The Third Annual Palate Press Grand Tasting: What Were the Best Wines?

On November 5, 2011, 120 or so wine professionals and wine lovers, as well as the wine curious, gathered in the home of Palate Press Publisher David Honig for the Third Annual Palate Press grand tasting. There were more than 230 different wines from around the world on eight different tables in seven different rooms. Most of the wines were blind–bagged, and tasters were invited to leave their reviews in baskets throughout the house.

Bigger and better

The Palate Press Grand Tasting began as a way to make a little cellar space. A dozen or so local wine professionals were invited over to taste through the samples Palate Press did not open during the year. Sixty different wines were tasted by about a dozen wine professionals, including sommeliers, wine retailers, and wine writers.

The Second Annual Palate Press Grand Tasting was a much larger affair. Almost a hundred one professionals and wine lovers tasted through 135 different blind-bagged wines. For the first time, tasters were invited to rate the wines on a five-star basis. The consensus winners that year, as chosen by wine professionals and wine lovers alike, were ¿Por Que No? by Tres Sabores, and wines from Dry Creek Vineyard, V. Sattui, and Olivier LeFlaive.

Attendees at the third annual Palate Press Grand tasting included doctors, lawyers, business owners and wine professionals. A few of the wine people who were present were Arthur Black, Master Sommelier Candidate and Guild of Sommeliers United States Best Young Sommelier 2008, Jeff Lefevere, Palate Press and Forbes wine columnist, Ashley Lockwood, owner of Cork and Cracker in Indianapolis, and local wine directors Philip Van Deusen (21st Amendment), and Bethann Kendall (Vine and Table). The nonprofessional guests ranged from serious wine collectors to wine neophytes.

Interest in the tasting was high, among wine lovers and winemakers alike. More than three dozen different wineries sent wines for the tasting, including many winners of the Palate Press wine of the week competition, which were entered in the Palate Press Wine of the Year blind tasting. Wines were roughly divided by variety and taste type and set on tables accordingly. Different finger foods were catered, offering a match for the wines being tasted. The only ones who were not blind-bagged were a large lineup of 2010 barrel samples from the Louis Jadot Burgundy collection. They were very young and many were very fine. (Individual reviews will follow.)

The whites

The first table many people found, and one of the most popular, held more than a dozen Rieslings, as well as a couple of Moscatos. Five different Rieslings received at least four stars in the tasters’ average ratings, including the one of the most popular wines of the night, the 4.5 star 2009 Peter Nicolay Ürziger Goldwingert Riesling Spätlese. Many of the tasting notes were detailed, giving descriptors like “Meyer Lemon” and “pleasantly off-dry.” The Nicolay seemed to strike a more basic note in people, getting two different notes that said, simply, “Yum!”  Other Rieslings scoring a four-star average or more included Schloss Schonborn’s  2009 Kabinett from Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Vineyard, 2010 Dr. Hermann Riesling, 2010 Red Newt Cellars Semi-Dry Riesling, and 2010 Damiani Wine Cellars Dry Riesling.

A second table of whites was filled with Chardonnays, including a broad selection of Chablis from Drouhin Vaudon, which was awarded the highest score of the night for a white wine, the five star 2009 Drouhin Vaudon Vaudésir Chablis Grand Cru. The overall impression of this wine, and a comment that was repeated several times in slightly different ways, was one of elegance. One taster described it as “elegant, very smooth, the best white of the night.” After all the points were averaged, it turned out the room agreed.

Two more Chardonnays, the 2008 offerings from Monte Bello and David Bruce, were true crowd pleasers, coming in with an average of 4.5 stars. Other high-scoring wines on the table included Drouhin Vaudon’s 2009 Chablis and 2009 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains, the Francis Coppola 2005 Director’s Cut, 2007 Kimmel, and 2009 Dancing Bull, all averaging four stars or more.

One wine that did suprisingly well, and which might never have fared so in a tasting that wasn’t blind, was the 2009 CalNaturale. For the bling tasting it was poured from its Tetra Pak into a bottle, then bagged and put on the table with the other wines. Not knowing this was a “bargain wine” in alternative packaging, the Grand Tasting guests were able to judge it for the wine in the glass. CalNaturale’s 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, treated the same way, also scored a four-point average.

