MN Valley Fine Wine Tasting ($100 plus bottles)

This was a great event with the MN Valley Fine Wine Tasting Group with the theme $100 plus bottles. Liz (Organizer of the Group) hosted and a good time had by all. While many of the wines were too young you could really get a snapshot of their long term potential.

Voting:

Top wines of the night.
1. Tie Ogier & Canalicchio Brunello (10 points)
2. Roy (8 points)
3. Montrose (7 points)
4. Cayuse (6 points) & Comm Barolo & Sterling & Orin Swift.
5. Beringer 3 points & Kelly Fleming 3 points
6. Leonetti 2 points

Here are my notes:

• 2009 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut Rosé – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Very elegant sparkling wine featuring rose petals, strawberry, chalk, minerals and Bing cherry notes. Medium finish nd good acidity. (92 pts.)
• 2015 Domaine Roy & Fils Pinot Noir Estate Iron Filbert – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
  First red of the tasting. Solid and offers iron of all things along with Bing cherry, minerals, raspberries and earth. Well made wine. (92 pts.)
• 2014 Sadie Family Columella – South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
  Excited to try this but fell a bit flat. Light style featuring floral, raspberries and minerals. Could tell blended with some Viognier but just not that exciting. (90 pts.)
• 2016 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  Absolutely my wine of the night. Love the funk along with the floral, stone, earth, roasted meat and rose petals. Amazing wine and should have had this at a smaller event. (94 pts.)
• 2016 Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie Mon Village – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
  Decanted for 2 hours. Earth, funk, white pepper, minerals and red fruits. Solid wine and should improve with age. Decanted for 2 plus hours. 93+ (93 pts.)
• 2014 Château Montrose – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
  Decanted 5 hours. Probably needed more but later in the tasting showing great potential. Chesnuts, gravel, dark cherry, spice, earth and mild oak. Medium to long finish and amazing potential. Should hold until 2028. 93+ (93 pts.)
• 2012 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Probably needs more time. Decanted this for 3 hours and offers floral, mint, earth, rustic notes and sour cherry. Medium plus finish. Tried it later in the tasting and improve some. (92 pts.)
• 2012 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva – Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  Wine was shinning tonight and the first bottle to be finished with the group. Bold with spice, leather, earth and granite. Not quite old world to a T but solid. This wine will benefit with time. (93 pts.)
• 2016 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  Surprised this did not get more votes but I liked it. Plum, spice, cherry, floral notes and firm tannins. This is young but has great potential. Medium plus finish. 93 points (93 pts.)
• 2013 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Vogt Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
  Not a fan and had to dump this out. Oak, vanilla, blueberries and gritty earthiness to the wine. Just not balanced and lacked acidity. Normally like Beringer but not this one. (87 pts.)
• 2015 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Iridium – USA, California, Napa Valley
  First of all don’t’ like Sterling and now their high end wine I can see why this was discounted. Bottle alone probably cost $15 but the wine was not impressive. Oak, sweet fruits, candied cherry and minerals. If it was $35 I could probably get it but well over a $100 no thanks. (88 pts.)
• 2017 Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon Mercury Head – USA, California, Napa Valley
  This is not changing my opinion of their wines and this is their flagship. Sweet wine with cherry, plum and some earthiness. Medium finish and lacks acidithy. (87 pts.)
• 2018 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon The Pact – USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville
  Of the cabs I liked this the best and if offered cherry, plum, spice, minerals and earth. A bit sweet for my palate but well made overall. (91 pts.)
• 2018 Kelly Fleming Wines Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
  Really not a fan of these type of wines and think they should cost about $40. Sweet fruit and not much substance. Shorter finish and some ripe fruit but lacks complexity. (87 pts.)