630835 Tue Jun 23 17:59:23 -0700 2009 2 34 Wine 0 4799908 Enjoy my tasting notes from Aureole Wine Weekend Las Vegas..... The Gourmet Bachelor Wine Review Tasting Notes by Chad Carns 1 – 10 Rating Scale 8 – 10 Special 5 – 7 Recommend 1 – 4 Pass Special: Wines exhibit several layers of flavor, something unique, perfect balance, long finish or just an amazing value. Recommend: Wines exhibit depth, interest or a good bottle of house wine. Pass: Wines taste extracted, plastic, flat or just bad. Ratings consider price to overall flavor profile. I give a $10 bottle of wine with tons of character a higher rating than a $100 bottle of wine with limited character. Descriptive words refer to the initial aromas released from the bouquet, flavors that roll around your mouth while tasting the wine or with great wine, flavors that linger 10, 20 and occasionally 60 seconds after you consume the wine. ___________ Aureole, Las Vegas Wine Weekend, June 12 - 14, 2009 Tasting Notes by Chad Carns, author of The Gourmet Bachelor - Global Flavor, Local Ingredients Cookbook ___________ Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc 7 Sancerre, Domaine Vacheron, Les Romains 2006 Honey Suckle, Mineral, Saffron 6 Pouilly Fume, Didier Dagueneau, Silex 2002 Grape Fruit, Lavender 7 Savennieres, Coulee de Serrant, Nicolas Joly 2004 Hibiscus, Chai Tea, 6 Savennieres, Coulee de Serrant, Nicolas Joly 2004 Dandelion, Citrus, Light Ash 8 Savennieres, Baumard 1988 Cream Corn, Black Pepper 7 Vouvray, Huet, "Clos du Bourg," Demi-Sec 1962 7 Vouvray, Huet, "Clos du Bourg," Moelleux 1995 Baked Apricot, Chai Tea, Coriander ___________ Northern Rhone, France White: Marsanne, Rousanne, Viognier 7 Hermitage Blanc, Bette & Scholl 2001 Subtle bouquet, Red Pepper Flakes, long finish 7 Hermitage Blanc, Chapoutier, Cuvee de L'Oree" 1991 7 Chateau Grillet, Neyret-Gachet 2001 Exotic Fruit, White Cherry, Floral 8 Condrieu, Guigal, "La Doriane" 1996 Expressive Bouquet, Bacon 7 Condrieu, Gangloff 2002 Slightly Oxidized, Mineral 7 Condrieu, Guigal 2006 Balanced ___________ Northern Rhone, France Red: Syrah 7 Cornas, Auguste Clape 2004 Dirt, Stem, Raspberry, Sea Mist 7 Cornas, Alain Voge, "Cuvee Vieilles Fontaines" 1999 7 Cornas, Thierry Allemand "Reynardt" 2004 Elegant 7 Cornas, Noel Verset 1995 ___________ 7 Cote Rotie, Chapoutier, La Mordoree" 1996 Strawberry 8 Cote Rotie, Jamet 1997 Granit, Black Pepper, Special 7 Cote Rotie, Jean-Michel "Les Grandes Places" 2001 8 Cote Rotie, Rostaing, "La Landonne" 2004 Special ___________ 7 Cote Rotie, Delas Freres "Maugiron" 2004 7 Cote Rotie, Cuilleron, "Bassenon" 2005 Sea Mist 8 Cote Rotie, Pierre Gaillard, Rose Pourpe" 2001 Rustic, Cinnamon, 7 Cote Rotie, Gangloff 2002 ___________ 7 Hermitage, Chapoutier, La Sizeranne 1997 8 Hermitage, JL Chave 2001 8 Hermitage, Jaboulet, "La Chapelle" 1990 (100 pt Parker) Cassis, Espresso 8 Hermitage, Chapoutier, "La Pavillon" 1994 ___________ 7 Hermitage, Delas Freres, "Les Bessards" 2003 Classic 7 Hermitage, Guigal, "Ex Voto" 2001 Driftwood, Sage 8 Hermitage, Betts & Scholl 2004 7 Hermitage, Guigal 1998 ___________ Aromatic White Wines of the World 7 Weissburgunder, Heidle Schenkenbichl, "Maximum," Kamptal, Austria 200 Cantaloupe, Honey Suckle, Fresh Basil 8 Riesling, Breuer, "Montosa Charta" Rhiengau, Germany 1997 Spice, Chalk, Full-bodied, Crisp, Special 7 Albarino, Iberian Remix, Edna Valley 2008 Tarragon 7 Chablis, Francois Raveneau, "Montee de Tonnerre," France 2004 Lime, Chalk, Crisp 6 Gruner Veltliner, Huber, "Berg," Traisental, Austria 2004 Lychee 7 Chardonnay, ISC, Arroyo Grande 2007 Cucumber, Citrus ___________ California Syrah 7 Syrah, Arnot-Roberts, Griffins Lair," Marin 2005 Spearmint, Cranberry, Pomegranate, Old-World style 7 Syrah, Copain, "Hawks Butte," Mendocino 2004 Big Mouth Feel 7 Syrah, Miner Family, "La Diligence," Napa 2005 Old-World style ___________ Washington Syrah 8 