Mendoza Argentina 2002. Jose Mario Spisso, winemaker. http://ofournier.com/web/ ("The names of the "Alfa Crux" and "B Crux" wines are based on the stars of the Southern Cross.") 60% Tempranillo, 35% Malbec, 5% Merlot. 14.4% alcohol. Red color, medium to dark hue, interesting aroma and tastes of fruit, good spice, medium mouth feel, relatively long finish with fruit and spice notes. Promising, but not for me. 3*. $40.

Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Mendoza Afincado Argentina 2003. http://www.terrazasdelosandes.com Manuel Louzada winemaker. Red color, medium hue, good fruit and coffee aromas and tastes, long finish, nicely balanced, drinking very nicely now. Nice enough, especially from Argentina. 3*. $35.

Trapiche Malbec Mendoza Vina Victorio Coletto Argentina 2004. http://www.trapiche.com.ar Daniel Pi, winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, lovely dried fruit and cedar aromas, sweetish tastes of dried fruit, spice and cedar, medium mouth feel, smooth tannins, long complex finish. A very nice Malbec. 4*. $35


AUSTRALIA

d'Arenberg The Laughing Mapie Shiraz Viognier McLaren Vale Australia 2005. Chester Osborn, winemaker. http://darenberg.com/ Kookaburra are black and white birds; the wine is a blend of black and white grapes, and the winemakers daughters got naming rights. [Can you believe two Aussie kids can't pronounce "Kookaburra"?] Dark purple color, deep hue, good berry aromas and tastes, mild tannins, medium finish. OK and not too oaky but it didn't show me much tonight. 3*. About $20. [As a cheap skate, I'll probably buy a bottle or two and then laud this stuff to the skies. :-)]

Barossa Valley Estate E&E Black Pepper Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2003. 14.0% alcohol. Stuart Bourne, winemaker. http://www.bve.com.au/ [Not much of a site, frankly, unless you want their email address.] Deep red color, deep hue, intense aroma and tastes of fruit, chocolate, berries and earth, strong tannins, predominantly oak, long finish. If you like these big Aussie wines, this one is supposedly cultish and in demand. Maybe ok for the investor? Not for me, but hey, it's your money folks. 4*. $80.

Wolf Blass Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Black Label South Australia 2002. Chris Hatcher, chief winemaker. http://www.wolfblass.com Deep red color, deep hue, berries and cherries, with fine tannins, medium mouth feel, long finish. Seemed well evolved but not very exciting. 3*. $65.

Green Point Winery Shiraz Yarra Valley Reserve Australia 2004. http://www.greenpointwines.com Tony Jordan, James Gosper and Matt Steele, winemakers. http://www.greenpointwines.com Deep red color, deep hue, intense aromas and tastes, long finish, big, big wine, ok if you like the style, NOT for me, 3*. $25. [The price won't tempt me; I'd enjoy a Yellow Tail more.]

Groom Wines Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills Australia 2006. http://www.groomwines.com Daryl Groom, winemaker. Lenswood appellation. WS's take: "Australia's # 1 Top Value Sauvignon Blanc - Groom Adelaide Hills 90 points Lithe and aromatic, with juicy nectarine, lime, mineral and floral herb flavors competing for attention. Refreshing finish." Harvey Steiman got this exactly right to my taste. 4*. $18 in US from winery; around $12 in NJ; great QPR. Gotta search this one out.

Hardys Shiraz South Australia Eileen Hardy 2001. http://www.hardys.com.au Peter Dawson winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, complex fruit and earth aromas and taste, full mouth feel, long finish. Big Aussie Shiraz; very nice of its style. 3* for me, but if you like Big Aussies, this one deserves a much higher score. $90.


Leasingham Shiraz Clare Valley Classic Clare Australia 2005. http://www.leasingham-wines.com.au Kerri Thompson, winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, intense fruit and spice aroma and taste, medium mouth feel, long finish. Beautiful example of an Aussie Shiraz. 4*+. Price???

Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Margaret River Art Series Margaret River Australia. http://www.leeuwinestate.com.au Paul Atwood and Damian North, winemakers. 400 cases. Yellow color, clear hue, lovely fruit aroma and taste, smoky notes, excellent acidity, mineral notes, great structure, long finish -- not at all oaky even though it spent 18 months in new French oak. Delicious. 4*+ $60 at Costco. [Why do winemakers/business folks pour a 400 case wine? It makes no sense to me as a business matter, and yet a Spanish winemaker did the same thing. I asked him why, and couldn't get a useful answer.]

Peter Lehmann Wines Clancy's Barossa Australia 2004. Shiraz 48%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42% and Merlot 15%. 14.5% alcohol. Andrew Wigan, winemaker. A very pretty example of a Barossa blend, understated and underoaked. A perfect beginner's wine and a great QPR for OF's like me. 4*. $13.

Greg Norman Cabernet Merlot Limestone Coast Victoria Australia. http://www.shark.com/gnestates Andrew Hales winemaker. A pretty blend at this price point, but oaky and a bit sweet -- very smooth, nice cedar notes. 2*+. $15.

Penfolds Shiraz South Australia St. Henri 2002. http://www.penfolds.com Peter Gago winemaker. This was one of the nicest St. Henri vintages I've tasted. Deep red color, deep hue, intense dark fruit and spice, good acidity and tannins in great blance, long interesting finish. 4*+. $40.

Rosemount Estates Rosemount Syrah McLaren Vale Balmoral Australia 2002. http://www.rosemountestates.com Charles Whish winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, very good fruit and spice aromas and tastes, medium mouth feel, long finish with spice notes. 3*+. $45. Where did Charles get that last name? "Whish" -- ineffective cricket bowler? Man, I don't get it -- he's hitting like my Yankees. But the wine shows promise.

Two Hands Wines Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella's Garden Australia 25. http://www.twohandswines.com Matthew Wenk winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, intense aromas and tastes of cherry and plum flavors, very good spice, mineral and mint notes, medium mouth feel, long intense finish with fruit, spice, mint and mineral notes. Lovely wine. 5*. $40. I have to search this one out; really there was almost no oak and a great deal of subtlty. A very very pretty wine.

CALIFORNIA

Carneros California

Artesa Winery Pinot Noir Carneros Estate Reserve California 2005. Dave Dobson, winemaker. http://www.artesawinery.com 14.5% alcohol; 2400 cases. Light red color, medium hue, good fruit and spice aromas and tastes, smoke and mocha notes, medium mouth feel, good acidity, pleasant drinking with a medium to long finish. 4*. Around $40.

Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir Carneros California 2004. Jon Priest winemaker. http://www.etudewines.com/ 975 cases. Pretty red color, medium hue, very good berry aromas with hints of clove and cinnamon, good to very good fruit tastes with spice and earth notes, a bit of oak but rich and smooth tannins, very good structure, medium mouth feel, long finish with strong berry notes. 4*. $80 at winery.

Monterey County California

Chalone Vineyards Pinot Noir Chalone Estate Monterey County California 2005. Diageo Chateau and Estate Wine, owner. http://www.chalonevineyard.com/ 14.4% alcohol. I believe this vineyard was planted in 1997. Pretty dark red color, medium hue, lovely aroma and taste of fruit, spice and earthen notes, soft tannins, light acidity, very good balance, medium length finish. Remarkably forward and delicious; easy drinking. 4*. $35.

Napa Valley California

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Blends

Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve Napa Valley California 2003. Joel Aiken, winemaker. http://www.bvwines.com/ 14.5% alcohol. Deep red color, deep hue, good fruit, spice and earthen notes, firm tannins, good balance, full mouth feel, long finish. A pretty example of a California Cab. 4*. $95.

Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California 2003. Rob Hunter, winemaker. 14.5% alcohol. Deep red color, deep hue, very good fruit and spice aromas and tastes, smooth tannins, hints of sage and cedar, long, complex finish. 4*. $55.

Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley California 2004. Chuck Wagner, owner and winemaker. http://www.caymus.com/ [a website with just the basic facts, ma'am! Name, address, phone number. These guys must have a long waiting list.] Deep red color, deep hue, very rich fruit aroma and taste, hints of licorice and cassis, full mouth feel, very good balance, great length with interesting notes, stuffings to last a long time, but drinking very well now. 4*. Around $75 although as a cult wine with a Parker 96, auction prices are apparently much higher.

Chimney Rock Winery Elevage Stags Leap District Napa Valley California 2004. Elizabeth Vianna, winemaker. http://chimneyrock.com/ Red color, deep hue, shy aroma and good fruit and spice taste, mild tannins, medium finish. Rather simple. 3*. $35

Diamond Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace Napa Valley California 2003. Boots Brounstein owner; Phil Steinschriber winemaker. http://www.diamondcreekvineyards.com/ Disappointing: dry and austere, definitely closed down, at least to my taste, but perhaps there not much home. Very tannic. 2*. Around $150. This would be a wine for contrarians to buy -- if they disagreed with my incisive analysis. :-)

Flora Springs Winery and Vineyards Trilogy Napa Valley California 2003. Ken Deis, winemaker. http://www.florasprings.com/ 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot. Deep red color, deep hue, very good Cabernet Sauvignon fruit aromas and tastes with spice and green pepper notes, medium mouth feel, long finish. 3*+. $60 at winery.

Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay 20th Anniversary Napa Valley Carneros California 2004. http://www.grgich.com Miljenko Grgich, owner and winemaker. 14.3% alcohol. I really enjoyed this wine and have respected "Mike" Grgich for many years. [He won my heart by signing a book on the Paris Tasting one evening, even though he said it would "open the flood gates" to other fans. Maybe because we are both kind of OFs?] His tasting note: "Released in 2007, this limited-edition wine celebrates the 30th anniversary of our winery. For this special wine we hand selected our best lots, crafting a rich, intensely concentrated Chardonnay. A harmonious blend of Granny Smith apple, hazelnut, acacia flower and lychee nut aromas are supported by the wine's firm structure and creamy texture. This is a full-bodied Chardonnay with a lingering aftertaste that echoes in your mouth long after the wine is gone." Lovely wine. Worth searching out. 5*. $73 at the winery.

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California 2004. http://www.hallwines.com Richard Batchelor, winemaker. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot; 14.5% alcohol. Deep red color, deep hue, good fruit and spice, lots of oak to my taste, medium mouth feel, long finish. 3*. $35 at winery. Pass.

