2011-12

Wines scored out of 10 points.

Burgundy
September 2011 – Nicole & Chris

8.0 Jadot Bourgogne 2009 $19
Citrus nose, flabby and lacking structure, but most liked it

8.0 Frederice Magnien Nuits-Saint-Georges Vielles Vignes 2002 $50
Nose of barnyard and spicy beets, rather tannic but reasonably balanced

7.5 Fevre Chablis 1er Crus 2008 $30
Bouquet of green apples, rich body with petrol and lemon notes

7.5 Garaudet Monthelie 1er Cru “Le Meix Bataille” 2005 $45
Minty and mineral nose, plush and tannic

7.5 Faively Meursault 2008 $45
Spicy, sweet and citrus bouquet, crisp and minerally

6.5 Pavelot Savigny les Beaune “aux Gravains” 2007 $48
A nose of acetone and volatile acidity apparently, minty notes, flat in taste

 

Gamay
October 2011 – John

7.0  Chateau de Bellevue Morgon 2009 $20
Oaky nose, full bodied and plush, reasonably balanced

7.0  Malivoire Gamany 2010 $18
Cinnamon and other spices, a little sweet

6.5  Cave Spring Gamay 2008 $15
Distinctive flavors with burnt matches and coffee

6.5  Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages 2010 $16
Watery and a bit sweet, reminded some of cola (but not as pleasant)

5.5  George Dubeuf Gamay 2009 $12
Sweet strawberry nose, dry, light, dies quickly

5.0  Henry of Pelham Gamay 2009 $13
Nose of gasoline and currants, with a core of sourness

 

BYO Reds
November 2011 – Ellen

8.0  Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2006 $25 (David)
Blackberries and green pepper on the nose, smooth, long aftertaste

7.0 Catena Malbec 2009 $19 (Ellen)
Flavors of salami and roasted meats, a big wine

6.5 Gran Coronas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 $15 (John)
Loads of red fruit, light

6.0 Cabriz Colheita Seleccionada 2008 $15 (Louise & Neil)
Interesting bouquet of sewage and fresh paint, a little sour

6.0 Elk Cove Pinot Noir 2008 $36 (Michele & Ted)
Menthol nose, light fruity taste

1.0 Coffin Ridge Baco Noir Reserve 2009 $22 (Rob & Don)
Minty nose but vinegar taste, undrinkable and appropriately named; probably the worst wine ever tasted by the PTC

 

Champagne and Other Sparkling Wine
December 2011 – David

6.5 Brochet-Hervieux Champagne 2002 $50
Golden color, toffee and sherry-like nose, rich, long aftertaste

6.5 Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru 2005 $53
Caramel nose, apple and citrus flavors, rich

6.5 Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Brut Sparkling Wine $30
Rather faint citrus bouquet, crisp, yeasty and a little bland

6.0 Godme Pere et Fils Champagne $52
Perfumey and citrus bouquet, apple flavors, somewhat flat

5.5 Belcanto Di Bellussi Valdobbiadene Prosecco $18
Floral nose, sweetish, smooth

5.5 Bodegas Matilde Totus Totus Cava Brut $16
Sweetish, petrol, bitter aftertaste

 

Chardonnay – Old vs New World
January 2012 – Louise & Neil

7.5  Liberty School Chardonnay 2008 $19
Burnt sugar, oak and pineapple bouquet, rich and slightly sweet

7.0  Dutton Estate Chardonnay 2008 $44
Tropical fruit and coconut nose, caramel

6.0  Coyote’s Run Chardonnay 2010 $15
Lemons, fresh and tart

6.0  Domaine du Chardonnay Chablis 2009 $20
Citrus fruit bouquet, light and short finish

5.5  La Chablisienne Les Venerables Chablis 2008  $25
Rather tart and acidic

5.0  Inniskillin Reserve Chardonnay 2009 $15
Minimal bouquet, unusual unbalanced taste

 

