1998 WRQ Wine Tastings
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The group felt all the champagnes tasted were good to great. We
compared several French champagnes along with their California release
by the same house. The group felt that you could definitely tell the
difference between the French release and the Napa release. But the
French release was not necessarily better than the Napa
The favorites were:
- Domaine Carneros
- Taittinger
- Roederer L'Ermitage
- Jacquesson & Fils (Best French Buy)
- Bollinger Grand Annee
Piper Sonoma Blanc de Noir ($13.99 at Pete's) (California)
- Apple tones
- Kind of thin
- Apple and Oak
- Yes, Apple!
- Dry
Mumm Cuvee Napa Blanc de Noir ($15.19 at Pete's) (California)
- sparkle, carbonation, very bubbly
- This is girls champagne pink, fruity, sparkle
- Berry
- Too yeasty, didn't like the finish
- Flat (tasted after open for about 2 hours)
Mumm Cordon Rouge ($23.29 at Pete's) (France)
- Crisp, nice finish, toasty
- Clean and nice
- The real McCoy
- One of my three favorites (Robert)
Argyle Brut ($14.00 at Costco) (Wilamette Valley)
- Tart finish
- Oaky
- Woody
- This is what I envision when I sip champagne
(actually I gulped this one!)
- Tart
Domaine Carneros Brut 1993 ($15.99 at Pete's) (California)
by Taittinger
- Sweet, peachy, citrus
- Tart
- Very fresh
- Gary likes 5
- Spicy? has a little bite to it
Taittinger Brut ($26.99 at Pete's) (France)
- This is really good - very bubbly (tiny bubbles) and a
touch of woodsy. My favorite!
- Apple sweet. Good finish
- Not my favorite - seems lacking in taste
- Gary's favorite
- Very smooth. well balanced very tasty, the favorite of
the ones Astrid tasted
- Marta's favorite
Roederer Brut ($26.00 at Pete's) (France)
- Crisp, dry
- Very tart, but good
- Clean, toasty
- One of my three favorites (Robert)
Roederer L'Ermitage Brut 1992 ($24.69 at Pete's) (France)
- Liked this better than the French Roederer - a little
sweeter.
- I also liked this better than the French Roederer
- Kiwi fruit
Deutz Brut Classic ($24.95 at Pete's) (France)
- Good! Appley with lots of bubbles
- Yes, apple, sweeter than most
- Very mild
- My favorite
Jacquesson and Fils Brut ($17.99 at Pete's) (France)
- Good and tart. Just a tad bitter. Great bubbles.
As soon as it hits your tongue, it frothes and foams.
- Craig's favorite
Bollinger Grand Annee 1990 Brut ($58.00 at Pete's) (France)
- Light, bright, crisp, smooth finish
- Oak notes
- Very easy finish
- Excellent
- One of my three favorites (Robert)
Taittinger Prestige Rose ($35.29 at Pete's) (France)
- Bold yet subtle - or was it vice versa?
- Very nice
We also opened a couple of reds from Robert's cellar:
- Canoe Ridge Red Table Wine 1996 (about $16 at Pete's; paid $11)
- Columbia Cabernet 1992 (unavailable; paid about $8 at the Winery)
- E. Guigal Cotes-du-Rhone 1994 (about $12 at Pete's; paid $9)
- Meridian Vineyards Cabernet 1995 (about $7.50 at Pete's)
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Havens 1995 Merlot Napa Valley $19
- On first taste all of the wines were good - Gus
- A bit tart on the second taste - Gus
- Strong tannins - Astrid
- Open serve it don't tang - you will not like it the second time around
Icon 1996 Sonoma County Ravenswood $27 (two bottles!)
- Good fruit flavors - Gus
- Janet said a full-bodied wine
- Cherry flavored, full body, nice finished bouquet - Astrid
- Buy - Try - It's good!
- Lots of tannins - good, bold taste
Chateau St.Jean Cinq Cepages 1994 Cabernet $30
- Spicy flavors - Gus
- Bit spicy - Astrid
- You shouldn't be disappointed
Le Cigare Volant 1996 Boony Doon $2x
- Drier than the others - Gus
- Tannins more obvious. Not as rounded as "2" (Icon) - Astrid
- Good but second best from the Ravenswood Icon - spend the money
- Subtle yet bold - Paul
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Results from the wine tasting Thursday, October 15 1998.
