July 18, 2013 - Le Caveau Blind Tasting of Natural Wines - hosted by MrLes & Ms Melissa

July 18, 2013 - Le Caveau - Blind Tasting of Natural Wines - hosted by Mr Les & Ms Melissa

Theme:  Natural wines - We tasted these wines blind.
Clues we were given:  They could be from anywhere.  They will not be weird wines, but unadulterated.   This tasting will be really interesting, especially, blind because it will challenge what many think about certain varietal characteristics based on wines that have been 'doctored'. 

Eric, of Le Caveau, has been reading a lot about the subject as of late, and gave us a presentation about natural wines during the tasting.  We discussed how additives are allowed in the wines (98 known additives allowed in US wines, 77 in EU, 89 in Australia, and 69 in New Zealand).  We also saw photos side-by-side of vineyards maintained with organic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and fungides, versus regular vineyard maintenance.  We learned about Biodynamic viticulture, and one of the more interesting methods they use involving a cow horn filled with fermented manure. Yeast is also something to consider.  Some vintners use native yeasts and/or natural yeasts versus commercial yeasts.  Read more about Natural Wines here.

1) 2011 Agnes et Rene Mosse "Magic of JuJu" $24.99

100% Chenin Blanc, 13.5% alcohol

TWITs tasting notes:  light nose, golden color (honey all over), almost invisible legs, faint pickles smell, very light and herbacious palate, melon flavors, more floral nose as it opens up, palate of almond butter and/or Butterfinger Candy

2) 2010 Eric Texier L'indigene Sulfureux "Eluney" $ 21.99

100% Grenache, 12.5% alcohol

TWITs tasting notes: pepper, cherries, woody, tar, some smoke, dark candy sweet, fresh manure, peat, burnt ash, petroleum, light wet grass, smokier nose as it breathes, 

palate is a softer wine, peppery, nice finish, creamy, herb, berries, nuts, 

Val guessed a Syrah, Abbie thought it reminded her of a Sant'Elena Tato (Cab/Merlot blend).

3) 2011 Louis Claude Desvignes Morgon Cote du Py

100% Gamay, 13% alcohol

TWITs tasting notes:  grape jello, jammy, cumquat, small yeast, thin legs, cotton candy, butterscotch

softer palate, cantaloupe, viscous, lighter with a lingering finish, licorice, smells like halloween

4) 2009 Domaine Derain St. Aubin "Le Ban" - $23.99

100% Pinot Noir, 14% alcohol

TWITs tasting notes: perm solution, ammonia, 

palate is berry, soft, like a light pinot noir

5) 2009 Campi Nuovi Montecucco - $39.99
100% Sangiovese
TWITs tasting notes:  fruity nose, oaky, clove, funky, lovely nose of pine,
softer berry finish, like Christmas, cinnamon, nutmeg, very warm, dry
Guesses:  Marilyn says Bordeaux, Abbie says Cab Franc, Val says New World.

June 20th, 2013 - I Don't Always Drink White Wines, But When I Do, I Drink This One - hosted by Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt

June 20th, 2013 - "I Don't Always Drink White Wines, But When I Do, I Drink This One" - hosted by Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt

Theme: As we know, many of the TWITs members are red wine fans.  However, some folks like to drink white wine in the summertime.  We want to know what your favorites are.  Bring your favorite white wine, and come prepared to tell us WHY it's your favorite white wine.  (singles price point for a bottle $20 or less, couples price point $20-40/bottle)

Check out this fantastic white wine info graphic by Sean Seidell:  http://seidell.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/whitewineinfographic_web.png

TWITs Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  2012 Laurent Miquel Chardonnay Pere et Fils -  $9.99 @ Le Caveau
From southern France.
This is Matt's fave white wine because it's an unoaked Chardonnay.  He did not like Chardonnay's much before tasting this one.  It's got crisp acidity, and a simple "Stelvin Enclosure" (fancy way to say screw cap), so if you are at the pool or beach, you don't need to worry about bringing a corkscrew.
Abbie likes this wine because it tastes refreshing, it's cheap, it's good, and the label speaks to her.  If you look at the label, it has a tree on it with roots, and under the roots are the names of the winemaker's ancestors.  Enjoy!