Two sauvignon blancs impressed the tasters. The 2008 Le Domaine Saget Pouilly-Fumé scored a clean four stars across the board, with every taster giving it exactly the same score, while the 2009 Dancing Bull averaged four stars. One other white scored well on the same table, the 2008 Tangent Albariño, lauded for its minerality, acidity, and balance.

The Reds

Italian wines, Rhone blends and varieties (foreign and domestic), as well as zinfandels were in the basement, where people found three of the surprises of the night: 2010 Ruchés from Montalbera – L’Accento, La Tradizione, and Limpronto. Ruché is an unusual grape, not seen much in the U.S., and it was a real puzzler for people gathered around trying to guess what it was. Of the three, the crowd favorite was the la Tradizione, but the Limpronto got the best tasting notes (as well as one low score- not surprising for an unusual variety in a blind tasting by both amateur and professional tasters), describing it as “very smooth,” “velvety,” and “sweet on the nose.”

Perhaps the best bargain wine of the night was also an Italian wine, Scarlatta’s 2005 Montepulciano. Long a favorite by-the-case picnic crowd wine, tasted blind this $7 wine averaged almost four stars. Maryhill Winery had two Sangioveses on the table. The 2007 was appreciated, averaging 3.5 stars. The 2006 Proprieter’s Reserve averaged four stars, getting a handful of perfect five-star ratings.

One more Italian is worth noting, the 2008 Pinocchio Nero D’Avola. It was another crowd-stumper, earning perfect five-star ratings and the lowest one-star rating. One person described it as “best on the table,” while another said it was “really poor.” At just $10 per bottle, it might be worth finding one to see which way you fall. Try it with pizza.

A Spanish wine that scored very well, but was dragged down below four stars by a single poor rating, was the 2006 Montecillo Tempranillo, described with words and phrases “full bodied,” “earthy,” “great aroma,” and “great fruit.”

Wine Guerrilla sent five different 2009 Zinfandels to the Grand Tasting. Everybody’s favorite was Adel’s Vineyard from Dry Creek Valley, a big, rich, chocolatey jam-fest with a moderate (for Dry Creek Zin) 14.7% alcohol content. The top-scoring Zin of the night was a 2009 Estate from Clos LaChance, with an average of 4.5 stars. The bargain Zin of the night was a 2002 Alder Brook Old Vine discovered at the back of the cellar, averaging four stars and raising the question whether it might be worth hiding the occasional $10 Zin from yourself for a decade or so. The other four-point Zinfandel came from Ridge–their 2009 Zinfandel from York Creek.

The top Syrah/Shiraz of the night was a Shiraz-Grenache blend from Kilikanoon, their 2009 Killerman’s Run, with a four-star rating. The 2007 Wyndham Estate Founder’s Reserve Shiraz and the 2006 Domaine du Vieux Chéne Syrah both earned 3.5 stars from the crowd.

One of the best bargains of the night was found among the Grenaches, the 2009 Masia del Bielsa Garnacha Viñas Viejas, brought to the tasting by Jeff Lefevere. This $11 wine scored 3.5 stars, showing great earthy raspberry flavors with bright acidity, good tannin balance, and a mid-length finish that belied the price tag.

The crowd’s favorite Pinot Noir of the night was the 2009 Davis Bynum, earning a near-perfect 4.75 star average. Other high-scoring Pinots included V. Sattui’s 2009 Henry Ranch with four stars and the 2009 Von Holt with 3.5. The favorite Pinotages were the 2006 Golden Kaan and the 2009 Lions Drift, each with average scores over three stars.

There were two tables of Bordeaux varietals and blends, including many of the best wines of the night.

The top-scoring red wine of the night was Rodney’s Strong’s single vineyard 2007 Brothers Ridge, a five-star winner. A huge wine in a huge bottle, the Brothers Ridge showed deep dark fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry, vanilla, and big smooth tannins, but adding the cellar-life essential good acids that seem to be so out of vogue in today’s big Cali-Cabs. Just behind it at 4.5 stars, showing less raw power but more of the classic Stag’s Leap balance, was Shafer’s 2008 One Point Five. Refined, smooth, velvety, offering up a bouquet of violets to go with black fruits and hints of coffee.

