Great event and thanks to Liz for hosting. A mixed bag of wine quality and hard to believe some of these wines sell at the prices being charged. Here are the notes from the event in Minneapolis.
CellarTracker! $75 Summer Salad Party Event
2022 Smoky Rose Cellars Viognier – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
One of the worst viognier in Washington. Smoke, metallic taste and lacks fruit. Short finish. Easy pass. (77 pts.)- N.V. Champagne Secondé-Collard Champagne Grand Cru La Cuvée Perpétuelle – France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Crisp and nice acidity. Spice, apple, pear, chalk and rose petals. Medium finish. (92 pts.) - N.V. Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Rosé Reserve – France, Champagne
Excellent again. Strawberry, sour apples, spice, dough, lime and biscuits. Medium plus. Tasted this later in the evening and even better. (93 pts.) - 2021 Ramey Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Like this a lot. Shells, minerals, spice, oak, lemon, orange peel and white flowers. (93 pts.)
- 2013 Kistler Chardonnay Durell Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Oak, vanilla, apple, spice and floral. Too heavy and over the top. Easy pass for price. After trying Abbott Claim and Morgen Long Chardonnay’s easy pass for the price. Those are far superior. (88 pts.)
- 2022 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Mysterious – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
Wood, cranberry, floral, spice, mushrooms, violets and minerals. Balanced wine and by far my favorite of the Pinots tasted tonight. This will age for 15 years and is a must have in the cellar. (94 pts.)
- 2016 LAVINEA Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills
A simple wine with sour cherry, earth, mint, dust and flowers. Shorter finish. (90 pts.) - 2019 Knudsen Vineyards Pinot Noir Murto Talking Blocks – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
Sour cherry, strawberries, spice, earth, twigs, dust and cranberry. Nice acidity and medium finish. (92 pts.) - 2018 Claypool Cellars Pinot Noir Purple Pachyderm Doc’s Ranch Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County
Sweet fruit, spice, dried flowers and short finish. Easy pass especially at the price. (84 pts.)
- 2018 Bergström Pinot Noir Temperance Hill – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills
A heavy wine with dark fruits, wood, earth and spice. Shorter finish. Not a fan. (88 pts.) - 2019 Montes Syrah Folly La Finca de Apalta – Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Big wine with spice, blackberries, black pepper, floral and coffee beans. Medium to long finish. (92 pts.)
- 2019 Kelly Fleming Wines Big Pour – USA, California, Napa Valley
A bigger style with ripe fruit, smoke and oak. Not balanced. (82 pts.)
- 2021 Stressed Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain – USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
Corked (FLAWED)