Had a big event in Wilmington, DE last night, some outstanding wines available to taste. Here is what I got to try every chance I got running from my table:
-2005 Ridge Montebello ($120+): Deeper and richer than the '04( which is very tight!) and more approachable too. Good integration of oak, nice firm tannins. Me likey. Keeper.
-2005 Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot ($75+): Pretty rich merlot, a bit toasty oak, darker fruits and cocoa, lush and round. I could drink this alot.
-2005 Nicolas Catena Zapata ($105+): 98 Pts. Parker…that was the advertisement. Dark, focused fruit, but restrained on the palate, with a very long, long finish. Should age quite well.
-2007 Chateau de Sancerre Blanc ($21+): like drinking liquified wet stones. I loved this style, as I prefer intense minerality. Acids were on check on the finish, wanting me to drink more, and more, and more… Not a shy wine, so if you don’t like sleek and racy minerality, stay away from this.
-2002 Chateau Phelan Segur and 2002 Chateau Calon Segur ($60 - 80):Balanced and soft, however, I don’t have enough experience with bordeaux’s to compare them to anything. I just wanted to try them because I could.
Not something you normally hear about a young Calon Segur, especially from a hard vintage like 2002. I have a couple resting that I have not planned to touch for a few years based on my expectations.
Sounds like a good Sancerre alright. I love Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. For sauv blancs, these are my go-to areas. Excellent with goat cheese and simply prepared shellfish. I don’t recall if I’ve posted this before, but in 2007, the eastern Loire’s Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé generally performed the best in the Loire.
-2002 Chateau Phelan Segur and 2002 Chateau Calon Segur ($60 - 80):Balanced and soft, however, I don’t have enough experience with bordeaux’s to compare them to anything. I just wanted to try them because I could.
I’ve tasted very few 2002s, '02 Calon Ségur and Phélan Ségur not being among them. I do like the generally stern and austere wines of St-Estèphe and heavily favor Cos d’Estournel (atypical of the appellation, in my opinion) and Montrose (very typical and needs a lot of time to show properly).
It doesn’t sound like either '02s grabbed you, but I’m not surprised. I have yet to meet an '02 Médoc that I find worth buying.
I believe so, but, honestly, couldn’t tell you now what I specifically thought of it. I don’t take down notes of all wines I’ve tried and can no longer rely on my memory for specifics given the number I taste.
I’ve not made any notes on any 2002 Bdx except for a handful from Sauternes. In fairness, however, those red Bdx I have tried were only 5 years from vintage - so still very young. I wouldn’t want to prematurely condemn anything, it wouldn’t be right.
For whatever it is worth, of the 2nd wines of “top growths”, my favorites are Les Forts de Latour and Pagodes de Cos. Pagodes is most always very charming and much, much cheaper than Les Forts.
Of particular note is the '96 Pagodes de Cos. I entered it as a dark horse in 2 separate International Wine & Food Society blind tastings of 1996 top 2nd wines and cru bourgeois (including, among others, Bahans HB, Pavillon Rouge, Les Forts, Carruades, Clos du Marquis, Sociando Mallet, etc.) and ithe '96 Cos finished within the top 3 both times.
After first trying it, I bought 2 cases at around $36/bottle. Now, as far as I know, the cheapest you can get it is $65 at Flickinger Wines in Chicago. I recommend it highly even at that price.