Wine Tasting - Jeff's Sunday Dinner

SUNDAY DINNER - Jeff McHugh's (4/27/2008)

Sunday Dinner at my good friend Jeff McHugh's place. Dinner was an incredible spicy shrimp fettuccini with cheese & cream sauce, with appetizers of chevre, sharp cheddar and hummus prior.

• 2005 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M. - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Decanted 4 1/2 hours prior to first taste. INCREDIBLE! Upon decant, the aromas consumed my apartment. 4 1/2 hours later, the nose was still incredible fruit and pepper. The palate was overwhelmed with blueberry and pepper, with vanilla and mocha/coffee flavors. Wow. The biggest, most intense wine I've ever tasted. Absolutely incredible! Extrordinary - 97 points. (97 pts.)


• 2005 Château Cornelie - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
  Had immediately after 2005 Mitolo GAM, so didn't taste much until after cleansing palate with some strong chevre. Nice earthy notes, with great fruit integration. 3rd time I've tasted this one and it remains consistent. Excellent - 89 points. (89 pts.)


• 2006 2 Up Shiraz - Australia, South Australia
  This one had been open for several days, resealed with screwcap after each pour. Had opened up quite nicely, and heavy fruit and pepper showing through. Very smooth, with excellent integration. One of my favorite sub-$15 Shiraz's, and always a crowd pleaser. Outstanding - 90 points. (90 pts.)


• 2005 Zerba Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
  VERY NICE Syrah! Great blackberry, coffee, and smokey pepper nose and flavors, with great integration of acidity and tannins. One of my favorite wines of the evening. Outstanding - 92 points. (92 pts.)


• 2004 Liberalia Toro Cero - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
  Earthiness overwhelmed most of the other flavors, but this was a pop-and-pour. Recommend decant on this wine. Lovely fruit once the earth blew off, about an hour after being open. Outstanding - 90 points. (90 pts.)


• 2006 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Big blueberry fruit, with smooth tannins and heavy acidity. Recommend decanting for this one, as previously it helped with the integration. Outstanding - 90 points. (90 pts.)


• 2002 Paraiso Vineyards Syrah - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  While some great terrior flavors, unimpressed with the bitter finish. Might do better with some more time in the bottle, or a decant for several hours. Not sure, but not a great wine to be sure. OK fruit flavors, but that bitter finish ruins the wine. Very Good - 85 points. (85 pts.)


• 2006 Concha y Toro Carménère Casillero del Diablo Reserve - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley
  Never had this varietal before. Interesting nose of green pepper, mushroom, with a little fruit showing through. Once it had been open for awhile, the vegetal flavors faded and more berry fruits were apparent. Nice drinking wine, and at $9, great QPR! Excellent - 86 points. (86 pts.)


• 2006 O'Reilly's Pinot Noir Oregon - USA, Oregon
  Earth, strawberry, and some coffee. Lovely integration. One of the better sub-$20 Oregon Pinot's I've had. Excellent - 88 points. (88 pts.)


• 2005 Domaine Paul Autard Côtes du Rhône - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
  As per previous note, this wine really needs time to breathe. I highly recommend decanting, actually. Heavy alcohol and tannins, overshadowing the blackberry fruit and terrior. Good - 83 points. (83 pts.)

There were many other bottles of wine at the dinner party, but I either can't remember them, or didn't get a chance to taste them.

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Wine Tasting - Epicurean's Australian Wines Portfolio

EPICUREAN WINES PORTFOLIO TASTING - Liner & Elsen Wine Merchants, Portland, OR (4/25/2008)

3 flights of Australian/New Zealand wines from importer Epicurean Wines, put on by local Portland distributor The Merchant of Vino,and hosted at Liner & Elsen Wine Merchants, 2222 NW Quimby Street, Portland, OR 97210.

White wines from Australia and New Zealand

• 2006 SlipStream Chardonnay - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
  Nice wine, pear flavors with some citrus. Surprising sweetness. Very Good - 85 points. (85 pts.)


