2011 Attachmate (legacy WRQ) Wine Tastings
1) Pierre Peters, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blancs, $55
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=219158
-Apricots.
-Lovely, yeasty aroma.
-Fruity.
2) Le Mesnil, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blancs, $45
http://www.winealign.com/wines/17163-Le-Mesnil-Blanc-De-Blancs-Brut-Champagne
-Pears.
-Buttery finish.
-Nice and yeasty, buttery.
3) Hervé Dubois, Cuvée Brut, $34
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=166826
-Lemon and other citrus flavors.
-Jasmine.
-Just a little sweet - not too much.
4) Heidsieck, Monopole, Blue Top, Brut, $25 on sale ($45)
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=168390
-Great with the raspberries.
-Most drinkable.
5) Placere, Les Filantes, Brut, $22 on sale ($45)
-This is toasty.
-Yes, toasty and well-balanced.
6) Duval Le Roy, Brut, $27 on sale ($45)
http://www.duval-leroy.com/
-Vanilla.
-They were ALL good.
Back To Top
1) Fort Walla Walla Cellars 2007, $35
-Vanilla nose, bold fruit, nice finish.
-Very fruit-laden start; later 2nd round - spicy with tobacco.
2) Pepper Bridge, PB Estate Winery, 2008, $57
-Oaky, great fruit, smooth finish.
-Very nice, meaty body, good tannins, long finish.
3) Facelli winery, 1998, $28, Columbia Valley (Outlier)
-Too thin.
-It might not be big, but it has heart - "sometimes you have to look behind the round".
4) Skylite Cellar, 2007, $24
-Earthy.
-Earthy, leather, hint of barnyard, long finish. Big tannins.
5) Kontos Cellars, 2008, $30
-Great body, big tannins.
6) Cougar Crest, Dedication Four, 2007, $21
Back To Top
1) Clos de Los Siete, Mendoza, Argentina, 2007, $22
http://www.monteviejo.com/
Malbec 48%, Merlot 28%, Cabernet Sauvignon 12%, Syrah 12%
-Nice blend
2) Chateau de Gaudou, Cahors, France, 2006, $17
http://chateaudegaudou.pagesperso-orange.fr/gaudous.html
-Thin on the tongue.
3) Swinto, Belasco de Baquedano, Argentina, 2008, $27
http://www.belascomalbec.com/swinto_malbec.htm
-Robust and spicy; great finish.
-Heartiest of the bunch.
4) Modern, Wine Project, Columbia Valley, Washington, 2005, $25
http://www.sofhcellars.com/Trade
5) Sol de Uco, Uco Valley, Mandoza, Argentina, 2007
http://soldeuco.com/blog/
Back To Top
1) Vin du Lac, Syrah, Barrel Select, 2007, $35
2) Nefarious, Grenache, Snipes Mountain, 2009, $25
-Tart cherries.
3) Nefarious, Malbec, Snipes Mountain, 2008, $24
-Earthy with great finish.
4) Vin du Lac, Sauvignon Blanc, Savvy Blanc, Columbia Valley, 2009, $15
-Stinky barnyard, nose, almost off-dry, grapefruit finish.
5) Chelan Ridge, Merlot, Lake Chelan, 2008, $25
6) Vin du Lac, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Cafe, 2008, $18
7) Vin du Lac, Viognier, 2009, $15
Back To Top
1) Ferrari-Carano, Fume Blanc, Sonoma County, 2010
http://www.ferrari-carano.com/
-It has oak, but not too much.
2) Domaine Blanchet, Pouilly Fume, Saint Andelain, 2009, $17
-Orange blossoms on the nose, citrus with lovely tart finish.
-Grapefruit.
3) Henri Bourgeois, Sancerre, Grande Reserve, 2009
4) Villa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, Private Bin, 2010
-Asparagus on the nose.
5) Regis Minet, Pouilly Fume, Pouilly-Sur-Loire, 2009, $23
-Melon on the nose, lemon, nice tart finish.
6) Fairview, Charles Back, South Africa, 2009
-Wet grassy field on the nose, has a bit of fizz, bitter finish.
7) Yealands, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2009, $13
-Initially fruit loops and asparagus, then green peppers (typical NZ SB)
-Asparagus
8) Dancing Bull, California, 2009
9) Kim Crawford, Marlborough, 2010
-Floral nose, grapefruit, very nice
10) Mohua, Marlborough, 2010
11) Oyster Bay, Marlborough, 2010
-This is really good.
-Floral nose, citrus, crisp and bright and the palette with a lovely finish.
Back To Top
1) Tamarack Cellars, Wahluke Slope, 2009, $20
http://www.tamarackcellars.com/
-Vanilla nose, then raspberry.
-Smooth.
2) Isenhower, Road Less Travelled, Wahluke Slope, Weinbau Vineyard, 2008, $25
http://www.isenhowercellars.com/
-Herbal aromas, chewy, lots of tannins.
3) DiStefano, Sogno, Columbia Valley, 2006, $24
http://www.distefanowinery.com/
-Earthy, tannic, paired well with the 64% Chocolate discs.
4) (Outlier) Trinch, Breton Sarc, Val de Loire, Bourgueil, 2009, $20
-Tart, pepper.
-Pie cherries.
-A little fizzy.
-Not what I expected. Very dry finish.
5) Barrister, Columbia Valley, 2006, $26
http://www.barristerwinery.com/
-A little bit of leather.
-Smooth, no tannins, perhaps not quite what you'd expect Cab Franc to be like, but tasty.