1) 2011 Acrobat Pinot Gris ~ $12-13 @ Vino Venue
From Eugene Oregon.
Marilyn likes this wine.  She first tasted it when she attended the Downton Abbey cooking class at Vino Venue, and it was paired with lump crab and roasted red pepper crostini.  It's good with food, softer than a Chardonnay, and smooth.  She can drink it on its own or with food.

2) 2011 Domaine de Gerbeaux Macon-Solutre Chardonnay - $20 @ Le Caveau
13% alcohol, French Burgundy
Les and Melissa like this wine because it is well-balanced, smooth and can pair with almost anything.  They are not Chardonnay fans, but this is a good one.  We paired it with goat cheese.  They like to enjoy drinking this wine out on the deck.

3) 2009 Domaine Alain Normand Macon La Roche Vineuse - $30 at PH Wine Merchant (but it can also be found at Sherlocks Wine Merchant in Brookhaven.
Valerie likes this white burgundy wine because it's a rare Chardonnay that has minerality and a teeny tiny kiss  of oak.  This particular region is known for its Chardonnay, and has limestone soil.  This wine had long fermentation on the lees.

4) 2012 Tenuta la Marchese Gavi Marchesa - $15.99 @ Hintons
12% alcohol, Italian wine, varietal is Cortese
Susan likes this wine when she first tasted it 2 weeks ago at a networking conference event.  It's easy to drink, good out on the porch, and can be consumed with or without food.

5) 2012 Coteaux du Languedoc-Roussillon Pic-Poul de Pinet - $10 @ Sherlocks, but Le Caveau will be carrying this one in a few weeks.
12.5% alcohol.  Pic -Poul is the varietal, and Pic-Poul de Pinet is the region.
Rheinallt wanted to bring something edgy to the club that he discovered last year.  Pic-Poul is Catalan for stinging lip or "lip stinger".  It is a combination of full body and acidity and has good salinity (saltines).  It would pair very well with oysters or seafood.  Because it is a lesser known region and varietal, it is a cheaper wine.  Rheinallt likes to drink this one on weeknights.  It has great viscosity.

6) 1996 Michel Schlumberger Chardonnay - Dry Creek Valley Sonoma - $40.00 for a Magnum, but only available to the Vintner's wine club members (which Brian happens to be).  This is one of their Library Wines (aka older vintages)
13% alcohol - Benchland (the name of the estate)
"it's a Magnum, big hit with the ladies."  Brian likes this wine because it is an aged-Chardonnay (aged in French Oak barrels), it tastes good, has a golden honey hue, and notes of butterscotch.

7) 2011 Fritz Zimmer Bernkasteler-Kurfstenlay Riesling Spatlese, Mosel - $18.00 at Sherlocks, but once in a while Kroger has it for $9 if you have a Kroger Plus Card.
8% alcohol
Kim says she grew up with Italian parents who did not know good wine.  However, when she went to college, her German roommate introduced her to "German wines" and Rieslings, "the horse-piss of wines".  She says this wine is good with everything, and sometimes she likes to put a little piece of watermelon in her glass when drinking it.  It has faint petrol/gasoline on the nose, but refreshing palate.

*at this point we got side-tracked with a discussion of Riesling and Reefers (I think because the nose of this wine had a faint Marijuana smell?), anyhoo - the joke was that after Pot is legal in Georgia, we should start up a club called PHITS = "potheads in training"

8) 2011 Riesling St. Urbans-Hof - $16 @ Kroger
Janssen is normally a full-bodied red wine drinker (he wants flavor, character, oomph!) and doesn't like white wines.  However, last year he was on a Bachelor party cruise (Carnival cruise lines), and he joked he was only sober when he woke up each morning. BUT he remembered this wine (in the haze), and that is why he likes this particular white wine.