Clos LaChance had its second high-scoring wine of the night among the Cabernet Sauvignons. Its 2008 scored 4.5 stars and got emptied quickly. Rodney Strong had its second four-star Cabernet with its 2009 bottling. As noted above, when the CalNaturale Cabernet was blind-tasted from a bottle, instead of poured from its Tetra Pak, it scored four stars, too.

One Cabernet Franc scored 4.5 stars, the 2009 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Cellars.The 2007 from V. Sattui earned more than three stars, with a four-star nose and a three-star palate.

The best Carmenère on the table was the 3.5 star 2009 Carmen Gran Reserva. The best Malbecs were the four-star 2008 Gauchezco Oro, and the 3.5 star Falling Star.

There were several red blends on the table. The favorites both earned four stars. The first, Rodney Strong’s third high scorer of the night, was the 2007 Symmetry. This Sonoma Meritage combines a best of both worlds balance from Bordeaux with an New World oaken creaminess, without overwhelming vanilla. Think blueberries and blackberries, sprinkled with black pepper, poured into a pie crust and topped with a very small dollop of whipped cream. The second was the 2007 Ridge Geyserville. This Zinfandel-heavy kitchen sink, with Carignane, Petite Sirah, and Mourvedre, was hugely jammy, dark plum and cherries leading, with black and red licorice and beets appearing on the mid-palate. Other preferred red blends included the 2007 Chateau de Piote, a Bordeaux blend from Aquitaine, France, the 2007 Fleur Haut Gaussens (3 stars), and the 2009 Brokenwood Cricket Pitch (3 stars).

Several of 2011’s reader-voted Palate Press Wines of the Week were included in a blind-tasting Palate Press Wine of the Year competition. The scoring was done by wine professionals only, and the winner was the 2007 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. An interview with the winemaker behind this Napa Valley gem will be published later this week.

The Grand Tasting List

The Third Annual Palate Press Grand Tasting was a big success. Wine lovers were able to find wines they liked without the assumptions that come with seeing the labels and the prices. We discovered some good bargains and some great wines.

Below is the full list of wines tasted at the most recent Grand Tasting, with the bag numbers. Not all wines received enough comments and ratings to get a final star-score. All wines were blind-bagged and guests were invited to make comments and to score wines with one to five stars. A review of the Louis Jadot barrel samples will come soon.

