Michael Murry

Italy
Farpointe Cellar
Tasted Saturday, August 28, 2010

FLIGHT 1

2007 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore Ripassa – Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Superiore The nose had perfume, sweet cherry and spice, leather and raspberry, and little dirt towards the end. The palate was smooth, with perfume and cherry, leather and cedar, raspberry, and a good earth finish. (91 Points)

2005 Sartori Amarone della Valpolicella – Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella The nose had toasted herbs and raisin, spice and raspberry, and some black currant. The palate was rich, with herbs and black currant, spice and raspberry, and a nice raisin finish. (91 Points)

2008 Casanova di Neri Sant’ Antimo Rosso di Casanova di Neri – Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Sant’ Antimo The nose had dirt and raspberry, cedar and cherry, leather, and a little vanilla. The palate was rich, with raspberry and leather, cedar and cherry, spice, and a slightly oaky finish. (90 Points)

2003 PrimoVolo – Italy, Vino da Tavola Rosso The nose had raspberry and spice, plum, and a little vanilla. The palate was soft, with raspberry and cedar, plum and spice, and a bit of oak on the finish. (88 Points)

2007 Tenuta di Petrolo Torrione Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT The nose had plum and jammy raspberry, cedar and spice, and a lot of vanilla at the end. The palate was juicy, with raspberry jam, cedar and spice, and big oak finish. (82 Points)

FLIGHT 2

2004 Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino Riserva – Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino The nose had dried berries and tobacco, mushroom and cherry, and some floral notes at the end. The palate was rich, with berry and cigar, earth and cherry, and dried flower finish. (94 Points)

2005 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro – Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico The nose had cigar and pepper, cherry and raspberry, ad some floral notes at the end. The palate had tobacco and cherry, raspberry and pepper, and a floral finish. (89 Points)

Anything Goes
Farpointe Cellar
Tasted Saturday, August 21, 2010

FLIGHT 1

2004 Ferrari-Carano Prevail West Face – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley The nose had toast and black currant, sweet raspberry and tobacco, and a little earth. The palate was soft, with black currant and spice, tobacco and toast, and spicy finish. (90 Points)

2005 Boroli Barolo – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo The nose had flowers and perfume, red berries and spice, and a little raisin at the end. The palate was a little too tannic, but did have raspberry and cherry, floral notes, and a little spice. (89 Points)

2008 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Prologue – USA, California, Napa Valley The nose had cherry and toast, mocha and damp earth, and a little vanilla. The palate was rich and juicy, with cherry and black currant, coffee and spice, and an earthy finish. (89 Points)

2007 Ca’ Marcanda (Gaja) Promis Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT The nose had cherry and dirt, spice and raspberry, and a little vanilla. The palate had lots of sour cherry mixed with earth, some spice and raspberry, and slightly oaky finish. (88 Points)

2008 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Finca Resalso – Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero The nose had floral notes and cherry, leather and spice. The palate was slightly bitter, with cherry and leather, floral notes, and a spice finish. (84 Points)

FLIGHT 2

2006 Château Léoville Barton – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien The nose had lettuce and brussel sprouts, cherry and leather, and a little vanilla at the end. The palate had mocha and raspberry, cherry and spice, and a good leather finish. (90 Points)

2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley The nose had clove and cedar, cherry and nutmeg, raspberry and vanilla. The palate had cherry and clove, raspberry and spice, and a good cedar finish. (90 Points)

Under the Stars
Farpointe Cellar
Tasted Thursday, August 19, 2010

FLIGHT 1

2004 Coume del Mas Banyuls – France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Banyuls The nose had red berry and caramel, and a little honey at the end. The palate had red berries and coffee, some caramel, and a nice honey finish. (91 Points)

2006 Domaine la Crau des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape The nose had tar and pepper, blackberry and black currant, and a little game. The palate was rich, with lots of dark fruit and spice, some tar and earth, and a nice gamey finish. (89 Points)

2009 Château Tour de Mirambeau – France, Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers The nose had grapefruit and lemon zest, apple and stone, and a little sweaty socks. The palate was crisp, with lemon and grapefruit, minerals and apple, and some earth on the finish. (88 Points)

2006 Château Malmaison Baronne Nadine de Rothschild – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc The nose was very jammy, with lots of blackberry and raspberry, dirt, and a little spice. The palate was slightly tannic, with blackberry and raspberry, earth, and a little spice on the finish. (87 Points)

2007 Domaine Saint Laurent Côtes du Rhône Noel St-Laurent – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône The nose had apricot and floral notes, but was pretty tight overall. the palate was fat and rich, with apricot and stone, and a floral finish. (87 Points)

The Northerners vs. The Southerners “Hemispheres Collide”
Farpointe Cellar
Tasted Saturday, August 14, 2010

FLIGHT 1

2004 Sieber Rd GSM – Australia, South Australia, Barossa The nose had smoked mushrooms and pepper, earth and raspberry, and a touch of blueberry at the end. The palate was rich and thick, with pepper and earth, raspberry and smoke, and a blueberry and truffle finish. (89 Points)

2008 Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley The nose had chocolate and concentrated cherry juice, spice, and a little mint. The palate had espresso and cherry, spice, a nice berry finish. (88 Points)

2004 Icaria Creek Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley The nose had loads of fruit – blackberry, blueberry, cherry, and black currant. It also had cedar and coffee. The palate was very tannic, with blackberry and raspberry, cherry and mocha, and big cedar finish.