9) 2002 Chateau St Michelle Riesling - he paid about $15 for it in 2002, not sure what it would cost today.
Ken says this is his 2nd favorite white wine.  His first favorite is the Swan Valley Sandalford Sandalera fortified wine, but he can't seem to find anyone in the USA who can get it for him.
Anyhoo, back to Chateau St Michelle.
He has had this Riesling for several years.  He says the 2003 vintage is also very hard to get.  He loves this wine.
It has nose of hot asphalt, diesel (spilled on the road), and the palate reminds Valerie of teriyaki glaze and peaches.

May 14th, 2013 - Italian wines - hosted by Ms. Deb & Mr. Jaffett

May 14th, 2013 - Italian wines - hosted by Ms. Deb & Mr. Jaffett at Sherlocks Wine Merchant 

Theme:  Italian Wines, these wines were selected by Tyler himself, TWITs attendees just need to bring $20/person, and ensure they are RSVP'd so we can be certain to have enough wine for everyone. Also, this event starts at 6:30pm ET, not our usual 7pm, so please keep that in mind.

TWITs Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  NV Borgo del Col Alto - Prosecco - $10.99
11% alcohol
light, nutty, beautifully viscous, almonds, clear/pale straw color

1) 2010 Mormoraia Vernaccia (San Gimagnano) - $12.99
12.5% alcohol - 100% Vernaccia
Mormoraia started making wine in the 1970s.  Stretches out over 90 hectares of land, 30 of which are cultivated as vineyards in the heart of Tuscany in San Gimagnano (San Jimmy-NA-no) in stainless steel.  Straw yellow in color, this vino offers intense fresh fruity aromas, with hints of hawthorn and apples.  On the palate it remains harmonious, balanced, and persistent with a pleasantly sour finish.

2) 2011 Pra Soave (Veneto) - $14.99
13% alcohol - 100% Garganega (Gar-ga-NAY-ga)
Pra has been making (biodynamic) wines since the early 1980s.  Sitting on white soils deriving from chalky rock, ancient clay, ,and marine sand.  La Morandina is located on rubble and schist that envelops the fine from the trunks to the roots as they burrow down in their search for water.  Water preserves the plant and gives it the essential minerals needed for making wines with elegance and complexity in their aromas.  100% Garganega, the wine is fermented and matured in stainless steel vats.  Aromas of hawthorn and jasmine are particularly prominent, as are exotic yellow and white fruits, such as peach and apricots.  On the palate, the wine is medium bodied and flavorsome, full of fruit, with clear mineral notes.

3) 2009 Barberani Orvieto (Umbria) - $13.99
13% alcohol - Varietals:  Trebbiano Procanico, Grechetto, Verdello, Malvasia, Drupeggio
The Barberani family started making wine in 1961.  This is the area of production of the wine also named Orvieto, one of the oldest and most prestigious wines, also called "Classic".  There are 100 hectares, 55 of which are made of vineyards.  the soil combination: volcanic, sedimentary, and limestone-argilaceous soils.  Produced by an accurate quality selection in our vineyards, it expresses all the potential of an area extremely suitable for grape production.  GRAPES:  Trebbiano Procanico, Grechetto, Verdello, Malvasia, Drupeggio brilliant.  Straw-yellow color, fruity, with an intense and complex bouquet mineral and persistent.  It has natural drinkability and structure.

4) 2008 Mormoraia Chianti (Tuscany, San Gimagnan) - $12.99
13.5% alcohol - 100% Sangiovese
Mormoria intense ruby color.  Aromas of ripe fruit, spices, plum, and tobacco.  Ample Sangiovese flavors with soft tannins and a persistent and satisfying finish.  Best with grilled meat, meat stews, soup, cold cuts, and aged cheeses.

