Robert M. Parker, Jr - The Wine Advocate
25th Anniversary Celebration

100 Vintners from around the World
A Walk-Around Tasting hosted by Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Historic Barrel Room, the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, St. Helena, CA
Friday October 22, 2004

2001 Aalto   Ribera del Duero 50% New Oak. Smooth balanced, really good. (A great second wine. – Jack)
 
2001 Finca Allende Allende Rioja Great drinker.
 
2001 Finca Allende Calvario Rioja Deeper and richer than Allende. Tasty. Root vegetables.
 
2002 Babich Gimblett Road Winemaker’s Reserve Hawkes Bay Syrah Very thin. Light and hard.
 
2002 Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay Minerally with Oak. Smokey.
 
2000 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Ed Sbragia said that 1991 and 1987 were the very best vintages.
 
2000 Beringer Bancroft Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Jack liked the best of the Sbragia & Beringer cabs.
 
2000 Beringer Chabot Cabernet Sauvignon -St. Helena  
 
NV
 Bodegas Dios Baco   Pedro Ximenez Manzilla Sherry Balsamic, Syrupy and sweet
 
2000 Brookland Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Big. Very tannic. Anise! Slightly herbal and grassy. Jack liked. $60
1
2000 Brookland Valley Estate Margaret River Cab/Merlot blend. Grassy but bitter. Very tannic.
 
2003 The Crossings   Marlborough
Pinot Noir		 Very Young. Fruity. Pleasant but light and hard edge pinot.
 
2002 D’Arenberg The Derelict Vyd McLaren Vale (Grenache) Not approachable. Smells like sewage. Screams ??
 
2003 D’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie McLaren Vale (Shiraz/Viognier) Very concentrated. Very acidic. Very tannic.
 
1999 Diamond Terrace   Diamond Mtn Cabernet Sauvignon Very Tannic. Very acidic. Lighter- med style cab.
 
2000 Diamond Terrace   Diamond Mtn Cabernet Sauvignon Redder. Not fruit forward
 
2001 Diamond Terrace   Diamond Mtn Cabernet Sauvignon From Magnum. Best of the four. Notes of Shellfish and Lobster.
2
2002 Diamond Terrace   Diamond Mtn Cabernet Sauvignon Too sweet. Too alcoholic.
 
2000 E&E Black Pepper Barossa Figs and pepper but not pepper first. Meaty. Joanne really liked
2
1999 Eileen Hardy S. Australia Shiraz Very concentrated. Slightly bitter – OK – but very deep.
 
2001 Garguilo Vineyards Money Road Cabernet Sauvignon Too smooth. Sweet. Sweet. Sweet.
 
2001 Garguilo Vineyards Money Road Merlot Alcoholic. Sweet.
 
2002 Garguilo Vineyards Aprile Super Oakville Blend Really insipid.
 
2001 Gemstone   Cabernet Sauvignon Very concentrated but very sweet.
 
2002 Giant Steps   Pinot Noir Very bright pinot noir flavor.
 
2002 Hendry   Pinot Noir Un-interesting but pleasant.
 
2001 Hendry Red Wine   Stinky Nose. Tannic bulky monster but not that concentrated.
 
2001 Hendry Block 8 Cabernet Sauvignon Bitter. Very tannic.
 
2003 Herzog   Marlborough Pinot Noir Good acids. A bit bitter on finish but balanced. $45-$50
 
1999 Herzog Spirit of Marlborough Marlborough Bordeauxesque. Merlotish. $45
 
2002 Herzog   Marlborough
Montepulciano 85%, Cab Franc 15% 		A bit butter. Bright green notes. Cab Franc nose. $60
 
2003 Linne Calodo The Contrarian   Good acidity but too peachy for Joanne (malolactic)
 
2001 Linne Calodo Sticks & Stones GSM High acids and good fruit.
 
2001 Linne Calodo Nemesis   Really good. Slightly bitter. Great fruit and acids.
 
2001 Linne Calodo Cherry Red   Very deep red, zin style, but still balanced.
 
1999 Marques de Grinon   Cabernet Sauvignon Black Raspberry. Creamy nose.
 
2000 Marques de Grinon   Syrah Very hot. Smells like Vodka.
 
1998 Marques de Grinon Emeritus   Still too hot. Jack liked the best of the three.
 
2001 Marquis de Concordia Rioja   Really chewy black cherry.
1
1999 Marquis de Concordia Rioja   We detected a touch ofTCA on finish. They said notes of tea sometimes can be confused.
 
