DAWGS OFFLINE - JUNE 28, 2006 - Caravelle, Richardson, TX (6/28/2006)

For our June offline we decided to do a tasting to tie in with the "A Summer on the Wild Side" thread on the Wine Spectator Forum. Our quest was to seek out unusual or "wild" white wine varietals and post our notes in support of the thread.
This is the order I tasted the wines but everybody was free to taste in any order they wished.

• 2004 Cà dei Frati Lugana I Frati - Italy, Veneto, Lugana
  WIML87+,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. Made from 100% Trebbiano. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of pineapple, melon and allspice. Flavors of honeydew melon with some grapefruit. Crisp acidity, good balance. Drink now. Based on the local retail price of $18.69 I’d say the value here is acceptable. (87 pts.)
  
• 2003 Martín Códax Rías Baixas - Spain, Galicia, Val do Salnes, Rías Baixas
  WIML85,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. Made from 100% Albarino. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet grass, diesel and some citrus notes. Flavors of peach, lime and a little green apple. Slightly tart acidity, seemed just a little out of balance. Drink now. Based on the wine searcher price of $12.99 I’d say the value here is barely acceptable. (85 pts.)
  
• 2003 Ceretto Langhe Arneis Blange - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe
  WIMLNR,NOWA,WS81
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. Made from 100% Arneis. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Very light nose of some diesel and a little floral note. Virtually no fruit on the palate, maybe a little mineral/limestone. Others may disagree but I really think this wine should have been drank sometime last year. No rating or value recommendation base on that. I’d really like the opportunity to revisit this wine in a current vintage.
  
• 2003 Erich & Maria Berger Grüner Veltliner Qualitätswein - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kremstal
  WIML87,NOWA,WS87
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. Made from 100% Gruner Veltliner. Served from 1 liter bottle (gotta love those Austrians). Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stone with light citrus notes. Flavors of minerals and limes. Young, clean acidity. Based on the wine searcher price of $11.95 I’d say the value here is agreeable. (87 pts.)
  
• 2004 Gramona Penedès Gessami - Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
  WIML88,WA90,NOWS
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. Made from a blend of 60% Muscat de Alexandria, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, and 10% Muscat de Fontignac. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of diesel, orange peel and lemon grass. Flavors of orange, lime, cherry and grapefruit (how’s that for a mix). Bond dry, medium bodied with light to medium acidity. Drink now. Based on the wine searcher price of $10.99 I’d say the value here is recommended. (88 pts.)
  
• 2001 Brokenwood Sémillon - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
  WIML86,WA87,WS88
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. I believe this is made from 100% Semillon. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of fresh cut grass, wet stone, citrus fruits and a smidge of spearmint. Flavors of minerals dominate with some citrus notes. Medium acidity, light bodied. Drink now. I have no clue on pricing for this wine so no value recommendation. (86 pts.)
  
• N.V. Gaetano da Forino Fiano di Avellino - Italy, Campania, Fiano di Avellino
  WIML88,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. I believe this is made from 100% Fiano. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of red ruby grapefruit zest, fresh cut flowers and something that smelled like talc. Flavors of oranges and pears abound. Good, clean acidity with a nice mouthfeel. Drink now. I have no idea on pricing for this wine so no value recommendation.
  
  NOTE: I looked this bottle over thoroughly and couldn’t find a vintage. I find it hard to believe this wine is a non-vintage but I guess it truly is non-vintage. (88 pts.)
  
• 2004 Turley The White Coat - USA, California, Central Coast, San Luis Obispo County
  WIML87,WA88,NOWS
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. This is a blend of 60% Roussanne, 20% Viognier and 20% other stuff (how’s that for a technical breakdown). Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of spices, graham crackers and fresh cut flowers. Flavors of cinnamon, peach and citrus fruits. Medium acidity, medium weight but this wine came across as a little hot to me. That 14.5% alcohol didn’t show well in my opinion. Still a decent wine though. I would think this wine would age well but I’d drink up myself. This wine is currently selling for $55.00 and up at retail so I’d say at that price point the value here is unacceptable. (87 pts.)
  
• 2003 Bodegas Agnusdei Rías Baixas - Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas
  WIML88,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. I believe this is made from 100% Albarino. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of peaches, spice medley and citrus fruits. Flavors of peach, lime and a touch of grapefruit towards the finish. Medium acidity, light to medium bodied. Drink now. I do not know pricing on this wine so no value recommendation.
  
  Note: I’m not sure if this is the 2003 Bodegas Agnusdei Albariño Rias Baixas Campus Stella rated at 90 points. (88 pts.)
  
• 1999 Les Cailloux (André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  WIML88+,NOWA,WS93
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. I do not know the varietals in this wine since it is a proprietary blend but I would presume that it’s largely dominated by Marsanne and Roussanne. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Rot Wein glass. Dark yellow to gold color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of crushed stones, flowers, spice and a touch of diesel. Flavors of minerals, spices and pears. Good acidity and weight, should continue to drink well over the next 5 years or so. Based on the wine searcher price of $26.99 I’d say the value here is agreeable if not quite recommended. (88 pts.)
  
• 2004 Adelaida Grenache Blanc Roussanne - USA, California, Central Coast
  WIML90,NOWA,WS88
  
  Tasted June 28, 2006 at an offline. Made from a proprietary blend of Rousanne and Grenache Blanc. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Rot Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Very spicy nose such as cinnamon, nutmeg and white pepper with some floral components and a bit of apple. Flavors of yellow apples, peaches, cherries and almonds. Fresh acidity, medium bodied. Should drink well over the short term. Based on and estimated price of $26.00 a bottle I’d say the value here is recommended. (90 pts.)
  

I look forward to seeing everybody in July at our anniversary offline.
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