Back To Top
1) (Outlier) Purple Star Syrah, Columbia Valley, 2008
2) Vina Robles Red, Huerhuero Paso Robles, 2008
-- best of the night
3) Bonny DoonVineyard Syrah, Le Pousseu, 2007
4) Ridge California, Syrah / Grenache, 2005
5) Ridge California, Geyserville, 1992
-- much better than expected for a '92, aged well
Back To Top
1) Abbot's Table, Owen Roe, 2009
25% Zinfandel, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 7% Blaufrankish, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Merlot
http://owenroe.com/wines.php?s=WA&p=17
-Vanilla nose
2) Pendulum, 2007
http://preceptwinebrands.com/our_wines/brands/000000005/pendulum
3) Syzygy, 2007
50% Syrah, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 11% Malbec
http://www.syzygywines.com/wines.htm
-Floral nose.
4) Sandhill, Reserve, 2004
42% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Saugvignon, 18% Cab Franc, 2% Malbec
http://www.washingtonwine.org/washington-wine/wineries/sandhill-winery/
5) Camaraderie, Grace, 2004
Cabernet Saugvignon, Merlot, Cabernet France, Malbec
http://www.camaraderiecellars.com/ourwines.html
-Mineral nose and tannins.
6) Domenica, DiStefano, 2006, $20
Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
http://www.distefanowinery.com/
-Spicy, great tannins.
7) Gilbert, Allobroges, 2007, $19
55% Syrah, 31% Mouvedre, 14%Grenache
http://www.gilbertcellars.com/
8) Chatter Creek, 105 Blend, 2006, $19
http://www.chattercreek.com/
9) Gamache Vintners, Estate, 2006
http://www.gamachevintners.com/
-I like it; floral, spicy with a nice finish.
10) Monolith, Elevation Cellars, 2007
82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot
http://www.elevationcellars.com/
11) Ryan Patrick, Rock Island Red, 2004
57% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Saugvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc
http://www.ryanpatrickvineyards.com/
Back To Top
1) Girard, Napa Valley, 2008, $26
http://www.girardwinery.com/
-A bit light on fruit flavors at first. Better on second taste.
2) Foppiano, Russian River Valley, 2008, $20
http://www.foppiano.com/
-Good fruit forward with nice finish.
3) Trentadue, Alexander Valley, 2008, $16
http://www.trentadue.com/
-Round, fruity flavor - grapey, cherry
4) Clayhouse, Paso Robles, 2005, $22
http://www.clayhousewines.com/
-A bit fizzy at first. Got better through the evening.
5) Vina Robles, Paso Robles, 2007, $24
http://www.vinarobles.com/
-Smooth with nice tannins.
6) Stags' Leap, Napa Valley, 2007, $27
http://stagsleap.com/
-Great balance between fruit and tannins. Best of evening.
7) David Bruce, Central Coast, 2008
http://www.davidbrucewinery.com/
Back To Top
1) Covington Cellars, Roughhouse Red, 2006, $26
70% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 10% Malbec, 5% Cab Franc
http://www.covingtoncellars.com/
-Nice cedar nose.
-Vanilla, floral, cherry, smooth.
2) Spring Valley Vineyard, Uriah, 2007, $55
60% Merlot, 28% Cab Franc; 6% Petit Verdot; 6% Malbec
http://www.springvalleyvineyard.com/
-Vanilla, Floral, very smooth.
-Tannic.
3) Cavu, Horizon Red, 2006, $27
93% Cab Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot
http://www.cavucellars.com/
-decent and mildly interesting.
4) Syzygy, Columbia Valley, 2005, $23
Syrah, Cab sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec
http://www.syzygywines.com/
5) Reininger, Cima, 2003, $40
53% Sangiovese, 28% Cab Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 2% Cab Franc
http://reiningerwinery.com/
-Cinnamon, velvety.
6) Whitman, Narcissa Red, 2005
77% Cab Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 6% Cab Franc, 2% Merlot
-Just ok.
7) Manninina Cellars, 2007
58% Merlot, 28% Cab Sauvignon, 14% Cab Franc
http://www.manninacellars.com/
-Nutty, spicy, paired well with the pate.
-Awesome.
8) Five Star Cellars, Quinque Astrium, 2008
58% Sangiovese, 33% Merlot, 9% Cab Sauvignon
http://www.fivestarcellars.com/
-Herbal, minty, tart finish.
-Great with caramelized hazelnuts.
9) Basel Cellars, Claret, 2007
Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
http://www.baselcellars.com/
-Weak.
10) Cougar Crest, Anniversary Cuvee, 2006, $30
http://www.cougarcrestwinery.com/
-Elegant, nice finish.
-Overrated.
11) Cougar Crest, Dedication Four, 2007
http://www.cougarcrestwinery.com/
-very overrated.
12) Rulo, Syrah, 2007
http://www.rulowinery.com/
-Almost interesting.
Back To Top
Smith Woodhouse, Lodge Reserve Port, $22
http://www.smithwoodhouse.com/
Color: Bight red
Aroma: Cherries and strawberries
Taste: Ripe fruit; juicy and sweet
Warre's, Late Bottled Vintage, 2000, $27
http://www.warre.com/
Color: Deep red; almost purple
Aroma: Blackberries
Taste: Dark cherry flavor; went very well with the cheeses.
Calem, 10 Year Tawny, $28
http://calem.pt/
Color: Light brown
Aroma: Nutty
Taste: Almost sherry-like. Wonderful licorice and almond notes.
Dow's, Senhora da Ribeira, Vintage, 2006, $54
http://www.dows-port.com/
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/tasting-notes-of-the-month/2006-dow-s-senhora-da-ribeira-vintage-port-cask-sample
Color: Deep purple
Aroma: Nutty
Taste: Wild berry flavor dominates; went very well with the smoked salmon.
More information:
http://www.ivp.pt/index.asp?idioma=1&
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/
http://www.portwinemagazine.com/welcome.htm
Back To Top