We just brought in a ton of new champagne to get everyone in
gear for the holidays. Most of these bottles we're from the
Terry Theise Grower's tasting that we attended last week.
What a fantastic event!
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut Champagne
Score:90 Points, The Wine Spectator, October 2008.
Aubry Premier Cru Brut Champagne
This champagne shows off tightly focused, steely fruit with a
little bit of pepper. It's citrusy and bright on the palate,
with a leafy, fresh herb character to it. Very nice and quite complex.
Chartogne - Taillet Sainte Anne Brut Champagne
Score: 89 Points, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
H. Billiot Fils Brut Reserve Champagne
Big bold flavors, lots of richness with great red berry intensity
that lasts till the finish.
Pierre Gimonnet & Fils 1er Cru Blanc de Blanc Brut Champagne
Score: 92 Points Stephen Tanzer's, International Wine Cellar.
Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Cuvee de Reserve Champagne
Creamy and toasty with berries and melons on the palate.
Very pretty and delicate champagne.
Vintage Goodies
A.Margaine 2002 Blanc de Blanc Special Club Champagne
A mouth full of berries riding on a medium toasty and yeasty body.
Pierre Gimonnet & Fils 2000 Special Club Brut Champagne
Score:92 Points Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar.
Pierre Gimonnet 2004 Fleuron Brut Champagne
Score: 91 Points Stephen Tanzer, The International Wine Cellar.
Pierre Peters 2000 Les Chetillons Cuvee Speciale Brut Champagne
Creamy and biscuity with hazelnuts and a key lime pie note towards the finish.
Vilmart et Cie 1997 Coeur de Cuvee Brut, 1.5 Liter (Magnum)
The nose is welcomed with scents of flowers, fresh herbs and a touch
of earth and yeast. In the mouth the wine is creamy and oppulent,
there is juicy citrus with hazelnuts throughout.
A real treat especially from a magnum.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Visiting Kentucky
Kyle's visiting Kentucky right now, here's some pics from Maker's Mark Distillery:
Stay tuned we have more infos to come, I think he might have found a new barrel for the American Whiskey Club!!!
Stay tuned we have more infos to come, I think he might have found a new barrel for the American Whiskey Club!!!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Our Favorite Champagnes Are Back!!!
The boat landed last week and in it were some tasty treats.
Now these aren't your well known Grand Marques but they are
very dear to us. We really would rather keep all of this to
our selves but our boss was against the idea.
Michel Loriot Blanc De Noirs Reserve Brut Champagne $33.99
The nose offers a nice, pretty light herb note. Steely and sleek
on the palate, the Champagne shows off spicy fruit dusted with
black pepper. All in all, it shows off a lot of power.
R.Renaudin Brut Reserve Champagne $32.99
The nose is big, toasty and bold and so is the palate.
This is a rich, hazelnut laced champagne, with lots of
juicy fruit. It comes across as very sexy in the Bollinger style.
R.Renaudin L'Espiegle Brut Rose Champagne $33.99
Light and delicate at first, opening to power, it shows off
floral fruit and a handful of nuts. There's great vibrancy
here and great finesse. It's creamy, with hints at pomegranate and lemon. Wow!
Voirin-Jumel Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru $48.99
The nose shows a bushel of fresh Bartlett pear fruit with flowers,
and a hint of green leaves. This is just alive in the mouth, the
mousse is so enthusiastic it wants to jump out of the glass.
Lush on the palate, with pear fruit and undertones of brioche.
It finishes up with the lightest, prettiest kiss of apple butter.
Now these aren't your well known Grand Marques but they are
very dear to us. We really would rather keep all of this to
our selves but our boss was against the idea.
Michel Loriot Blanc De Noirs Reserve Brut Champagne $33.99
The nose offers a nice, pretty light herb note. Steely and sleek
on the palate, the Champagne shows off spicy fruit dusted with
black pepper. All in all, it shows off a lot of power.
R.Renaudin Brut Reserve Champagne $32.99
The nose is big, toasty and bold and so is the palate.
This is a rich, hazelnut laced champagne, with lots of
juicy fruit. It comes across as very sexy in the Bollinger style.
R.Renaudin L'Espiegle Brut Rose Champagne $33.99
Light and delicate at first, opening to power, it shows off
floral fruit and a handful of nuts. There's great vibrancy
here and great finesse. It's creamy, with hints at pomegranate and lemon. Wow!