Number	Year	Maker	Wine	Designation	Stars
1	2010	Ravines	Dry Reisling
2	2010	Red Newt Cellars	Semi-Dry Reisling		4*
3	2010	Wagner Vineyards	Riesling		3*
4	2010	Damiani Wine Cellars	Dry Reisling		4*
5	2010	Shelldrake Point	Dry Reisling
6	2008	Andrew Murray Vineyards	Espérance
7	2008	Andrew Murray Vineyards	Syrah		1*
8	2010	Andrew Murray Vineyards	RGB	Camp 4 Vineyard	3.5*
9	2010	Rodney Strong	Sauvignon Blanc
10	2010	Rodney Strong	Chardonnay		3.5*
11	2009	Rodney Strong	Cabernet Sauvignon
12	2006	Gloria Ferrer	Sparkling
13	2009	Helioterra	Syrah
14	2007	Ortmam	Cuvée Eddy
15	2010	Round Hill	Chardonnay
16	2009	David Bruce	Chardonnay		4.5*
17	2010	Ochoa	Moscatel
18	2008	Rodney Strong	Chardonnay
19	2008	Monte Bello	Chardonnay		4.5*
20	2009	CalNaturale	Chardonnay		4*
21	2009	Peter Nicolay	Riesling Spatlese	Ürziger Goldwingert	4.5*
22	2008	Rodney Strong	Chardonnay		3*
23	NV	Pol Roger	Sparkling
24	2009	Wine Guerrilla	Zinfandel	Dry Creek Valey	3*
25	2010	Domaine Du Tariquet	Clagnic		4*
26	2009	Wine Guerrilla	Zinfandel	Alexander Valley ::: Sonoma County
27	2009	Wine Guerrilla	Zinfandel
28	2009	Wine Guerrilla	Zinfandel	Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County
29	2009	Wine Guerrilla	Zinfandel	Russian River Valley
30	2007	Maryhill	Sangiovese		3.5*
31	2008	Lions Drift	Pinotage
32	2009	Andrew Murray Vineyards	Syrah	Watch Hill Vineyard
33	2009	Wine Guerrilla	Red Wine	Rebel Cru
34	2009	Ridge	Petite Sirah	Lyton Estate
35	2010	Domaine Du Tariquet	Coté		3*
36	2009	Cherry Creek Cellars	Chardonnay		2.5*
37	NV	Warner Vineyards	Riesling
38	2009	Clos LaChance	Zinfandel		4.5*
39	2008	Bin 36	Pinot Noir		3*
40	2007	Bin 36	Merlot
41	2009	Clos LaChance	Syrah		2*
42	2009	Chateau de Piote	Malbec		3.5*
43	2005	Chateau de Piote	Bordeaux Blend		4*
44	2009	Ridge	Zinfandel	East Bench
45	2008	Clos LaChance	Merlot
46	2008	Clos LaChance	Cabernet Sauvignon		4.5*
47	2009	Lions Drift	Pinotage		3*
48	2008	Domaine de la Perriére	Sauvignon Blanc		3*
49	2005	Montefalco Sagrantino	Tabarrini
50	2009	Macienda Araucano	Syrah		1.5*
51	2009	Von Holt	Pinot Noir		3.5*
52	2009	V. Sattui	Pinot Noir	Henry Ranch	4*
53	2007	Cornerstone	Cabernet Sauvignon	Howell Mountain
54	2008	Brooks	Riesling
55	2010	Stepping Stone	Sauvignon Blanc	Cuveé Musque	2*
56	2010	Stepping Stone	Syrah Rose	Corallina	2*
57	2009	Stepping Stone	Cabernet Franc		4.5*
58	2007	Cornerstone	Cabernet Sauvignon		4*
59	2010	Stepping Stone	Riesling
60	2009	Stepping Stone	Cabernet Sauvignon		2.5*
61	2010	Dr. Hermann	Riesling		4.5*
62	2009	Schloss Schonborn	Riesling	Kabinett	4.5*
63	NV	Lamberth	Rose	Sparkling	4*
64	2010	Castillo de Monjardin	Chardonnay	El Cerrezo	3*
65	2008	Malon de Echaide	Grenache		1*
66	2005	Chateau Peyros	Tannat, Cabernet Franc		2*
67	2009	Bin 36	Chardonnay
68	2008	Rodney Strong	Pinot Noir	Reserve	3*
69	2008	V. Sattui	Zinfandel	Black Sears Vineyard	1*
70	2009	Ridge	Zinfandel	Paso Robles	3*
71	2008	CalNaturale	Cabernet Sauvignon		4*
72	2009	Barons de Rohschild	White Bordeaux Blend		2*
