CELLAR DIMINISHMENT & PIZZA PARTY - Winetex' home in Austin, TX (4/28/2007)

Winetex is heading off to Italy so she decided to host a little cellar diminishment party before heading to the land of Barolo and Barbaresco. In attendance were Mr. & Mrs. Winetex, Mr. & Mrs. Steffen Pelz, Mr. & Mrs. wino4ever, a few others that don’t post online, PURPLE and myself. Most wines were provided by Winetex with a few others sneaking in here and there. So now onto the show…

Bubbles

Can't start a dinner without a little bubbles!

• N.V. Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne
  WIML89,NOWA,~WS90
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Straw color in the glass, clear hue throughout with a light mousse. Nose of apples, pears and a bit of citrus fruits. Flavors of apples, pears, a little citrus fruits and maybe a dash of marchiano cherries. Bright acidity, light to medium body. Slightly better than my last bottle so I’m upping my rating a point. Drink now. (89 pts.)


• N.V. Ruinart Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne
  WIML90,NOWA,~WS90
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Dark salmon colored in the glass, clear hue throughout with a light mousse. Nose of raspberries, strawberries and a bit of potpourri. Flavors of raspberries, strawberries and a little red cherry. Medium acidity, light to medium body. Drink now. (90 pts.)


• 1996 Philipponnat Champagne Brut Clos des Goisses - France, Champagne
  WIML90,NOWA,WS91
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with a light mousse. Nose of graham crackers, sherry and a touch of earthiness. Flavors of tart apples and cherry fizz. Light to medium acidity, light to medium body. Drink now or hold. (90 pts.)


• 1998 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne
  WIML90,WA92,WS91
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Straw to light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with a light mousse. Nose of cookie dough, coffee and toast. Flavors of cookie dough, apples and pears. Light to medium acidity, medium bodied. Drink or hold. (90 pts.)


• N.V. Eric Rodez Champagne Cuvée des Crayères - France, Champagne, Ambonnay, Champagne
  WIML85,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with virtually no mousse. Not of toast, caramel and pears. Simple flavors of pears and apples. Medium acidity and body. No depth to this wine. Drink now. (85 pts.)


• 1997 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Grand Cru Millésimé - France, Champagne, Ambonnay, Champagne
  WIMLNR,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with a light mousse. Sherry notes on the nose and palate. Light to medium acidity and body. Really goofy wine. Either this wine was damaged along the way or it’s completely lost on me therefore no rating. Drink now.

Reds and a lone white

• 2003 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
  WIML90,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stone, citrus oil, yellow apples and paraffin. Flavors of minerals, pears and some yellow apples. Medium acidity and body. Drink over the short term. (90 pts.)


• 2005 Henri Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
  WIML91+,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Bright garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of ripe fruits with some notes of smoke, black cherries and a dash of spice. Flavors of black cherries and mixed berries with a touch of bitters early on the finish. Light to medium acidity, tannins and body. Balanced. Drinking surprisingly well at this time, especially once it hit about the 1 hour mark. I’d hold. (91 pts.)


• 2000 Château Faugères - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  WIML91,WA91,WS91
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted about 2 hours before serving. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black berries, plums and tar. Flavors of black cherries, black berries and plums. Light to medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Although starting to emerge from its’ cocoon I’d recommend holding. I’ll open my first bottle in 2010. (91 pts.)


• 2001 Argiano Solengo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  WIML92,NOWA,WS95
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately (probably needed a splash decant at minimum). Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black berries, a touch of thistle with some underlying melted black licorice aromas. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and a little anise. Medium acidity and tannins. Medium to full bodied. This wine was tasting pretty good at this youthful stage but I’d recommend holding. I’m betting it’ll improve even more over the next 5 years or so. (92 pts.)


• 2004 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Finca Dofi - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
  WIML92+?,WA95,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted 3 hours before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black licorice, black berries and white pepper. Early on there was a touch of mint that disappeared. Later on there were some aromas of red currants. Flavors of black cherries, mixed berries, currants and Bing cherries. Light to medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Considering the lengthy decant and it didn’t really start showing its’ stuff until around the 3 hour mark I’d definitely recommend holding at least 3-5 years myself. (92 pts.)


• 2004 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
  WIML89,NOWA,WS91
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, slight dusty looking. Nose of bacon, licorice and herbs. Flavors of black licorice, cherries and mint. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. (89 pts.)


• 2001 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
  WIML89,WA91,WS86
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, slightly opaque in appearance. Slightly dusty nose with some notes if pepper and a little cedar. Flavors of black cherries and black berries. Light to medium acidity, firm tannins and full bodied. I’d recommend holding another year and see how this fleshes out with more bottle time. (89 pts.)


• 1999 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  WIML90,WA92,WS90
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking in appearance. Nose of black berries, a little leather and some cassis. Flavors of red berries, red currants, some raspberry notes and just a touch of bitters on the finish. Medium to full acidity, firm tannins, medium bodied. Slightly better than my last tasting but needs another year or so in bottle to better resolve. (90 pts.)


• 2003 Aubert Pinot Noir Reuling Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  WIML91,WA96,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking in appearance. Big candied nose with some light pepper notes. Flavors of sweet red berries, red currants and red licorice. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)


• 2004 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côté Est - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  WIML90,NOWA,WS86
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Slightly dusty nose with some aromas of charred wood, pepper and a mix of dark fruits. Flavors of sweet red berries, cherries and currants. Medium acidity, tannins and body. I think I would hold this 6 months to another year to see how if fleshes out in bottle. (90 pts.)

Sweets

• 2001 Château Climens - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
  WIML96+,WA100,WS97
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of apricots, honeysuckle, orange zest and spices. Flavors of honey, toasted nuts and dried apricots. Thick and unctuous on the palate with excellent acidity, good body and very much well balanced. Excellent. Hold several years and this might just hit that 100 point mark the Wine Advocate bestowed up it. (96 pts.)


• 2003 Château Coutet - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
  WIML92,WA93-96,WS95
  
  Tasted April 28, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Straw to light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Light nose of citrus fruits. Flavors of apricots, peach, honey nuts and orange. Light to medium acidity, medium body. Hold. (92 pts.)

Many thanks to Winetex for generosity. It was great to see all of the Austin folks again.