Heitz Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Trailside Vineyard California 2001. http://www.heitzcellar.com/ 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.4% alcohol. Deep red color, deep hue, lovely aromas of berries with cedar notes, very good fruit and spice flavors with cedar notes, medium mouth feel, tight tannins, long finish, great aromas in the empty glass, particularly the cedar notes. A very big California cab. 4*. $70

Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve California 2003. http://www.robertmondaviwinery.com Genevieve Janssens, winemaker. WS 87, WA 94, IWC 93. Deep red color, deep hue, very good aroma and taste, very good balance, long finish. Quite a variety of ratings, but it seemed pretty good to me. 4*. $80 in New Jersey.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Napa Valley California 2003. http://www.jpvwines.com, craig williams, winemaker. 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, and the rest equal parts Malbec and Merlot. Ruby red color, medium hue, good aroma of fruit, spice, chocolate, very good fruit and chocolate tastes, medium mouth feel, long finish with some fruit and spice notes. I've enjoyed several vintages of this, one of my favorite wine, much more than I enjoyed this one. 3*+. $125.

Pine Ridge Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Napa Valley California 2003. http://www.pineridgewinery.com. Stacy Clark winemaker. Red color, deep hue, cherry, chocolate cedar aromas, good fruit and berry taste with smoke notes, good tannins, long complex finish with especially nice cedar notes. Drinking very well now but should last for years. 4*. $55.

St. Clement Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oroppas Napa Valley California 2004. http://www.stclement.com Danielle Cyrot winemaker winemaker notes: "Enticing aromas of blueberry jam, cherry, raspberry, chocolate, clove and a floral back note are the introduction to this elegantly lush wine, as ripe flavors of black cherry, raspberry compote greet the palate. Rich coffee notes mingle with bittersweet chocolate and brown spices for a long, complex finish supported by structured, yet velvety tannins." All I can add is that it has a deep red color, deep hue, and was a very pretty Cab. 4*+. $40. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "I've had this wine on several occasions but this time was an extra special treat. The table had cherry Hershey's Kisses to pair with it. Anyone who doubts that red wine can enhance chocolate will be disproven on the spot. A rewarding experience."]

Turnbull Wine Cellars Napa Valley California Black Label 2004. http://www.turnbullwines.com Jon Engelskirger winemaker. I found this wine very closed down tonight -- I was very surprised they showed it. The aromas in the glass showed some promise, but I rated it only 3*. A more favorable review: "95 Points and Three Stars in the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines: "Real expectation and excitement are raised by this well-made youngster's concentrated aromas of cassis, smoke, mint, dark soils and dried cherries, and its expansive, deeply-filled flavors fully live up to promise. Already praiseworthy both for its real range of character, its luscious fruit and for the way its many pieces fit together, the wine is solidly structured and shows no shortage of youthfully gruff tannin. It is built to get better for a number of years, and it comes with a recommendation for five to eight years of cellaring." (04/07) This sumptuous Cabernet was aged for 16 months in 35% new French oak barrels, which adds roasty aromas to the otherwise fruity background of cassis and blackberry. The wine is dark in color and fragrance, with a somewhat loftier palate impression and a long, complex finish. Includes 5% cabernet franc, 3% merlot and 2% syrah." $40. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "I've had this before at other tastings. It still impresses me with its creamy fruit."]

Chardonnay

Hess Collection Winery Chardonnay Napa Valley California 2004. http://www.hesscollection.com/ Dave Guffy, winemaker. I'm not sure if there is a difference between the Hess Collection and the Hess Collection Select which tends to be cheaper. This sample did not have "Select" on the label. A pretty good beginner's Chardonnay, but too sweet and oaky for my taste. 3*. $10 to $20.

Newton Vineyard Chardonnay Unfiltered Napa Valley California 2004. Stephen Carrier, wine maker. http://www.newtonvineyard.com. Golden yellow color, clear hue, big California fruit with good acidity and a long finish. Too much oak for me. 3*. $35.

Merlot

Beringer Vineyards Single Vineyard Merlot Bancroft Ranch Vineyard Napa Valley California 2003. Ed Sbragia, winemaster. http://www.beringer.com One of my favoirt wines from California, drinking beautifully tonight. Should develop beautifully. 4*+. [Somehow Sbragia almost always describes his wines the way I taste them: "We've been making a vineyard-designated Bancroft Ranch Merlot since the 1987 vintage when I began to see what Merlot could really offer when planted in the right place. Bancroft Ranch is a very special vineyard that produces grapes with amazing concentration of flavors, tannins and structure. The 2003 Howell Mountain Merlot bursts with cola berry, plum, cocoa and kirsch-like cherry aromas that lead into a rich ripe black fruit flavors with hints of cedar and roasted coffee beans. It's got a bright acidity that is balanced by richness, ripe tannins and a very satisfying finish."]

Markham Vineyards Merlot Reserve Napa Valley California 2001. Kimberlee Nicholls winemaker. http://www.markhamvineyards.com Deep red color, deep hue, very good fruit and spice aromas and tastes, very rich, smooth tannins, long, complex finish, drinking well tonight. 4*. $42 at vineyard.

Paso Robles California

L'Aventure Winery Stephan Estate Cuvee Paso Robles California 2005. Stephan Asseo, winemaker. http://aventurewine.com/ 52% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot. Ruby red color, deep hue, intense aroma and tastes, medium mouth feel, long finish. A bit over powering and not really pleasant tonight. In fairness, the winemaker reccomends corking half the bottle and letting it rest for two days; he promises you will pick up "licorice, litchi nut, acacia, pomegranate and so much more!" Maybe so. 3*. $75.

Justin Vineyards & Winery Paso Robles Savant California 2004. http://www.jasinwine.com Kevin Sass winemaker. Kevin Sass's notes on blending Savant are fascinating, a very useful introduction to the Paso Robles AVA. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon; 50% Syrah. Deep red color, almost black, deep hue, intense aromas of berries and plums with spice notes and some interesting earthen notes, very good fruit tastes with berry and cherries, with cedar notes, medium mouth feel, soft acidity, firm tannins, very closed down and very concentrated -- the winery suggests aging for three to five years -- and the long interesting finish and especially the rich and complex aromas in the empty glass suggests a delightful future. 5* for future drinking; not much pleasure just now. Price ???

Russian River Valley California

Gallo Family Vineyards Chardonnay Russian River Valley Laguna Vineyard 2004. http://www.gallosonoma.com Gina Gallo, winemaker. I don't know why I try these wines -- hope springing eternally? Nice if you like the style. Too oaky and sweet for me. 2*. $17

Siduri Wines Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Keefer Ranch Vineyard California 2005. http://www.siduri.com Adam and Dianna Lee, owners and winemakers. Pretty red color, deep hue, a lovely Pinot Noir. 5*. I like the understated winemaker notes: "Winemakers notes: The aromatics are reminiscent of a stroll thru a flower garden with red raspberry fruits highlighting the upfront nature of this wine. On the finish, the wine shows good levels of natural acidity (a trademark of the 2005 vintage) and a long finish that cries out for some food." [I drank a glass at the end of the evening with vegetables, salmon and a bit of bison -- a great food wine.] $50 to $60, often limited quantities.

Santa Lucia Highlands California

Novy Family Wines Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands Rosella's Vinyard California 2005. Adam and Dianna Lee and the Novy Family, winemakers. [Pretty impressive number of winemakers: Adam & Dianna (Novy) Lee of Siduri Wines and Dianna's parents, Adolph & Rose Marie Novy, and brothers and sisters-in-law, David & Angela, Bryan & Kathy, and Steven & Marie Novy. :-)] http://www.novyfamilywines.com Brilliant red color, medium hue, aromas of berries, spice and cream, very good to excellent fruit, spice and berry tastes, excellent balance with pleasant tannins, long complex finish, wonderful aroma in the empty glass. 4*+. $35

Santa Rita Hills California

Foley Estates Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Rancho Santa Rosa California 2005. Alan Phillips, winemaker http://www.foleyestates.com/ 14.3% alcohol. Deep red color, medium hue, very good fruit and spice aromas and tastes, quite tannic, but fairly well balanced, long finish with fruit, mushroom and earthen notes. 4*. $30.

Sonoma County California

Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cepages Sonoma County California 2003. Margo Van Staaveren, winemaker. http://www.chateaustjean.com/ I wish I could write like this: "Excellent- Chateau St. Jean's flagship Cinq Cépages has become a Sonoma County classic... The wine is frankly gorgeous and absolutely serious, bursting with vivid and vibrant cassis, black cherry and plum fruit that feels sifted with smoke, dried spice and glittering minerals that are enmeshed, in turn, in polished oak and chewy, grainy tannins. That tannin manifests itself in wheatmeal and walnut shell elements that bring some asperity and austerity to the wine from mid-palate back through the finish. A perfect wine for a grilled, medium-rare rib-eye steak, hot and crusty from the hickory coals. Koeppelwine.com, March 2007." My handwritten notes: "DR MH A++ T++ AG TG LF 4*." I'm always prepared to hate this wine, but often like it, but at this price???? $75 MSP, but often available at $50 or so.

Ferrari-Carano Vineyard and Winer Prevail Back Forty Sonoma County California 2003. Aaron Piotter and Sarah Quider, winemakers. http://www.ferrari-carano.com/ 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 3% Cabernet Franc; 14.9% alcohol. Deep red color, deep hue, pretty aromas of berries and fruit, good fruit tastes with some spice notes, mild tannins, medium length finish. 3*. $80 at the winery.

Landmark Vineyards Chardonnay Sonoma Valley Damaris Reserve 2004. Eric Stern and Greg Stach, winemakers. http://www.landmarkwine.com 79% Sangiacomo Vineyards - Carneros 21% Frostwatch Vineyard - Bennett Valley. The beginning of the winemakers' tasting note says it all for me: "Toasty, creamy vanillin, roasted grain and oak aromas ... " It's probably a very nice example of this style of Chardonnay, but not for me. 2*. $30.

Sparkling Wines [California]

Domaine Chandon étoile Napa Valley California NV. Tom Tiburzi, winemaker. http://www.chandon.com/ Delicate with ginger, spice and rose aromas, firm acidity, medium sized bubbles, pretty and smooth and rich after an aggressive initial attack. 4*. Around $25 in New Jersey.

Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves Brut Carneros Cuvee Late Disgorged Carneros California 1997. http://www.gloriaferrer.com Bob Iantosca, winemaker. Pinot Noir (58%) and Chardonnay (42%). This is a lovely sparkling wine, restrained aromas at the outset but growing in complexity and richness over time with lovely fruit notes, complex and refreshing, long finish. Lovely juice. 4*+. $18. Great QPR.

Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley L'Ermitage California 2000. Arnaud Weyrich winemaker. Pretty aromas of fruit and yeasty notes, good mousse, firm acidity. 3*. $30.

CHILE


Almaviva Puente Alto Maipo Valley Chile 2003. Tod Victor Mostero, winemaker. http://www.almavivawinery.com/ Deep red color, deep hue, good fruit and spice aroma and taste with earth, cedar and chocolate notes, medium mouth feel, harsh tannins which may smooth out with lots of time, long, somewhat graceless finish. Not for me. 3*. $65. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "lots of cedar and minerals in this 95 PT Chilean beauty."]

Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta Chile 2004. Michel Rolland, Jacques Begarie and Andrea Leon, winemakers. http://www.casalapostolle.com/ 84% Carmenere-Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby red color, deep hue, restrained aroma of fruit, spice and a bit of earth, good to very good fruit tastes, good balance, long finish with a number of fruit and spice notes. I just can't cotton to this wine; there's a spoofulated taste I can't identify. 3*. $60.

Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Don Melchor Chile 2003. Enrique Tirado winemaker. http://www.conchaytoro.com/ 95% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% alcohol. Cherry red color, medium hue, good fruit and spice aromas and tastes, medium mouth feel, long finish, very little aroma in empty glass. May have been closed down tonight; WS liked it much better than I did. 3*. $60; $99 MSP. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "One of the best Cabs from Chile ever made. 96 PTS Wine Spectator."]

Montes Alpha M Santa Cruz Chile 2004. Aurelio Montes, winemaker. http://www.monteswines.com Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (10%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (5%). Deep red color, deep hue, powerful cab aromas and tastes, closed now, but showing great promise for the future, incredible aromas in the empty glass. Too young now; may age into a great wine. 4*. $70.

FRANCE

Alsace

Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Gris Alsace Grand Cru Kitterlé 2002 France. Alain Freberger winemaker. http://www.domaines-schlumberger.com Yellow color, pale hue, attractive aromas of lemons and apples with some light floral notes, some pepper and hints of honey, very good fruit tastes, full mouth feel, long finish, pretty wine. 3*+. $35.

Bordeaux

Château Angelus Saint Emilion Bordeaux France 2004. Hubert de Bouard de LaForest, winemaker. http://www.chateau-angelus.com/ 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple color, deep hue, rich berry aroma, rich, complex fruit with chocolate and cherry notes, medium mouth feel, long finish, excellent tannins, excellent balance, drinking beautifully now, but showing promise more for the future. 4*+. Around $100. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "Amazing how well this is drinking right now. It is so young and approachable. Really impressive."]

Château Branaire-Ducru St. Julien Bordeaux France 2003. Jean-Dominique Videau, winemaker. http://www.branaire.com/ Deep purple color, deep hue, complex aromas of berries, chocolate, minerals, mushrooms and more, very good fruit and spice tastes, medium mouth feel, low acidity, good tannins, good balance, long complex finish. Drinking very well now. 4*. $90.

Château Cos d'Estournel St. Estephe Bordeaux France 2002. Domaine Reybier owner. http://www.cosestournel.com/ This wine is developing beautifully -- in five years it promises to be seamless and wonderful. Drinking very well for its age tonight; it had been in decanter for two hours. 4*+ $75.

Les Forts de Latour Pauillac Bordeaux France 2003. http://www.chateau-latour.com/index.html Florence Rogers-Pinault, public relations; winemaker not identified! A very pretty Bordeaux second label, drinking beautifully now but with the stuffings to last for years. 4*+. Around $80 to $100.

Château Giscours Margaux Bordeaux France 2000. Jacques Pelissie, winemaker. http://www.chateau-giscours.fr. Parker wrote that this is the best Giscours for 25 years, and it sure was drinking well tonight. Very deep color, deep hue, complex aromas and tastes, low acidity, long pure finish. Great aroma in the empty glass. May be a sleeper from a very big vintage. 4*+ $60 to $80.

Château Gruaud-Larose St.-Julien Bordeaux France. George Pauli, winemaker. http://www.gruaud-larose.com/ Deep red color, deep hue, interesting aroma with some fruit but lots of leather, earth and smoke, good to very good fruit, medium mouth feel, long complex finish, great aroma in the empty glass. Very pretty especially at this price and drinking well now. 4*. $40 to $50. Good QPR if you want a mid-level Bordeaux.

Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux France 2004. http://www.haut-brion.com Jean-Philippe Delmas, estate manager. JeanpPhilippe Demas, estate manager. http://www.haut-brion.com/home/en/ [I can't taste this wine without remembering: Royal Oak Tavern, London, on April 10, 1663, Samuel Pepys: "There I drank a sort of French wine called Ho-Bryan which hath a good and most particular taste which I never before encountered....." Great writer, poor speller -- I aspire to the first, but achieve the second. :-)] Ruby red color, deep hue, ... and there I get lost -- I was totally baffled by this wine -- it seemed sweet -- too sweet for such a young Bordeaux -- but lots of complicated aromas and tastes and a long, long finish -- lovely aromas in the empty glass. Too much complexity to even form an impression.... Too youthful for me to judge, really, but ruby red color, deep hue, dense aromas and tastes of berries, fruit and minerals, firm tannins, very tight, full mouth feel, long finish, very pretty aromas in the empty glass. Gotta try this wine again with more time in the bottle and more time for me to enjoy it. 4*+. $180 or so.

Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Bordeaux France 1999. Charles Chevallier, winemaker. http://www.lafite.com Dramatically better than at a tasting three years ago. Delicious. 5*. $250 plus.

Château Lagrange St. Julien-Beychevelle Bordeaux France. Bruno Eynard, winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, restrained fruit and chocolate aromas and tastes, very tannic, concentrated, long finish, aromas some promise in the empty glass, needs much more time. 3*. $30.

Château Latour Pauillac Bordeaux France 2001. http://www.chateau-latour.com Florence Rogers-Pinault, public relations. Remarkably fruit forward for such a young Latour -- a great wine drinking very well tonight. 5*. $300.

Château Léoville Barton St.-Julien Bordeaux France 2000. http://www.leoville-barton.com Jacques Boissenot, winemaker. This wine gets fantastic reviews from WA and WS, but it is so tight and closed I really couldn't get much out of it. And, waiting ten years to get just a bit of pleasure makes no sense in my world. It did have a lovely aroma in the empty glass, so the commentators are undoubtedly right. WA96. For me tonight, 2*. $140.

Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Bordeaux France 2004. Jean Michel Cazes, owner and winemaker. http://www.lynchbages.com/ 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Bright red, deep hue, restrained fruit aromas, hints of violets, good fruit tastes with oak notes, medium mouth feel, long single note finish. 3*. $75.

Château Margaux Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux France 1999. http://www.chateau-margaux.com Paul Pontallier winemaker. This wine is drinking much better than the sample I had two years ago. Long lingering finish with very nice fruit notes. 5*. $200.

Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux France 2004. http://www.haut-brion.com Jean-Philippe Delmas, estate manager. [Loved the spirit of the young lady who poured this wine for us; shw was not at all intimidated by the first wine. :-)] 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 55% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc. Ruby red color, deep hue, violet aromas with soft fruit notes, very good fruit tastes with mineral notes, medium mouth feel, spicy and fruity on the finish. Fun to drink -- or was it the young lady? 4*. $100 but prices all over the lot on WSP.

Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac Bordeaux France. Philipppe Dhalluin, winemaker. http://www.bpdr.com Beautiful ruby color, deep hue, wonderful aromas of blacberry, mint, minerals and earth -- at least in the empty glass -- very tight in the mouth tonight, although this promises to be a wonderful wine in ten years. 4*+. [Based primarly on that aroma in the empty glass, frankly.] $150 or so.

Château les Ormes de Pez St.-Estephe Bordeaux France 2003. Jean-Michel Cazes, owner and winemaker. Purple color, deep hue, good fruit and licorice aromas and tastes, medium mouth feel, soft tannins and acidity, long, smooth, fairly simple finish. 3*. $25.

Château Palmer Margaux Bourdeaux France 1988. http://www.chateau-palmer.com Red color, deep hue, restrained fruit and spice tastes, mild tannins, medium long finish with good fruit and spice notes. 3*. $150 to $175.

Château Petit-Village Pomerol Bordeaux France 2003. http://www.petit-village.com Serge Ley, Technical Director. 65% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc. Deep red color, deep hue, very pretty aromas of berries, chocolate and spice, very good tastes of fruit and chocolate with some oakiness, medium mouth feel, good tannins, needing a bit more evolution but still quite delicious, long interesting finish. 4*+. $100

Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron Pauillac Bordeaux France 1997. The program called for the 2003, but what a great substitution; Janet and David loved it with the roast bison. Drinking very well tonight. http://www.pichonlongueville.com Jean-Rene Matignon, technical director. Deep red color, deep hue, very good aromas and tastes, very smooth with many grace notes. 4*. $60. [An amusing note -- David and I met a father/son combo from Madison -- seven degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Madison among the four of us.]

Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac Bordeaux France 2004. http://www.pontet-canet.com Jean-Michel Comme, winemaker and regisseur. [What's a "régisseur"? I suppose it's similar to the régisseur in a French or Russian theater -- i.e. a "director".] Deep purple color, deep hue, restrained aromas of fruit, cedar and spice, good fruit tastes dominated by firm tannins, medium body, long finish. Needs lots of time but there seems to be fruit to last. 3* $50.

Sarget de Gruaud-Larose Saint Julien Bordeaux France 2001. http://www.gruad-larose.com Georges Pauli winemaker Red color, deep hue, pretty aroma and tastes of good fruit, spice and minerals, medium mouth feel, light tannins, fairly short finish, simple and single note. 3*. $25.

Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Leognan Graves Bordeaux France 2003. http://www.smith-haut-lafitte.com/ Fabien Teitgen winemaker. Ruby red color, medium hue, very good aromas of fruit, herbs and a bit of earth, rather simple tastes of fruit and spice, a bit of oakiness, medium to full mouth feel, low acidity, good tannins, perhaps a bit out of balance, long single note finish. I'm always disappointed when the aroma promises more than the tastes deliver. So it was with the wine tonight. 3*. $50.

Burgundy

Maison Louis Jadot Meursault Burgundy France. http://www.louisjadot.com jacques Lardiere, winemaker. Pretty yellow color, light hue, lovely aromas of peaches and citrus with hints of almonds, very good fruit tastes, medium mouth feel, medium acidity, long finish. Delightful. 4*. Around $30.

Domaine Laroche Les Vaudevey Chablis Premier Cru Chablis Burgundy France 2004. http://www.larochewines.com Richard Lavanoux winemaker. Tanzer: "Incidentally, after giving his customers the choice of corks or screwcaps in recent vintages, Michel Laroche has made the decision to bottle entirely with screwcaps, a decision that I applaud." Me too. :-) Pale yellow color, clear hue, bright fruit tastes with ginger notes and floral notes, very concentrate tastes of lime and herbs, good acidity, a little sweet, medium finish. 3*+. $30.

Champagne

Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut Champagne France NV. 12% alcohol. http://www.champagne-bollinger.fr/ A very pretty champagne with yeasty notes and tiny bubbles in abundance. Great acidity. 4*. $35.

