The Grand Tasting portion of the WS Las Vegas Wine Experience lived up to its name. The selection of wines to choose from was jaw-dropping.

I tasted dozens of great wines, none of them “bad”, and almost all of them worthy of 90+ ratings. Since I only had a sip or two of each, I think it’s best to list the especially notable ones in three tiers:

1st Tier: Outstanding. Memorable. Superlative.
2nd Tier: Excellent.
3rd Tier: Very Very Good.

The ridiculously high suggested retail prices from the show book are listed in parentheses (which means you can probably find them for 20% to 40% cheaper). Some of these wines are not yet released:

FIRST TIER:

1999 Ch. St. Jean Cinq Cepages ($70)
1997 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cab ($175)
2000 Flowers Camp Meeting Ridge Pinot Noir ($53)
1996 Harlan Estate Napa ($250) – As my friend noted, “so fruit forward I though I was going to do a somersault!”
1999 Kathryn Kennedy Santa Cruz Mtns. Cab ($135) –my FAVORITE of the tasting. A HUGE wine, but very focused. Incredible length and depth. One of the few $100+ wines I would consider buying.
2000 Kistler RRV Cuvee Catherine Pinot Noir ($N/A) – the best pinot. Burg aromas, but gobs of sticky fruit in the middle. Wow!
1999 Laetitia Arroya Grande Reserve Pinot Noir ($40)
2000 Peter Michael Cuvee Indigene Chard ($85)
1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia ($125)
2001 Rombauer Carneros Chard ($28) – Best white. Best value.
1998 Screaming Eagle ($250)– very extracted. Huge finish. Just a touch green, but very interesting.
1993 Spottswoode Napa Cab ($175) – great nose of licorice and berries. Still lots of life in this one.

SECOND TIER:

1999 David Arthur Elevation 1147 Cab ($115)
1997 Calera Mt. Harlan Jensen Vyd. Pinot Noir ($75)
1999 Del Dotto Napa Cab ($65)
1999 Del Dotto The David ($? – Thanks cavegirl for pouring this one. It was great meeting you!)
1997 Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vyd. Cab ($58)
1999 Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer Cab ($135)
2000 Mer Soliel Chardonnay ($42)
1999 Opus One ($150)
2000 Ramey Hudson Vyd. Chard ($56)
1999 Rudd Jericho Canyon Vyd. Cab ($100)
2000 Sanford La Rinconanda Vyd. Pinot Noir ($50)

THIRD TIER:

1999 Araujo Eisele Vyd. Cab ($150)
2000 L’Aventure Optimus ($45)
2000 Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volante ($32).
2000 Caymus Special Selection Cab ($140)
1999 Ch. Montelena Estate Cab ($140)
1999 Cosentino The Poet Meritage ($65)
1999 Dominus ($110)
1999 Justin Isosceles ($47) – bad luck being the booth next to Harlan. Made this very fine Iso seem diluted by comparison.
2000 Loring Carys’ Vyd. Pinot Noir ($40)
2000 Morgan Double L Vyd. Pinot Noir ($75)
2000 Neyers Hudson Vyds. Syrah ($48)
2000 Patz & Hall Chardonnay ($48)
1999 Renwood Grandpere Zin ($32)
1992 Ridge Monte Bello ($200) – somewhat disappointing. Dill. Sour milk.
2000 Rochioli RRV Pinot Noir ($39)
2000 Talley Rosemary’s Vyd. Pinot Noir ($60)
2000 Testarossa Pisoni Vyd. Pinot Noir ($55)
2000 Viader Napa ($80)

There were many great wines I just couldn’t get to. But I don’t feel cheated….nearly all of the wines listed above were wonderful.

More Las Vegas summaries in the coming days….

Cheers,

Otis

Thanks Otis. Looking forward to more.

VM

otis;
Stop drinking and enjoying so much wine just long enough to drop me an email. I'm thinking about a Chicago-land get together sometime in December, mabye early January....any takers?

bfrye@peachstate.com

doppleG:

Now there's a quality idea! I'm sending you an email now.

-O

Kybo,

I'm interested depending on the date.

VM

Otis, this will be my ratings of some of yours and a few others I tasted (101 wineries)

FIRST TIER:

