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Notes from a tasting of wines which have scored over 95 points, held Saturday, April 2, 2005, at the Wine Exchange in Orange, CA. Twenty wines were poured for a tasting fee of $59.

Overall impressions: always a good idea for a tasting, the Wine Exchange puts this event on at least once a year to show off some of the best - albeit more expensive, wines in the store. Everything here had to garner at least 95 points from either the Wine Advocate or the Wine Spectator. This selection included the usual suspects from California, France, Italy, Australia, and Spain.

These were all stunning wines. The Verite Le Desir topped my list of favorites, followed by the Clos St. Martin and Ch. Suduiraut. There were no surpirses or disappointments here, though I'd wished the Clos de la Roche had been a little more open and friendly. Time will undoubtedly improve the situation with most of these wines, though there's hardly room for improvement. Which brings me to another point -- it's interesting, in the face of scores staring right back at you from the tasting sheet, to try and maintain your own sense of palate while rating/ranking these wines. I found that I almost universally ranked the wines lower than the pros. But, I can live with that.

Tasting Notes

2002 Newton Chardonnay - Napa Valley. $39.99. Light yellow color.Nose of ripe apple and pear, with a nice toasty dried pastry background note. Slightly sweet mouthfeel initially, but the complexity takes over and the baby fat falls away before mid-palate. Smooth and refined, excellent balance and finish. (a Wine Advocate 96 -- about 94 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A Overall score: A

1999 Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi Piano di Montevergine - Campania Italy. $49.99. Very dark ruby garnet color. Nose of dark berry and black olive, along with some toasted bread. Very smooth mouthfeel, flavors of dark fruit, herbs, and light touch of liquid smoke. Tannins appear to have melted away, and the balance and approachability is perfect. 100% Aglianico di Taurasi. (a Wine Advocate 95 -- about 92 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Vietti Barolo Rocche - Piemonte, Italy. $79.99. Medium ruby garnet color. Nose of dark cherry, plank-smoked prosciutto, grilled bread, and licorice. Lots of dried dark cherry flavor, excellent balance, medium-full tannins through long finish. (a Wine Spectator 95 -- about 90 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 E. Pira & Figli Barolo - Cannubi Vnyd. $69.99. Dark ruby garnet color. Slightly sweet nose of smoked meat, dark cherry, toast, and herbs. Full, rich and chewy mouthfeel, excellent balance, lots of fine-grained tannins still present through the very long finish. (a Wine Spectator 96 -- about 94 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A Overall score: A

1999 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino - Montosoli Vnyd. $79.99. Medium garnet amber color. Nose of dried cherries, clove and mint, with a light meaty scent. Packed to the rafters with dried cherry fruit, and more than a little tannin left. Absolutely delicious mouthfeel and aftertaste, provided you can pry your tongue off the roof of your mouth. (a Wine Spectator 95 -- about 92 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

1999 Clos Mogador - Priorat. $79.99. Dark ruby garnet color. This blend of Grenache and Carignane seems packed with dark fruit, herbs of cumin and sage, and grilled bread. Big mouthfeel, nice meaty flavor to the dark raspberry fruit, full and rich on the palate, huge long finish. (a Wine Advocate 95 -- about 93 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A Overall score: A


2001 Dom. Bois de Boursan Cuvee Felix - Chateauneuf du Pape. $76.99.
Medium dark ruby garnet color. Nose of raspberry and wild strawberry, with touches of herb and vine. Slightly sweet in mouthfeel, with the flavors mirroring the aromas (frequently not the case), with a nice herbed flavor profile, lovely balance and long finish. (a Wine Advocate 95 -- about 92 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Dom. du Pegau - Chateauneuf du Pape. $54.99. Medium dark ruby garnet color. Nose of raspberry, orange tea, and strawberry. Slightly sweet in mouthfeel (more than the Boursan), yet fuller and meatier in taste, with a touch of orange zest, excellent balance and finish. (a Wine Advocate 95 -- about 94 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A Overall score: A


2000 Clos St. Martin- St. Emilion. $99.99.
Very dark ruby color. Fleshy nose of dark cherry and plum, along with espresso and sweet pipe tobacco. Big mouthfeel, yet very smooth and tactile. Beautifully balanced through mid-palate, there seems to be a slight drop-out toward the back end, but the wine finishes nicely, and the aftertaste seems to go on forever. Just beautiful! (a Wine Spectator 96 -- about 95 in my book.)
Aroma score: A+ Taste score: A Overall score: A


2000 Ch. Calon Segur - St. Estephe. $79.99.
Dark ruby color. Beautiful nose of bittersweet chocolate, kirsch, and off-sweet cigar box. Big mouthfeel, but also a little unyielding at this point. Off-sweet flavors on the palate, chewy consistency, very nice balance and long finish. (a Wine Advocate 95+ -- about 93 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A- Overall score: A-