5) 1998 Sant'Elena Ros di Rol (Fruili) - $21.99
13% alcohol - 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot
Sant'Elena was founded in the late 19th century.  Dominic Nocerino purchased the estate in the 1980s.  The Sant'Elena estate has a surface of approximately 40 hectares in a single plot.  Our wines are made with tremendous care and a dedication to quality that starts in the vineyards with the cultivation and maintenance of the grapes.  Sant'Elena is situated at the intersection of the cold continental air flows from the east and the Sirocco (Mediterranean) winds from the south.  This climatic alteration proves positive in terms of thermal variation, while the Giulie Alps mountain range protects the vineyards from the icy winds of the north.  50% Cabernet Sauvignon 50% Merlot, done in French oak for 18 months.

6) 2003 Fattoria Paradiso Barbarossa (Emilia-Romagna) - $29.99
14% alcohol - 100% Barbarossa
The estate dates back to the 15th century.  The current family purchased the estate in the 1990s and changed the name.  There's a total of 80 hectares. all of which are vines.  The wine is 100% Barbarossa, only to be founded on the Fattoria Paradiso Estates.  Its aged 3 years in Slavonian oak, 6 months in barrique, 12 months in the bottle.  Intense and persistent, reminiscent of wilted rose and sweet violet.  Dry, frank, and generous, firm structure in a soft, velvet texture, full of character on the palatte. Discovered in 1955, the ancient vineyard had been out of production for 150 years.  The name honors the red-bearded German Emperor Frederick.

Bhojanic wine and tapas - April 30th

Bhojanic wine and tapas - April 30th

Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt attended this Wine & Tapas tasting at Bhojanic - Authentic Indian Cuisine.  Our friend Daniel, who also happens to be the new manager there, is revamping their wine list.  He was miraculously able to find some great wines to pair with spicy Indian foods.  

Among my personal favorites were:

The 2011 Sula (Nashik, India) - 100% Chenin Blanc.  Tasting Notes from Daniel:  "The largest and by far best winery in India.  Rajeev Sula vineyards is producing wines which are now available on an international level.  This Chenin Blanc is a perfect complement for the spicy character of Bhojanic food, with stone fruit, a hint of citrus, and a touch of viscosity."

The 2011 La Follette (North Coast California) - 100% Pinot Noir.  Tasting Notes from Daniel:  "Greets with a symphony of red fruit, complimented by notes of forest floor and cinnamon bark.  With time in the glass, raspberry and rose petals emerge.  Greg La Follette has delved far more deeply than most into the science behind the art of winemaking.  He also fosters a fervent fascination with old world winemaking techniques.  Both have fueled Greg's intense interest in the texture and mouth feel of wine leaving an indelible mark on the wines he creates"

Abbie's comments:  Daniel also explained that while this is indeed a 100% Pinot Noir wine, the grapes were blended from different sites.  60-70% from Hawks Roost vineyard, the rest from either Manchester Vineyard or Mendicino Ridge.  Absolutely DELICIOUS wine.  I love this one!

The 2010 Domaine Du Grand Planal (Corbieres, France) - 50% Mourvedre, 25% Grenache, 25% Carignan.  Daniel's notes:  "Established in 1850, the winemaking tradition at this Domaine has been passed down from generation to generation.  Their use of concrete tanks allows the fruit to shine.  The Mourvedre here is unctuous with dark fruit and terrific mouth-feel.  While the Grenache and Carignan offer finesse and backbone."

A truly lovely wine.  Yum!

April 18th, 2013 - Pinot Noir - Ms Kathy & Mr. Jamie

April 18th, 2013 - Pinot Noir - Ms Kathy & Mr. Jamie

Theme: Pinot Noir, a red wine varietal. "Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine."

Bring:  TWITs should bring a bottle of Pinot Noir ($20 or under for singles, $40 or under for couples). and we can have everyone pick their favorite bottle at the end. The one who brings the bottle with the most votes wins a prize!

