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Wing Lei Blind Wine Tasting

April 09th, 2008 by Sébastien Gavillet

Another blind wine tasting came to pass.  This time, it was held at Wing Lei, the Chinese restaurant at the Wynn Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.  The Wing Lei’s stunning décor provided a perfect foil to the wine tasting event.  Diego, Wing Lei’s sommelier, graciously welcomed all of us.  Master Sommelier William Sherer of Aureole Las Vegas, the event’s mainstay Master of Ceremonies, presided over the tasting proceedings.

All French Reds Allowed except the Most Popular Red Wines

This blind tasting was all about French red wines, but there was a twist.  All French red wines were welcome except Bordeaux, Burgundy and Cotes du Rhone.  Now what kind of wine tasting is that?  A great one, if you ask me, as it put everyone’s knowledge to test.  Due to the stipulation that the popular French red wines be excluded from this tasting, we were left mainly with selections from Alsace, Loire Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, South West of France, Corsica and Provence – in other words, French red wines we rarely drink.  For me, it was this that made the Wing Lei blind tasting very interesting.

Placing Wines in Blind Tasting

In a blind wine tasting, you need to recognize particular characteristics or aromas if you are to successfully place a wine.  For example, if you smell the aromas of strawberry, raspberry and rose in a particular wine, you’ll have to place each of the aromas in turn.

You know that strawberry is an aroma that is characteristic of Loire Valley and Languedoc-Roussillon wines.  Raspberry is another scent that is present in all Loire Valley and Languedoc-Roussillon wines.  Based on the aromas of strawberry and raspberry, therefore, you can say that the wine can come from either Loire Valley or Languedoc-Roussillon.

The rose aroma is the deciding scent.  If you know that the scent of flowers like rose and violet are a characteristic of Loire Valley wines but not of Languedoc-Roussillon wines, you will be able to make the correct call:  the wine can only come from the Loire Valley.

This process of elimination sounds simple.  However, it takes lots of practice to perfect this strategy – hence the importance of taking the time to train your nose.  This is, in fact, only a small part of the methodology I use when trying to place wines at blind tasting events.  The wine’s color, viscosity, and alcohol content, among others, also have to be assessed and evaluated, especially when you cannot decide based on the aromas alone.

A Blind Wine Tasting Exercise

The following is a small exercise that explains how I evaluated and placed a particular wine at the Wing Lei blind wine tasting:

A practical breakdown of a new wine:

Red wine, ruby color, pink rims, medium viscosity, clear, bright with aromas of blackberry, raspberry, clove, dark chocolate and smoke, meaty in mouth with medium plus to plus acidity, not quite balanced

Wine Analysis:

  • Red wine, ruby in color with pinkish rims, clear, and bright:  these characteristics put this wine in a 2004 to 2005 vintage bracket
  • Clove, dark chocolate and smoke:  these characteristics suggest that this wine is of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region
  • Blackberry:  this hints that the wine is probably a blended wine, possibly a blend of Carignan and/or Syrah varietals and quite possibly some Grenache grapes, too
  • Meaty in mouth with medium to medium plus acidity:  these characteristics suggest that this may be a wine from the Corbieres AOC

Result:

2004 Sainte Eugenie

AOC:  Corbieres (Languedoc-Roussillon)

In a nutshell, that is how it’s done.

The next Tuesday night blind wine tasting has been scheduled.  It will feature classic wines from all over the world.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to that tasting as I have wine tasting events to attend in Switzerland and Italy.

I will update you on my trip soon.  That’s all for this wine tasting!  Cheers!

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The Last Grape Nutz Wine Tasting by Southern Wine & Spirits

April 08th, 2008 by Sébastien Gavillet

Southern Wine & Spirits (SWS) hosted another Grape Nutz wine tasting at their headquarters.  The SWS HQ, as always, was an excellent setting for a wine tasting event.

This is probably the last time that the Grape Nutz would be held at the Jones premises as SWS is thinking of taking the show on the road.  The turn-out at this particular tasting was the highest I’ve seen so far.  It was almost as if wine professionals from all over came to pay their respects, knowing that this could be the last time a Grape Nutz would be held at the SWS premises.

Italian Wines Galore

Moet Hennessy (MH) USA presented their portfolio of wines at the tasting.  New and old world wines alike were featured.  Seth Box, MH USA’s portfolio manager for Italian wines presented Ceretto, Capezzana, Monsardo, and Livio Felluga wines.  Seth used to be a winemaker at the Ceretto winery; this probably explains his passion for and extensive knowledge about Ceretto wines.