2001 Verite Le Desir - Sonoma County. $99.99.
Very dark ruby color. Beautiful seamless nose of dark cherry, plum, cocoa, tobacco, black olive and toasted grain. Lightly sweet in mouthfeel, full and rich throughout, excellent balance of fruit and acids, long luxurious finish. Double wow! (a Wine Advocate 95 -- about 97 in my book.)
Aroma score: A+ Taste score: A+ Overall score: A+

 

My Favorites - In Order of Preference

2001 Verite Le Desir - Sonoma County. $99.99.
2000 Clos St. Martin- St. Emilion. $99.99.
2001 Ch. Suduiraut - Sauternes. $79.99.
NV R.L. Buller & Son Rutherglen Rare Tokay - Australia. $54.99.
2001 Dominus - Napa Valley. $99.99.
2002 Newton Cahrdonnay - Napa Valley. $39.99.
2000 Dom. du Pegau - Chateauneuf du Pape. $54.99.
2000 E. Pira & Figli Barolo - Cannubi Vnyd. $69.99.
2001 Ch. La Tour Blanche - Sauternes. $59.99.
1999 Clos Mogador - Priorat. $79.99.
2000 Ch. Calon Segur - St. Estephe. $79.99.
2002 Gibson Shiraz - Barossa Vale. $35.99.
1999 Yalumba Octavius Shiraz - Barossa. $68.99.
2001 Henschke Shiraz - Mt. Edelstone Vnyd. $59.99.
1999 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino - Montaosoli Vnyd. $79.99.
2001 Dom. Bois de Boursan Cuvee Felix - Chateauneuf du Pape. $76.99.
1999 Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi Piano di Montevergine - Campania Italy. $49.99.
2002 Foreau Vouvray Moelleux Domaine du Clos Naudin. $39.99.
2000 Vietti Barolo Rocche - Piemonte, Italy. $79.99.
2002 Dominique Laurent - Clos de la Roche. $119.99.

2001 Dominus - Napa Valley. $99.99. Dark ruby color. Nose of black raspberry, clove, with hints of eucalyptus and sharp cheddar. Off-sweet mouthfeel, chewy and smooth, with plenty of fine-grained tannins through the long finish and longer aftertaste. (a Wine Advocate 95 -- about 94 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A Overall score: A

2002 Dominique Laurent - Clos de la Roche. $119.99. Medium garnet color. Tobacco-infused nose of wild strawberry and black cherry. Slightly tart on the palate initially, sweet-sour flavors, excellent balance, and nice long finish. (a Wine Spectator 95 -- about 90 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2002 Gibson Shiraz - Barossa Vale. $35.99. Very dark ruby color. Classic Barossa nose of dark cherry and cake spices, these nicely integrated aromas seem to lean even more to clove and nutmeg. Mouthfeel is similarly packed with dark fruit and cake spices, and has a nice juicy sweet-sour quality, dipping just a bit during the medium-long finish. (a Wine Advocate 95 -- about 93 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Henschke Shiraz - Mt. Edelstone Vnyd. $59.99. Very dark ruby color. Spicy nose of dark fruit, vanilla, and herbs. Delicious flavors of black cherry and pomegranate, with a seamless texture of fine-grained tannins, excellent balance and medium-long finish. (a Wine Advocate 95 -- about 92 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

1999 Yalumba Octavius Shiraz - Barossa. $68.99. Dark ruby color. Significantly ripe in the nose, and nearly Tawny Port-like with its raisin and pecan aromas. Slightly sweet in mouthfeel, quite ripe as well, and the flavors seem to approach a late harvest style. Very well made, seamless texture, very nice balance and long finish. (a Wine Advocate 96 -- about 93 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2002 Foreau Vouvray Moelleux Domaine du Clos Naudin. $39.99. Light yellow amber color. Refreshing nose of apple, pear, and apricot. Nice light sweetness on the palate, this wine feels like a lighter version of a Sauternes with a twist of lemon. Beautifully balanced and nice sweet crisp finish. (a Wine Spectator 95 -- about 91 in my book.)
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Ch. La Tour Blanche - Sauternes. $59.99. Medium yellow amber color. Fascinating nose of pear and peach, with an interesting addition of lime and mint. Thick in mouthfeel, with beautiful concentration and balance, and that intriguing mint flavor seems to liven up the pear and peach. (a Wine Advocate 97 -- about 93 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A Overall score: A

2001 Ch. Suduiraut - Sauternes. $79.99. Medium yellow amber color. Seamless nose of pear, peach, and a touch of orange blossom. Slightly thick in mouthfeel, amazingly smooth and balanced, very long lingering finiah. Gorgeous!(a Wine Advocate 98 -- about 95 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A Overall score: A

NV R.L. Buller & Son Rutherglen Rare Tokay - Australia. $54.99. Medium amber brown color. Nose of toasted pecan, caramel, and creme brulee. Slightly thick on the palate, with flavors of pecan pie, grilled peach, and a fascinating minerality. Beautiful balance, and seamless finish. (a Wine Advocate 100 -- about 95 in my book.)
Aroma score: A Taste score: A Overall score: A


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