1999 Pahlmeyer Red ($90) Very good
1999 Moon Mt. Carmenet Reseve Cabernet ($50) The best price in this group
1999 Flora Springs Hillside Reserve Cabernet ($100) More tight than years before
1999 Fisher Coach Insignia Cabernet ($75) Delicious
1999 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon ($100) Tight
1999 Cardinale ($120) Very good
2000 Caymus Special Selection Cab ($140) Complex
1999 Araujo Eisele Vyd. Cab ($150) Chocolate
1999 Opus One ($150) Excellent
1999 Ch. St. Jean Cinq Cepages ($70) Delicious
1997 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cab ($175) Balanced
1996 Harlan Estate Napa ($250) Great
1999 Kathryn Kennedy Santa Cruz Mtns. Cab ($135) I tasted but forgot to write a note
2000 Peter Michael Cuvee Indigene Chard ($85) Great
1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia ($125) Balanced
1993 Spottswoode Napa Cab ($175) Great for old age
1999 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges de Latour ($100) Very good
1999 Lewis Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)
1999 Livingston Moffett Gemstone Vineyard ($80)Delicious
2000 Testarossa Santa Lucia Highlands PN ($55) Tight
1998 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon Halo ($125) Excellent
1999 Vine Cliff 16 Rows Cabernet ($125) Excellent
2000 Williams Selyem Allen Vineyard PN ($68) Excellent

SECOND TIER:

1999 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)
2000 Arietta H Block Red Wine ($75)
1998 Screaming Eagle ($250)– Just a touch green, but interesting, not that much concentration
2000 Kistler RRV Cuvee Catherine Pinot Noir My sample I think had a little of secondary fermentation in the bottle
1999 David Arthur Elevation 1147 Cab ($115) Fruity and moderately complex
1999 Del Dotto Napa Cab ($65)
1997 Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vyd. Cab ($58)
1999 Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer Cab ($135)
2000 Mer Soliel Chardonnay ($42)
1999 Rudd Jericho Canyon Vyd. Cab ($100)
1999 Cornerstone Cornerstone Vineyard ($60)
1999 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon ($115)
1999 Hartwell Cabernet Sauvignon ($100)
1999 Hess Collection Cabernet Reserve ($80)
1998 William Hill Aura Cabernet Sauvignon ($80)
2000 St. Clement Oroppas ($50)
1999 Signorello Padrone ($125)
1999 Silverado Reserve Cabernet ($95)
1998 Snowden ($60)
2000 Flowers Camp Meeting Ridge Pinot Noir ($53)
2000 Viader Napa ($80)

THIRD TIER:

1999 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet ($125)
1997 William Hill Aura Cabernet Sauvignon ($80)
1999 Robert Craig Cabernet Mt. Veeder ($48)
1997 Calera Mt.Harlan Jensen Vyd. Pinot Noir ($75)
1997 Beringer Chabot Cabernet Sauvignon ($100)
1999 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)
2000 Alban Syrah Reva ($44)
1999 Ch. Montelena Estate Cab ($140)
1999 Cosentino The Poet Meritage ($65)
1999 Dominus ($110)
2000 Loring Carys’ Vyd. Pinot Noir ($40)
2000 Neyers Hudson Vyds. Syrah ($48)
2000 Patz & Hall Chardonnay ($48)
2000 Talley Rosemary’s Vyd. Pinot Noir ($60)
2000 Testarossa Pisoni Vyd. Pinot Noir ($55)
1999 Conn Creek Anthology ($55)
1999 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon ($85)
1999 Dunn Howell Mountain ($65)
1999 Merryvale Profile ($90)
1999 Pine Ridge Andrus ($135)
1999 Quintessa ($95)
2000 Ramey Hudson Vyd. Chard ($56)
1999 Martin Ray Cabernet Diamond Mt. ($80)
1998 Shafer Hillside Select ($150)

Did not like:

1999 Del Dotto The David My sample was very peppery and tasted like a syrah
1992 Ridge Monte Bello ($200) – disappointing, light
1998 Cain Five ($80) Vegetal
1999 Constant ($99) Tannic, no fruit
2000 Landmark Damaris Chardonnay ($36) Too acidic
1999 Matanzas Creek Merlot ($39) Tannic, no fruit
1992 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet. Not complex and light

orlando,

Thanks for adding your perspective. I think we had some good consensus on a few wines, like the Cinq Cepages, K. Kennedy, and Harlan.

I also agree that the Ridge was disappointing. It's too bad, because they are one of the very few wineries that make an effort to pour some aged wines at this event. In talking to the rep, he said they always bring a 10, 20, or 30 year old Monte Bello to the Grand Tastings in order to illustrate its ageability. Last time I went in 1998, they were pouring the 1968 version (which was terrific).

Cheers,

Otis

Otis & Orlando,

I know that this is not an easy question, but would you rather have the '00 Peter Michael Indegene Chard or a single vineyard Kistler chard?

I personally have more experiences with all of Peter Michaels chards that the single vineyard Kistlers?

I would tend to prefer the Peter Michael because I have more experience with them. I have tasted only 2 Kistlers and single vineyard is the Vine Hill 96 but it did not impress me that much. Have a bottle of the 96 Durrel and a few 96 Vine Hill to taste with some time.
I do not buy from Kistler because you have to buy an entire case which I don't agree.

IW: My experience with both Kistler and Peter Michael is limited to only 2-3 glasses combined over the last 4 years. They are both outstanding, with Kistler perhaps having higher acidity and a shade more elegance.

Cheers,

Otis