We tasted Washington reds, ranging from good to great. Even the
last wine to be consumed was pretty good.
Gordon Brothers 1993 ($19 at Esquin). Red Table Wine - Cabernet and Merlot
- a little rough, but still good. Not real cabernet-like,
kind of interesting flavor (Robert)
- Plum and cherry flavor. Nice finish (Gus)
- Plum and tannins. In any other tasting it would be the best (Marta)
- Sweet. Last survivor but not ignored (Walter)
- Vegetable (John)
Seven Hills 1995 ($20 at Pete's). Cabernet
- A bit slow opening up, but nice tannin and a great cab (Robert)
- Peppery, brigth finish (Gus)
- Everything good. All wines good. Ugh. A Bargain, looking good even
when nearly everything else is gone (Walter)
Leonetti Cellars 1991 ($33 five years ago). Cabernet
- A bit tame in beginning. But great wine with balanced
tannin after a while (Robert)
- Opens after a while - a little light (Marta)
- Took a while to open, then real tasty (Walter)
Canoe Ridge 1996 ($14 at McCarthy and Schearing). Red Table Wine
- Great tannin, wonderful for the price (Robert)
- Cherry. Loses fruit after a while. Good value (Marta)
- Best deal. Held its own with the rest (Walter)
Sorella (Andrew Wills) 1996 ($45 at McCarthy and Schearing). Red Table Wine
- Nice tanning, good (Robert)
- Not a bad wine in the bunch. Fruit shines thorugh.
Great tannins. Splendid finish (Gus)
Andrew Wills 1996 ($33 at Pike and Western). Cabernet
- Very purple, great tannins smooth finish (Gus)
Woodward Canyon 1996 ($33)
- Another splendid wine. Tannins, pizazz, finish (Gus)
- I agree, though I am not sure of my judgement since this
wine arrived a bit later (Robert)
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Vina Calina ($15 at Esquin)
- I really liked this one (DB)
- The best the first time through (DBM)
- My favorite. Nice body with tannins, fairly long taste (Robert)
Casa Lapostolle Cuve Alexander ($17 at Esquin)
- it was great, really fruity (DB)
- wonderful, complex; second taste was sweet (DBM)
- at first it seemed similar to #1, but it was not nearly
as complex and had less tannin (Robert)
Santa Marvista ($6 at Q.A. Thriftway)
- very smooth
- nice basic Chilean cab, great value, nice wine
- kind of uninteresting. Not that bad for a $6 wine, but I think there are much
better Chilean wines available for under $8 (Robert)
Chateau Los Boldos ($7 at Pete's)
Los Vascos ($13 at Pete's)
- I did not care for it
Santa Rita Reserve 1996 Cab ($8 at Pete's)
Montes Alpha Merlot ($13)
- herbal, great for Merlot (DBM)
- my second favorit. Rich tannins, good value (Robert)
Santa Rita Reserve Merlot '96 ($12 at Larry's)
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Domaine du Cayron 1995 Gigondas $20
- Great wine, typical Rhone (Robert)
- Nice fruity/wood taste, good carry through (DBM)
- Acid; even on second taste (Gus)
- Yes! Acid! (A)
- I like this - fruity good aftertaste (Alpa)
- Wild, but opened a little after a while
Les Hauts de Montmirail 1994 Gigondas $22
- Wonderful taste & tannins, my favorite (Robert)
- Full body, very fruity, wonderful very well balanced, my favorite (A)
- Great dusty aftertaste (DBM)
- Bright fruit on initial taste, nice tannins at the finish (Gus)
- Great fruit - Wonderful
- My favorite. Very nice aftertaste. (Alpa)
Domaine Paul Autard 1994 Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Nice Rhone. A bit tame at opening, improving (Robert)
- Strong sulfites bouquet; alcohol on the high end (A)
- Nice tannins, but no fruit (Gus)
- Very good, not the best (DBM)
- VunDerBar (Jonathan)
E. Guigal 1995 $24 Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Very typical Rhone. Quite good. (Robert)
- Nice finish, lackluster opening (Gus)
- Nice, not exceptional, but solid (DBM)
- Nice, full body, smooth (A)
- Smooth.