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Blanc de Blancs Blanc des Millénaires Champagne France 1995. Regis Camus, winemaker. http://www.charlesheidsieck.com/ This wine has really improved from three years ago; getting more and more mellow with lovely fruit and other notes, lively acidity, pretty finish, great mousse. 4*+. $130 MSP, but often discounted to $75 according to WSP.

Heidsieck & Co Monopole Brut Champagne Blue Top Champagne France NV. Dominique Pichart, winemaker. http://www.vranken.net 70 % Pinot Noir, 10 % Pinot Meunier, 20 % Chardonnay. Pretty yellow color, clear hue, aromatic with fruit and toasty notes, well structured with great fruit notes, lively acidity, very good mousse. 4*. Amazing range of prices on WSP from $8 to $40 or more.

G. H. Mumm Brut Champagne Cordon rouge NV Champagne France. http://www.mumm.com Didier Mariotti, winemaker. Light gold color, light hue, flavors of apples, lemons and minerals, good acidity, dry and light weight. OK, nothing more. 3*. $50; widely available in half bottles around $25, but pricing is all over the lot.

Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne Cuvee Rare NV Champagne France. http://www.piper-heidsieck.com Regis Camus winemaker. Brillant yellow color, yellow hue, persistent bubbles, very good fruit aroma, medium mouth feel, good concentration, sharp refreshing acidity, the class Champagne of the tasting. Delicious. 5*. $120.

Loire Valley

Pascal Jolivet Sancere Chateau du Nozay Loire Valley France 2005. Jean-Luc Soty, winemaker http://www.pascal-jolivet.com 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Light yellow color, light hue, lovely aroma of fruit and flowers, smooth fruit tastes, mild acidity, medium finish. A very pretty wine with lovely floral notes in the empty glass. 4*. Around $25 - $30.

Rhone

M. Chapoutier White Hermitage Chante-Alouette Hermitage France 2003. Michel Chapoutier winemaker. http://www.chapoutier.com/ 100% Marsanne. Golden yellow with tinges of green, clear hue, excellent aroma of quince, ginger and clover honey, lovely smooth attack, with great fruit, good acidity, relatively long finish. Pretty wine. 4*. Around $50 from the winery; one listing at $75 in the US.

Jean Luc Colombo Cornas Les Ruchets France 2001. Jean Luc Colombo owner and winemaker. [No listed website.] Importer: http://www.palmbayimports.com/brands.asp?VID=711 Deep red color, deep hue, lovely aroma of fruit, flowers and spice, complex tastes of fruit with strong herbal notes, full mouth feel, long complex finish, fantastic aroma in the empty glass; with time to dawdle and allow the wine to develop in the glass, this may be a real winner. Worth searching out. 4*+. $70 at Wine Country of North Plainfield; may be the 2003.

E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde Northern Rhone France. http://www.guigal.com/ Marcel and Philippe Guigal, owners and winemakers. Medium red color, medium hue, lovely aroma and tastes, long complex finish, great balance, delicious. 4*+. $50 to $60.

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage White Le Chevalier de Sterimberg Northern Rhone France 2004. http://www.jaboulet.com/ [the website has limited value currently, but is being updated.] Jacques Desvernois, winemaker. Pretty yellow color, light hue, restrained aromas of melon and honey, very good fruit and honey tastes although still very young, good acidity, long single note finish. Needs much more time, but promising. 3*+. Price about $60?

Sauternes France

Château Suduiraut Sauternes Bordeaux France 2003. Pierre Montegut, technical director. http://www.suduiraut.com Deep yellow color, medium hue, intense aromas of dried fruits, apples, and nuts, very dense mouth feel with lovely spice and fruit taste, incredibly long finish with great fruit and spice notes. Delicious now, and can only get better. 5*. $60. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "Tremendous petrol on the nose with seductive honey and orange blossoms. Sweet without being cloying."]

GERMANY

Gunderloch Riesling Auslese Gold Cap Rheinhessen Nackenheim Rothenberg Germany 2004. http://www.gunderloch.de/ Fritz Hasselbach, winemaker. Pretty yellow color, clear hue, amazingly ocmplex aromas and tastes, good acidity, long finish, fantastic aroma in the empty glass. 4*+. Pricing on WSP is confusing; $45 for a bottle; $45 for a half bottle. I need more education in Rielsing -- it would be useful to attend a Riesling only tasting. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "This is what heaven with honey and nectar poured all over it tastes like. My wife adored this wine so it looks like I'll be shelling out $90+ to pick up a bottle of this 95 PT liquid gold elixir."]

St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Spatlese Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Piesporter Goldtropfchen Germany 2005. http://www.urbans-hof.com Nik Weis owner and winemaker. Pale yellow color, clear hue, pretty aromas of peach, lemon and honey, rich flavors of fruit and honey, medium mouth feel, lovely finish. A pretty wine. 4*. $30.

HUNGARY

Disznókö Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos Hungary 2000. 500ML http://www.disznoko.hu/ Golden amber, dried apricot, honey, almond and tobacco aromas and tastes, beautifully complex and harmonious flavors, full mouth feel, long, complex finish, great aroma in the empty glass. I prefer the 5 Puttonyos to the 6 Puttonyos versions of Tokaji Aszú, and this one was excellent. [The sweetnes of the 6 Puttonyos seems to overwhelm the subtle notes I find in the 5 Puttonyos versions and I would think that would be particularly true in a very hot vintage like 2000.] According to the winery, the early and very hot weather created a very special wine, and this sure is a very special wine. 5*. Around $45. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "Unctous Hungarian dessert wine."]

ITALY

Abruzzo Italy

Symposium Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Italy 2000. http://www.vivavino.com Gino Razzi owner and winemaker. Ciccio Zaccagnini Estate. http://www.zaccagninivini.it/ 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Deep ruby red, deep hues, very good aromas and tastes of fruit and spice, notes of earth and licorice, medium acidity, good balance, medium long finish. Pretty wine and a pretty label. 4*.

Fiuli Italy

Livio Felluga Colli Orientali del Friuli Sossó Italy 2001. Stefano Chioccioli and Viorel Flocea, winemakers. http://www.liviofelluga.it/ Merlot and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso grapes, together with a small percentage of Pignolo, from Rosazzo; 14% alcohol. Ruby red color, deep hue, complex aroma of cherries, plums, berries and spice, somewhat disappointing tastes of fruit and berries, medium mouth feel, impression of softness, long fruity finish. Despite the great aroma of the wine itself, very little aroma in the empty glass. A taste of earth seemed to overwhelm the fruit and spices in the empty glass. 3*. Price ???; not in WSP.

Marco Felluga -- Russiz Superiore Collio Bianco Col Disôre Friuli Italy 2004. Roberto Felluga and Raffaela Bruno, winemakers. http://www.marcofelluga.it/ Tocai Friulano, Ribolla Gialla with a small amounts of Pinot Bianco & Sauvignon. Intense grapefruit aroma and taste, firm acidity, refreshing. 3*. Price ???


Lazio Italy

Azienda Vinicola Falesco Ferentano IGT Lazio Italy. Renzo Cotarella, owner, Riccardo Cotarella, owner and winemaker. http://www.falesco.it/ 13% alcohol. 100% Roscetto; Montefiascone production area. Deep red color, deep hue, complex aroma of fruits, vegetables and spice, powerful fruit and spice tastes, rich tannins, medium mouth feel with an interesting impression of softness, long lingering finish, lovely aroma in the empty glass. 4*+. $25 in New Jersey; excellent QPR.

Piedmont

Barbaresco Piedmont Italy

Pio Cesare Barbaresco Piedmont Italy 2003. Pio Boffa winemaker. 14% alcohol. http://www.piocesare.it/ [What a useless website!] Garnet color, medium hue, very good aroma and tastes of fruit, spice and violets, firm acidity, bit of oakiness, very good structure, quite a long finish with lots of fruit, spice, earth and floral notes. A very pretty wine despite the hot weather in 2003. Note: no indication that this is the Il Bricco release. 4*. $55 but only one wine shop on WSP; $63 SRP.

Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Ovello Piedmont Italy 2001. 13.5% alcohol. http://www.produttoridelbarbaresco.com/ Very tight -- I didn't find much tasting it, but the aromas in the empty glass were wonderful and very promising. 4*. $50.

Barolo Piedmont Italy

[Note for future study of Barolo: A key element in understanding the terroirs of Barolo is the east-west division of the appellation. The road that connects the towns of Alba and Barolo divides the Barolo DOCG into what is commonly referred to as the Tortonian subzone to the west -- the townships of Barolo and La Morra -- and the Helvetian subzone to the east -- townships of Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto, and Monforte (the terms Tortonian and Helvetian refer to the prehistoric geological eras when the subsoil was formed). The wines made from fruit grown in the east subzone tend to be more tannic and better suited to aging, while the wines from west are softer and tend to mature more quickly. Within each of these subzones, each cru ("growth" or "growing site") adds new variables to the mix depending on exposure, altitude, and microclimate. Italian Wine Merchants -- http://www.italianwinemerchant.com/ ]

Beni di Batasiolo Barolo Vigneto Corda della Briccolina Piedmont Italy 2001. Giorgio Lavagna, winemaker. Garnet red color, medium hue, good plum aroma with hints of lowers, good fruit taste, medium mouth feel, chewy tannins, long finish, unfortunately a single note finish tonight. 3*. $60.

Bersano Vini SpA Barolo Nirvasco Piedmont Italy 2001. 14% alcohol. Roberto Morosinotto, winemaker. http://www.bersano.it/ Good red color, medium hue, very good floral and berry aromas and tastes, full mouth fine, firm tannins, long finish. A very pretty Barolo at this price point that will surely improve with age. 4*. $36.

Ceretto Barolo Bricco Rocche Bricoo Rocche Piedmont Italy 2001. Allessandro Ceretto and Mauro Daniele, winemakers. http://www.ceretto.com/ -- gorgeous pictures. This is one of my favorite Nebbiolo wines, and I spent just a few seconds glancing at a splash in the glass, inhaling the aromas, pouring out the splash, and then studying the aromas that remained in the glass. Floral and pretty, roses, herbs, and everything nice. I could have tasted this wine all night! 4*+ based on this moment of seduction. $70 to $225 a bottle, based on WSP -- how much is it worth to consumate this affair properly?

Michele Chiarlo Barolo Cannubi Piedmont Italy 2001. Stephano Chiarlo, winemaker. http://www.chiarlo.it/ 13.95% alcohol -- love that precision. Deep red color, deep hue, strong aromas and tastes of dried fruit with good spice notes, medium mouth feel, long single note finish. 3*. $80 to $90.

Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Granbussia Riserva Piedmont Italy 2000. Stefano Conterno winemaker. http://www.poderialdoconterno.com/ 14.5% alcohol. Magnificent, and it can only get better. 5*. $189 at Italian Wine Merchants, with a great writeup on the winery and this wine in particular. It's interesting that Conterno would pour such a great wine at an event like this -- I was suspicious, but the wine was wonderful.

