Popped and poured, followed over approximately 1 hour. Ruby red in the glass, translucent. On the nose, the nose was rather simplistic, showing some some red fruits, spice, slate and some light florals. On the palate crisp red fruit, mostly cranberry, spice and a slight earthiness. Medium plus acidity adds a good zip here, with a moderate finish. Nothing mind blowing, but a decent drink on sale for $30.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges
Popped and poured, followed for about 1.5 hours. In comparison to the Manuel Olivier Morey St. Denis served along side it, this was really over done. Deep garnet in the glass, showing massive oak treatment on the nose, that was a bit tough to get past, which overlaid the fruit with vanilla, and light coconut notes. Underneath the oak, there were some ripe blue and red fruit notes, and a bit of spice, but beyond that, it was a little tough to pull anything out of this. On the palate, the sweet ripe fruit shows through, but still the heavy oak influences the finish with some vanillin notes. Acidity here is just a touch lower than I woke like it to be, given the ripe fruit, and the finish is clipped by some heavy drying wood tannin. A definite pass, and most chose to dump this rather quickly. If served blind, I'm not entirely sure I would have headed to Burgundy with my guess.
Popped and poured, followed or approximately 1.5 hours. Deep ruby red in the glass. On the nose, this showed ripe cherry liqueur, a touch of seaweed, spice, fresh picked herbs and some grapefruit like citrus notes. The oak here is tastefully done. On the palate, sweet red cherries, herbs, and a hint of earth. The finish is moderate, but needs just a touch more acidity/tartness to balance the ripeness of fruit. Reasonable balance, and a quality wine, but not my favourite style of Pinot Noir.
Served blind, decanted for sediment and followed for approximately 1 hour. On the nose, blackcurrants, plum, a touch of prune and raisined fruit, earth, spice, undergrowth and mushrooms. On the palate still quite structured, showing quite a bit of tannin that clips the finish a bit. Moderate acidity is keeping this thing lively. Due to the heavy tannins, I was headed to 1986 Bordeaux. On reveal, we were shocked to see that it was a Cru Bourgeois, from 1982. Still kicking, but I would drink up if I had any bottles, as this seems to be on it's downward slope for my taste.
Double decanted at around noon, placed back in storage at 50F for 8 hours. Opaque purple in the glass, and a little cloudy. Certainly not as reticent as some of the tasting notes here suggest, showing a gorgeous nose of red currants, plum, blackberry spice, earth, dried tobacco, smoke and olive brine. This was much darker in character than any other Chave Hermitage that I've tried. On the palate, some light drying tannin on the moderate finish, but drinking quite well, with a lively streak of acidity. Not the most expressive and complex Chave, but really showing well for the vintage.
Decanted approximately 1.5 hours, served blind, followed for another hour in the glass. Deep purple in the glass, showing it's youth. On the nose, this is showing dark fruits, plums, coffee, chocolate, pyrazine, earth and some graphite notes. Relatively modern styling. On the palate, the dark fruit and mocha notes shine through, with a bit of green pepper and herbs. Structured at this point with moderate tannin and acidity, showing a good balance, and a moderate finish. For my guess, I was headed to 2008 Right Bank Bordeaux, as there appeared to be quite a bit of Merlot in the blend, as well as the green notes, and slightly austere palate. Another surprise, as on unveiling, this was a 2009. Unlike other 2009s I've had, and I suspect they probably picked a little earlier than some others.
Decanted for approximately 2 hours, followed for another hour in the glass. Deep purple in the glass, on the nose, this was initially really reticent, but did come around a bit, showing some dark fruits, earth and dried tobacco notes. On the palate, this was drinking surprisingly well; a mild tannic grip on the moderate finish, complimented by a moderate streak of acidity. This has not quite hit it's ceiling yet, so it would be nice to revisit this in 3-5 years. Hopefully by then, the nose becomes a touch more expressive.
Popped and poured, followed for about 1.5 hours in the glass. Initially on the nose, this was incredibly grapey and primary, but with a bit of air, it opened up a bit to show us what it has in store down the line; blackcurrants, earth, pencil lead, with light florals and some of that oak peaking through, showing mocha and vanilla. On the palate, showing that ripe 2009 fruit, but well balanced tannin and acid. Moderate finish. Oddly enough, I had this wine at the UGC tasting and it did not show well there at all. The bottle tonight was quite good, and should be a treat to revisit in the coming years.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Popped and poured, served blind, followed for approximately 1 hour in the glass. On the nose, roasted plums, raisins, spice, pyrazine and some massive oak treatment, showing caramel, and vanilla notes that are somewhat out of balance. On the palate, full bodied, and quite structured, with blackberry, prunes, spice and vanilla notes shining through, leading to a moderate finish, marred by a bit of heat. This had all of the tasters thoroughly confused, with some headed to Spain, and others, like myself, headed to Italy as an IGT. I was very surprised on reveal due to the overripe nature of the fruit. I had no idea that this was possible in BC.
Decanted approximately 20 minutes, then followed in the glass for another hour. Deep purple in the glass, with a rather simplistic nose of dark fruits, crushed rocks and spice. Like notes on the palate, with moderate acidity, and relatively light drying tannin on the finish for such a young wine. Interesting to see other reports of this being hard and angular, as on this night, it was anything but. Nice wine, just a touch simple at the moment.
