NYC Trade Portfolio Tasting Notes

WINE TALK
1

Quick and dirty first impressions of various recent portfolio trade tastings. Short and not comprehensive list feel free to flame away.

WOTTs- Carlisle Montafi Ranch Zin- Holy crap! If I get my hands on any, its all mine.

Excellent
2006 Maybach - I think TRB is dialing back in a good away, the team from that recent dinner may know better.
2006 Realms - Dr. Crane, Farella and Tempest stood out but all were killer
2006 Arietta’s H Block- seriously, Andy hit a home run here. American Cheval Blanc (or at least close) and the Quartet is nice addition to the portfolio.
2006 Crocker & Starr Cab- the CF was good the Cab was outstanding.
Windgap- 07 Pinot Gris, the 07 Single vyd Chard and the 06 Syrah, Pax has dialed it way back and its good.
Sine Qua Non Raven Grenache- Pour this over me like syrup
2007 Eric Kent Pinot Windsor Oaks and the Chard- the SY is what they made the name on but these are good.

Fun Finds
Cambiata Albarino and Tannat- whoda thunk they’d plant it in CA, but it works.

Surprises
Fritz
Ovid Cab - really quite nice.

Keep an an eye on
Lillian

Cheers kids. [cheers.gif]

2

Very nice Taylor. Thanks for the quick notes. Any of these making it to Bridge St.?

3

Taylor, I agree.
The Realms were all great once again this year. The Dr Crane my early favoite.
Missed was PAX and Arnot Roberts

4

Taylor - I take it SQN was poured at this tasting? I’m surprised. I would have thought it’s too highly coveted (and highly allocated) to make an appearance at a tasting.

5

As did I.

And the table was empty-- not 12 deep!

I love it when people have no idea what is next to them. Maggie Harrison (Manfred’s long time Asst. Winemaker) was pouring and it was a treat to try the SQN Grenache and Syrah and her Lillian.

The Grenache was killer.

6

Arnot makes such a tiny production. I would have liked to taste them though. What did you think of the Windgap? And I agree on the Dr. Crane call for the Realms.

7

Probably all of them depending on what we can get our hands on! [beg.gif]

8

Did not try the windgap. Thoughts?

9

Pax has really dialed back the wines with this new project versus the old Pax label. This was something that I really liked seeing a winemaker go out and try to do. I think one of the chards was 12.1 ALC or something.

2007 Pinot Gris- This was a standout and different. Color was fantastic and he had in on the lees for a good while giving it a different character than some other Pinot Gris out there. In any case it was a good easy drinker and super likable.

2007 Chardonnay Sonoma county- Really nice as well, done in neutral barrels like all the wines. I have been off heavy handed chards for a while so this was fitting my style.

2007 Broseau Vineyard Chardonnay- This one was Chablis like for sure, I’d say Premier to Grand Cru level.

2006 Syrah- Aged in barrel for 24 months, but actually a really light styled Syrah and I was surprised how much I like it.

2006 Grenache- Much bigger Grenache than expected. This wine had a lot of structure. It was nice across the board but this one is the black sheep of the line up in terms overall style espically since it is coming from Grenache.

10

Thanks. Something to look for, especially the Syrah.