Wine Reviews and Wine Tasting Notes

The following are some of my Grape Nutz wine reviews and wine tasting notes:

Monsardo

Ceretto makes an interesting blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Nebbiolo) called Monsardo.  Each variety’s vinification process is carried out separately.  First they are fermented in steel for 12-15 days.  Next, they are transferred into barriques for malolactic fermentation.  Only after the malolactic fermentation phase has been completed are the wines blended.

Wine tasting notes:  The Monsardo has a rich bouquet of red fruits and displays a certain structure which is immediately noticeable in the mouth.  It has the aromas of strawberries, raspberries, fresh tobacco, and roasted coffee.  Oak (barriques) apparently plays an important role as the flavors of vanilla and spice are also present.  Well-rounded with mellow tannins, this wine is very enjoyable on its own.  It was actually the wine of choice for most of the people present at the Grape Nutz wine tasting.

2002 Wedell Cellars Edna Valley Chardonnay

Exhibiting his usual generosity, Ira Harmon introduced a few of us to another of his “special” finds.  He uncorked a bottle of 2002 Wedell Cellars Edna Valley Chardonnay.  After the wine was poured, we could easily discern by its color that this chardonnay is unfined and unfiltered.

Wine tasting notes:  On the nose, typical aromas due to new oak fermentation can be detected.  Oak, lots of toast, roasted hazelnut, butter, new leather, and other aromas all come together to create a popcorn (or stinky new sneakers) bouquet.  Overall, this wine is exceptionally well-balanced.  I was very impressed with this wine and I highly recommend it to anyone who lives by the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) rule.  Don’t expect to find this chardonnay at your local wine store, though; you will probably have to do a bit of research to find it.

Mezcal Santo Domingo Albarradas

Ira finished the evening by pouring us a glass of Mezcal Santo Domingo Albarradas.  This is a mezcal or a distilled spirit made from the agave (maguey) and named after Santo Domingo Albarradas, a town in the high Mixe region south of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Wine tasting notes:  This mezcal has the distinct aromas of citrus fruits and bruised pears.  It is more tropical in the mouth, with noticeable woody-spice aromas and a clean, dry finish.  This mezcal’s production is regrettably limited, however, as all transportation in the area where this mezcal is distilled is done through horses and burros.

That’s all for this wine tasting.  Cheers!

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Chardonnay Blind Wine Tasting at Marché Bacchus

March 17th, 2008 by Sébastien Gavillet

Chardonnay was the focus of this blind wine tasting, which was hosted by Jeff Wyatt, owner of the hip, off-the-strip restaurant Marché Bacchus.  The location was wonderful.  We were surrounded by thousands of wine bottles; it was truly the perfect setting for a wine tasting.

To start the event, the participants gathered at the kitchen bar where William Sherer ordered the first glass of wine poured.  William Sherer, Master Sommelier, is the wine director of Aureole in Las Vegas; he is also the designated Maître de Cérémonie of the bimonthly blind tastings that Aureole organizes and sponsors.  After all the wines have been poured and accounted for, we began our task:  tasting and enjoying the wines.

Virtual Wine Tasting Tour

We went on a virtual wine trip as the Chardonnay for this blind wine tasting came from all over the world.  We visited Sonoma County, Chablis (Burgundy), Casablanca Valley (Chile), Macon (Burgundy), Treiso (Italy), and Austria.  We finished the evening with a Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (Burgundy).

Like the Vox Wine Lounge wine tasting event, the Marché Bacchus tasting was no simple blind tasting.  I had to focus so hard on the aromas so I could assess the wines’ regional origin.  As expected, things got really tough at times.

Wine Review and Wine Tasting Notes:  Austrian Chardonnay

The Chardonnay from Austria was one of the evening’s most interesting and challenging wines.  As far as I can recall, I’ve never had Chardonnay from Austria before this tasting; this made the task of geographically placing this Austrian wine even more difficult.

Wine tasting notes:  This straw golden wine had a brilliant, almost oily texture and medium plus viscosity.  It presented the aromas of mango, guava and passion fruit.  There was a hint of sulphur on the nose (not in a faulty context) and the balanced flavors of oak, vanilla, lees, and furfural.  It had the typical acidic characteristic of cold-climate wine (medium plus acidity).  This Prager also had nice complexity and a pleasant, lingering finish.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that the event was a Chardonnay wine tasting, I would have thought this Austrian wine was a Riesling blend due to its noticeable mineral (flint) content, acidity and tropical fruit aromas.  Needless to say, I was not able to trace the wine to Austria.

