Saturday, March 3, 2012

Food & Wine Show vs. Hennepin Lake Tasting

I will let you decide which is a better event. Food & Wine Show is over $80 vs. Hennepin Lake's Fall Tasting which is $25. Hennepin Lake wines in bold. By the way the Food & Wine Show lists these as best of show.

Cabernet Sauvignon
Roberts and Rogers 2007
$60
Vs.
2007 Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
A super wine with spice, cherry, earth, mineral and oak. Everything is in place for a decade or more of fine drinking. Long finish and not too tannic. This wine improved over the course of the night and I would recommend a two plus hour decant. (94 pts.) $80

2008 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley) 10/28/2011 wineglas 94
Hennepin Lake's Annual Tasting (Tons of Napa Cabs) (Minneapolis, MN): A gritty wine with fine sediment. Dark in color and a nose of dark currants, oak, earth and minerals. Medium finish and full bodied. This should develop into a super wine within ten years. Complex. (1385 views) $140



Imported Red
Tempus Alba Vero 2007
Vs.
2005 Domini de la Cartoixa Priorat Clos Galena - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Wonderful wine and sampled a few times and a different bottle which yielded similar results. Dark fruits, floral, wood and blueberries dance around the palate. Medium finish and concentrated. No heat and could be enjoyed now but I recommended 5 years in the cellar. (93 pts.)

2009 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Pepper, spice, floral and earth. Young and will improve over time. Medium finish. (92pts.)


Meritage/Blends
Stella Maris Red Blend 2007
Northstar Winery
(Not a bad $25 wine but not Bond)
Vs.
2005 Bond Matriarch (USA, California, Napa Valley) 10/26/2011 wineglas 95
Hennepin Lake's Annual Tasting (Tons of Napa Cabs) (Minneapolis, MN): A huge wine that will only get better. Dark fruit, coffee, oak, vanilla and earth come together to create a complex wine with a long finish. It is showing firm tannic structure but there is a ton of offerings that will emerge over time. Should drink well for 15 plus years! (2780 views)



Merlot
Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot 2007
Northstar Winery
Vs.
2008 Columbia Crest Merlot H3 (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills) 2/18/2012 wineglas 89
Ripe fruit, smoke, vanilla and earth. Good concentration and balanced overall. Medium finish and a crowd pleaser. For $8.97 few are better.




Pinot Noir
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2007
Vs.
2007 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Spice, raspberry, oak and floral notes. Overall balanced but lacks concentration I would like to see from a $50 Pinot. Medium finish. (90 pts.)



Red Zinfandel
Opolo Mountain Zinfandel 2010
Opolo Vineyards $20
Vs.
2008 Mazzocco Zinfandel - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Nice wine with cranberry, dust, spices and oak. Not a fruit bomb and balanced. (89 pts.)


Syrah/Shiraz
Sequel 2007
Long Shadows Vintners
Vs.
2010 Mollydooker Shiraz Velvet Glove - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Wow! For a young wine this is drinking off the charts. Not decanted and the nose offers blackberry, pepper, cherry and violets. Over the night the wine evolved and became more interesting. I see this wine drinking well for a decade but is drinking well right now. Long and intense finish. A balanced wine and no heat. Should be a top ten wine for sure! (96 pts.)
NOTE REALLY FAIR!


Champagne/Sparkling
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV
$25 on sale and at every free tasting around town
Vs.
N.V. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne
Nice with strawberry, minerals, rose petals and raspberries. Medium finish and good acidity. (91 pts.)


Chardonnay
Artesa Carneros Chardonnay 2010
Vs.
2008 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
Nice overall with lemon, grapefruit, minerals and floral notes. Medium finish and good use of oak. (91 pts.)


Imported White
Jean Daneel Initial Chenin Blanc 2010
Vs.
2009 William Fèvre Chablis Champs Royaux - France, Burgundy, Chablis
Always good with spice, minerals and apples. Medium finish and good acid profile. (88pts.)

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