Les Nobles Rives 1991 Hermitage $30
- Good. Excellent when opening, going a bit downhill. (Robert)
- Nice bouquet, a bit flat, still nice. (A)
- High alcohol taste, but nice finish (Gus)
- A fractured, glassy wine, with a sharp but clear taste.
- Great, good balance.
La Crau de Ma Mere 1995 Chateauneuf-du-Pape $16
- Black Tea taste.
- Nice good bouquet, but flat (A)
- Musty quality, a bit tart (Gus)
- Not much character, mediocre. Amazingly steady from first taste to
last. (DBM)
- Le Market de Ballard - c'est bon! Great, sharp, pert taste. (Jonathan)
Domaine de Monpertuis 1995 Vignoble de la Ramiere
- The only Rhone I did not like. (Robert)
- Pencil Lead! (Terry)
- Smells unfinished; Yeast! (A)
- Chateau de Caca (Jonathan)
- Watery aftertaste, mostly watery first taste, too. (DBM)
- Bitter (Gus)
- My least favorite. Lots of tannins. Don't shop@PCC (for wine!) (Alpa)
P.S. If you know the wine - it's cool. But if you don't, you end up
with "Chateau de CACA!"
- Vinegary.
- Domaine de Monpertuis? Domaine de DuDu!
Some kind folks brought in some more wine after we were done with the
French Rhones. They were:
Canoe Ridge 1996 Walla Walla - Great stuff! - $13 at Pete's
Silverlake 1995 Merlot Columbia Valley - Very nice!
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Kunde 1995 $16
- Strong. Self-assured. Gothic. (JSP)
- Some tannin, good wine but a bit to calm for me. (Robert)
- A bit light. (Gus)
- Bland, some fruit, grapefruit. (Marta)
- Flawless (Dan)
- Minerals! But not balanced for me. Too alkaline.
Honig 1995 (Napa) $22
- Smooth, but a little bitter. Need to try more. (JSP)
- Nice tannin, but lacks a bit of finesse. (Robert)
- Bright, fruity. (Gus)
- Kinda peppery - a little light - loses fruit as it opens. (Marta)
- More balanced than Kunde...Minerals. More body.
Gundlach Bundschu 1995 $20
- Cool logo - naked woman riding a bear.
- Another assertive wine, very good. (JSP)
- Nice tannins, great. My favorite. (Robert)
- Great fruit & tannin - smoother as open.
- OK! Balance, body, less minerals.
- Good fruit and nice tannins. (Gus)
Iron Horse 1995 $20
- A bit strange. (Robert)
- Ironically, somewhat ferrous. Not feral. (JSP)
- Strange taste - detergent soapy - mineral.
- Coconut.
- True to its name.
- Headed for the glue factory.
- Has a funk to it, not a good funk, but not necessarily bad either.
- Someone suggested coconut husk. (JSP)
Justin 1995 Paso Robles Meritage $41
- The best of the bunch, IMHO. Strong and grippy, but really smooth and
balanced. Ugly bottle label, however. (JSP)
- Huge disappointment. Not bad, but worth less than $20. (Robert)
- A rip-off at $41. Actually, this would have been a rip-off at $20, too.
Dry Creek Vineyard 1995 $20
- Lots of fruit...fair. improved over time. Best alongside #3. (Alan)
- Behaves likes a Pinot. (Walter)
- Not liking it; oyster shell aftertaste?
- Bamboo smell.
- Not bad. Lots of flavors, but a bit light in body.
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Pomerol 1995
- Not much to it. Lacking vicissitude.
- Perky, but not mature. A Gen. X wine?
Mauregard 1996 Chateau Geneteau
- Senatorial, but oddly translucent.
- A fine Southern wine.
- Ethereal (no body, eh?)
Chateau Greysac 1995
- A bit too tannic for now, a bit too lean for later, but nice character.
Chateau Haut-Marbuzet 1990
- Excellent #1
- #1 wide, deep throat, robust goes through a series of experiences
"complex", it's called.
- Woo-hoo! Much better than it was in '93.
- Challenges the palate (I like challenges).
- Classic European mustiness smell!
Moulin de Duhart 1995 Pauillac
- Excellent #2
- #2 graces the tongue & cheeks and makes them sparkle!
- Sure, but only if you spill it on your face.
Chateau Corbin Michotte 1995
- Wow! At first, this excited me and then left me hanging...But later
sampling showed it truly had the follow-up but was saving it.