Tip:  This Chardonnay from Austria is a great buy if you can find it.  Keep it in mind the next time you dine at Aureole.

Want to learn more about the other wines we sampled at the Marché Bacchus blind wine tasting?  Just email me.  I made wine tasting notes on most of the wines featured and will be glad to furnish you a copy.

The next blind tasting is set for the midnight of March 25, another Tuesday, although the location is yet to be determined.  The focus will be ANY French red wines EXCLUDING Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhône Valley wines!  This ought to be an interesting tasting and, for those who will be attending, surprise us!

That’s all for this wine tasting.  Until next time!  Cheers!

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Vox Wine Lounge Blind Wine Tasting

February 29th, 2008 by Sébastien Gavillet

Two blind wine tastings in one day is almost too good to be true.  Apart from the Dierberg & Star Lane blind tasting which I discussed in the previous post, I also participated in the Vox Wine Lounge blind wine tasting.

Twice a month (every other Tuesday night), William Sherer, Master Sommelier and wine director of Aureole in Las Vegas, organizes a blind wine tasting for wine industry professionals.  Most of the participants to these blind tastings are master sommeliers, wine buyers and wine aficionados.  These events follow a set format.  At every tasting, one type of grape varietal or wine style is featured, and each of the participants must bring a bottle of the selected grape varietal or wine style.  The blind tastings are held on a different venue every time.

This week, the blind tasting was held at the Vox Wine Lounge in Henderson, NV.  Patrick Pretz, Vox’s sommelier, played host.  We owe him a great thank you for his wonderful hospitality.

The Blind Tasting Format

The Vox Wine Lounge blind tasting was different from all the other blind tastings I’ve been to.  I have participated in numerous blind tastings before and, in such events, the participants usually sampled and examined the featured wines then shared and compared tasting notes afterwards.  The Vox Wine Lounge tasting followed a different procedure, however.

Each of the participants was given a specific role at the wine tasting.  Every one had to examine, describe and analyze only one aspect of the featured wines be it color, nose (aromas & bouquet), taste (aromas), structure, origin, vintage, or producer.  For instance, one taster would sample a wine and assess it according to his aspect assignment (e.g. color); another taster would then sample the same wine and assess it according to the aspect assigned him (e.g. assess where the wine came from); and yet another taster would sample the same wine and evaluate it on yet another aspect (e.g. structure).  The whole thing sounds complicated, I know, but you’ll be surprised at how much fun this type of blind tasting can be.

Wine Tasting Results

The Vox Wine Lounge blind wine tasting was very successful.  It was very entertaining and, more importantly, very educational.  One truly learns a lot by working in a group and sharing knowledge and expertise with others.  In fact, working in a group also means greater accuracy as everyone benefits from the expertise of the other participants.

As a case in point, at the Vox Wine Lounge blind tasting, the group was able to guess the correct vintage of 60 percent of the 14 wines sampled.  More amazingly, the group accurately pinpointed the geographical origin of 95 percent of the wines.  Of the 95 percent, 50 percent was traced back to the correct region or area, 20 percent to the precise AOC or AVA and 15 percent to the actual wine producer.  The only two wines we failed to place were a Pinot Noir Cava (sparkling wine) from Argentina and a Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley in France.

My Vox Wine Lounge wine tasting experience definitely proves that one always learns more about a wine’s characteristics when discussing it openly with other wine professionals.

Get Set for the Next Blind Wine Tasting

The next blind wine tasting will be held on March 11th, 2008, Tuesday, at the Marché Bacchus in Summerlin.  The grape varietal for that tasting will be Chardonnay, and the wines can come from anywhere in the world.  Be creative and bring something everyone can enjoy.

That’s all for this wine tasting.  Cheers!

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Dierberg & Star Lane Vineyards Blind Wine Tasting

February 29th, 2008 by Sébastien Gavillet

Nevada Wine Agents presented a California blind wine tasting event at the Company American Bistro in Luxor Las Vegas.  What a beautiful location!  My compliments go out to the chef for preparing and serving us such mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres at the wine tasting.

The Dierberg & Star Lane Vineyards organized this blind wine tasting.  Five well-known Californian Cabernets were featured.  Naturally, this tasting was held to promote Dierberg & Star Lane wines and to show that their wines can compete against the wines of some of California’s most “reputable” wineries or winemakers.  Around 20 sommeliers and wine industry professionals attended the event.