2008 Tarrawarra Pinot Noir – Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley The nose had cherry and raspberry, tree bark, and a little nutmeg. The palate was soft, with sour cherry and spice, raspberry and earth, and a floral finish. (87 Points)

2009 Bodega Colome Torrontés Estate – Argentina, Salta, Calchaquies The nose had tropical fruit and acacia flowers, lime and minerals, and a little rose at the end. The palate had lots of stone rose petal flavors. The was also a little grapefruit, and a touch of flowers on the finish. (86 Points)

FLIGHT 2

2005 Rusden Shiraz Black Guts – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley The nose had smoke and meat, blueberry, and a little bacon. The palate was juicy and rich, with blueberry and game, smoked meat, and a slight oaky finish. (90 Points)

2005 Roy Estate Proprietary Blend – USA, California, Napa Valley The nose had chocolate and black currant, earth and spice, and a heavy dose of vanilla. The palate was slightly tannic, with dark fruit and mocha, forest floor and spice, and a big oak finish. (89 Points)

Bordeaux Varietals
Farpointe Cellar
Tasted Saturday, August 07, 2010

FLIGHT 1

2005 Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Franc Caitlin’s Select – USA, California, Napa Valley The nose had dirt and cocoa powder, ripe raspberry and floral notes, and a little red currant at the end. The palate had firm tannins, with floral notes and chocolate, dirt and raspberry, and a good currant finish. (92 Point)

2005 Spann Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Mayacamas Range – USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma The nose had toast and caramel, cherry and cinnamon, and a bit of herbal tea at the end. The palate had cherry and caramel, spice and herbs, and a toasty finish. (90 Points)

2004 Gianni Paoletti Malbec – USA, California, Napa Valley The nose had smoke and plum, cherry and floral notes, and a little earth at the end. The palate had tar and chocolate, plum and raspberry, and a nice floral finish. (89 Points)

2006 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – USA, California, Napa Valley The nose had coffee and licorice, cherry and raspberry, and a little plum. The palate was soft, with mocha and licorice, plum and cherry, and a spicy finish. (89 Points)

2007 Round Pond Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Estate – USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford The nose had blackberry and herbs, raspberry and spice, and a little vanilla. The palate had bitter tannins, but also had some blackberry and raspberry, cedar and spice, and a vanilla finish. (86 Points)

FLIGHT 2

1996 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Selection – USA, California, Napa Valley The nose had lots of earth and stone, some raspberry and rosemary, and a touch of vanilla. The palate had dried herbs and earth, some raspberry and spice, and a very mineral finish. (90 Points)

2006 Montes Carménère Purple Angel – Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley On the nose I got lots of Mexican food spice. There was also some blueberry and toast. The palate had blueberry and blackberry, spice and perfume, and a finish of toasted oak. (89 Points)

Pinot Noir vs. Pinot Noir (Oregan and California)
Farpointe Cellar
Tasted Saturday, July 31, 2010

FLIGHT 1

2007 Walter Hansel Winery Pinot Noir The North Slope Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley The nose had cloves and forest floor, cherry and currant, and some spice at the end. The palate was soft, with cherry and red currant, earth and cloves, and a spicy finish. (89 Points)

2008 Clawson Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir Angela – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley The nose had cherry and floral notes, raspberry and toasted herbs, a just a touch of spice. The palate was soft and had cherry and raspberry, toast and floral notes, and a spicy finish. (89 Points)

2008 Costa De Oro Pinot Noir – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County The nose had strawberry and earth, spice, and a little vanilla. The palate had cherry and strawberry, forest floor, and a spicy finish. (86 Points)

2006 Falcor Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley The nose had plum and cherry, mushroom, and some oak at the end. The palate had plum and earth, cherry and oak, and a slightly bitter finish. (86 Points)

2008 Tarrica Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Limited Release – USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey The nose had cherry and cranberry, spice, and a little oak. The palate had cherry and spice, some cranberry, and a very vanilla finish. ()84 Points

FLIGHT 2

2006 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel Reserve – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills The nose had cherry and raspberry, tar and smoke, and a little earth. The palate was over-extracted, with harsh tannins. It had cherry and raspberry, smoke and tar, and a little forest floor. (87 Points)

2006 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley The nose was over-extracted with loads of dark fruit and floral notes. The palate was thick and rich, with blueberry, raspberry, and some floral notes on the finish. (87 Points)

Spanish Wine Dinner
Farpointe Cellar
Tasted Thursday, July 29, 2010

FLIGHT 1

2007 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja – Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja The nose had sweet black fruit and smoke, some spice, and a hint of floral notes. The palate was rich and sweet, with black cherry and black currant, spice and a great floral finish. (93 Points)

2008 Bodegas Avanthia Valdeorras Avanthia – Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras The nose had stone and citrus, spice and a little peach, and a touch of apple at the end. The palate was crisp and clean, with citrus and stone, peach and baking spice, and a a great apple finish. (89 Points)

2005 Celler de Capçanes Montsant Mas Donís Barrica (Old Vines) – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Montsant The nose had crushed rock and licorice, black currant and leather, and a little spice and vanilla. The palate was slightly tannic, with minerals and leather, black currant and licorice, and a very gamey finish. (87 Points)

2007 Domaine de La Pigeade Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise The nose had apricot and peach, honey and clove, and a little stone. The palate was thick and rich, with honey and apricot, peach and spice, and a mineral finish. (87 Points)

2004 Bodegas LAN Rioja Gran Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, Rioja The nose had smoke and floral notes, black currant and cherry, and a little spice. The palate had smoke and licorice, black currant and cherry, and a spice finish. It was a bit too tannic for me. (86 Points)