Voirin-Jumel Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru $48.99
The nose shows a bushel of fresh Bartlett pear fruit with flowers,
and a hint of green leaves. This is just alive in the mouth, the
mousse is so enthusiastic it wants to jump out of the glass.
Lush on the palate, with pear fruit and undertones of brioche.
It finishes up with the lightest, prettiest kiss of apple butter.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Tasting Notes from Last Friday the 7th
Just a few things we that we really enjoyed at our tasting
Alpha Omega 06 Napa, Proprietary Red $61.00
A nose that shows caramel, tobacco, dry smoke and cedar.
On the palate, it's soft and integrated, with
dense black currant fruit and black pepper. There's a nice,
lacy tannic structure holding all together.
This is a serious and elegant red.
Grgich Hills 05 Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon $60
Tarry black wine with red fruit and a hint of fresh
green leaves to the nose. Rich and silky on the palate,
with currants and cassis and dark chocolate on the palate.
The finish hints at macadam. It holds your attention.
Tori Mor 07 Oregon/Washington Chardonnay $20
Bright straw colored wine with a lightly smoky nose. Light
bodied on entry, going creamier as it goes along.
This wine shows off some real Chardonnay fruit and isn't
afraid to show it naked, without a lot of oak to get in the way.
There's a nice snap to the finish. Well balanced
Chardonnay. Well done!
Uvaggio 08 Lodi, Vermentino $13
Green straw colored wine with fresh cut wood on the nose,
rather enticing, really. Tart on the palate, with lemon
and melon fruit that runs all the way through, leading
to a clean, snappy finish.
Wertzberger 06 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $18
A rich, red violet glass of wine showing eucalyptus and smoky
currants on the nose. Soft tannins on the palate hold tart
currant and berry fruit with a twist of the peppermill.
On the lighter end of Cabernet, but user friendly.
Alpha Omega 06 Napa, Proprietary Red $61.00
A nose that shows caramel, tobacco, dry smoke and cedar.
On the palate, it's soft and integrated, with
dense black currant fruit and black pepper. There's a nice,
lacy tannic structure holding all together.
This is a serious and elegant red.
Grgich Hills 05 Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon $60
Tarry black wine with red fruit and a hint of fresh
green leaves to the nose. Rich and silky on the palate,
with currants and cassis and dark chocolate on the palate.
The finish hints at macadam. It holds your attention.
Tori Mor 07 Oregon/Washington Chardonnay $20
Bright straw colored wine with a lightly smoky nose. Light
bodied on entry, going creamier as it goes along.
This wine shows off some real Chardonnay fruit and isn't
afraid to show it naked, without a lot of oak to get in the way.
There's a nice snap to the finish. Well balanced
Chardonnay. Well done!
Uvaggio 08 Lodi, Vermentino $13
Green straw colored wine with fresh cut wood on the nose,
rather enticing, really. Tart on the palate, with lemon
and melon fruit that runs all the way through, leading
to a clean, snappy finish.
Wertzberger 06 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $18
A rich, red violet glass of wine showing eucalyptus and smoky
currants on the nose. Soft tannins on the palate hold tart
currant and berry fruit with a twist of the peppermill.
On the lighter end of Cabernet, but user friendly.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
New Champagnes from Gonet-Medeville
We just passed these tasty bubblies:
Gonet-Medeville Blanc des Noirs Champagne $47.99
Silvery golden bubbly with a spicy, toasty nose.
It comes across the palate with serious power--big, rich,
layered champagne with a steely focus.
Gonet-Medeville Brut Tradition Champagne $41.99
Very pale gold with very fine beads, the nose wafts
leafy and herbaceous from the glass. Light and
lively on the palate, with red fruit flavors on a
very soft mousse, showing nice length.
Gonet-Medeville Blanc des Noirs Champagne $47.99
Silvery golden bubbly with a spicy, toasty nose.
It comes across the palate with serious power--big, rich,
layered champagne with a steely focus.
Gonet-Medeville Brut Tradition Champagne $41.99
Very pale gold with very fine beads, the nose wafts
leafy and herbaceous from the glass. Light and
lively on the palate, with red fruit flavors on a
very soft mousse, showing nice length.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Tasting Notes from Last Week
Alois Lageder 07 Pinot Grigio, Italy
Lemony gold colored wine with fresh hay and fruit wafting
from the nose. Very pleasantly creamy in texture while
remaining light. It has pretty, delicate fruit with a
lightly spicy note at the end.
Crisp at the end, showing good acidity.