2001 Marston Family   Cabernet Sauvignon Not attractive. Very sweet. High alcohol.
 
2001 Mas Doix Salanques Priorat Their 2 nd wine. Really good. Joanne liked it a lot. Chewy red fruit with good balance.
 
1999 Masia de Monistrol   Penedes Best nose of the day. Really green notes. Yummy. Like eating an herb garden.
2
2003 Matua   Wairarapa Pinot Noir Great Pinot Noir nose. Slightly effervescent. Garden PN. Drink Now. Light.
 
2002 Matua Bullrush Hawkes Bay Merlot Very concentrated but still light style.
 
2002 McWilliams Stentiford's Reserve Old Vine? Coonawarra Shiraz Refreshing acids. A bit effervescing. Strawberry jam.
 
2001 Bodegas Muga Aro Rioja Very tannic. Medium red fruit.Needs time. But Tasty.
1
2003 Murdoch James Blue Rock Pinot Noir Blueberry. Black Currant. Served too cold. Interesting.$35 Impt. Northwest Wines 415-665-9013
 
2003 Murdoch James Fraser Pinot Noir Served too cold. Very Good.
 
2003 Murdoch James Saleyards Syrah Ok but not great. Light acidic and fruity.
 
? Napa Valley Vintners #7 Spring Mountain 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Cloves. Cologne. Very Tannic. Spicy. But very interesting. Very perfumey.
 
2001 Numanthia Tinto del Toro Toro Very concentrated. Needs a lot of time. $45-$50
 
2001 Numanthia Termanthia Toro Very tannic. Very deep. Chewy. Velvety. Like sinking into velvet. $200. 6000 btls.
3
2000 O’Shaughnessy   Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon A bit closed. Sweet finsih. $54
 
2001 Parry Cellars   Cabernet Sauvignon Coffee Nose. Interesting wine. Chewy. Fruit on finish. $46
1
2000 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz Really good. Great nose. Strawberry and Raspberry.
1
2001 Penfolds RWT Shiraz Bitter, not an attractive wine.
 
2001 Penfolds Bin707 Cabernet Sauvignon Herbal finish . Lighter style cab. Good. Jack:
1
2002 Chateau Reynella Shiraz   Nose of roasted meat. Bitter. Needs a good steak.
 
2001 Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red Jack best red today so far. On the bitter side. He re-tasted at the end of the event and was easily the best of the California wines.
 
2001 Finca Sandoval Manchuela   Raw rustic. A drinker.
 
2002 Finca Sandoval Manchuela   Rounder than 2001. A better wine. Good acids.
 
2002 Sbragia Family Gamble Ranch Chardonnay Oaky.
 
2001 Sbragia Family Rancho del Oso Cabernet Sauvignon  
 
2001 Shafer Sunspot 25th Anniversary In Magnum. Sweet. Hot. Bitter.
 
2002 Sierra Cantabria El Bosque Rioja Yummy black and grassy with straw and black currant. $30
1
2001 Spelletich Cellars Bodog Red Napa Valley Very Tannic. High acids but not acidic. $24
 
2000 Spelletich Cellars   Cabernet Sauvignon Spicy but somewhat balanced.
 
2001 Spelletich Cellars Alvisio Vineyard Zinfandel - Amador Try with exotic or smoked food. Perfumey. Gewurztraminer-like. Interesting wine.
 
2001 Finca Terrazo Utiel-Requena Bobal Medicinal. Very tannic. Needs time.
 
2002 Trinity Hill Gimblett Road   Light. Lean mean weight.
 
2002 Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Good acids. Lighter style cab.
 
2002 Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Cab/Merlot/Syrah Very tannic. Still light.
 
1998 Finca Valpiedra   Rioja Chewy herbal black fruit.
 
2003 Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling Still efferevescent.
 
2002 Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet Sauvignon Cinnamon with lemon. A bit chalky. Very drinkable.
 
2001 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz Black Fruit. Very balanced – but high oak and high acid and high alcohol. Tasty. Black pepper on the nose and palate.
 



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