Damilano Barolo Cannubi Piedmont Italy 2001. Beppe Caviola, winemaker. http://www.cantinedamilano.it/ Red color, medium hue, very good aromas of fruit, mushroom and cedar, rich fruit and spice tastes, medium mouth feel, long interesting finish, great aroma in the empty glass with cedar predominating. 4*. $32.

Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto Piedmont Italy. http://www.brunogiacosa.it Dante Scaglione, winemaker. What a lovely wine -- lovely aroma -- too good to waste on sipping for a minute or two. Just lovely. 4*+. $100 to $120.

Prunotto Barolo Bussia Piedmont Italy 2001. http://www.prunotto.it Gianluca Torrengo winemaker 13.5% alcohol. Red color, deep hue, lovely aorma of plums and cherries with spices and floral notes, very good fruit, spice and earthen notes, full mouth feel, sweet tannins, long finish. Very promising and drinking well even now. 5*. $75.

Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc Piedmont Italy. Enrico Scavino, owner and winemaker. 14.5% alcohol. Red color, deep hue, very good fruit aroma and tastes, good spice and earth notes, firm acidity, very good balance, long finish, needs some time. 4*. $70.

Vietti Barolo Lazzarito Piedmont Italy 2003. http://www.vietti.com Luca Currado, owner and winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, wonderful Barolo with a great balance of tannins and fruit, full mouth feel, long, long finish with many grace notes. A wine to drink and dawdle over, far away from a hectic tasting of many wines. 5*. $100.

Barbera -- Piedmont Italy

La Spinetta Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo Piedmont Italy 2004. http://www.la-spinett.com Giorgio Rivetti, winemaker. [Love that hippo!] Red color, medium hue, very good fruit aroma and taste with licorice, spice and coffee notes, medium mouth feel, medium finish, pleasant acidity, a good food wine. Pretty aromas in the empty glass. 4*. $35.

Puglia Italy

Tormaresca Aglianico Castel del Monte Bocca di Lupo Puglia Italy. http://www.tormaresca.it Renzo Cotarella winemaker. http://www.tormaresca.it 13.5% alcohol. Very dark ruby red, deep hue, intense aromas and tastes of raisins, spice and minerals, medium body, long finish, tight and needs time to open. 3* now, but very promising. $25.Tuscany
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Bob Ross » Sat May 19, 2007 3:00 pm

Part 2 Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas

WTN:

Bolgheri/IGT -- see also Other Tuscany down below. Tuscany Italy

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerreltalto Tuscany Italy 2000. Carlo Ferrini, consulting enologist. http://www.casanovadineri.com/casanova/ns.asp Ruby red color, medium hue, very good fruit and spice aroma and taste, firm acidity, lovely blance, long interesting finish. 4*. $90 although an amazing range of higher prices on WSP; Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova 2001 Brunello di Montalcin was named Wine Spectator's 2006 "Wine of the Year".

Marchese Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Bolgheri 2003. Renzo Cotarella, winemaker. http://www.antinori.it/ 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 15% Syrah and other red grape varieties. 13.5% alcohol. Intense ruby red color, deep hue, very good fruit and spice aromas and tastes, hints of chocolate and cofee, perhaps a little too much oak, light tannins, good balance, long finish with nice fruit, chocolate and coffee notes. 4*. Around $85.

Il Borro Toscana I.G.T. Tuscany Italy 2003. Nicolo d'Afflitto, winemaker. 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah and Petit Verdot. 14% alcohol. Deep pruple red color, deep hue, rich berry and spice aromas and tastes, medium mouth feel, long, complex finish. Very nice tannins -- a pretty sipping wine. 4*. $???

Ca' Marcanda Toscana Magari Tuscany Italy 2004. Guido Rivella, winemaker; Angelo Gaja, owner. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cab Franc and 25% Merlot. [Apparently no website.] As a lover of Gaja's wines, I was really looking forward to trying this wine. It seemed to me to be a little closed initially, but I got a two ounce pour in a water glass and an hour later it showed very well indeed. Dark red color, deep hue, lovely fruit aromas with chocolate and coffe notes, very good fruit flavors with chocolate, coffee and a bit of pepper, mild tannins, good acidity, medium mouth feel, long, interesting finish. Smooth and fun to drink. 4*. About $65.

Castellare di Castellina Toscana I Sodi di S. Niccolo Tuscany Italy 2002. Alessandro Cellai, winemaker. http://www.castellare.it/ Sangioveto (85%-90%) and Malvasia nera. Red color, medium hue, excellent aroma of cherry and berry fruits with pepper and earthen notes, firm acidity, very good balance, medium finish. A very pretty wine. 4*. Price ??? [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "Surprisingly dynamic and lush."]

Agricola Centolani Tenuta Friggiali Riserva Tuscany Italy 1999. Riccardo Cotarella, winemaker. http://www.tenutafriggialipietranera.it/ according to WS, but link not working in mid May 2007. Beautiful red color, deep hue, lovely aromas and tastes of lavendar, spice and cherries with a good foundation of earthen notes, firm acidity, great balance, long finish, quite restrained. I suspect this would be a wonderful wine after two hours in the glass, but there was only a half hour to spend with it. 3*+. Maybe much better with time, although drinking well now. Worth searching out. WSP doesn't show Tenuta Friggiali anywhere in the world.

Azienda Agricola dei Maria Caterina Dei Dei Toscana Sancta Catharina I.G.T. Tuscany Italy. Nicolo D'Afflitto, winemaker. http://www.cantinedei.com/ 30% Prugnolo Gentile, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot. Deep red color, deep hue, fascinating fruit and spice and earth aromas and tastes, hints of chocolate and other stuff, medium mouth feel, firm tannins, long complex finish, great aromas in the empty glass. The winery claims this will last for 40 years -- I believe it. Worth searching out. 4*+ $40.

Felsina Fontalloro Toscana I.G.T. Tuscany Italy 2003. Franco Bernabel, winemaker. http://www.felsina.it/ "The line that passes through Fèlsina's vineyards clearly defines two different denominations, Chianti Classico and DOCG Chianti Colli Senesi, each of which must apply to separate wines. Fontalloro was introduced in 1983 to showcase the characteristics of sangiovese; it was labelled Vino da Tavola since there was no approved higher denomination for a monovarietal." Ruby red color, medium hue, very good aroma and taste of cherry, spice and earthen notes, medium mouth feel, firm acidity, soft tannins, medium finish. Lacks structure, flabby. 3*. About $35.

Marchesi de'Frescobaldi Giramonte Tuscany I.G.T. Italy 2004. http://www.frescobaldi.it/ Lamberto Frescobaldi, winemaker. 80% Merlot, 20% Sangiovese. Deep red color, medium hue, interesting aromas and tastes of berries, cloves and menthol; medium mouth feel, good balance, medium finish with some grace notes. I had read about this wine, but was frankly disappointed in its lack of depth, especially at this price point. 3*. $90.

Tenuta di Nozzole Tuscany Il Pareto Tuscany Italy 2003. Tenute Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari Sarl, winemakers. http://www.tenutefolonari.com 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep red color, deep hue, intense aromas of cassis and berries, good fruit tastes with hints of dried herbs, spice and cedar, firm tannins, oaky, full mouth feel, long finish with fruit, spice and cedar notes. Distinctive tasting cabernet. 4*. $70.

Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia Tuscany Italy 2004. http://www.ornellaia.it Axel Hinz winemaker. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby color, deep hue, excellent fruit and spice aromas and tastes, full mouth feel long finish, still closed but the outstanding aromas in the empty glass provide support for a great future. 5*. $125.

Azienda Agricola Poliziano Toscana Le Stanze Tuscany Italy 2004. http://www.carlettipoliziano Carlo Ferrini winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, lovely fruit and spice aromas and tastes, smooth tannins, very long finish. Needs a bit of time, but drinking very well now. A lovely Cabernet Sauvignon. $45. Worth looking for.

Tenuta Sette Ponti Toscana Crognolo Tuscany Italy 2004. Carlo Ferrini winemaker http://www.tenutasetteponti.com Sangiovese and Merlot. Deep red color, deep hue, good berry aromas and tastes with good mineral notes, full mouth feel, smooth tannins, medium finish with fruit, spice and mineral notes. Good balance. 4*. $30.

Terrabianca Campaccio Tuscany Italy 2003. http://www.terrabianca.com Vittorio Fiore, winemaker. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Red color, medium hue, very good aroma of cherries and berries with spice note, good fruit flavors, smooth tannins, fruity finish, very pleasant drinking wine. 3*. $25.

Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy 2001. Claudio Basla, winemaker. Alcohol 14.5%. http://www.altesino.it/ Imported by Winebow, New York. http://winebow.com/ 13 to 14% alcohol -- there was a bottle of each on offer. Distributor: made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes harvested from the Altesino, Montosoli and Velona vineyards. The wine is aged in large Slovenian barrels where it remains for 3 and a half years prior to bottling. This was my wine of the night -- just delicious and drinking beautifully. Janet loved it too -- she had it with a variety of the buffet foods on offer, especially good, she said, with buffalo loin. 5*. Jancis Robinson recently described this wine much better than I could: "This classically-styled, all-Sangiovese red has already developed a haunting bouquet, is delicately medium bodied, shows no trace of obvious oak, but is firmly assertive and could only be a Brunello from one of Montalcino's more senior, more distinctive vineyards. Altesino in the far north of the Montalcino zone has long been a standard-bearer for Montalcino. I would strongly recommend this wine, displaying Sangiovese's leafy, autumnal notes with prune-like substance on the palate, to anyone who wants to get to grips with true Brunello, rather than the rash of much sweeter, fuller, more oaky examples that have proliferated recently. I reckon it could be drunk with great pleasure - with food - at any time over the next five years or more - although converts might also like to look out for Altesino's more concentrated Montosoli bottling for longer-term drinking." Around $35.

Argiano Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy 2001. Hans Vinding-Diers winemaker. 14.0% alcohol. http://argiano.net/ Deep ruby color, medium hue, very good fruit aromas and tastes, very good acidity, good balance, long finish with fruit notes. On oak for two and a half years, but the oak was subdued. Pretty wine drinking well tonight. [Antonio Galloni: "It strikes a nice balance between modern and traditional styles, offering the flavors of the former and the structure of the latter."] 4*. About $50.

Avignonesi Corona Desiderio Merlot Tuscany Italy 2004. Paolo Trappolini winemaker. http://www.avignonesi.it/ Grapes: Merlot (85%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). Ageing in barriques for 28-30 months. 13.5% alcohol. Ruby red color, medium hue, lovely fruit aromas and tastes with light spice and earthen notes, good acidity, medium mouth feel, long finish. Pretty wine, 4*, and I love that bull! Price: ???

Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy 2001. Rudi Buratti, winemaker. http://castellobanfi.com/ [what a dramatic opener on the website!] 13.3% alcohol. Ruby red color, medium hue, lovely fruit tastes and aromas with earthen and coffee notes, good acidity, excellent tannins, long, long finish. Shows great promise with several more years of aging. 4*. Price: ???

Caparzo La Casa Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy 2001. 14% alcohol. Massimo Bracalente, winemaker. http://www.caparzo.com/ Deep red color, deep hue, intense fruit and berry aromas with a bit of pepper, good fruit tastes, very smooth, good acidity, seemed a bit unbalanced and lacking structure, medium finish with fruit and spice notes. 3*. [I visited La Casa several years ago, and was told several times it had the best position (south, southwest) on Montosoli hill. K&L captured my concern: The wine is dense, thick and fleshy yet in this classic vintage I would have thought there would have been more definition to the wine. It is really good but in one of the premier spots in Montalcino one would have thought of greatness. However it is really good, and perhaps with some age some of the dense fleshiness will lean out and the real "La Casa" will come forward. Age 4-6 years and then drink over the next 10-20 years."] About $60.

Castiglion Del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino Campo del Drago Tuscany Italy 2000. Nicolo d'Afflitto, winemaker. http://www.castigliondelbosco.it/ Clear red color, medium hue, good fruit aroma and taste, hints of spice and earth, medium acidity, medium finish, clean but a bit simple -- not very exciting. 3*. Around $60 although nothing in US on WSP.

DaVinci Brunello di Montalcino Davinci Tuscany Italy 2001. Alberto Antonini. http://www.davinciwines.com/ Medium red color, medium hue, very good fruit aroma with coffee and earthen notes, very good cherry and berry flavors with herbs, coffee and earth, medium mouth feel, firm tannins, medium finish. Pretty wine. 4*. $62.

Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Tuscany Italy 2001. 14% alcohol. http://www.fuligni.it Paolo Vagaggini, winemaker. A very pretty Brunello from a very consistent maker -- great fruit and spice and a very interesting finish. 4*+. $80 to $120.

Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiarra Tuscany Italy 2001. Emilia Nardi winemaker. http://www.tenutenardi.com Ruby red, deep hue, big aromas of plums, coffee, dried fruit, big tastes of ripe and dried fruits, impression of sweetness, full mouth feel, long finish dominated by the sweet fruit, quite tannic but the sweetness hid it, very little aroma in the empty glass. Not a style for me. 3*. $70.

Chianti Tuscany Italy

Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Tuscany Italy 2001. http://www.mazzei.it/home.php Carlo Ferrini, winemaker. Deep ruby red color, deep hue, lovely aroma of fruit and spice, excellent fruit and spice flavor, good acidity, well balanced, medium finish, a very pretty Chianti Classico. 4*+. $35.

Fontodi Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello Della Pieve Tuscany Italy 2003. http://www.fontodi.com/ Franco Bernabel, winemaker. This is an old favorite, Fontodi's flagship Sangiovese. Very rich and complex, but still very restrained. 5*. $60

Luce della Vite Tuscany Italy 2003. Lamberto Frescobaldi, winemaker. http://www.lucewines.com 100% Sangiovese. Deep red color, deep hue, very intense aroma of fruit and spice with earthy notes, very good fruit, well balanced acidity and tannins, relatively long finish. Pretty wine, but too pricey for my blood. 4*. $70. [I know, I know, it's not Chianti but ... compare it with the Fonterutoli or the Fontodi ... or the Petrolo.

Petrolo Toscana Torrione IGT Tuscany Italy 2004. http://www.petrolo.it Carlo Ferrini winemaker. 100% Sangiovese. Dark ruby red color, deep hue, full aromas of berries with earth and tobacco notes, very good fruit, strong tannins, needing softening but there is plenty of fruit to last while the tannins develop, good acidity, medium finish. A pretty wine. 4*. $35.

Querciabella Chianti Classico Tuscany Italy 2004. www/querciabella.com Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni, owner. Red color, medium hue, very good fruit spice aromas and taste, medium body, medium finish with mineral notes. Lovely wine. 4*. $20.

Other Tuscany Italy

Fattoria del Cerro - Saiagricola Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Vigneto Antica Chiusina Tuscany Italy 2003. Lorenzo Landi, winemaker. Producer notes: "Obtained from grapes of the homonymous vineyard, considered the best among the ones owned by Fattoria del Cerro. It has an intense and concentrated, vivid ruby red colour.The aroma is typical with hints of violet,wild black cherry,wild berries and touches of spices with a slight vanilla finish.It has a full,enveloping, fine and elegant, flavour,with an excellent persistence. Grapes :Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese) 90%, Colorino 10%." My notes were dismissive: Pretty red color, medium hue, restrained aroma and taste, short finish. 2*. Off bottle? Nothing on WSP in the US; around $40-$50 in Germany and Italy.

Rocca delle Macie Toscana Roccato Tuscany Italy 1997. http://www.roccadellemacie.it Luca Francione winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, very pretty fruit and mint aromas, very good fruit flavors with mint and spice notes, medium mouth feel, smooth tannins, long finish with fruit and spice notes. 4*. $60.

Ruffino Toscana Romitorio di Santedame Tuscany Italy 2001. http://www.ruffino.com Blend of Colorino and Merlot. Deep red color, deep hue, excellent aromas of fruit, spice and chocolate, lovely fruit and chocolate tastes, full mouth feel, smooth tannins, long, complex delicious finish. 4*+. $60.

Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Tuscany Italy 2004. Giacomo Tachis winemaker. http://www.sassicaia.com Ruby red color, medium hue, very good aromas of cherries, berries and spice with smoky notes, good fruit flavors, firm acidity, smooth, long finish. 4*. $65.

Castello di Volpaia Balifico I.G.T. Tuscany Italy 2003. http://www.volpaia.com Lorenzo Regoli winemaker; Riccardo Cotarella consulting enologist. Blend of Sangioveto and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ruby red color, medium hue, lovely berry aroma with spice notes, very good fruit tastes with spice and earthen note, medium mouth feel, pleasant acidity, good balance, long finish with fruit notes. 4*. $40.

Sicily Italy

Morgante Nero d'Avola Sicilia Don Antonio Sicily 2004. Riccardo Cotarella, winemaker. http://www.morgantevini.it/ 100% Nero Avola. 13.5% alcohol. The winery's TN is better than I could produce: "dark ruby red colour and at the olfactory [ :-) ] it shows a rich fruit that remembers blackcurrant and bilberry; at the palate, it's charming, full and elegant, the tannins are velvety and persistent. Glass Adviced: wide crystal glasses." Except for not understanding the word "elegant" and finding a long interesting finish -- and being impressed by a winery reccomending a style of glass, I agree completely. A very nice wine from Sicily. This wine would taste great in a water glass. 4*. One WSP listing at $32.

Planeta Sicilia Cometa IGT Sicily Italy 2005. http://www.planeta.it Alessio Palenta winemaker. 100% Fiano. 14% alcohol. Yellow color, clear hue, very rich fruit and floral aromas and tastes, medium mouth feel, delicious. 4*. $45.

Tasca d'Almerita Rosso del Conte Sicily Italy 2004. http://www.tascadalmerita.it Laura Orsi and Carlo Ferrini winemakers. 100% Nero d'Avola Ruby red color, medium hue, very good aromas of cherries and berries, mine and herbs, very good tastes of fruit and spices, medium mouth feel, rich finish with several flavor notes. Lots of pleasure at this price point. 4*. $16.

Terredora di Paolo Fiano di Avellino Terre di Dora Sicily Italy. http://www.terredora.com Lucio Mastroberardino winemaker. Gold color, clear hue, restrained floral and fruit notes, tastes of citrus, nuts, herbs and honey, medium mouth feel, some acidity, long finish. Promising. 4*. $17.

Taurasi Italy

Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva Italy 2000. http://www.mastroberardino.com/ Antonio and Piero Mastroberardino winemakers. Aglianico 100%. Ruby red color, deep hue, good aroma of fruit and violets, very good fruit and spice tastes with a pleaqsant bitterness, medium mouth feel, long complex finish. Pretty enough. 3*. Around $35.

Umbria Italy

Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni Umbria Italy 2003. Marco Caprai, winemaker. http://www.arnaldocaprai.it/ "Sagrantino is a local variety that has been present only in the area of Montefalco for centuries. It is completely different from all the other red varieties that are typical of the centre of Italy." Deep ruby red color, deep hue, amazing aromas of fruit with light pepper and vanillin notes, a soft fruity taste much less than the aroma would indicate, but a big wine nonetheless, firm tannins [but considerably softer than I had expected] and good acidity, medium mouth feel, long finish, a bit puzzling, really. 4*. Around $90.

Veneto Italy

Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Veneto Italy 2001. Franco Allegrini, winemaker. http://www.allegrini.it/ Deep ruby red color, deep hue, excellent fruit and spice aromas and tastes, full mouth feel, long finish with several grace notes. Wonderfully smooth. 4*+. About $60.

Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe Veneto Italy 2000. Sandro Boscaini owner and winemaker. http://www.masi.it 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara. 16% alcohol. Deep ruby red color, deep hue, complex aroma of dried and fresh fruits, chocolate, coffee and vanilla, smooth tastes with complexity, medium to full mouth feel, long complex finish. This is a wonderful example. 5*. $125.

Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Veneto Italy 2001. Sergio Zenato, winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, very pretty fruit and earth aromas and tastes, medium mouth feel, long interesting finish, fairly simple, but a very pretty wine. 4*. $50.

NEW ZEALAND

Brancott Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2006. Patrick Materman, winemaker. http://www.brancottvineyards.com/ 13% alcohol. Light straw yellow, green highlights, clear hue, intense aromas of gooseberry and lemongrass with sweet fruit notes, intense fruit tastes with melon overtones with excellent acidity. Wonderfully refreshing. 5*. $8 to $9.

Cloudy Bay Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2006. Kevin Judd and Eveline Fraser, winemakers. http://www.cloudybay.co.nz/ My reference SB from New Zealand -- very rich with limes and grapefruit flavors, mineral notes, hints of tomato, delicious and refreshing, showing beautifully tonight. 5*. $22. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "The 2004 and 2005 weren't up to what this legendary New Zealand winery has built its name on. The 2006? Welcome back!" -- Several people at the tasting mentioned the same thing; I haven't had Cloudy Bay for five years, but remembered it as being as good then, as it was tonight.] [Incidentally, Cloudy Bay was the only winery that ran out of wine, after two hours. Another pourer left early for personal reasons. But the big guys were pouring until ten minutes before closing.]

Craggy Range Winery Sauvignon Blanc Martinborough Te Muna Road Vineyard New Zealand 2006. Steve Smith winemaker. http://www.craggyrange.com/ Delicous, better than the Cloudy Bay which itself was almost perfect. 5*. $17.

Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2006. Peter Munro winemaker. http://www.matua.co.nz Light yellow color, light hue, very good fruit aroma with mineral notes, very good frut taste with tart acidity, lingering finish. Very pretty. 4*+. $8.

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Icon New Zealand 2006. Darryl Woolley winemaker. http://www.nobilo.co.nz. Pale yellow color, clear hue, green tints, concentrated aroma of gooseberry and pineapple, complex powerful tastes of grapefruit, smooth mouth feel, refreshing acidity with a bit of sugar. Very pretty SB. 4*+. $15.

Allan Scott Wines and Estates Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand. http://www.allanscott.com. Josh Scott winemaker. Pale yellow color, clear hue, very good aromas of limes, melon and gooseberry, complex tastes of fruit, medium mouth feel, firm acidity, quite a long finish. 4*. $12.

OREGON

Archery Summit Red Hills Estate Oregon 2004. Anna Matzinger, winemaker. http://archerysummit.com/ Pretty red color, medium hue, good plum and cherry aromas, good fruit taste with spice and some earthen and floral notes, medium mouth feel, light acidity, excellent good balance, medium finish with many grace notes. I wonder how long this wine will last -- it's pleasant drinking now -- but I doubt it has the stuffings to last more than a couple of years. 4*. Around $85. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "Seductive nose and impeccable smoothness and balance."]

Domaine Drouhin Laurène Pinot Noir Oregon 2003. Veronique Boss-Drouhin, winemaker. http://www.domainedrouhin.com/ Ruby red color, medium hue, very good to excellent fruit aroma and tastes with lilac, cherry and pepper notes, excellent balance, long finish with interesting notes, lovely aroma in the empty glass. One of the nicest Laurènes I can remember; stuffings to last for a number of years, but delicous now. 4*+. Around $55.

Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Mark Bradford Vineyard Willamette Valley Oregon 2003. Tony Rynders, winemaker. http://www.domaineserene.com/ I agree with the winemaker;s description of this wine: "Ripe and powerful aromas of black cherry, crushed violet, wild plum, dried cranberry, earth, cigar box and toast. The intense palate offers black raspberry, cherry, boysenberry, cola, anise, allspice, clove and vanilla, with firm tannins, balanced acidity and a long finish. - Tony Rynders, Winemaker." If anything, it was a bit too intense but perhaps it will soften over time. 4*. Around $75.


PORTUGAL

Chryseia Prats & Symington Douro Portugal 2003. Rupert, Peter and Charles Symington winemakers. http://www.chryseia.com/ Grapes from Quinta da Vila Velha, Quinta do Bomfim, Quinta do Vesuvio and Quinta das Lages; 14% alcohol; "The percentage of varietals is deliberately not given. This may vary from vintage to vintage." Red color, deep hue, very pretty floral aromas, restrained dried fruit tastes, medium mouth feel, long finish, fairly simple, but smooth and fun to drink. 3*. $45.

Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva Old Vines Portugal 2004. Dominic Morris winemaker. Deep red color, deep hue, very good fruit and spice aroma and taste, medium mouth feel, long finish, intense and interesting. 4*. $45.

Quinta do Vale Meão Douro Portugal 2004. Francisco Olazabal winemaker. Vinho Tinto. 14.5% alcohol. No website apparently; Jamie Goode has a nice article at http://www.wineanorak.com/douro/newdour ... lemeao.htm Deep red color, deep hue, lovely aromas of fruit and spice, deep fruit flavors with exotic spice notes and some earthen tones, medium mouth feel, very good blance, long finish with many grace notes. Very pretty aromas in the empty glass. One of the nicest Douro dry wines I've tasted. 4*+. $45. [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "Quinta do Vale Meao Douro 2004 - Everything a Portuguese Douro should be with creamy blue and black fruit. It doesn't get any better than this. The kind of wine that entices you to finish the bottle in one sitting."]


SLOVENIA

Movia brda Veliko Bianoc Slovenia 2002. http://www.movia.si Ales Kristancic, owner and winemaker. Eric Asimov had a great feature on this winery in May 2006, and it was great fun trying one of its wines. http://thepour.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/0 ... e-borders/ Italian Wine Merchants carries many of these wines. "Each vintage of Movia's 'Big' or 'Great' white - Veliko Belo in Slovene - is a blend of varying proportions of Ribolla, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, and Pinot Grigio and spends three years in oak. Receding gold shines in the glass. Flowery hints on the nose are followed by a robust palate of persimmon, apricot and baked apple touched by traces of cinnamon and vanilla. Elegant and age-worthy, this is a superb value." Golden yellow color, medium hue, very good fruit and spice aromas, very good fruit tastes, not appreciable vanillin to my taste despite three years of aging, firm acidity, long complex finish. Excellent aromas in the empty glass. Worth seeking out and trying for an hour or two in the glass. 4*+. $30.


SOUTH AFRICA

Ernie Els Wines Engelbrecht-Els Stellenbosch South Africa 2004. Louis Strydom, winemaker. http://www.ernieels.co.za/ernieelswines/ Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), Merlot (24%), Malbec (6%), Cabernet Franc(4%), Petit Verdot (4%). 14.5% alcohol. Bright ruby red color, medium hue, good fruit aroma and tastes, hints of violets and spice, a bit oaky, medium mouth feel, long finish with interesting notes. Almost no aroma in the empty glass. 3*. Price: ??? [Chris Regina, Winecentric: "Smoked bacon galore!"]

Fairview Shiraz Paarl Solitude South Africa 2004. Charles Back, owner and winemaker; Anthony de Jager, Winemaker. http://www.fairview.co.za/ It astonishes me that wineries show such a limited production wine (330 cases) at an event like this, but any introduction to a Charles Back wine has its charms. This one was red, medium hue, forward and fruit driven with earthen and chocloate notes, a bit of acidity, mild tannins, long finish. Quite pleasant, very smooth and clean -- a nice sipping syrah. 3*+. $30 in New Jersey.

Glen Carlou Cabernet Sauvignon Paarl Gravel Quarry South Africa 2004. David Finlayson and Arco Laarman, winemakers. http://www.glencarlou.co.za 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot. 14% alcohol. Dark red color, deep hue, restrained aromas of cassis and earthy notes, rich currant flavors, strong tannin, very tight, long one note finish. Not much pleasure; it might open up, but would the fruit still remain? 2*. Price???

Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay Walker Bay South Africa 2006. Hannes Storm winemaker. No website; Jamie Goode has a good description at http://www.wineanorak.com/hamilton2.htm . Pretty gold color with green flecks, clear hue, lovely aroma and tastes, excellent mineral notes, medium mouth feel, medium finish with lovely nutty and mineral notes. Very pretty. 4*+. $20 to $25; worth searching out.


SPAIN

Abadia Retuerta Cuvée Palomar Crianza Saron de Duero Spain 2003. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon; 50% Tempranilla; 14% alcohol. Novartis Group, owner; Angel Anocíbar, winemaker. http://www.abadia-retuerta.com Deep red color, deep hue, excellent fruit and spice aromas and tastes with hints of cherreis, medium mouth feel, firm tannins, long finish. 4*. [Winemaker Note: "The Tempranillo grape comes from the plots on the north-facing slopes, with a limestone composition, and the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the low part of the estate, land with a large amount of pebbles, which results in higher temperatures, achieving complete ripeness."] About $60.

Alión Ribera del Duero Spain 2003. 14.5% alcohol. Alvarez family, owners; Javier Ausas winemaker. http://www.bodegasalion.com/ Deep red color, deep hue, very good to excellent fruit aromas and tastes, very concentrated, firm tannins, long finish. Needs time, but one of the nicest Alións I can remember. 4*. About $60.

Finca Allende Rioja Red Wine Rioja Spain 2004. Miguel Angel Degregorio, owner and winemaker. http://www.finca-allende.com/100% Tempranillo Dark red color, medium hue, complex aroma of violets, berries and minerals, very good fruit tastes, good tannins, excellent balance, long finish. May need a couple of years to show at its best. Pretty Rioja. 4*. Around $30.

Marqués de Griñon Petit Verdot Dominio de Valdepusa Toledo Spain [USA on label?] 2003. Julio Mourelle, winemaker. No website listed. A winery new to me; Jamie Goode has a good description at http://www.wineanorak.com/grinon.htm Deep red color, deep hue, intense raspberry aroma with smoky notes, very good raspberry tastes with smoke and earthen notes, firm tannins, long finish, full mouth feel, needs time to soften but lots of fruit -- this will be really nice in a few years. 4*+. Price???; appears to be around $35 but I don't see it on WSP.

Bodegas Emilio Moro Riberoa del Duero Malleolus de Sancho Martin Spain 2004. José Moro, owner and winemaker. http://www.emiliomoro.com 14% alcohol. Purple color, deep hue, incredible aromas of fruit, smoke, minerals and berries, a little disappointing tastes of fruit and spice -- the aromas promised more than the taste delivered always a crime in my book, oaky and good balance of tannins and acidity, long finish, may improve with age, but may be time to drink it up. 3*. $50 or so.

Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga Spain 2003. 14% alcohol. Isaac Muga, winemaker. http://www.bodegasmuga.com 75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, and 10% Graciano. Purple red color, medium hue, big aromas and tastes of fruit, spice and earth, but lacking complexity, medium mouth feel, long single note finish. Disappointing in a wine I've enjoyed in the past, where it showed great complexity and a gentleness not apparent here, at least not now. 2*+. $60.

Nora Albarino Rias Baixas Nora da Neve Albarino Rias Baixas Galicia Spain. Alistair Gardner winemaker. Yellow color, clear hue, green tints, orange and pear aromas and tastes, nicely bitter, firm acidity, long finish, needed some oysters to properly taste this one. It may be better but this was one of the last wines of my night and my palate may not have done it justice. 3*. $12. [I spent a few minutes with the pourer learning a bit about Galicia and this wine. It was fascinating that he would pour at an event like this when production is only 400 cases. Someone ITB told me it was necessary to pour alot of wine to sell alot of wine -- seems to be true.]


WASHINGTON

Columbia Winery Syrah Columbia Valley Washington 2004. Erik Hoins winemaker. http://www.columbiawinery.com/ 13.5% alcohol. 98% Syrah, 1% each Mourvedre and Viognier. Bright red color, medium hue, very good plum and berry aromas, very good fruit tastes with strong overtones of pepper and smoke, medium to full mouth feel, long, interesting finish. Excellent aroma in empty glass. A very pretty wine drinking beautifully. 4*. Around $16 although WSP search engine makes it tough to find because there are so many "Columbia" entries in the database.

DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Red Mountain Yakima Valley Washington 2003. Chris Upchurch, winemaker. http://www.delillecellars.com/ Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot; most from the Red Mountain AVA. [I wasn't able to find the precise blend details on the 2003 vintage; these details are from the winery's description of the 2004 vintage.] Ruby red color, medium hue, distinctive berry and plum aroma and taste with floral, cedar, smoky and pepper notes, very rich impression, medium mouth feel, long finish, bit oaky but balanced well with the tannins. 3*+. $50 or so.

Hogue Cellars Merlot Reserve Columbia Valley Washington 2003. http://www.hoguecellars.com/ Constellation Wines, owner; David Forsyth, winemaker. Wahluke and Alderdale areas. Red color, deep hue, good aromas of fruit, earth and spice, very good fruit and chocolate flavors with spice notes, medium mouth feel, very good structure, smooth tannins, medium long finish with some interesting taste notes. 3*+. $30.

Spring Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley Frederick Washington 2003. http://www.springvalleyvineyard.com Serge Laville, winemaker. 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Deep red color, deep hue, very good fruit and spice aromas and tastes, medium mouth feel, very good balance of smooth tannins and a bit of acidity, long finish. 3*+. $40.

****

On offer but not tasted by me:

Merryvale Vineyards Profile Napa Valley California 2003.
Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay Central Coast California 2005.
Patz & Hall Winery Chardonnay Carneros Hyde Vineyard California 2004.
Peju Province Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve California 2004.
Provenance Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa Valley California.

Rosenblum Cellars Sonoma Valley Monte Rosso Vineyad Reserve 2005.
Rubicon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Cask 2003.
Rutherford Hill Winery Merlot Napa Valley California 2003.
St. Francis Winery and Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2002.
Schramsberg Vineyards Napa-Mendocino-Monterey Counties Reserve California 2000.
Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley Cherryblock California 2004.

Seghesio Zinfandel Alexander Valley Home Ranch California 2004.
Simi Winery Russian River Chardonnay Reserve California 2005.
Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley California 2004.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Napa Valley California.
Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley The Leap California 2002.
Sterling Vineyards SVR Reserve Napa Valley California.
Terlato Family Vineyards Pinot Grigio Russian River Valley 2006.
Williams Selyem Winery Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast California 2004.

Pierre Sparr Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Vin d'Exception France 2001.

Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano Poggio Valente Italy 2004.
Ciccio Zaccagnini Montelpulciano d'Abruzzo Sallis Castrum San Clemente Italy 2002.

Cockburn Quinta Dos Canais Portugal 2003.
Croft Vintage Port Portugal 2003.
Dow's Vintage Port Portugal 2003.
Quinta do Noval Vintage Port Portugal 2003.
Ramos Pinto Tawny Port 20 year old Portugal.

Bodegas Naia Rueda Naiades Medina del Campo Valladlid Spain 2005.
Numanthia-Termes Zamora Spain 2004.
Sila Castilla Leon Spain. Promised in the literature but it wasn't in the program, and I didn't see it on the floor.

Regards, Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Rahsaan » Sat May 19, 2007 3:18 pm

Tiring just looking at all those wines. But impressive!

And all the winemakers/owners were present? Sounds interesting.
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Cynthia Wenslow » Sat May 19, 2007 3:20 pm

Very nice report, Bob! Thanks for posting it so I can continue to live vicariously!
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Bob Ross » Sat May 19, 2007 3:41 pm

"And all the winemakers/owners were present?"

No, some were, some weren't. Often a distributor was pouring. I just like having the winemakers' names in my wine diary -- and sometimes the owners -- just in case I meet them some day.

WS gave the names of the winemakers and owners in the program. I wish they would have given the names of the distributors as well.

Regards, Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Sam Platt » Sat May 19, 2007 3:43 pm

Bob,

Well, just call me Ishmael. :wink: Very interesting. Thanks for taking the time to post.
Sam

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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Bob Ross » Sat May 19, 2007 3:43 pm

Thanks Cynthia -- it was a very nicely done event -- everyone seemed to have a very good time. Of course, that's the point of going to Las Vegas I suppose. :D
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Bob Ross » Sat May 19, 2007 3:51 pm

"Call me, Ishmael."

The NYTimes had a nice essay with that title recently, Sam. The theme was how literature would have been changed if only characters in novels had been able to use cell phones. Cathy and Heathcliff together, for example.

Or this priceless bit:

Think of all the stories that hinge on the simple fact that X has no idea where Y is and no way of finding out. Take the “Odyssey.” With cellphones, it becomes an epic version of “Honey, I’m on the train; is there anything you need from the store?” Reception’s a bit dodgy between Scylla and Charybdis, I bet, and things might get noisy sometimes (“Sorry! That’s just the Sirens!”), but you’d have your hero home before tea and save everyone a passel of trouble.

Regards, Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Sam Platt » Sat May 19, 2007 9:06 pm

Bob Ross wrote:Sorry! That’s just the Sirens!”

Bob,

That is classic! I can imagine the initial call; "Penelope, I'm running just a bit behind. How much? Uh... about nine years. Love you!"
Sam

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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Paulo in Philly » Sun May 20, 2007 12:29 am

My goodness! What an amazing report! You were indeed busy! :shock:

By the way, I have recently seen you over at the purple pages at JR's site. I love her! 8)
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Covert » Sun May 20, 2007 6:13 am

Amazing, Bob. You give me a glimpse of the wonders of retirement. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Would have loved to have tasted all those wines.

One question: what was the year of the Gruaud Larose that you tried? I would like to search out a couple of bottles.

Thanks!

Covert
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 2..

by Bob Ross » Sun May 20, 2007 11:16 am

"By the way, I have recently seen you over at the purple pages at JR's site."

Thanks, Paulo. I enjoyed the Purple Pages -- I believe I was one of the very first subscribers -- but let my subscription expire this March. You must have seen an earlier post. Jancis does a wonderful job with the site, but it's tough to keep up even with only WLDG.

My notes on the Vegas event were written on our trip back home on the plane. For a variety of reasons we were forced to go via John Wayne from Las Vegas to New Jersey and it took us 26 hours door to door. Remembering the wines cheered me up immensely.

:)

Regards, Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Bob Ross » Sun May 20, 2007 11:18 am

"One question: what was the year of the Gruaud Larose that you tried?"

It was the 1999, Covert. A very pretty wine, at least that evening.

Thanks for catching that error, Covert -- I found a dozen other cases where I missed the vintage -- my personal diary has been improved. Thanks.

Regards, Bob
Last edited by Bob Ross on Sun May 20, 2007 11:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by JoePerry » Sun May 20, 2007 11:36 am

Good work, Bob!

That was a yeoman's service.
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Bob Ross » Sun May 20, 2007 11:40 am

Thanks, Joe. It was a very pleasant way to spend time in the airport waiting room -- as well as at the tasting itself.

Regards, Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by David M. Bueker » Sun May 20, 2007 11:46 am

Amazing post Bob. Thanks so much. It will take some time to digest it all.

If you get back up Connecticut way I will be happy to do an all Riesling tasting for you.

What was the vintage of the Giacosa Barolo you had?
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Bob Ross » Sun May 20, 2007 11:52 am

Thanks, David. A tasting in Connecticut would be great. I've been searching for your posts and copying out the tasting notes -- a pretty good Riesling education frankly.

The Bruno Giacosa Barolo was the 2003 vintage.

Regards and thanks for the invitation. Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Covert » Sun May 20, 2007 12:03 pm

Bob Ross wrote:"One question: what was the year of the Gruaud Larose that you tried?"

It was the 1999, Covert. A very pretty wine, at least that evening.

Thanks for catching that error, Covert -- I found a dozen other cases where I missed the vintage -- my personal diary has been improved. Thanks.

Regards, Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Covert » Sun May 20, 2007 12:06 pm

Covert wrote:"One question: what was the year of the Gruaud Larose that you tried?"

It was the 1999, Covert. A very pretty wine, at least that evening.



Thank you, Bob. I have not opened any of my '99 Gruaud Larose yet, because it supposedly needs time; but I think I will try one to see if I share your impression, and then buy more.

Best,

Covert
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Charles Weiss » Sun May 20, 2007 1:49 pm

Thanks so much for the notes Bob. A moderrn-day epic in itself.
I'm struck by how few of the huge number of wines were from Germany or the Loire, or even Alsace. Reminds me how deviant I must be.
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Bob Ross » Mon May 21, 2007 12:45 pm

I'm always surprised by what's missing, Charles. But I wonder if they didn't focus on a couple of areas intentionally, the Tuscany and Piedmont areas were especially well represented. Perhaps they wanted people to have an opportunity to compare several different wines from the same region.

Bordeaux is always well represented at WS events that I've attended.

You make a very good point though. I'm sort of a deviant as well. :)

Regards, Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Bob Ross » Mon May 21, 2007 12:56 pm

I received the following email from Thomas Matthews, have edited out the WS extract from my report, and sent Matthews the following email:

Dear Mr. Ross,

Thanks for sending us your detailed review of Wine Spectator's Grand Tour tasting in Las Vegas. I'm impressed with both the quantity and quality of your notes.

Two points:

We cannot give you permission to post the entire Wine Spectator article about the event. However, you may post and excerpt and a link to the article on WineSpectator.com.

We understand your request for more seating during the event. However, this is a fire code problem and out of our control; we offer as many chairs and tables as we are permitted. (I'm sure we could put in 1,000 chairs and still field complaints from people who couldn't find a place to sit.)

Hope to see you at next year's event; please introduce yourself.

Thomas Matthews
Executive editor
Wine Spectator

***

Dear Mr. Matthews:

Thanks for your kind comments on my report.

I've deleted all but a general reference to your article in my report, which I've posted on the Wine Lovers Pages at WLDG. It is my policy to not link to Wine Spectator since I understand it is Wine Spectator's policy not to link to other wine publications.

As to the additional tables, I understand from the front desk at the Venetian that additional tables and chairs could have been placed in the front entrance room without violating fire codes. I very much doubt that you would have faced complaints if you had done so.

In any event, I enjoyed the tasting very much as my notes demonstrate. I'll introduce myself at the next Wine Spectator tasting I attend.

With best regards, Bob
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Alejandro Audisio » Tue May 22, 2007 3:51 pm

Bob, amazing notes and great detail - thanks for sharing. Glad you liked a few of the Argentine wines. For something different in both styles and types of wines, I suggest you try to seek out the wines made by Bodega Benegas. They dont make Malbec their principal Leitmotiv... something quite odd for an Argentine producer.
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Re: WTN: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas -- very very long. Part 1.

by Bob Ross » Tue May 22, 2007 11:54 pm

Thanks Alejandro. I was really blown away by the Achâval-Ferrer Quimera, and I'll try the Benegas if I can find it.

There are ten New Jersey retailers with various vintages and wines in stock, and that price of $10 to $12 is really attractive.

I'll try a few samples and revert.

Regards, Bob
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