Tasting Notes:
  Welcome Wine:  La Marca Prosecco

1) 2008 Destino Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley - $17 on Wines Till Sold Out
14.5% alcohol
tart cherry, raspberry, bark, honey, not potent on the nose, light spice on the nose
tart apple finish, not jammy, crunchy fruits, really fruity,
TWITs Guesses:  classic Sonoma coast (Rheinallt), 13.5% alcohol (Marilyn)

2) 2008 Westrey Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir, McMinnville Oregon - $43 @ Sherlocks Wine Merchant
13.5% alcohol
very different nose, old world, funkytown, horse manure, oak, age, wheat grass, earthy,
double legs, ruby color
very light, refined, flaccid, cherries, milk chocolate, flabby ending, it runs away quickly
TWITs Guesses:  Kokomo Pinot Noir (Abbie), Russian River Valley (Rheinallt)

3) 2010 St. Innocent Justice Pinot Noir, Eola Amity Hills Williamette Valley - $41 or 42 at Alons
13% alcohol
more clarity in color than the others, brown around edges, has some age
burgundy, cedar, vanilla, oak, like an old dresser, earthy, mushroom, French-ish,
palate backs it up, first whiff of bell pepper (short whiff), lingers a bit longer, easy to drink,
Quote of the evening so far:  "It's seen a lot of wood" - Rheinallt
TWITs Guesses:  Sonoma (Rich)

4) 2004 Meursault Les Durots Pierre Morey, Cote D'Or - $17 at Garagiste.com
13% alcohol - French Burgundy
Nose: leather from the cow ass, chaps - no chaps are assless, fermented broccoli, saddle sway, horse manure, "this is a nose twinger", anise, funkiest funk of a pinot noir, talcum, granite,
Palate:  bubble gum, bitter, root, tastes like farm, barn, cotton-ball on the finish, celery root, tart, dry, harsh finish, "like, go away!", throttling grip.
"sucks all the moisture out of your mouth" - Abbie
"Aw it's terrible" - Ken

5) 2009 Cote Du Beaune-Villages (Cote D'Or) Marnay Sorelles - $33 @ Le Caveau
13% alcohol
good legs,
sweeter smell, new world, latex, perfumey, sweet cherry, rubber (like a floatie), bubblegum, high alcohol on the nose
nice palate at first, but then flabby.

6) 2011 Jenner Pinot Noir, Sonoma - $24 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
WE HAVE A WINNER!  This wine won the prize!  Congratulations to KEN for bringing the winning bottle!  He won a candle made from a Giuseppe Quintarelli bottle.
oaky, jammy nose, raspberry, all spice, blue cheese
fruity, spicy, eloquent, elegant, spicy, leather, delicate raspberry, very lovely, head and shoulders above the rest, "Jamie Approved"
TWITs Guesses:  Southern California - Rheinallt

7) 2011 Meiomi Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara/Monterey/Sonoma Blend - $20 @ PH Wine Merchant
13.9% alcohol
SECOND PLACE - way to go Janssen!
more purple "Ooh, stand back, this is nice" lighter nose, spice, floral, oaked, caramel, cinnamon
drying, off-tart, more full-bodied, rich body, it's got mint, chocolate, smooth, so smooth, "the Justin Timberlake of wine",  not French, alternative Hipster Pinot, multi-layered, it's like cake ice cream, light sugar, "could drink all day and all night", smells like Grenache, "its not like any pinot I've had"

8) 2010 Bench Break Cambria Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley - $35 from direct winery club shipment (NOTE: this is where they filmed the "Sideways" movie)
14.3% alcohol
THIRD PLACE - way to go Val & Rheinallt !
funky, alcoholic nose, latex, ocean breeze candle,
Raspberry then spice, pepper, like a mix of 6 and 7, Love it!
TWITs Guesses:  Russian River Valley or Santa Barbara County (Rheinallt), Dry Creek (Brian)

9) 2011 The Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dahlonega Georgia - $33 from winery
(bottled by Monteluce) 13% alcohol
cloves, juices, subdued, banana, like a Belgian Beer, Hefeweizen, barky, bubble gum, Irish Spring Soap, banana laffy taffy, yeasty, cake, vanilla, old lady perfume,
it does not taste the way it smells, banana pudding batter, cinnamon toothpaste, light rich candy, leaves a film on your mouth

