TN: TN: Huet, SQN, Spotteswood, ZH, Ussegglio, HL, Cos, Borgogno and lots more

WINE TALK
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TN: HUET, SQN, SPOTTESWOOD, ZH, USSEGGLIO, HL, COS, BORGOGNO AND LOTS MORE - (12/13/2009)

A bunch of us gathered at my friends Tom and Jenna’s home to congratulate Roland and wish him well. With the exception of the Carlisles, all wines were serve non-blind over about 4 hours. Lots of good food and conversation were shared as well.
This group tends to really appreciate whites and I thought the flight out performed the red flight as a whole.

  • 1996 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Heimbourg - France, Alsace, Turckheim, Alsace AOC
    Deep golden in color. The nose has lychees and some pineapple. This is dry. On the palate, this has lychee but the pineapple is more the rind, kind of bitter. I liked this wine although some might find it older. Quite interesting. (91 pts.)
  • 2001 Müller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Spätlese - Germany, Pfalz
    Light golden in color. The nose is very nice with wet rocks and some citrus. Sweet and youthful on the palate. Not much complexity but it still seems young so perhaps it will gain some. Very tasty wine that some liked more than I. (90 pts.)
  • 2002 Huët Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Haut-Lieu - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
    I had not had this in a while. This bottle was great. Golden color. The nose was awesome from the start. Oranges, honey, and floral tones. Tight on the palate, but going back to it later in the night, it was explosive. Slightly sweet which was interesting as this is markedly less sweet than two years ago. Long finish. A Wow white that will get better. Most people pegged this a one of the WOTN’s. (94 pts.)
  • 2002 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
    Another white that was in a great place. Green/gold in color. The nose has limes, white pepper, and grapefruits. Maybe a note of asparagus as well. Dry. On the palate, limes and shite pepper. Complex with great acidity. Long finish. This is really interesting and drinking quite well. (91 pts.)
  • 2001 Nigl Riesling Senftenberger Piri Privat - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kremstal
    Light golden in color. The nose is sweet with lots of pineapple and petrol. On the palate, however, this is very dry. Slightly bitter. Notes of avacodo and limes. This has a nice complexity and I think if I had an evening with the wine, I would like it even more. (91 pts.)
  • 2002 Verget Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Vieilles Vignes de Minots - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
    This has really come together. The nose is nice with lemon chiffon and minerals but not overwheliming oak. Crisp and nice to drink. On the palate, vanilla and lemons with ncie acidity. I liked this more than I expected. Very good showing. (91 pts.)

A Rose.

  • 2006 Sine Qua Non Autrement Dit - USA, California
    My First SQN Rose. Pink/Ruby in color. The nose has watermelons and alcohol. On the palate, this is simple and drinkable but not shwoing much interest. Mostly strawberries, but I don’t taste the high alcohol. A nice Rose, but I don’t know what these cost. (88 pts.)

The Red Flight:

  • 2001 Sine Qua Non Pinot Noir No. 6 - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
    Some thought this “short” or over the hill, but I really liked it in this mature stage. Slightly earthy with cherries and a lsight mushroom nose. It is no longer a fruit bomb, in fact, i would not argue that the fruit is passed prime but I really liked the tertiary notes. Complex with nice cherries. Seemed to taste like Oregon fruit to me. I think I was at odds with the group on this one though. (93 pts.)
  • 2005 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
    This was a very nice modern Cal Cab. Purple in color. The nose has chocolate and cassis. Also some black raspberries. Huge nose. Just as huge on the palate. While there is oak, it is not bothersome. Cassis, cedar and cocoa. Long finish. Very young, but seems to have the stuffing to develop for a decade or more. Very nice wine. (95 pts.)
  • 1970 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva Antichi Vigneti Propri - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    I brought this. Slow O’d for 6 hours and decanted when I arrived. It got better all night long (I was surprised). pale ruby/brown in color. The nose has truffles, tar and roses with a good amount of slightly dried cherries. On the palate, this is complex and layered with plenty of fruit left. Slightly thin, but overall a very nice aged Barolo. Not for everyone, but I liked it. (91 pts.)
  • 2000 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
    This was a WOW wine and almost everyone’s WOTN. I drank it early and checked back later and it was consistent. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has black cherries, garrigue and lavender. Very complex with great depth. Great texture and intrigue on the palate. Cherries, dark cherries, dried leaves and lavender. Long finish. Great balance. Just a WOW. (98 pts.)
  • 2000 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
    Inky purple. This has lots of oak and not much fruit left. Black raspberries. Tannic. Faded fruit. It is harsh with dark cherries. Perhaps it just was disappointing to me as it was a fine wine. Just not what I would have expected. Too much oak left and not enough fruit. (88 pts.)
  • 2001 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
    Dusty and alcoholic on the nose. Slight fruit (cherries) but really not showing much. The palate also seemed quite wanting. Black raspberries and alcohol. Is this closed? Slightly corked? Who knows, but this bottle left me wanting. No real flaws, just not enough. (87 pts.)
  • 1999 Château Cos d’Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
    Ruby in color. The nose has cigar tobacco, cassis and light cedar notes. On the palate, this is simple and restrained. A nice enough Bordeaux but not really shoing much. Just ok. (88 pts.)
  • 2005 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon HL Herb Lamb Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
    This had been decanted but I am not sure for how long. Earthy with lots of dill and cassis. On the palate, this has a strange herbal/dill note. Cassis as well. It finishes with drying tannins. That said, it iss a pleasant and maybe a bit better Cal Cab. Not near the class of the Spotteswood, but nice. I think I liked it more than many. (90 pts.)
  • 1998 Domaine André François Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
    A nose that is earthy with black raspberries and licorice. Nice attack but hin on the id palate. Bitter cherries on the palate. Past prime. Clipped finish. Not bad, but I would have thought more from the vintage. (88 pts.)
  • 1997 S. Maddalena mumeterhof - Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige
    Ruby in color. The nose has cassis, bell pepper and is complex. Not overtly ripe but classic. On the palate, this is restrained, but has a lot of complexity. Cassis and bell pepper flavors. Nice finish. (89 pts.)
  • 2001 Prats and Symington Douro Chryseia - Portugal, Douro
    I liked this wine on release a few years ago, but have not had it in a long time. It has not held up. Not much fruit left. Some cherries. Lots of alcohol. What fruit there was is bitter. A green streak as well. Drinkable but disappointing. (86 pts.)
  • 2005 Saxum 44 Month Barrel Age James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
    My first time trying this wine. I opened it late and it needs time. I took a glass home and the wine was much better. I suspect this will gain a point or two more. It is more refined that the regular version. Still has the characcteristic lightness of being. That despite it being a huge wine. Great fruit. Not a lot of complexity at this stage. Black raspberries, grilled meats and black pepper. Long finish. (94 pts.)

The Carlisle Flight. I created a separate event for this flight for discussion purposes.

A dessert.

  • 2005 Sine Qua Non Roussanne Atlantis Fe2O3~3e - USA, California
    Pinkish/golden in color. The nose has noney and pineapple. Thick and unctuous. On the palate, this is slightly cloying and very sweet. Sugary finish. Just too sweet for my taste to really love it. It is very nice but I prefer more acidity. (91 pts.)

Good luck to you Roland, wherever your travels take you. You always have a home in Cleveland!
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