April 23rd Grand Tasting on the Thundercruise

We participated in a truly spectacular event on the fifth night of our Thundercruise - a Grand Tasting put on by Wine Library's Gary Vaynerchuk. The tasting, held on board the MSC Orchestra while en route from Antigua to Nassau, included over 250 different wines from all over the world. We could sample any that we wanted as frequently as we wanted for a period of over four hours.

Needless to say, we didn't make it through all 250 wines, but we did get through about 60 or so before our palates (and our ability to stand) were completely overwhelmed. Gary promised an over-the-top event, and he delivered big time. We also got to take a couple of bottles back to our rooms after it was over, so this event by itself was almost worth the price of the cruise. Add in the fact that we had several other smaller tasting events prior to this, and more food than anyone ever should be allowed to eat, and there is no doubt that this cruise lived up to its name.

A couple of our favorite wines included a 2004 Barbaresco Montersino and a 2003 Brunello di Montalcino from Italy, a 2001 Chateau Cabanne from Pomerol, and a 2004 San Roman Toro from Spain. Our entire list, along with a crude scoring system, is shown below. The more ♥ signs, the more we liked it. No ♥'s means either it was unremarkable, or we were too far gone to make an honest assessment when we tasted it.

Argentina, Bodegas Poesia, Poesia 2002
Argentina, Bodegas Poesia, Poesia 2003 ♥
Argentina, Bodegas Poesia, Poesia 2004 ♥
Argentina, Bodegas Poesia, Poesia 2005 ♥
Argentina, Melipal Res Malbec 2006
Chile, Cantus Carmanere 2007
Portugal, VT Douro Red 2005
Portugal, Fojo Douro 2000
Portugal, Esporao Reserva White 2007
Portugal, Chryseia Douro 2005 ♥
Spain, San Roman Toro 2004 ♥♥♥
Spain, Bodegas Artadi Vinas de Gain Rioja 2006 ♥♥
Washington State, Ex Libris Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ♥
California, Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
California, Simi Russian River Chardonnay 2006 ♥
California, Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ♥♥
California, Frank Family Napa Zinfandel 2006 ♥
California, Kunde Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
California, Duckhorn Merlot
California, Daniel Gehrs Chenin Blanc 2005 ♥
California, Coniglio Cabernet Franc 2005 ♥
California, Coniglio Spring Mt. District Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ♥
California, White Rock Claret 2004
California, White Rock Cabernet “Laureate” 2004
California, Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
California, Philips Hill Toulouse Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007
Italy, Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco Montersino 2004 ♥♥♥♥
Italy, Orlando Abrigo Barbera D alba Vigno Roreto 2006 ♥
Italy, Ruffino Aziano Chianti 2006
Italy, Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2005 ♥♥♥
Italy, Tenuta Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino 2003 ♥♥♥♥
Germany, Pfalz, Dr. von Basserman-Jordan Riesling QbA 2007
Germany, Mosel, St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Kabinett, Ockfener Bockstein 2007
Germany, Rheingau, Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Spatlese “Grunlack” 2007
Germany, Von Hovel “Balduin” Estate Riesling 2007
Germany, Monchhof Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett 2007
Germany, Gunderloch Estate Kabinett “Jean Baptiste” 2007
Germany, Dr. F. Weins-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2007 ♥♥♥
New Zealand, Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc 2008
New Zealand, Mt. Difficulty Estate Pinot Noir 2007 ♥
New Zealand, Daniel Schuster Twin Vineyards Pinot Noir 2006/7
Hungary, Monarchia Winery Chardonnay Eger 2006 ♥♥
Hungary, Monarchia Winery Bazilika 2004 ♥♥
Hungary, Chateau Dereszla Tokaji 6 Puttonyos 2003 ♥♥♥
France, Languedoc, Chateau Puech-Haut Clos du Pic 2004
France, Languedoc, Mas de la Barben Calices 2003 ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Grand Mayne 1999 ♥♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 1999 ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2001 ♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2002 ♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Cabanne 2001 ♥♥♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau La Fleur de Bouard 2004 ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Brane Cantenac 2004 ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Du Tertre 2004 ♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Giscours 2004
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Beychevelle 2004 ♥♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Franc Maillet 2005 (Kosher)
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Quinault 2005 (Kosher) ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc 2005

Wine Review: 1996 Miguel Torres Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) Mas La Plana

Name: 1996 Miguel Torres Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) Mas La Plana

Producer: Miguel Torres

Region: Spain, Catalunya, Penedès

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Year/Vintage: 1996

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $29.99, PA Wine and Spirits (December 2008)

Date Logged: 04/04/2009

Pairing(s): Filet Mignon

My Rating: 4 Stars

I’ve been eagerly anticipating getting my lips on a Mas La Plana for quite some time. I have a $50 bottle of the 2001 that I’ve had for a few years in the cellar, just waiting for a special occasion. So, when I saw the 1996 on sale last December for $30, I snapped it up, thinking I would try it should the less than “special” occasion arrive. In celebration of our official fireplace christening, we did just that.

This is a perfect wine for a steak. The nose is subtle, but earthy and woodsy, with some nice dark cherry coming through. The palate is complex, with plenty of smoke, pencil shavings and cigar box flavors. It’s got strong tannins but not to the point where they dominate, and the fruit still shows through nicely. A great wine to sit in front of a new, or old, fireplace and enjoy the warmth.

Wine Review: 2004 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Le Pousseur

Name: 2004 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Le Pousseur

Producer: Bonny Doon Vineyard

Region: USA, California, Central Coast

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Syrah

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $18.99, Kroger (March 2009)

Date Logged: 04/03/2009

Pairing(s): pizza

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

An interesting wine and a bit surprising. The nose was full of spice, especially bell peppers and sort of an orange-curry mixture. A little hot on the palate, and really big tannins. Unfortunately, it sort of overwhelmed the pizza I paired with it. I think it would have much better matched against a beef stew or steak. Be that as it may, it had enough subtle textures of leather and minty spice to be interesting enough on its own. A little pricey, but then again it could indeed be compared to a $25-30 Chateauneuf de Pape, and the bottle has a really nice label, so maybe worth the dollars.