73	2008	Rodney Strong	Cabernet Sauvignon	Alexander Valley ::: Sonoma County	4*
74	2010	Les Deux Rives	Corbieres Blanc		1.5*
75	2007	Wyndham Estate	Shiraz	Founder’s Reserve	3.5*
76	2010	Chateau de Fontenille	Cabernet Franc Rose		2*
77	2006	Marco Real	Crianza		1*
78	2008	Le Deomaine Saget	Sauvignon Blanc	Pouilly-Fumé	4*
79	2009	Lea Petite Perriere	Sauvignon Blanc		2*
80	2009	Bastianich	Malvasia		3*
81	2010	Standing Stone Vineyards	Riesling		3.5*
82	2009	Bastianich	Ribolla		2*
83	2009	Shafer	Chardonnay	Red Shoulder Ranch	3*
84	2006	Wolf Blass	Cabernet Sauvignon	Gold Label	3*
85	2009	Falling Star	Malbec		3.5*
86	2009	Don David	Malbec	Reserve	2*
87	2006	Maryhill	Sangiovese	Proprieter’s Reserve	4*
88	2009	Ridge	Red Blend	Lytton Springs
89	2006	Dry Creek Vineyard	Cabernet Sauvignon	Endeavour	3.5*
90	2009	V. Sattui	Syrah	Napa Valley	2*
91	2010	Michel Torino	Malbec		3*
92	2010	Dourthe	Sauvignon Blanc		2*
93	2009	Valdivieso	Sauvignon Blanc		3*
94	2009	Ridge	Red Blend	Geyserville	4*
95	2009	Black Kite	Pinot Noir	River Turn	3*
96	2008	Shafer	Merlot		3*
97	2008	Shafer	Cabernet Sauvignon	One Point Five	4.5*
98	2007	Kimmel	Chardonnay		3.5*
99	2009	Black Kite	Pinot Noir	Stony Terrace	2.5*
100	2007	Rodney Strong	Cabernet Sauvignon	Rockaway	3.5*
101	2007	Rodney Strong	Red Blend	Symmetry	4*
102	2008	Ridge	Red Blend	Monte Bello
103	2007	Rodney Strong	Cabernet Sauvignon	Brothers Ridge	5*
104	2008	Ridge	Cabernet Sauvignon	Estate	2*
105	2008	Gauchezco	Malbec	Oro	4*
106	2008	Gauchezco	Malbec
107	2008	Terra Fossil	Malbec		3*
108	2007	Dry Creek Vineyard	Cabernet Sauvignon		3*
109	2009	Pueblo del Sol	Tannat		3.5*
110	2009	Tamaya	Syrah	Reserva	3*
111	2006	Raymond Vineyard	Cabernet Sauvignon		3*
112	2009	Davis Bynum	Pinot Noir		5*
113	2009	Bin 36	Sauvignon Blanc		1*
114	2009	Ridge	Zinfandel	York Creek	4*
115	2008	Domaine O’Vineyards	Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon	Trah Lah Lah	3*
116	2009	Ridge	Zinfandel	Pagani Ranch
117	2008	La Sangliere	Cabernet Sauvignon/Grenache		1*
118	2009	Red Rock Winery	Malbec
119	2009	Dancing Bull	Chardonnay		4*
120	2009	Red Rock Winery	Pinot Noir	Reserve	3*
121	2009	Dancing Bull	Sauvignon Blanc		4*
122	2009	Red Rock Winery	Red Blend	Reserve
123	2010	Ecco Domani	Pinot Grigio		3*
124	2009	Dancing Bull	Cabernet Sauvignon		3.5*
125	2009	Red Rock Winery	Merlot	Reserve	3.5*
126	2009	Dancing Bull	Zinfandel		3*
127	2009	Santa Carolina	Carmenére	Reserva
128	2009	Stickybeak	Pinot Noir		3*
129	2010	Stickybeak	Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc		2*
130	2010	Emiliana Vineyards	Carmenére	Natura
131	2009	Marques de Casa Concha	Carmenére		2.5*
132	2007	Haras	Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenére		3*
133	2009	Carmen	Carmenére	Gran Reserva	3.5*
134	2009	Rutherford Ranch	Cabernet Sauvignon		2*
135	2008	Rutherford Ranch	Zinfandel
136	2009	Rutherford Ranch	Merlot		3*
137	2010	Rutherford Ranch	Sauvignon Blanc
138	2010	Rutherford Ranch	Chardonnay		3*
139	2009	Tin Barn	Zinfandel		3.5*