- Most likely to succeed.
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Voinax-Caillerets 1993 $25
* Most peoples favorite *
Cotes d'Auxerre 1996
Adelsheim Vineyard Pinot Noir 1993 $16-$20
* Most peoples third favorite *
Pommard Charmots 1995 $35
Rene Monnier 1996
Fixin Vicent et Denis Berthaut 1995 $30
* Most peples second favorite *
Morgon Beaujolais George Duboef 1996
Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Maurice Ecard 1996 $25
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Ferrari-Carano 1995 Sonoma County $20
- Smooth, mild, yet tasty. Confident, not flashy, yet assertive. -
Jonathan
- Very nice on first taste, more citrus on the second taste. - Gus
- Smooth some berry. - Marta
Edizione-Pennino 1995 Napa Valley $24
- Nice, mild raison flavor "rush" with cheese.
- Nice tannins with smooth finish - Gus
- Needs a few minutes in the glass, then opens up to richness.
- Not bad on 2nd taste. Nothing memorable. - Glenn
- Pine aroma, acidic. No a winner. - Marta
Grgich Hills 1995 Sonoma County $23
- This is my favorite on the first go around. Issac, my 2-year-old,
really liked this one, too! - Katey
- A bit tart; could be bitter cherry flavors - Gus
- Very good. Nice complex blend of cherry and citrus flavors. Smoother
over time. 2nd favorite. - Glenn
- Peppery. 2nd favorite.
- Took a while to open; then nice and complex.
- Great wine with nice rounded boquet; my favorite - Robert
Ravenswood 1995 Sonoma County $20
- Zippier than its Napa counterpart. - Jonathan
- Liked this one better than the Napa version. - Gus
- On second taste, I like this better, reminds me of raspberry lemonade.
- Very spicy, up front in your face flavors. Even bolder after time. My
first choice. - Glenn
- Wonderful, very typical Zin; good pepper and berry.
- Winner! Worth buying more of.
- Very spicy which came out after it had been opened for a while. Nice! - Robert
Ravenswood 1995 Napa Valley $20
- Milder than its Sonoma sibling. - Jonathan
- Very smooth.
- Not bad. But nothing memorable. Sonoma is much better. - Glenn
- Average. OK. - Marta
- Sonoma is better; Napa flatter.
- Milder than than the Sonoma brother and not as interesting - Robert
Renwood 1995 Amador County $19
- Avian, tasty, but not very spicy. - Jonathan
- Too earthy for a Zin.
- Next. - Glenn
- I don't like Amador Zins. - Marta
- Flat. Or as Jonathan might say, planar.
Nalle 1995 Sonoma (Dry Creek Valley) $24
- This one is sweet. Being a sherry drinker, that's a good thing! - Katey
- Tight, intense zap right off the bat. Good stuff!
- I like it - would be very good w/alder smoked salmon.
- Didn't like it on first tasting, but better second time around. Still
too tart for me. - Glenn
- Better on second tasting. Great deep berry tasting . Good. - Marta
- Still intense after a few hours. - Gus
Mondavi 1996 Tal de Napa
- Very fruity, luscious. Tastes like I think a Zin should taste.
- Strong musty aroma. Taste of a wet rug. - Glenn
- Jammy.
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Vega Izan 1994 Duero ($14.99 Spanish Table)
- Nice, puckered taste - Robert
- Cherry flavors - Gus
- Full, tannic, very dry - Surain
- Good up and with veggies. It would store. - Janet
- Very good, lots of body. #3 - Alan
- Nice and oakey. I'd gladly drink more. - Jonathan
Lorinon Gran Reserva 1989 Rioja ($19.99 Spanish Table)
- Similar to Vega, but more pronounced taste -great! - Robert
- Bright and bursting with fruit, smooth finish. On second taste, hints
of licorice and spice. - Gus
- Smooth yet robust. Deep and spicy. #1 - Surain
- Reminds me of Chilean "piscoe" which is a wine drink of sorts - Alan
- Really smooth, rich and bold. Bodacious fishnet add-on. - Jonathan
Teofilo Reyes 1995 Duero ( ?)