10) 2011 Kudos Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley - $16-17 @ Total Wine
13.5% alcohol
funk on the nose, fresh manure, "Maceo Parker wine", sulfur, ammonia, perm solution,
flaccid, terrible, deflated balloon, impotent, funky cold medina
"Rheinallt is this one of your jokes?" - Jaffet
This is the first time Jaffet dumped his wine out into the spit bucket.
"South Georgia Pinot?" - Matt

11) 2011 Acacia Pinot Noir, Carneros Sonoma - $14.99
gooseberry, floral nose, sharp fruit, standard pinot Sonoma County, "this isn't horse shit"
sweeter, too normal, a good 2nd or 3rd bottle into the evening.  not French, too fruity, I'd give it a 3.

Janssen made us a Photosynth photo here. Other photos are below.

Cheers to our dear Ms Leslie!

Goodbye Leslie!  We'll miss you!  We hope to visit soon!

One of our own dear TWITs has moved on to live the dream.  Ms Leslie is now in Napa Valley working with the Corley Family at Monticello Vineyards.

Keep up with Leslie and her adventures by reading her blog:  Leslie's Blog

Of course, we couldn't let our fellow TWIT leave without a little send-off.  Here's some pictures from Leslie's Goodbye Party:

March 2013 - Bordeaux Wines - Ms Valerie & Mr. Rheinallt

March 28th 2013 - Bordeaux Wines - hosted by Ms Valerie & Mr. Rheinallt
Theme: Bordeaux Wines (French)
Our lovely host and hostess provided the wine.  The TWITs needed to only bring $20/person to help cover the cost of the wine.
Our lovely host Mr. Rheinallt & hostess Ms. Valerie were prepared with an amazing PowerPoint presentation, numbered bottles, and hand-outs.  This was probably our most informative and educational meeting in the history of TWITs.  Very well done!

"A couple of TWITs ago," Rheinallt said he had conversed with Mr. Matthew about having an educational TWITs that focused on a specific region. Rheinallt and Val have a love of Bordeaux wines, and so the idea was born.

The main varietals (Les Cepages) found in Bordeaux are:
5 reds:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit-Verdot
3 whites:  Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle

If you are standing in Bordeaux City facing the sea, all of the appellations to your left of the Garrone river, are considered Left Bank Bordeaux.  All of the appellations to your right (and right of the Dordogne river) are considered Right Bank Bordeaux.  The area between the rivers is called "Entre Deux Mers" or "between two waters".

The Left Bank Bordeaux wines are predominately Cabernet Sauvignon - based.  The Right Bank Bordeaux wines are predominately Merlot - based.  Bordeaux winemakers love to blend wines, so you may be unlikely to find a single-varietal wine there.

To begin, we focused on the Left Bank.  In 1855, Napoleon III, introduced a Bordeaux Wine Classification system.  He went to the Medoc and told the winemakers to submit an application.  58 winemakers (or Chateau's) applied.  Brokers ranked the wines according to the Chateau's reputation and trading price (which at that time translated to the quality of the wine).
The original 5 Chateaus to win First Growth were:  Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Paillac appellation), Chateau Mouton Rothschild (Paillac appellation), Chateau Latour (Paillac appellation), Chateau Margaux (Margaux appellation), and Chateau Haut-Brion (Pessac-Leognan and Graves appellations).  14 Chateaus placed 2nd Growth, 15got 3rd growth, 10 received 4th growth, and 14 received 5th. etc.

You may recognize the names of the 5 Chateaus, this is because they still command quite a hefty sum per bottle.  This is because you are paying for the name - similar to the fashion world.    If you can afford such wines, more power to you, but those of us in TWITs tend to be a bit more frugal.  Thus, if one knows where the great wines are made, one can find some amazing wines, from Chateau's very close-by these "big name" appellations, with high-quality wines of same or similar terroir, vintage, and for much less money.

