Notes from Domaine Select Wine Estates Pop-Up Tour, October 2012
Our friends at Domaine Select Wine Estates (which handles a lot more than wine) are on the road, “popping up” in a half-dozen cities to let their producers show off their wares. I recently dropped in on the San Francisco installment to experience a few wines that were new to me (1982 Borgogno Barolo, yes please) and some spirits, including a line of Armagnacs from Castarede that are slowly making their way to the States, and WhistlePig’s new limited edition “111” Rye Whiskey. Notes follow!
Wines
2010 Casa E. di Mirafiore Dolcetto d’Alba / $21 / B / strawberry notes
2009 Casa E. di Mirafiore Barbera d’Alba Superiore / $27 / B / lots of sweetness
2009 Casa E. di Mirafiore Langhe Nebbiolo / $45 / B+ / fresh, berry infused
2007 Casa E. di Mirafiore Barolo / $42 / B+ / brings in herbal notes
2004 Casa E. di Mirafiore Barolo Riserva / $138 / B+ / difficult balance
NV Champagne Philippe Gonet Grande Reserve Brut / $69 / A- / big apple, foamy
NV Champagne Philippe Gonet Rose Brut / $90 / B+ / missing the berry notes you’d expect
NV Champagne Philippe Gonet Blanc de Blancs Brut Signature / $85 / A- / very fruity
NV Champagne Philippe Gonet Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 3210 / $100 / B+ / too fizzy
2006 Champagne Philippe Gonet Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut / $85 / B+ / heavier, herbal notes
NV Champagne Philippe Gonet Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Roy Soleil / $90 / A- / more tropical, herbal character
2011 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Dolcetto d’Alba / $22 / B+ / light herbs
2009 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Barbera d’Alba / $30 / B / tight, drying
2009 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Langhe Nebbiolo / $33 / A- / improved, good balance
2009 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Langhe Nebbiolo ‘No Name’ / $36 / A- / minty, tobacco notes
2005 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Barolo / $90 / B / very young, lots of tannin
2006 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Barolo Liste / $120 / B- / tight, much bitterness
2004 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Barolo Riserva / $100 / A / lush, drinking well
2000 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Barolo Riserva / $100 / A- / tight, has years left
1996 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Barolo Riserva / $125 / B+ / some oxidation, lightly bitter
1982 Giacomo Borgogno e Figli Barolo Riserva / $414 / A / brick red and orange hues; super lively, good balance of fruit and herbs
Spirits
The Bitter Truth Chocolate Bitters / $16 / B+ / big cocoa nose
The Bitter Truth Peach Bitters / $NA / A / huge peach notes (not on sale in U.S.)
The Bitter Truth Sloe Gin / $50 / A- / really lush, light sweetness, authentic
The Bitter Truth Pink Gin / $48 / A- / a bit peppery, overall quite mild and refreshing
WhistlePig Straight Rye / $84 / A / sweet cinnamon in a syrupy base
WhistlePig Straight Rye 111 / $111 / A / at 111 proof, much bigger and bolder; has a finish like a pot-distilled rum, huge body
Castarede Armagnac Blanche / $42 / B+ / not too rough, easygoing; some fuel notes
Castarede Armagnac Selection / $51 / B+ / VS level; easy, a good mixer
Castarede Armagnac VSOP / $63 / B+ / 10 years old; more caramel notes, green finish
Castarede Armagnac Reserve de le Famille / $100 / A- / 20 years old; bigger fruit, a bit oaky
Castarede Armagnac 1982 / $108 / A- / single vintage series, 30 years old; smoothing out, more citrus and incense
Castarede Armagnac 1972 / $150 / A- / single vintage series, 40 years old; easygoing, spicier with more wood
Castarede Armagnac 1962 / $333 / A- / single vintage series, 50 years old; chocolate notes, citrus, dark berries, some tannin here
