Memorable wines from the first half of the year

WINE TALK
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2001 d’Yquem–had this at two different events, and both times proved that it is the finest young Sauternes that I have had…ever.
1990 la Conseillante–as close to a perfect bottle of Bordeaux that I have had. Neck and neck with '90 Leo Poy
1996 Sterling SVR from Magnum
2008 Rivers Marie Thieriot Vineyard Chardonnay
2007 Herb Lamb EII Cabernet–one of the best young Napa Cabs I have had

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Can’t keep up with most of you guys but…

1995 Ridge Zinfandel Nervo
1990 Stony Hill Riesling
2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Murto
2000 Mastroberardino Irpinia Naturalis Historia
2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese
2008 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Nefarious
1993 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon
1989 David Bruce Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
2009 Grey Stack Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Rosemary’s Block

Oh and Howard, all the TNs are here and on Cellartracker. [tease.gif]

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some that stand out include

99 Truchot Combottes
07 Sauzet P-M Combettes
91 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva
83 JJ Prum W-S Spatlese

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alex, both of the times I had it, it was an amazing wine (had it with matt almost two months ago)

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Great list. Truchot’s 1999s are amazing and the 83 Prum is one of my all time favorite Spatlesen.

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I would love to get my wines on Cellartracker but the thought of entering all the wines into the database is just too much for me. [truce.gif]

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2000 Testarossa Chardonnay Michaud Vineyard
1990 d’Angerville Clos des Ducs
1996 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz
1999 Pegau Reservee (last night’s - Lot 1)
1989 Chateau Montrose
1992 Thackrey Orion
1975 Chateau Latour (from the Crypt - a stash not particularly properly maintained over the last 35 years)
2002 Raveneau Chablis Valmur

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I’ll play, if for no other reason than to add some low-end perspective… [cheers.gif]

N.V. Sandeman Sherry Old Solera Royal Ambrosante
- I had never thought much of sherry before trying this, but now it’s on my radar

2005 Arcadian “Sleepy Hollow” Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah
- affordable cool-climate syrah that’s right up my alley

2000 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Generations
- from a mediocre vintage, but I thought it was drinking well

2005 Beau Vigne “Juliet” Cabernet Sauvignon
- nothing profound to say…I just really enjoyed this

2001 Hans Lang Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Spatlese Goldkapsel
- probably the best riesling I’ve had to date, not that that’s saying too much

2006 Charles Baur “Pfersigberg” Gewurztraminer Grand Cru
- ditto, but with gewurztraminer

…and a special award for the most unusual wine I had this spring…

2002 Henry of Pelham Riesling Icewine
- My tasting note: Consumed over 2-3 hours. Baked apples, buttery pie crust, and a dense, slightly funky floral nose at first. Later on, mulling spice notes became more prominent, and by the end of the bottle it seemed to have more of a poached pear character, with a subtle whiff of something like petrol or nail polish. Nice acidity throughout, and probably would have been nice with a fruity dessert or cheese plate. Seems like it might have some life to it, but I’m not sure it will improve.

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my favorite wines this year so far:

90 La mish
90 Leoville Poyferre
96 Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Asili
90 Pichon Baron
94 Dunn Howell Mountain
05 Conterno Cascina Francia Barolo
90 Alain Robert Blanc de Blancs Reserve Le Mesnil

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SQN Heart Chorea
SQN Poker Face
SQN Atlantis Syrah
SQN HDR memorable because its such a rare wine, not as good as the previous three to me.
Dal Forno Amarone 96 I think
2005 Schrader Tokalon
83 Yquem
07 Maybach
05 Araujo Eisele

07 Bryant, Colgin and Scarecrow were memorable because they left me scratching my head. (Colgin might have been 05 to lazy to look)

I think one thing these lists do is give you an idea of the style of wines people prefer.

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Hey there - have been trying to drink some of my older Cali Cabs to make room for the 2007s. Some of the highlights:

1997 Beringer Private Reserve
1997 Fisher Lamb Vineyard
2001 Merus
1999 Araujo Eisele Vineyard Cab
1999 Karl Lawrence Reserve Herb Lamb Vineyard
1999 Bryant Family
2009 Kristine Ashe Entre Nous Rose (my first Rose!)

So far so good in 2010! [thumbs-up.gif]

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I drink too many to remember them all without having to refer to my blog. Anyway, from the 1st January 2010 to date, the particularly memorable ones have been*****:

*****None of these were “tasting portions”. Usually 2-5 persons per bottle; very rarely up to 8 persons per bottle.

1990 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes (6th January 2010)

1982 Palmer (18th January 2010)

1982 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (22nd January 2010 - I’ve had very many of these, but this was one of the best bottles I’ve had)

1986 Cos d’Estournel (22nd January 2010 - same goes with this bottle)

1991 Château Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (6th February 2010)

1987 Dominus (6th February 2010)

1988 Dom Perignon (13th February 2010 - had countless of these over the years, but this was particularly good)

1987 Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Gran Reserva Especial (20th February 2010)

1995 Antinori Solaia (late February 2010)

1982 Château Grand Puy Lacoste (late February 2010)

Añada 1990 Lustau Oloroso Abocado (21 March 2010)

2001 Château de Fargues (24 March 2010)

1974 Contino Rioja Reserva (26 March 2010)

1949 Château Climens (31 March 2010)

2001 (La Rioja Alta) Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial (3 April 2010)

1982 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva (3 April 2010)

1991 López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva (4 April 2010)

1998 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Rioja Gran Reserva (4 April 2010)

2003 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Auslese (Goldkapsel) (10 April 2010)

1985 Château Calon Ségur (28 April 2010)

1996 Champagne Henriot Brut Millésimé (20 May 2010)

1994 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (20 May 2010)

1990 Château Figeac (late May 2010)

1995 Château Batailley (25 May 2010)

1988 Château Margaux (25 May 2010)

1975 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (28 May 2010)

1994 Bodegas R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva (31 May 2010)

1969 D’Oliveira Reserva Sercial Madeira (3 June 2010)

1999 Mouton Rothschild (9th June 2010)

1995 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 (12 June 2010)

1982 Les Forts de Latour (19 June 2010)

1989 Pichon Lalande (19 June 2010 - had many, many of these as well, but this bottle was probably the 2nd or 3rd best one I’ve had)

1993 Domaine Rossignol-Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru (25 June 2010)