Syrah, Columbia, "Red Willow," Columbia Valley 1998 Cinnamon, Currant, Eucalyptus, Floral 8 Syrah, Mathews, "Hedges Vineyards," Columbia Valley 2002 Deep Black Tar, Venison 7 Syrah, McCrea, "Amerique," Columbia Valley 2000 Cherry, Sea Breeze ___________ California Cabernet 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, Seavey, Napa 2003 Cassis, Violet, Sea Breeze 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, Martin Estates, Reserve, Napa 2001 Italian Sausage, Fennel, Green Peppers, Onions 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, Laurel Glen, Sonoma Mountains, 2002 Violet, Vanilla 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, Abreu, "Madronna Ranch," Napa 2002 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vineyard 29, "Grace Family," Napa 1994 Lavender, Raspberry, Pine 8 R.T.W. Colgin, "Cariad," 2001 Napa Quince, Unique 8 Cabernet Sauvignon, Joseph Phelps, "Eisele," Napa 1984 8 Cabernet Sauvignon, Beaulieu Vineyards, "Georges de Latour" 1976 Old World, Special 8 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mayacamas, Napa 1970 Special ___________ Washington Cabernets 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau St Michele, Columbia Dried Rose Pedals 7 R.T.W. Woodward Canyon, "Charbonneau," Columbia 1987 Black Tea, Molasses 7 R.T.W.Hedges, "Red Mountain Reserve," Columbia 1988 Tue Jun 23 17:59:24 -0700 2009 323413 thegourmetbachelor 1 4801727 Thanks for the notes. Some of these are wines I've been quite curious about. Just as a thought, though... It is hard to gauge some of these wines' qualities when you say ratings take price into account. Just for example, you rate the '02 Abreu the same as the'02 Laurel Glenn. I'm sure this means you think the Abreu is the better wine, but not knowing your own personal buying habits, preferences, etc, it is impossible for me to gauge *how much* better you think it is. Were you to leave cost aside in your ratings, I could tell exactly how much better you thought it was, and then make my own buying decisions. This is really just a friendly critique, and I genuinely do thank you fo rthe time and effort you spent giving this report. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. cheers Wed Jun 24 08:51:31 -0700 2009 4799908 50041 whiner 2 4813413 You bring up a great point. I taste and review wine for the casual wine taster. That said, I've been studying wine with top professionals for several years and had studied wine at ICE , New York. As described in "Trading Up," I would rather drink 9 bottles of $10 old-world wine and 1 bottle of $100 wine than 10 bottles of $20 wine (math? : ) So every one of those bottles from Aureole had better be special...and they were. But the reality is, I only drink such wines once a month. 90% of my wine consumption is consumed by old-world Bordeaux, Spanish and Italian wines for $10. So price definitely factors into my ratings. Friends ask me, "Why does this bottle cost $1,000?" I can describe why it's better than the $100 version. Or, why they would enjoy several bottles of the $100 version better. I rate wine from 1-10 because right now, I couldn't distinguish between a 92 and 95 Bordeaux. I would give it a 9. However, I have a food background so my descriptive words accurately describe flavor and aromas for me. Wines without a description lacked obvious characteristics for me - Either monolithic, or flavors I haven't discovered yet. That said, I tried a $20 bottle of horrible Cabernet that exploded with tons of flavor — oak, vanilla, sugar, etc...but I had to pour it out because it tasted just too extracted for me. In 3 thoughts - 1. I love Washington Syrah 2. American Wine truly can taste as complex and sophisticated as the best French Wine – Its true! 3. Aureole is truly The Restaurant in Vegas right now.....I hope this helps Sun Jun 28 15:18:33 -0700 2009 4801727 323413 thegourmetbachelor