2008 Manuel Olivier Morey St. Denis 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis
Popped and poured, followed over approximately 1 hour. Ruby red in the glass, translucent. On the nose, the nose was rather simplistic, showing some some red fruits, spice, slate and some light florals. On the palate crisp red fruit, mostly cranberry, spice and a slight earthiness. Medium plus acidity adds a good zip here, with a moderate finish. Nothing mind blowing, but a decent drink on sale for $30.
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2009 Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Nuits St. Georges Les Grandes Vignes 86 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges
Popped and poured, followed for about 1.5 hours. In comparison to the Manuel Olivier Morey St. Denis served along side it, this was really over done. Deep garnet in the glass, showing massive oak treatment on the nose, that was a bit tough to get past, which overlaid the fruit with vanilla, and light coconut notes. Underneath the oak, there were some ripe blue and red fruit notes, and a bit of spice, but beyond that, it was a little tough to pull anything out of this. On the palate, the sweet ripe fruit shows through, but still the heavy oak influences the finish with some vanillin notes. Acidity here is just a touch lower than I woke like it to be, given the ripe fruit, and the finish is clipped by some heavy drying wood tannin. A definite pass, and most chose to dump this rather quickly. If served blind, I'm not entirely sure I would have headed to Burgundy with my guess.
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2007 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve 90 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Popped and poured, followed or approximately 1.5 hours. Deep ruby red in the glass. On the nose, this showed ripe cherry liqueur, a touch of seaweed, spice, fresh picked herbs and some grapefruit like citrus notes. The oak here is tastefully done. On the palate, sweet red cherries, herbs, and a hint of earth. The finish is moderate, but needs just a touch more acidity/tartness to balance the ripeness of fruit. Reasonable balance, and a quality wine, but not my favourite style of Pinot Noir.
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1982 Château Lanessan 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Served blind, decanted for sediment and followed for approximately 1 hour. On the nose, blackcurrants, plum, a touch of prune and raisined fruit, earth, spice, undergrowth and mushrooms. On the palate still quite structured, showing quite a bit of tannin that clips the finish a bit. Moderate acidity is keeping this thing lively. Due to the heavy tannins, I was headed to 1986 Bordeaux. On reveal, we were shocked to see that it was a Cru Bourgeois, from 1982. Still kicking, but I would drink up if I had any bottles, as this seems to be on it's downward slope for my taste.
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1996 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Double decanted at around noon, placed back in storage at 50F for 8 hours. Opaque purple in the glass, and a little cloudy. Certainly not as reticent as some of the tasting notes here suggest, showing a gorgeous nose of red currants, plum, blackberry spice, earth, dried tobacco, smoke and olive brine. This was much darker in character than any other Chave Hermitage that I've tried. On the palate, some light drying tannin on the moderate finish, but drinking quite well, with a lively streak of acidity. Not the most expressive and complex Chave, but really showing well for the vintage.
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2009 Château Rollan de By 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc
Decanted approximately 1.5 hours, served blind, followed for another hour in the glass. Deep purple in the glass, showing it's youth. On the nose, this is showing dark fruits, plums, coffee, chocolate, pyrazine, earth and some graphite notes. Relatively modern styling. On the palate, the dark fruit and mocha notes shine through, with a bit of green pepper and herbs. Structured at this point with moderate tannin and acidity, showing a good balance, and a moderate finish. For my guess, I was headed to 2008 Right Bank Bordeaux, as there appeared to be quite a bit of Merlot in the blend, as well as the green notes, and slightly austere palate. Another surprise, as on unveiling, this was a 2009. Unlike other 2009s I've had, and I suspect they probably picked a little earlier than some others.
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2004 Château d'Armailhac 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Decanted for approximately 2 hours, followed for another hour in the glass. Deep purple in the glass, on the nose, this was initially really reticent, but did come around a bit, showing some dark fruits, earth and dried tobacco notes. On the palate, this was drinking surprisingly well; a mild tannic grip on the moderate finish, complimented by a moderate streak of acidity. This has not quite hit it's ceiling yet, so it would be nice to revisit this in 3-5 years. Hopefully by then, the nose becomes a touch more expressive.
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2009 Château d'Armailhac 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Popped and poured, followed for about 1.5 hours in the glass. Initially on the nose, this was incredibly grapey and primary, but with a bit of air, it opened up a bit to show us what it has in store down the line; blackcurrants, earth, pencil lead, with light florals and some of that oak peaking through, showing mocha and vanilla. On the palate, showing that ripe 2009 fruit, but well balanced tannin and acid. Moderate finish. Oddly enough, I had this wine at the UGC tasting and it did not show well there at all. The bottle tonight was quite good, and should be a treat to revisit in the coming years.
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2007 Mission Hill Oculus 87 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Popped and poured, served blind, followed for approximately 1 hour in the glass. On the nose, roasted plums, raisins, spice, pyrazine and some massive oak treatment, showing caramel, and vanilla notes that are somewhat out of balance. On the palate, full bodied, and quite structured, with blackberry, prunes, spice and vanilla notes shining through, leading to a moderate finish, marred by a bit of heat. This had all of the tasters thoroughly confused, with some headed to Spain, and others, like myself, headed to Italy as an IGT. I was very surprised on reveal due to the overripe nature of the fruit. I had no idea that this was possible in BC.
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2008 Château Meyney 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Decanted approximately 20 minutes, then followed in the glass for another hour. Deep purple in the glass, with a rather simplistic nose of dark fruits, crushed rocks and spice. Like notes on the palate, with moderate acidity, and relatively light drying tannin on the finish for such a young wine. Interesting to see other reports of this being hard and angular, as on this night, it was anything but. Nice wine, just a touch simple at the moment.
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