140	2010	Zonte’s Footstep	Rosé	Scarlet Ladybird
141	2008	Zonte’s Footstep	Shiraz	Baron Von Nemesis
142	2010	Zonte’s Footstep	Verelho	Sea Mist
143	2010	Zonte’s Footstep	Pinot Grigio	Doctoressa di Lago
144	2010	Zonte’s Footstep	Sauvignon Blanc	The Love Symbol
145	2010	Zonte’s Footstep	Viognier	Lady of the Lake
146	2010	Montalbera	Ruché	L’Accento	3*
147	2008	Montalbera	Barbera D’Asti	Leguilibrio
148	2010	Montalbera	Ruché	La Tradizione	3.5*
149	2008	Montalbera	Ruché	Limpronto	3*
150	2007	Silver Springs Winery	Red Blend	Tri-Dition	3*
151	2007	Silver Springs Winery	Red Blend	Tri-Dition	3.5*
152	2010	Wilson Daniels	Chardonnay
153	2010	Wilson Daniels	Pinot Noir		3*
154	2003	Norton	Cabernet Sauvignon		2.5*
155	2003	Columbia Crest Grand Estates	Merlot
156	2009	d’Arenberg	GSM	The Stump Jump	1.5*
157	2008	Penley Estate	Shiraz	Hyland
158	2008	Penley Estate	Cabernet Sauvignon	Phoenix	3*
159	2010	Zonte’s Footstep	Sanviogese – Barbera	Canto di Lago	2.5*
160	2009	Zonte’s Footstep	Malbec	Violet Beauregard	2*
161	2007	d’Arenberg	Grenache	Custodian
162	2011	d’Arenberg	Riesling	The Dry Dam
163	2009	Kilikanoon	Shiraz – Grenache	Killerman’s Run	4*
164	2008	Kilikanoon	Cabernet Sauvignon	Killerman’s Run	3*
165	2009	Brokenwood	Red Blend	Cricket Pitch	3*
166	2009	d’Arenberg	Shiraz	The Stump Jump
167	2008	d’Arenberg	Shiraz	The Love Grass
168	2009	Penley Estate	Merlot	Gryphon	2.5*
169	2006	Kilikanoon	Grenache	The Duke	1*
170	2009	Penley Estate	Shiraz Cabernet	Condor	2.5*
171	2011	Frisk	Riesling
172	2010	Penley Estate	Chardonnay	Aradia
173	2006	Domaine du Vieux Chéne	Syrah		3.5*
174	2005	Santa Rita	Carmenere
175	2005	Scarlatta	Montepulciano		4*
176	2002	Alder Brook	Zinfandel	Old Vine	4*
177	2007	Altoona Hills	Cabernet Shiraz		2*
178	2009	Drouhin Vaudon	Chablis		3.5*
179	2009	Drouhin Vaudon	Chablis	Vaudésir – Chablis Grand Cru	5*
180	2009	Drouhin Vaudon	Chablis	Chablis Premier Cru
181	2009	Drouhin Vaudon	Chablis	Montmains – Chablis Premier Cru	3.5*
182	2009	Drouhin Vaudon	Chablis	Sécher – Chablis Premier Cru	3*
183	2010	Big House	White Wine	Big House White
184	2007	Gloria Ferrer	Pinot Noir
185	2005	Framcis Coppola	Chardonay		4*
186	2008	Tangent	Albariño		4*
187	2007	San LeoninO	Chianti
188	2009	Arroba Winery	Chardonay
189	2009	Hess	Chardonay		1*
190	2009	Caldora	Montepulciano		2.5*
191	2007	Ventisquero	Carménére	Grey
192	2009	Smoking Loon	Merlot		3*
193	2007	Murrieta’s Well	Red Blend
194	2006	Montecillo	Tempranillo		3.5*
195	2002	Ocone	Aglianico
196	2007	Thanksgiving Farm	Red Blend
197	2007	Rosemont	Red Blend
198	2007	Cloudy Bay	Chardonay		3.5*
199	2009	Fattori	Soave		1*
200	2007	V. Sattui	Cabernet Franc		3.5*
201	2007	Robert Mondavi	Merlot
202	2004	Wedderwill	Shiraz
203	2009	Uvaggio	Moscato		1.5*
204	2008	Vittorio’s Vineyard	Sauvignon Blanc		3*
205	2007	Fleur Haut Gaussens	Red Blend		3*
206	2008	Pinocchio	Nero D’  Avola		3.5*
207	2008	Main Street	Pinot Noir
208	2006	Golden Kaan	Pinotage		3.5*
209	2007	Deadly Seven Zins	Zinfandel		1*
210	2009	Bielsa	Garnacha		3.5*