DALLAS OFFLINE WITH WINETEX - Amici's in Carrollton, TX (11/24/2006)

Winetex and Mr. Winetex were in town visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday and needed a little wine break from the crowds so some of the locals got together for a really nice evening of conversation with top notched wines.

On to the show...
One flight, one flight only
Following is the order the wines were served

• 1990 Salon Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Clos du Mesnil - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne
  WIML96+,NOWA,WS97
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Riedel Vinum Cuvee Prestige glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with a nice mousse. Nose of pears, yellow apples and “bread dough”. Flavors of crisp yellow apples, pears, light tropical fruit notes and a touch of freshly baked bread. Perfectly balanced and harmonious. One of the best Champagnes I’ve tasted. Drink or hold. (96 pts.)
  
• 1996 Jacquesson & Fils Champagne Avize - France, Champagne
  WIML92,NOWA,WS92
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Riedel Vinum Cuvee Prestige glass. Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with a nice mousse. Tight nose giving way to some yellow apples and citrus fruits. Flavors of tart yellow apples and a light cherry fizz. Good balance. Still a very young wine so could use a little air in the glass, not that it gets the chance. Drink or hold. (92 pts.)
  
• 1992 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune - France, Alsace, Hunawihr, Alsace AOC
  WIML93,NOWA,WS93
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Light petrol aromas that quickly blew off giving way to some aromas of peaches, orange blossoms and acacia flowers. Flavors of peaches and light citrus notes over a minerally base. Good balance. Drink over the short term. (93 pts.)
  
• 2002 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl - France, Alsace, Hunawihr, Alsace AOC
  WIML92,NOWA,WS92
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of fresh orange slices, pineapple and whetstone. Flavors of minerals, oranges and a dash of lime. Good balance. Drink over the short to medium term. (92 pts.)
  
• 2004 Badge Pinot Noir - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  WIML90,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Balloon Magnum glass. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries and anise. Flavors of black cherries, blackberries, white pepper and maybe some red berries as well. Good balance overall with the exception that the alcohol seems just a smidge hot. Decant next time to see if it helps or let it another 6 months to a year to see if it resolves in bottle. (90 pts.)
  
• 1993 Castello di Ama Vigna l'Apparita Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  WIML94,NOWA,WS96
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and decanted for sediment about 1 hour before serving in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of tobacco, currants, plums, anise and just a pleasant splash of mint. Flavors of black licorice, black berries, fennel and maybe some plum on the finish. Light to medium acidity with silky tannins. Fully resolved and ready to drink. Excellent example of an aged Italian Merlot. (94 pts.)
  
• 2001 Argiano Solengo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  WIML92,NOWA,WS95
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and decanted about 1 hour before serving in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of leather, a mix of dark fruits, plums, blackberries and pepper. Flavors blackberries, plums and cassis. As wine+art noted this is a “juicy” wine on the palate. Medium acidity and tannins. Full bodied. Winetex noted she thought this bottle was slightly heat damaged compared to a previous bottle opened but I couldn’t detect that it had suffered much. (92 pts.)
  
• 1998 Château Troplong Mondot - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  WIML92,WA93,WS93
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of licorice, dried herbs, a mix of red and black berries and just a hint of coffee. Flavors of blackberries, licorice and a little plum. Medium acidity and tannins. Medium to full bodied. Just a half step behind my last tasting of this wine. Drink or hold, I’d recommend holding. (92 pts.)
  
• 1996 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
  WIML93,WS91,WS92
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of plums, blackberries, coffee and graphite. Flavors of plums, blackberries and cassis. Good balance. Drinking remarkably well for such a young wine. Drink or hold. Should hold for many years to come. (93 pts.)
  
• 2003 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir 4 Barrel - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  WIML90(?),NOWA,WS90
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Balloon Magnum glass. Nose of Kirsh, pepper, a mix of berries and maybe some burnt sugar. Flavors of black cherries, blueberries and vanilla. I’d recommend holding another year or plan on an extended decant if opening now. COMMENTARY: I thought the alcohol was way too hot but it didn’t bother me as much as some at the table. I have to admit, I’m not sure what’s up with this wine. I couldn’t make up my mind if I was drinking an Aussie Shiraz or a Turley Zinfandel; anything but Pinot Noir. (90 pts.)
  
• 1993 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos Nyulászó - Hungary, Hegyalja, Tokaji
  WIML91,NOWA,WS94
  
  Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Riedel Vinum Cuvee Prestige glass. Amber color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of almonds, molasses and burnt sugar. Flavors of almonds, apricots and an unusal citrus flavor I couldn’t quite place. Drink over the short to medium term. NOTE: This was a gift from Pinot Envy so I decided to share it with the group. Thank you very much to Pinot Envy! (91 pts.)
  

Many thanks to everybody that attended and for bringing the excellent wines. I appreciate everybody digging deep into the cellar and providing wines that could easily be in anyone's top wines of the year.

This was another example of "judging a beauty contest". High quality wines in all.

My notes are pretty similar to WIMLs. WOTN was no contest though - 1990 Salon. With scallops on a bed of risotto it was a home run from the start.

Thanks to Joe for getting the group together the day after Thanksgiving.