- Tart. - Gus
- Bright flavors jump out at you...strong nose - attacks! Tart bites the
tongue. - Surain
- Nice though a bit sweet. - Robert
- Tingle at first, but excellent. - Alan
- Nice - Janet
Lorinon 1994 Rioja ($12.00)
- A bit tart, dry, simple. - Surain
- Ole. - Robert
- Good, but lacking distinction. - Alan
- True, but, well, yeah, you're right. - Jonathan
Don Ramon 1995 Borja (?)
- Complex and dark cherry. Great. - Surain
- Tannic, nice, good. - Robert
- Cedar? Oak? with excellent finish pepper. #1 - Alan
- It was good in Spain. It was good in Seattle. - Janet
Marques de Murrieta 1978 Rioja (?)
- Full, deep, cherries. Great! - Surain
- Yea for Ygay! Really rich flavor, rewarding. - Jonathan
- Silky! Thank you Walter and Anne! This stuff is France wine! #2 - Alan
- Wonderful. - Janet
Onix 1993 Priorato ($7.99 Larry's at Oaktree)
- Bit tannic but bright fruits. Quite good. - Surain
- Nice tannins, open flavor. - Jonathan
- Cherries! Nice. - Alan
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We had a good turnout yesterday for Washington Cabs, probably about 20
people showed up. Of the 12 bottles tasted (all different!) there was only
half a bottle of Staton Hills and a tiny bit of Lata Creak left when all was
said and done. Generally, this tasting was kind of a disappointment, the 1994
cabs were much better than these versions from 1995.
Gordon Brothers 1993, $13 at Pete's
- Tart, lots of pepper and grapefruite
- Olives - TerryD
- First one tasted - very good flavor
- Good drinking wine but lacked some depth - Robert
Soos Creek 1995, $21
- A bit flat
- Tannins
- Nice, mellow - I like i - Alpa
- My second favorit. Nice, smooth - Robert
- A little heavy on tannin
Genesis 1994, $21.50
- Good fruit - Gus
- Kind of a disappintment for that price - Robert
Di Stefano 1995, $28
- Terrific fruity and tannin - Gus
- Not really bad, but a huge disappointment after '94 - Robert
- My 2nd favorite
Water Brook 1995
- Not bad - Robert
Book Walker 1994, $21.50
- Outstanding, bright, great tannins
- My favorite
- Long finish, very nice
- Vibre and vine
- Favorite, nice finish - Robert
Staton Hills 1993
- Tart acidic hint of cherry
- My least favorite of the wines. By itself not too bad - Robert
Chinnok 1993, $27
- Good balanced fruit - Gus
- This is a nice drinking wine I would buy
Columbia 1981, WRQs 10th Anniversity Wine
- Over whelming raisin and prune
- A bit musty, I also got the sweetnes - Gus
- Bad smell but nice taste, tannins - Robert
- "Different" what a nose
Chateau St Michelle 1993, Cabernet Franc $27
- Nice, good fruit, soft tannins - Gus
- Very thins but a nice after taste
Lata Creek
- Good tanins but nothing else (note: a couple of years ago, Lata Creek
was the clear winner in a Lemburger tasting) - Robert
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Wolf Blass - 1994 - President's Selection - $17.99
- Nice, smooth - Robert
- Smooth.
- Great burst of fruit, nice finish - Gus
Geyser Peak - 1995 - Sonoma
- Too tannic but better with time
- NOT!!
- "Even when we were all too drunk to know the difference -
we knew the difference." - We the Borg.
- I would rather drink chilled burgundy - Glenn
Wynn's - 1994 - Coonawarra
- Grapefruit.
- Chalky.
- Pretty good - Robert
- Citrus.
- Very tannic, less fruit - Gus
Rosemount Estate - 1997 - Shiraz/Cabernet
- A bit rough, not my favorite - Robert
- A little too fruity/it tastes like cheap red wine, and I
brought it so I can say this!
Robertson's Well - 1994 - Cabernet
- Nice, smooth - Robert
- Not much body.
Penfolds - Bin 128 - Coonawarra
- A bit rough - Robert
- A bit of a flat start.
- Needs more time.
Pikes - 1995 - Clare Valley - $17.99
- Musty.
Frankland - 1995 - Isolation Ridge - $20.99
- Rough, not too drinkable - Robert
- Nutty flavor/aroma - hazelnuts; but needs more time.
Pleiades VI - Old Vines - $21.99
- OUTLIER! Real Nice! - Gus
- Good, no vintage! Nice. - Robert
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