At the end of the blind wine tasting, the Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 got the no. 2 spot although, on a price-quality scale, this cabernet sauvignon outperformed the rest and ranked first; at a third of the price of the other wines featured at the tasting, the Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon definitely makes for a great buy.  The first place went to the Hourglass Cabernet 2004.  The Caymus 2003, the 100 Acres 2004 and the Opus One 2003 ranked 3rd, 4th and 5th, respectively.

Personal note on blind tasting: When blind tastings are performed for the purpose of comparing wines of the same varietal and region, I like to see a more horizontal selection.  In my opinion, all of the wines featured at this blind wine tasting should have been of the same year as Star Lane’s Cabernet Sauvignon (2005).

That’s all for this wine tasting!  Cheers!

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Wine Tasting: Vin Sauvage’s What’s New in Bin 2008

February 05th, 2008 by Sébastien Gavillet

Steve Morey of Vin Sauvage presented “What’s New in Vin’s Bin for 2008,” a wine tasting event that was held at Louis’s Osteen’s new restaurant, Fish Camp, in Town Square. Approximately 30 different vineyards from various countries (e.g. Germany, Italy, France, Chile, Argentina, and the US) were represented. The atmosphere was great, and most of the city’s sommeliers were present at the tasting.

Gator Meat in a Wine Tasting; No Kidding!

One of Vin Sauvage’s sales representatives asked me if there was anything I found really intriguing in the tasting. Well, I had to be honest. The wines were really great – no surprise there – but it was the alligator meat that truly stood out.

As soon as I arrived for the wine tasting, I was served alligator meat. They did warn me that it was gator meat, but I did not take the warning seriously. I thought it was just a joke, you know? As I munched on, however, I realized that it was no chicken I was eating.

I don’t think I have ever had gator meat before this event. In truth, gator meat was not so different from chicken meat, but it was fattier and seemed almost like a hybrid of chicken and fish.

Now back to the really important stuff – wines.

Wine Reviews and Wine Tasting Notes

There were a lot of fine wines featured at this tasting, so I couldn’t possibly write wine reviews on all of them. As I usually do, I will discuss only a few of the wines I really liked. This time, moreover, I’ve decided to organize my favorite wines’ list by country of origin.

Wines from Italy

Italy was represented by no less than 16 different properties.

Fortediga Sodamagri

Wine tasting notes: Carlo Lavuri came all the way from Tuscany to present Fortediga wines, made by no other than Carlo Antonini’s son, Alberto. Fortediga Sodamagri, a 2005 Syrah from Maremma, Tuscany was the highlight of the Fortediga selection. Even though this wine is still young, it shows great structure, hence, great potential.

Selvapiana Vin Santo

Wine tasting notes: This dessert wine was a true delight. This wine, a 1999 blend of Trebbiano/Malvasia of Chianti Rufina, Tuscany, has golden amber tones and the aromas of dried apricot, roasted almonds, honey, and caramel. The Vin Santo is incredibly rich and complex but well-balanced with a lingering finish. It is very well-priced, too, considering the amount of work that goes into making this wine.

Wine from France

France was represented by an American. Yes, that’s right! His name is Bob, and his wine is called Vin de Bob, which obviously means Bob’s wine. Bob is a banker-turned-winemaker. This just proves that anything is truly possible these days. Bob makes a solid wine from Bergerac (Cabernet Franc), but only time will tell how Bob’s conversion to winemaker works out.

Wine from the US

2006 Cote de Crows

Wine tasting notes: Among the wines from the US, Morgan’s 2006 Cote de Crows caught my interest. This Syrah has a beautiful nose and is well-balanced. In the quality-to-price category, 2006 Cote de Crows is a great deal for all.

That’s all for this wine tasting. Cheers!

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Red Rock Wines Portfolio Wine Tasting

January 30th, 2008 by Sébastien Gavillet

This year’s first WineStock wine tasting event was held at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at The Forum Shoppes in Caesar’s Palace. The tasting was hosted by Red Rock Wines, the Las Vegas-based distributor of boutique wines, and attended by 24 California Vineyards.

Wine Reviews and Wine Tasting Notes

More than 80 wine labels were featured in this wine tasting. Unfortunately, I can’t provide wine reviews on all of them. I won’t even try as there is no way I could do so objectively. I will, however, talk about five wines that left me with a lasting impression. In alphabetical order, they are:

Chateau Boswell’s Jacquelynn

I asked Joshua Peeples, owner of the Chateau Boswell Winery, “If we were to feature only one wine, which one should it be?” Without a moment’s pause, he replied, “Jacquelynn!” Half-kidding, I asked again, “Is Jacquelynn the name of your wife?” to which Josh replied, “YES.” A few seconds of silence passed as knowing understanding dawned: love is truly beautiful…

Jacquelynn, a Bordeaux-style white wine made from 50% Semillon and 50% Sauvignon Blanc, is Josh’s first personal label (half Jackie’s, if you know what I mean). I can understand his pride in it. In Jacquelynn, Josh managed to successfully blend the love he has for his wife with the other great love of his life, wine.