Wines of the Veneto
February 2012 – Michele & Ted

8.0  Zenato Amarone Della Valpolicella 2007 $50
Rich, full bodied wine, long aftertaste

7.0  Zenato Ripasso Valpolicella 2008 $25

7.0  Valpantena Amarone Della Valpolicella 2008 $35
Sweetish, but well rounded and rich

6.5  Masi Brolo di Campofiorin 2007 $25

6.0  Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2008 $25
Clearly not as well liked as the 2006, tasted in November 2011

6.0  Tommasi Il Sestante Ripasso Valpolicella 2009 $17

 

South American Reds
March 2012 – Ellen

8.0 Ben Marco Malbec-Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon-Tannat-Petit Verdot 2008 (Argentina) $37
A winning wine with a winning label. This elixir has a nose redolent of freshly baked gingerbread with notes of coffee and chocolate chip cookies. With ripe tannins, it drinks smoothly, its lush opulence pronounced on every sip. A longish aftertaste ends this hedonistic drinking experience.

7.0 Concha Y Toro Terrunyo  Carmenere 2008 (Chile) $30
Deep red in the glass, this wine expressed notable hints of mint and other leafy herbs on the nose. Loads of dark chocolate accompanied it on the palate with good improvement over time as the juice mixed inexorably with the surrounding air.

7.0 Errazuriz Carmenere 2009 (Chile) $19
A peppery wine with a herbaceous bouquet that some felt to be a little insipid. A reasonably long aftertaste, this wine would probably pair delightfully with roast lamb.

7.0 Cono Sur Visions Syrah 2007 (Chile) $16
Some expressed great joy at finding this wine and a solid if not somewhat pedestrian performance it provided its tasters. Not particularly spicy, it had loads of red fruit (cherries) on the nose and palate. Menthol notes were also present.

6.5 Eral Braro Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Argentina) $18
Mixed opinions on this wine which some thought to be delicious with its ripe fruit nose and taste, notes of orange pekoe tea and good tannins. Others thought it flabby and sad.

6.5 Viniterra Select Malbec 2005 (Argentina) $22
The poorest performer this evening, yet this wine had palatial vanilla notes and an abundance of ripe cherries on the nose. Rather tannic, it may need another few years of repose in the bottle.

 

Noble Whites of Europe
April 2012 – Don and Rob

7.0  Weingut Knoll Ried Loibenberg Loibner Riesling 2007 $46
Richly golden in color, this wine had a buttery bouquet and distinctive body. Dry and fruity with a decent aftertaste.

6.5  Castello Della Sala Bramito Chardonnay 2010 $22
Apples and melon on the nose, this wine was slightly effervescent. Notes of passion fruit added to the fruity notes.

6.5  Kuehn Riesling Grand Cru Florimont 2009 $23
This was a sweetish riesling with a honey and fruit bouquet. It was nicely balanced.

6.5  La Chablisienne Montmains Chablis 1er Cru 2009 $25
Not a very intense bouquet, there were faint pineapple and citrus notes; some thought there was a petrol aroma.

6.0  Grand Gaillard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $10
Faint gasoline on the nose mixed with citrus fruits; grassy and buttery flavors.

5.0  Piera Martellozzo Blu Giovello Sauvignon Blanc $13
A very thin and light wine in which some detected a bouquet of mandarin oranges; rather over-priced, all things considered.

 

BYO Whites
May 2012 – David

7.5  Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Les Baronnes 2010 $25 (David)

7.5  Quintay Sauvignon Blanc 2011 $15 (Ellen)

7.5  Stag’s Leap Karia Chardonnay 2009 $38 (Louise & Neil)

6.5  Torre Rosazza Pinot Grigio 2009 $20 (Nicole & Chris)

6.5  Domaine du Petit Metris Savennieres 2007 $24 (Rob & Don)

6.5  Domaine Jean Collet Chablis Premier Cru 2008 $29 (John)

6.0  Domaine Herve Azo Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy 2010 $28 (Michele & Ted)