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- 21. October 2008: How does Champagne differ from Sparkling Wines?
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Red Rock Wines, Present’s A Portfolio Tasting.
The event was hosted at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, located inside the Forum Shoppes at Caesar‘s Palace.
24 Californian Vineyards where represented at this year’s first WineStock.
Unfortunately, I can’t comment on the 80 plus labels that were featured, as there is no way I could do so objectively. So instead I am only going to talk about 5 wines which left me with a lasting impression.
In alphabetical orders:
I asked Joshua Peeples if there was only one wine we had to feature which one would it be? He eagerly replied Jacquelynn! I immediately responded by asking him if that was the name of his wife. He responded YES. After a few seconds of silence and then a knowing understanding, we concluded that love is beautiful…Made from 50% Semillon and 50% Sauvignon Blanc, this Bordeaux style white wine is Josh’s first personal label (half Jackie’s if you know what I mean) and I could understand his pride as he successfully blended the love he had for his wife with the other love of his life, wine.
Cecile Lemerle-Derbès, the winemaker of Derbès wines, makes an very interesting Pinot called Les Pinots (50% pinot noir, 50% pinot meunier). This wine has a beautiful bouquet both delicate and solid at the same time. Inoculated with Burgundy yeasts, the wine is aged in Barrels for 17 months. Like burgundy’s best, the wine displays finesse and has aromas of strawberries, raspberries, fresh tobacco, and roasted coffee. This wine has a defined oak touch to it.
A great and unique wine, priced reasonably.
2005 Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Franc with a 5% blend of Cabernet Sauvignon has great potential. While still young, this is a rich and intense wine with aromas of black cherry, green pepper, sage and black currant. You are left with a baked chocolate taste to your palate.
Doug Stanton’s 2005 Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with a touch (7%) of Petite Syrah is delightful and well rounded. The Petite Syrah gives this wine a nice, rather smooth finish. One of my favorite cabernets of this tasting.
In the Price Quality Ratio category, Tin Barn’s Zinfandel is this tasting’s champion. I am not a Zinfandel fanatic as you might already know, however I never turn down a good wine. Tin Barn’s 2004 Russian River Valley Zinfandel sourced from Gilsson Vineyard, shows aromas of raspberry, cherry with American oak derived aromas of vanilla pod, new leather and toast. Well balanced and very well priced! The only thing I did not like on this Zinfandel was the label. But that can be remedied very easily.
That’s all for this tasting. Cheers!