• 2005 Glen Eldon Riesling Eden Valley - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
  Smooth, lovely citrus nose. Lots of citrus fruit, with sharp acidity on the finish. Good/Very Good - 84 points. (84 pts.)


• 2005 Poonawatta Estate Riesling The Eden - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
  Zesty! Definite ZING on the tongue. Interesting grapefruit flavors. Some mineral on the finish. Good - 83 points. (83 pts.)


• 2007 SlipStream Sauvignon Blanc - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Pemberton
  Very young! Ugly nose, bitter with melon and sharp citrus. Not a style (or varietal) I like. Below Average - 72 points. (72 pts.)


• 2006 Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
  Again, lots of bitterness, melon and citrus, although better than the previous wine. Not a varietal I like. Average - 74 points. (74 pts.)

Lighter Australian/New Zealand Reds

• 2006 Catalina Sounds Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Nelson
  Smooth, some raspberry and pepper with a short and bitter finish. Good - 82 points. (82 pts.)


• 2006 Earthworks Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Sour cherry, earthiness, some bitterness on the finish. tasty, but I've definitely had better Shiraz. Good - 84 points. (84 pts.)


• 2006 Langmeil Three Gardens - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Nice GSM blend. Plummy, with some earthiness/minerality that I like. Bitter finish that goes on awhile. Also some alcohol heat. Very Good - 85 points. (85 pts.)


• 2006 Charles Cimicky Shiraz Trumps - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Surprisingly bright. Woody flavors, perhaps the oak? Great fruit, but not as well integrated as it could be. Might need more time. Very Good - 85 points. (85 pts.)


• 2005 Mr. Riggs Shiraz - Viognier - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
  Beautiful nose! Just lovely to smell. If I could stick a glass of this under my nose all day, I'd be a happy man. Floral notes from the Viognier really make the nose shine. Dramatic taste as well, with some of the floral notes carrying through to the palate. Great fruit as well. Darker than you'd expect, with some white wine in there, but wine guy says that's what happens. Odd, that. Excellent - 88 points. (88 pts.)

Big Australian Reds and a Port

• 2006 Langmeil Shiraz Valley Floor - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Deep flavors, seems like they go on forever, but not tasting too big or wild, as Aussie Shiraz often can. Great fruit flavors of blueberry and plum, with some vanilla in there. Solid integration. Excellent - 88 points. (88 pts.)


• 2005 Kaesler Shiraz Stonehorse - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Lovely Shiraz! Nose is huge, with cherry and earth. Big fruit with lots of cherry and tar flavors. Not the alcohol heat you'd expect either. Very full-bodied. Finish lasts and lasts. Outstanding - 91 points. (91 pts.)


• 2006 Epsilon Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Very nice effort with great QPR. Blueberry, pepper, earth...delicious. Outstanding - 91 points. (91 pts.)


• 2005 Glaetzer Shiraz The Bishop - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Excellent nose of blackberry and pepper. Big fruit, just gobs of flavors rolling around the tongue. Outstanding wine! Amazingly rich and elegant. Wine of the Tasting for me. Outstanding - 93 points. (93 pts.)


• 2002 Gralyn Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
  Although this is a 2002 vintage, still showing surprising youth. Tannins are huge and mouth-drying, and this is even after being open for almost 2 hours. Great fruit, very deep flavors of currant and cassis. Overshadowed by the tannins however. Excellent/Outstanding - 90 points. (90 pts.)


• 2006 Tatiarra Shiraz Cambrian - Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
  Very young. Big wine that definitely needs more time. Can still get huge, concentrated flavors of blueberry and blackberry coming through with a nice peppery finish. Tannins are big as well. 3-5 more years in bottle and this wine will blow your socks off. #2 wine of the tasting for me. Outstanding - 92 points. (92 pts.)


• 2002 Kaesler Touriga Nacional - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Decided that I dislike fortified wines. Made the mistake of swirling this one in the glass and then taking a big sniff. I think I burned off all of my nose hair. LOTS of licorice aromas and flavors. Good - 83 points. (83 pts.)

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