TN: Random Collection of Wines in NYC

PENTHOUSE TASTING - Millennium Hilton - New York, NY (2/17/2012)

I was upgraded to the Penthouse Governor’s Suite at the Millennium Hilton and invited some friends over to enjoy the views and open some wine. Fun night.

  • NV Marie-Noelle Ledru Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut - France, Champagne, Ambonnay, Champagne
    This wasn’t a powerful Champagne - in the mold of, say, Krug - but much more feminine and exotic. Beautiful floral notes merged with sweet lemon and lime tones to create an elegant and racy champagne. (93 pts.)
  • 1995 Fiorano (Boncompagni Ludovisi) Malvasia di Candia Vino da Tavola Bianco Botte 32 - Italy, Latium, Vino da Tavola Bianco
    I enjoyed this very much. Beautiful fresh herbal tones, white florals and subtle apple and pear tones composed this wine. It had nice energy and complexity on the palate. I’d definitely seek this out again.
  • 2001 Weingut Knoll Riesling Kabinett Ried Pfaffenberg Steiner - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
    Seemed a bit tired and lacked the expressiveness that I expected. It had lithe tones of peach and lemon with subtle floral notes. The palate was, well, unprecise I thought and its muddled flavors lacked precision and clarity. (84 pts.)
  • 2007 Melsheimer Reiler Mullay-Hofberg Riesling Spätlese “Schäf” - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
    Nice tropical fruit tones with lots of minerals. The palate was sappy and round with vivid tropical fruit tones. Thought the acidity cut the fruit quite nicely. (89 pts.)
  • 2009 Paolo Bea Bianco Santa Chiara Umbria IGT - Italy, Umbria, Umbria IGT
    Fascinating wine. Subtle orange notes with white floral and mineral tones. The palate is silky, complex and layered. Seashell, lemon, fresh herbs, and very subtle honey. Loved this. (92 pts.)
  • 2010 Pheasant’s Tears Mtsvane - Georgia, Kakheti
    This was very bizarre. Nose smelled like bandaids, white florals, seashells and anise. The palate was lush with peach, apple, pear with lots of funky notes. Seemed somewhat disjointed, but was really interesting to track over the course of the evening.
  • 2006 Michel Gahier Savagnin Arbois - France, Jura, Arbois
    The nose didn’t scream Jura as I had expected, but was far more reserved and mysterious. It had beautiful lemon and mineral tones - almost Muscadet like - with a palate that was dense and flavorful. It had subtle honeysuckle, citrus, white linen and spice notes on the palate. Awesome stuff. (91 pts.)
  • 2009 Azienda Vitivincola Guttarolo Primitivo Gioia del Colle Anfora - Italy, Puglia, Gioia del Colle
    One of the more exotic and punishing wines I’ve come across. It has aromas of radish, cranberry, soil, compost and wet leaves. I consider myself a wine nerd, but even this pushed my comfort threshold. It had a strong sewage tone to the palate that was hard to shake. I love trying bottles like this, but wouldn’t recommend them for the faint of heart. (82 pts.)
  • 2009 Pierre Gonon St. Joseph - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
    Another great bottle of the precocious young syrah. Rich and textured black fruit, meat and spice on the palate with silky mouthfeel and great acidity. Great stuff. (91 pts.)
  • 2004 Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
    For a young Northern Rhone syrah, this had incredible depth on the nose and palate. Very rustic aromas of olives, meat, dark fruit and earth on the nose seemed to subtly whisper “syrah” each time I put my nose in the glass. The palate was silky and fine with more meat, olive and fresh floral tones - just a textbook example of a young Northern Rhone syrah in my book. (94 pts.)

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Posted from CellarTracker

What a fabulous, eclectic line-up!

I was eyeing a bottle of this the other day. It can be such an interesting wine. Now I’ll have to go back and pick up a bottle.

Was this red? White? Sweet?

If you think Georgian wines are freaky, check out the Moldovan ones.

Makes my syrah-loving mouth water.

But Parker said the 04 Northern Rhones were all underripe!

Huge thanks to Matt for planning this get together, and hosting us in what can only be described as a “baller” penthouse. Who needs romance when you have wines like these?

My notes and assessments are all pretty much in line with Matt’s.

I was really expecting much more from the Knoll. I’ve been a fan of '01 and the producer, but this just fell short… perhaps a much better wine to have drunk in 2008?

The pair of Northern Rhone Syrahs were highlights, along with the Paolo Bea Bianco. Another interesting thing to note is the front label of this wine. Complete rejection of critics!

Look at this guy at the Governor’s suite, hosting parties. I have to get my hands on these Levet. Before you NYCites swallow them all up. Cheers

You should hear what he’s had to say about Levet!

Good times indeed Matt, thanks for setting this up and hosting at the 55th floor!

I really liked the Ledru, one of the better grower champagnes I have had and reasonably priced for its quality. Maybe next time you are in town I will seek out a vintage bottling.

The Levet was my other favorite of the night, and Jessica’s too. Really pretty wine.

Sorry for bringing that Primitivo, it was definitely more intellectual than sensual. I hope the Ledru made up for it!

Full disclosure, I work for the importer of Fiorano and Melsheimer.

John, the Phesant’s Tear was a dry white. Very funky on the nose. A peach wrapped in a band aid is what we all sort of agreed on.
We took the bottle home and tried it the next day too, still “challenging”.

best $85 room ever.