quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Not sure what I will enjoy tonight with my bride, but heading to offsite soon and will select a couple of bottles off of the very top shelf.

Our first grandchild was born this week, and we can finally celebrate.

Wow, congrats W+A! We're thrilled for you, and I'm sure you all celebrated in style.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Not sure what I will enjoy tonight with my bride, but heading to offsite soon and will select a couple of bottles off of the very top shelf.

Our first grandchild was born this week, and we can finally celebrate.

Congratulations my friend - so glad to know she's here, and that all is well!

Dinner at Scaramouche tonight:

2002 Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Champans with Steak Tartare

2002 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon with venison and beef filet

1990 Salon BdB
1990 Jaboulet La Chapelle Hermitage

Nicholas Maillart Platine
08 Didier Dageneau pouilly fume
89 Domaine de Cayron Gigondas
97 Banfi Brunello
01 Cassanova di Neri Tenuto Nuevo
04 Pintia
08 Relentless
03 Rieussec

quote:

Originally posted by Jcocktosten:
04 Pintia

How was this? I have a few 2007s sleeping in the cellar.

2004 Poggio San Polo BdM Riserva - A friend shared this. Very surprised how well this was drinking. Expressive nose.

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Hayes:

quote:

Originally posted by Jcocktosten:
04 Pintia

How was this? I have a few 2007s sleeping in the cellar.

Excellent no need to rush

Drinking some 06s that seem to be in a nice spot;
Joseph Swan Cuvee de Trois Pinot Noir; just a bit tart and acidic.
CSJ cinq cepages (a bit overoaked)
Bodegas Poesia Clos des andes; in perfect balance and not a fruit bomb at all.

2007 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett
2011 Kocabag Cappadocia (Turkey)

Sitting home alone sipping some leftover 2008 Monte Antico Toscana IGT. Not sure where the evening will lead me.

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:
Sitting home alone sipping some leftover 2008 Monte Antico Toscana IGT. Not sure where the evening will lead me.

Shoe show??

PH

PURPLE is taking SITH LORD to the Igges A$$ whipping.

2009 Lis Neris Jurosa
2010 Jermann Chardonnay
1993 Castello di Ama L'Apparita

1999 Dominus
1999 Rubicon
1999 Dunn Howell Mountain
1999 Ridge Lytton Springs
2000 Chateau Gazin Pomerol

2001 Baron de Ley, Rioja, Gran Reserva

Very good. Beautiful nose, but a little thin on the mid-palate.

Over the past couple weeks in Argentina:

Drinking:

NV Bodega Norton Norton Extra Brut
2010 Bodega El Esteco Torrontes Don David
2011 Colome Torrontes Estate

2010 Luigi Bosca Malbec Reserva
2010 Passionate Wine Montesco Parral
2008 Catena Zapata Cabernet Franc Angelica Zapata Alta
2007 Bodega del Fin del Mundo Malbec Single Vineyard
2009 Clos de los Siete
2009 Melipal Blend (Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot)
2010 Escorihuela Gascon Malbec
2009 Tempus Alba Malbec
2009 Alma Negra Malbec Animal
2010 Colome Malbec Estate
2009 Bodega Vina 1924 De Angeles Malbec
2008 Alta Vista Malbec Terroir Selection
2009 Atamisque Malbec

Tasting:

Miscellaneous

2012 Humberto Canale Riesling Old Vineyard La Morita
2011 Passionate Wine Montesco Agua de Roca Sauvignon Blanc
2010 Passionate Wine Montesco Unfiltered Torrontes (orange wine)
2009 Urraca Malbec
2006 Urraca Primera Reserva (Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc)
2008 Bodega Vina 1924 De Angeles Malbec Gran Malbec

Achaval-Ferrer

2011 Malbec
2010 Quimera
2012 Quimera (barrel)
2012 Malbec Finca Altamira (barrel)
2012 Malbec Finca Bella Vista (barrel)
2011 Dolce (appassimento method Malbec, tiny production - think Recioto della Valpolicella)

Ksana

2010 Malbec
2010 Malbec Reserva

Catena Zapata

2010 Catena Alta Chardonnay
2009 Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Catena Alta Malbec
2006 Angelica Zapata Cabernet Franc Alta
2009 Angelica Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon Alta
2008 Angelica Zapata Malbec Alta

Note that the Catena Alta line is for export, and the Angelica Zapata Alta line is for their domestic market. They are not the same wine, and I find the Angelica Zapata Alta wines to have lower alcohol and more balance. The reason behind the difference is based on the palate of people in Argentina and their food. Disappointing, really, because I liked the Angelica Zapata Alta line better.

Mendel:

2012 Semillon
2011 Malbec
2012 Malbec (barrel sample, unknown what wine it will go into yet)
2011 Unus
2010 Malbec Finca Remota

Vina Cobos

2011 Felino Chardonnay
2011 Bramare Chardonnay Marchiori Vineyard, Lujan de Cuyo
2011 Felino Malbec
2010 Bramare Malbec Uco Valley
2010 Bramare Malbec Lujan de Cuyo
2010 Bramare Malbec Rebon Vineyard, Uco Valley
2009 Bramare Malbec Marchiori Vineyard, Lujan de Cuyo

Alta Vista:

2012 Premium Torrontes
2011 Premium Bondara
2009 Malbec Single Vineyard Alizarine, Lujan de Cuyo
2009 Malbec Single Vineyard Temis, Uco Valley
2007 Alto

If people want comments on specific wines or wineries, let me know. I will say, however, that small production wines that are generally geared toward the domestic market and often wines from Uco Valley at a decent elevation tend to be more balanced, elegant, and have a lower alcohol content. I wish it were possible to get more of these wines here at home.

fut, will you be posting any notes on your blog?

I'd love the notes on the Catena Cabernet Franc.

It would probably be a good time to revive that, wouldn't it?

I could probably put some rough notes up at some point, but it depends on how things are back at the office this week.

For interesting things, I really liked the Humberto Canale Riesling (from Patagonia - I didn't even know that they grew Riesling in Argentina), everything from Passionate Wine - especially the Parral, and 2006 Catena Zapata Cabernet Franc Angelica Zapata Alta. Oh, and the Achaval-Ferrer Dolce was delicious too.

quote:

1990 Jaboulet La Chapelle Hermitage

One of my all-time favourites.

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
Dinner at Scaramouche tonight:

2002 Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Champans with Steak Tartare

2002 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon with venison and beef filet

]

Sounds like a good dinner! How was the Volnay?

2009 Réserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône
2010 Domaine de la Presidente Grands Classiques Cairanne

Went to a Burgundy tasting today...good Lord, what a tasting! Nothing new to report to those who follow Burgundy, but this was my first chance to try 100+ Burgundies in one setting and compare one to another amongst its peers.

To generalize, the '08s were drinking well, though not for the purists. The '09s had terrific balance and were the most well-rounded of the bunch. The '10s had nice fruit, but were also a bit more acidic than their '09 counterparts. I'd buy '09s before the '10s and '10s before the '08s...unless we are talking about Bernstein. The '10s from Bernstein were absolutely incredible and outshone all others this day- all had a lovely floral quality and elegance about them, but at $300+ per bottle, they had better be nice. I took very brief notes, which I will write up and post this week.

quote:

Originally posted by VinCentric:

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
Dinner at Scaramouche tonight:

2002 Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Champans with Steak Tartare

2002 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon with venison and beef filet

]

Sounds like a good dinner! How was the Volnay?

I would say not quite as good as it could/will be. Lots of oak, tannin and cranberry, but probably needs to be left in the cellar for another few years.