Derbès Wines’ Les Pinots

Cecile Lemerle-Derbès, master winemaker for Derbès Wines, makes a very interesting Pinot called Les Pinots (50% Pinot Noir, 50% Pinot Meunier).

Wine tasting notes: This wine has a beautiful bouquet that is both delicate and solid at the same time. Inoculated with Burgundy yeasts, this wine is aged in barrels for 17 months. Like Burgundy’s best, Les Pinots shows finesse. It has the aromas of strawberries, raspberries, fresh tobacco, and roasted coffee. This wine also has a definite touch of oak to it. This is definitely a great and unique wine. What’s more, it’s priced reasonably.

Detert Family Vineyards’ 2005 Cabernet Franc

Wine tasting notes: The 2005 Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Franc, with a 5% blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, has great potential. This wine is still young, but it is undoubtedly rich and intense. It has the aromas of black cherry, green pepper, sage, and black currant. This wine leaves a baked chocolate taste on the palate.

Stanton Vineyards’ Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Wine tasting notes: Doug Stanton’s 2005 Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which has a touch (7%) of Petite Syrah, is a delightful and well-rounded wine. The Petite Syrah gives this wine a nice, rather smooth finish. This is definitely one of my favorite cabernets at this wine tasting.

Tin Barn Vineyards’ 2004 Zinfandel

In the price-quality ratio category, Tin Barn’s 2004 Russian River Valley Zinfandel is this wine tasting’s champion. I am not a Zinfandel fanatic, as you probably already know, but I have also never turned down a good wine.

Wine tasting notes: Tin Barn’s 2004 Zinfandel is sourced from the Gilsson Vineyard. It presents the aromas of raspberry and cherry as well as the American oak-derived aromas of vanilla pod, new leather and toast. Well-balanced and very well-priced, indeed! The only thing I do not like about this Zinfandel is the label, but that can be easily remedied.

That’s all for this wine tasting. Cheers!

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Grape Nutz Wine Tasting by Southern Wine & Spirits

January 21st, 2008 by Sébastien Gavillet

The Grape Nutz wine tasting, the first event of its kind since November 2007, was held on Thursday, January 17, 2008. Southern Wine & Spirits, a leading distributor of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, played host. The attendance for this tasting reached record levels and, as expected, the wine tasting was a huge success.

Most of the wines featured were from the Willamette Valley, OR, which was represented by the following vineyards: Adelsheim Vineyards (Elizabeth’s Reserve Pinot Noir), Bethel Heights (Casteel Reserve Pinot Noir), Chehalem (Pinot Gris), Cristom (Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir) and Domaine Drouhin (Drouhin Pinot Noir). Note: the wines in brackets are my personal favorites from these wineries.

Wine Reviews and Wine Tasting Notes

Junmai Daiginjo

Luis de Santos, MS (Asian Portofolio Manager, SWS), in collaboration with Tsushima Kitahara (the 13th generation of Shichiken Sakes founder), presented Rice Nutz ~Bigin Bigin~ Junmai Daiginjo (aged 3 years in bottle), which not only caught my nose but also soothed my palate. Unfortunately, only 1,500 bottles of this unique sake is produced every year, so don’t expect to find it at your local wine store. For more info, please contact info@sakeatpil.com.

It’s not Champagne, It’s Bubbly

Spirits of Serendipity presented Slovenia’s “It’s not Champagne, It’s Bubbly” sparkling wines. It has 4 different cuvees, so you are sure to find one to fit your personal preference. For more information, please visit their website, EnjoySerendipity.com.

Dr. Loosen’s Wehlener Sonneruhr Auslese 2006

Finally, Brain Harlan of Loosen Bros. USA presented a delightful selection of Dr. Loosen wines. I don’t know why, but I am always caught by surprise at the delicate balance found in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wines. I very much enjoyed Dr. Loosen’s Wehlener Sonneruhr Auslese 2006.

Wine tasting notes:  The nose is light and simple (due to the low alcohol content) with the distinct aroma of white peach plus the light touch of lemon fruit. It was truly refreshing and had a very clean finish. Too bad it wasn’t 90 degrees on the patio that night.

If I forgot to include anyone, please let me know so that I can update this post. That’s all for this wine tasting. Cheers!

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