Baileyana 06 Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
Red velvet colored wine with a nose composed of perfume
and lavender. Silky and soft on the palate, the wine
offers up red cherry fruit with real length and complexity.
Beaumont des Crayeres NV Brut, France (Champagne)
Pale gold with a fine bead. Cream, lemon and apples to
the nose. Sharp, tart fruit, lots of green apple and lemon.
Fresh, lively and zippy.
Ciacci Piccolomini 06 Toscana Rosso, Italy
Dense, black wine with a violet rim. The nose is composed
of smoke and salumi. On the palate it's velvety, with a
real depth of black fruit and some pleasant dust. Very well put together.
Duckhorn Decoy 07 Red Blend, Napa Valley
Rich, red garnet colored wine with a big, forward nose that
offers red fruit and graphite. Big and juicy on the palate,
with lots of cassis that calls to mind Bordeaux.
There are little hints of anise, cedar and even violets.
Lush, pretty wine.
Lombard NV Brut Champagne, France
Tawny gold color with a spicy, herbaceous nose showing
off some butter. Fat and rich, with creamy fruit and some
nice toast to the finish.
Macduff 90 Single Malt Scotch
Golden nut colored whisky with quick thick legs.
There's a coastal quality to the nose, a hint of
salted almonds. Full and soft on the palate it
starts out with sweet malt opening into smoke and a
nice hint of the sea. Real complexity to this whisky,
with a light touch of bacon to the finish.
Lemony gold colored wine with fresh hay and fruit wafting
from the nose. Very pleasantly creamy in texture while
remaining light. It has pretty, delicate fruit with a
lightly spicy note at the end.
Crisp at the end, showing good acidity.
Baileyana 06 Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
Red velvet colored wine with a nose composed of perfume
and lavender. Silky and soft on the palate, the wine
offers up red cherry fruit with real length and complexity.
Beaumont des Crayeres NV Brut, France (Champagne)
Pale gold with a fine bead. Cream, lemon and apples to
the nose. Sharp, tart fruit, lots of green apple and lemon.
Fresh, lively and zippy.
Ciacci Piccolomini 06 Toscana Rosso, Italy
Dense, black wine with a violet rim. The nose is composed
of smoke and salumi. On the palate it's velvety, with a
real depth of black fruit and some pleasant dust. Very well put together.
Duckhorn Decoy 07 Red Blend, Napa Valley
Rich, red garnet colored wine with a big, forward nose that
offers red fruit and graphite. Big and juicy on the palate,
with lots of cassis that calls to mind Bordeaux.
There are little hints of anise, cedar and even violets.
Lush, pretty wine.
Lombard NV Brut Champagne, France
Tawny gold color with a spicy, herbaceous nose showing
off some butter. Fat and rich, with creamy fruit and some
nice toast to the finish.
Macduff 90 Single Malt Scotch
Golden nut colored whisky with quick thick legs.
There's a coastal quality to the nose, a hint of
salted almonds. Full and soft on the palate it
starts out with sweet malt opening into smoke and a
nice hint of the sea. Real complexity to this whisky,
with a light touch of bacon to the finish.
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Glowing Review From John Hansell
So we sent Malt Advocate's John Hansell a sample of one of our favorite Aficionado's bottling a few weeks ago and this is what he had to say:
Scapa, 19 year old, 1989 Vintage, 52.7%, $150
This single cask bottling of Scapa is a beauty! Brilliant gold color. Clean and fresh on the nose and palate, with complex bright fruit (peach, tangerine, Golden Delicious apple, honeydew melon, pineapple), spice (cinnamon, vanilla, subtle cocoa), appetizing brine, and beach pebbles, all on a bed of creamy, squeaky clean honeyed malt. Dynamic, appetizing, briny, dried spice finish. A delicious, superbly balanced whisky that makes a great aperitif, but I could drink this any time. (Bottled exclusively for D&M Aficionado’s Club.)
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 92
Scapa, 19 year old, 1989 Vintage, 52.7%, $150
This single cask bottling of Scapa is a beauty! Brilliant gold color. Clean and fresh on the nose and palate, with complex bright fruit (peach, tangerine, Golden Delicious apple, honeydew melon, pineapple), spice (cinnamon, vanilla, subtle cocoa), appetizing brine, and beach pebbles, all on a bed of creamy, squeaky clean honeyed malt. Dynamic, appetizing, briny, dried spice finish. A delicious, superbly balanced whisky that makes a great aperitif, but I could drink this any time. (Bottled exclusively for D&M Aficionado’s Club.)
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 92
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