What are you thanking me for? Your company made the evening for me. Thank-you.
TT and I were invited to a tasting tonight. Before I post the notes, let me preface mine with the statement that I don't feel my notes are entirely accurate. I'd call tonight kind of an off night for me. Most of the early wines seemed kind of bitter to me. I had roast chicken and broccoli rabe for dinner and I don't believe that contributed to the problem. I felt more confident in my opinions as the evening progressed. the wines, in order tasted, along with very brief notes:
1. Champagne Paul Drouet "Special Reserve Alain Ducasse" Brut- "plastic" taste, possibly an off bottle, not scored
2. Domaine Weinbach Cuvee Theo Riesling 1999- harsh, blah, 82 (I don't normally like dry Rieslings.)
3. Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc- sweaty undershirt nose, very little fruit, uncomplicated, 84
4. Gini Soave "Salvarenza" 2000- medicine, 80
5. Robert Talbott "Sleepy Hollow" Chardonnay 1999- rich, oaky nose, slightly harsh, a little thin for a Talbott, 88
6. Domaine Weinbach Gewurtztraminer "Cuvee Lawrence" 2000- beautiful nose of honey and raisins, but the nose promised more than the wine delivered, lightly sweet, could use more fruit, 87
7. Mauro Molino Nebbiolo Langhe 2000- light red color, nice spicy nose, harsh, bland, 85
8. Etude Pinot Noir 1999- floral nose of cherries and vanilla, nice Pinot Noir flavor, but this wine needs more time, rated 2 hours after it was opened, 90
9. Sassetti Pertimalli Rosso di Montalcino 2000- slight odor of urine, light on fruit and flavor, 84
10. Ciacci Piccolomini Ateo 1999- nose of chocolate and licorice, bitter, 84
11. Azelia Barolo 1997- nose of plums, young, thin, 86
12. Downing Family Cabernet Sauvignon 1998- subdued nose, harsh, young, decent fruit, 87
13. Henry's Drive Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001- lovely nose of oak, cedar, and spice, fruit and tannin to age, powerful, concentrated, 91
14. Von Strasser Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1999- strange un cabernetlike nose, surprisingly ready, slight bite, 86
15. Downing Family Zinfandel 1999- moderate nose of spice and plums, shy on fruit for a young Zinfandel, sharp, but with some flavor, 86
16. Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel 2001- rich plummy nose, ripe berry flavors, not rich enough for a $40 Zinfandel, 90
17. Cims de Porrera Priorat 1997- hint of shoeploish on nose and palate, 84
18. Hazy Blur Shiraz 2000- plummy nose, smooth, but not concentrated enough, 88
19. Lilly Pilly Noble Riesling 1999 (Australia)- rich nose of botrytis and raisins, very sweet but with balancing acidity, flavorful, my WOTN, 93 (tt and I each ordered two of these.)
20. Nieport Colheita 1984- madeira-like nose, high alcohol (20.5%), tawny color, powerful, 92
21. Trevor Jones Port AA 160 (Australia- a tawny Portlike wine made from the Syrah/Shiraz grape)- tasted higher in alcohol than it actually was (18.5%), I've had many better tawnies, 88
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