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Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience

  

 

MINNEAPOLIS FOOD & WINE SHOW GRAND TASTING - Minneapolis Convention Center (2/22/2010-2/23/2010)

Solid Private Wine Tasting at the Food & Wine Show. I liked the fact it was 4 hours of time to sample all the wines.

• 2005 Penfolds Shiraz RWT - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (2/22/2010)
  Dark purple. Black fruits, dust, floral, oak, and pepper. Concentrated wine with amazing balance. Tannins are medium and this is one of the better Penfolds wines I have sampled in some time with of course the exception of the Grange line. (94 pts.)
• 2006 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 128 - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2/22/2010)
  Dark purple. Cherry, blackberry and earth on the nose. On the palate nice fruit, spice, pepper, and earth. A little too bitter but that is the only flaw. Solid finish. (89 pts.)
• 2007 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407 - Australia, South Australia (2/22/2010)
  Dark purple. Dust, earth, cherry and plum. Nice on the palate and good weight. Medium finish and drinking well right now. Not too tannic. (88 pts.)
• 2007 Penfolds Bin 389 - Australia, South Australia (2/22/2010)
  Good color. Blackberries, cherry and earth. Good acidity and really smooth wine. One of the better efforts in years. (88 pts.)
• 2004 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Quet - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2/22/2010)
  Day four review. This wine finally opened for business. I have been doing a lot of experimenting with young wines and testing them over the course of 3 or 4 days. Aromas of white pepper, garrique, spices, raspberries and truffles. On the palate dirt, spices, garrique, pepper, raspberries and leather. Medium finish that is much less tannic then day one. The wine has really opened up and I really like the wine. I am always amazed and the transformation of good wine. (92 pts.)
• 2007 Montes Chardonnay Alpha - Chile, Aconcagua, Casablanca Valley (2/23/2010)
  Nice use of oak, lemon, mineral and orange peel. Solid finish and good example of what Chile can do with Chardonnay. (89 pts.)
• 2007 Montes Syrah Alpha - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley (2/23/2010)
  Nice aromas of spice, blackberries, and coffee. Solid palate and overall a balanced wine. Medium finish. (90 pts.)
• 2007 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Alpha - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley (2/23/2010)
  Spice, floral, and fruit on the nose. This wine is very drinkable and tannins are not over powering. Medium finish and should drink well for 5 years. (89 pts.)
• 2006 Montes Carménère Purple Angel - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley (2/23/2010)
  This wine was not decanted and it affected the score. On the nose if featured spice, floral, raspberry and mild oak. The palate was tight and showed floral, oak and earth. Medium finish. I could tell this wine has some potential but really needs 5 hours in a decanter or some bottle aging. (90 pts.)
• 2007 Etude Pinot Noir Appellation - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (2/23/2010)
  Floral, raspberries and strawberries dominate this wine. A very elegant wine but it lacks any wow factors. Drink me now. (89 pts.)
• 2006 Bodega Norton Malbec Estate Reserve - Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo (2/23/2010)
  Raspberries, floral and oak on the nose. The palate has sweet fruit, vanilla, mild oak and floral. Medium finish and showing good concentration. Really nice wine for the price. (90 pts.)
• 2005 Bodega Norton Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva - Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo (2/23/2010)
  Black fruits, mineral, coffee and raspberries. Good concentration and very smooth finish. (90 pts.)
• 2007 Pierre Amadieu Vacqueyras La Grangeliére - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras (2/23/2010)
  Mellow nose with spice, earth and fruit. Light wine with subtle spices and some fruit. Weak finish. (85 pts.)
• 2005 Roberts + Rogers Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (2/23/2010)
  Dark purple. Nose of spices, oak and vanilla. On the palate the wine is too tannic and shows little fruit. Over oaked. Maybe over time this will develop. (88 pts.)
• 2006 Shane Syrah The Unknown - USA, California, Sonoma County (2/23/2010)
  Very subtle nose with raspberry and minerals. On the palate it is almost watered down and shows raspberries and minerals. Short finish. (87 pts.)
• 2008 Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/23/2010)
  Mineral, lemon and grass. Refreshing wine but nothing special. Not in the class of Cliff Lede and it costs more. (88 pts.)
• 2005 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/23/2010)
  Dark wine. Great nose with cherry, plum, dust, and floral. Good use of oak and the added vanilla quality. Medium and concetrated finish. Medium tannins and this should age well. Decanted 3 hours. (93 pts.)
• 2005 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages - USA, California, Sonoma County (2/23/2010)
  Medium color. Nose of vanilla, plum and cherry. Very mellow palate with fruit and earth. Medium finish. Overall drinking well but it lacks concentration. (89 pts.)
• 2006 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Petite Sirah - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/23/2010)
  Dark purple. Great nose with blackberries, floral, and earth. Sweet fruit and shows balance. Medium and concentrated finish. Drinking well right now. (91 pts.)
• N.V. Ayala Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne (2/23/2010)
  Biscuit, chalk and spices with a medium finish. A little bit too sour. (87 pts.)
• 2007 Trinchero Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled Chicken Ranch Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford (2/23/2010)
  Dark wine with aromas of dust, a little barrel funk, oak and cherry. On the palate the wine coats the mouth with cherry, plum, dust, and oak. Medium and concentrated finish. Drinking well and tannins are medium. I see this wine improving in a few years but showing well today. (92 pts.)
• 2007 Trinchero Meritage - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/23/2010)
  Dark wine. Nice aromas of floral, raspberry and oak. This is a balanced wine without any flaws. Should drink well for five years. (90 pts.)
• 2007 Trinchero Petit Verdot St. Helena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/23/2010)
  Dark color. Nose of floral, cinnamon, spice and oak. Nice palate and medium finish. Solid everyday wine. (89 pts.)
• 2006 Artesa Chardonnay Estate Reserve Carneros - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (2/23/2010)
  Medium gold. Floral, lemons, and spices. Good use of oak and medium finish. (90 pts.)
• 2006 Artesa Pinot Noir - USA, California, North Coast, Carneros (2/23/2010)
  Light purple. Nose of raspberries and spice. Palate is a little watered down and short finish. Drinkable but so many better wines out there. (85 pts.)
• 2007 Duckhorn Vineyards Decoy - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/23/2010)
  Dark purple. Nose of spice, cherry and oak. Good structure and fun to drink. Should improve with some bottle age. (90 pts.)
• 2005 Ridgeline Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (2/23/2010)
  Medium purple. On the nose dust, spice, cherry and leather. Palate is solid and really shows a combo of fruit and earth elements. Medium finish and balanced wine. (90 pts.)
• 2001 Domaine des Gartieux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (2/23/2010)
  Cellar funk, raspberries, and gravel. On the palate there is good acidity and features Pauillac gravel. Medium finish. OK wine but not the 2000. (87 pts.)
• 2005 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Block Collection Walking Tree Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (2/23/2010)
  Medium purple. Nose of cherry, raspberries, and oak. Medium tannins and nice overall structure. Medium finish. (90 pts.)

 

The best wine was the 2005 Penfold RWT. Also the private area was not so crowded like the show floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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