The wines selected for tonight's tasting start in the North side of the Left Bank, moving South.  We'll most likely experience strong masculine tannins, heavy tannins, leather, and then as we move down into Margaux we'll find more feminine wines, finely textured, silky, and smooth.

Moving to the Right Bank:  Premier Grand Cru Classe:
Chateau Angelus, Chateau Ausone, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Pavie

Fun Facts:
Rothschild paired up with Robert Mondavi to make Opus One.
Rothschild is pronounced "Roths-sheeled"
Rothschild always commissions an artist for their labels.  In 1958 the label was done by Salvador Dali, he drew a lamb as "Mouton" is like mutton or "sheep" in French.  In 1973 the label was done by Picasso.  In 1975, Andy Warhol, In 2004, Prince Charles himself painted something.  In 2010 the label was by Jeff Koons.  It's always a big question "who is going to do the label this year?"
Haut-Medoc is prononced "oh-med-AWK"
Graves means gravel
St. Emilion does not offer wine tastings :(
There is a separate classification just for St. Emilion wines.
Pomerol has no classification.
Chateau Petrus in Pomerol is quite expensive, mostly Merlot wine.  You may recall "The Barclay's Five" who ran up a 44,000 pound tab at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant once.  Article.  They drank three exceedingly rare and costly bottles of Château Pétrus from the 1945, '46 and '47 vintages that evening.

TWITs Photos:

 

 

TWITs Tasting Notes:

Welcome Wine: 2011 Chateau Graville-Lacoste Graves 

Mr. Rheinallt and Ms. Val opened up the evening with a very nice white wine (or Bordeaux Blanc) from the Graves appellation of Bordeaux.  

1) 2005 Chateau Phelan Segur St. Estephe - Le Caveau price $60

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot - 13.5% alcohol

nose:  florals, chocolate, mushroom

palate: dark fruits, lovely, honey

color: ruby, garnet

easy drinking, it has had some time to breathe.

2) 2009 Chateau Bernadotte Haut-Medoc - Le Caveau price $35

47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, and the rest Petit-Verdot - 13.5% alcohol

nose: port-like, perfumey, jammy, oaky raisin, richer, cigar box, this smells French!

palate: fruit, more grip,

 

3) 2008 Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery Margaux - Le Caveau price $50

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit-Verdot - 13.5% alcohol

nose: perfumey, old lady in the mall, Chanel, honeysuckle, daffodils, not pungent,

palate: strong woman, softer tannins, started acidic then smoother

 

4) 2009 Chateau Picque Caillou Pessac-Leognan - Le Caveau price $30

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot - 13.5% alcohol

nose: citrus on top, orange, creamy citrus, chocolately citrus, orange flower, graphite, limestone, chalk, thicker nose, rich nose,

palate: copper, metallic, nickel, white pepper, spice, buttery, acidic,

pairings: would go well with lamb or shellfish

5) 2009 Chateau Beauregard Ducasse Graves - Le Caveau price $20

55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc - 13% alcohol

nose: grand marnier, minerality

palate: cumquat, drier, very elegant

6) 2009 Clos des Jacobins Saint-Emilion Grand Cru - Le Caveau price $60

75% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon - 14.5% alcohol

nose: jammy, rich,

palate:  blackberry, cherry, spicy, big, bold, the Merlot finesses the Cab Franc.

7) 2009 Chateau La Croix Romane Lalande de Pomerol - Le Caveau price $30

80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from 25 year old vines - 14% alcohol

 

8) 2009 Chateau Saint Vincent Sauternes - Le Caveau price $20

80% Semillon, 10% Muscadelle, 10% Sauvignon Blanc - 14.5% alcohol

9) 2005 Chateau Tour du Haut-Moulin Haut-Medoc - Vino Venue price $33

This bottle was donated by Ms. Abbie and Mr. Matt as option for Welcome Wine, but we ended up saving it for the end of the night.