beer – Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA, Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti & Dogfish Head Burton Baton

All served on draught. Tasted April 7, 2012:

* Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA
* Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti
* Dogfish Head Burton Baton

The Houblon is light gold color in the glass, slightly opaque with a good head. The nose is fruit, flowers and hops. The flavors are lemon peel and bread. Short finish though. OK. Let’s call this one two out of five stars.

The Great Divide is black color in the glass, opaque with a moderate head. The nose is firmely dominated by espresso and chocolate. Bold flavors of double espresso, dark baking chocolate and bitters. Very good. Let’s call this one four out of five stars.

The Dogfish is dark copper color in the glass, slightly opaque with a decent head. The nose is apricots, flowers and malt. The flavors are peach, malt and a hint bitters. Good to very good. Let’s call it three and a half out of five stars.

wine – CT Texas IV – Friday Night Dinner

CT TEXAS IV – FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER – Hudson on the Bend, Austin, TX (5/18/2012)

The CT Texas crowd recently gathered for our fourth statewide tasting event. Previous events have been held in San Antonio, McKinney (Dallas) and Galveston (Houston). Austin was our venue this time around and our host YoDaddyO did a fantastic job of coordinating events for the group. Our first stop of the weekend was Friday night at Hudson on the Bend. I took notes on all of the wines through the first Cabernet Sauvignon on the evening before I ran out of gas. Here are the results:

• 2002 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé Rosé – France, Champagne
  WIML93

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Light salmon color in the glass, clear looking throughout with light beading. Nose of camphor, sherry and berries. Flavors of cherries, berries and tart apples. Medium to bright acidity, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold. (93 pts.)
  

• 1996 Fleury Pere & Fils Champagne Brut – France, Champagne, Côte des Bars (Aube), Champagne
  WIML93

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout with tindy, steady beading. Nose of camphor, talc and yellow pears. Flavors of lemon, yellow apples and yellow pears. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold. (93 pts.)
  

• 1990 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
  WIML94

  Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.

  Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of ocean breeze, petrol, wet stones and a hint of talc. Flavors of yellow pears, a hint of apricot core and minerals. Medium acidity, medium body. Drink or hold. No rush. (94 pts.)
  

• 2005 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Altenbourg Cuvée Laurence – France, Alsace, Kientzheim & Sigolsheim, Alsace AOC
  WIML93

  Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.

  Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of apricot, a hint of grapefruit and a bit of mixed yellow fruits. Flavors of yellow pears, yellow apples and apricots. Medium to bright acidity, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold. (93 pts.)
  

• 1997 Le Sillage de Malartic Blanc – France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  WIML89

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of matchstick, a hint of smoke and yellow pears. Flavors of yellow pears and minerals. Medium acidity, light to medium body. Drink now. (89 pts.)

• 2010 Cold Heaven Viognier Le Bon Climat – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
  WIML91

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of peaches, flowers and a hint of brown spices. Flavors of peaches, cherries and a hint of lemon. Medium acidity, medium body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
  

• 2008 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spätlese – Germany, Nahe
  WIML91

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of dirty diaper, sulfur and mixed yellow fruits. Flavors of sweet cherries, lime and a hint of lemon curd. Bright acidity, medium body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
  

• 2008 Ramey Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  WIML92

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of hazelnut, toast and yellow pears. Flavors of baked apples, spiced pears and creme brulee. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold. (92 pts.)
  

• 2003 Jean-Claude Boisset Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
  WIML91

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Garnet color in the glass, fairly clear looking. Nose of potpourri, leather, dried herbs and Kirsch. Flavors of black berries, Bing cherries and a hint of raspberries. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
  

• 2008 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  WIML91

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Garnet color in the glass, dusty looking. Nose of forest floor, white pepper, potpourri and a hint of leather. Flavors of berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
  

• 2004 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
  WIML93

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of thistle, white pepper and red hills dirt. Flavors of red berries and red raspberries. Bright acidity, medium tannins, medium bodied. Drink or hold. (93 pts.)
  

• 1995 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
  WIML92

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking. Nose of dried herbs, earth, wet stones and a hint of black licorice. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and black raspberries. Tart acidity, medium tannins, medium bodied. Drink or hold. (92 pts.)
  

• 2003 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  WIML92

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of white pepper, herbs du Provence and mixed dark fruit. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold. (92 pts.)
  

• 2005 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  WIMLNR

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of white pepper, licorice, oak and wet stones. Flavors of berries, licorice and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Hold. Pretty tight right now.
  

• 2005 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  WIMLNR

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of vanilla, leather and berries. Flavors of berries, cherries and plums. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Hold. Pretty primal at the moment.
  

• 1974 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – USA, California, Napa Valley
  WIML93

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Opened and served immediately.

  Dark garnet color in the glass, fairly clear looking. Nose of leather, plum, spice and wet stones. Flavors of berries and plums. Medium acidity, integrated tannins, medium body. Drink now. (93 pts.)
  

Posted from CellarTracker

beer – Deschutes Obsidian, Laughing Dog Anubis & Moylans Tippery

All served on draught. Tasted March 29, 2012:

* Deschutes Obsidian Stout
* Laughing Dog Anubis
* Moylans Tippery Pale Ale

The Deschutes is black color, opaque with a good head. Nose of espresso and dark cocoa. Flavors of dark chocolate, coffee and a hint bitters. Very good to excellent. Let’s call this one four out of five stars.

The Laughing Dog is black color, opaque with a good head. Nose of Nestle Quik and coffee beans. Flavors of chocolate covered peanuts and coffee. Good to very good. Let’s call this one three out of five stars.

The Moylans is Deep gold color, fairly clear with a short head. Nose of flowers and hops. Flavors of orange peel, lemon and a hint bitters. Good. Let’s call it three out of five stars.

beer – Green Flash Trippel, Allagash Four & Left Coast Wedge

All served on draught. Tasted March 25, 2012:

* Green Flash Trippel
* Allagash Four
* Left Coast Wedge

The Green Flash is light copper color in the glass, opaque with a good head. The nose was spices, flowers and citrus fruits. Flavors were lemons, a mix of yellow fruits and a bit bready on the finish. Very good to excellent. Let’s call this one four out of five stars.

The Allagash is bronze color in the glass, clear with a good head. Nose had good hops, tropical fruits with a bit dustiness. Flavors were malt balls and tropical fruits. Good weight on the palate with a pleasant finish. Good to maybe very good. Let’s call this one three out of five stars.

The Left Coast is black color in the glass, opaque with a good head. Nose was cappuccino and toast. Flavors were coffee with a hint of bitters. Excellent weight on the palate with a good but slightly bitter finish. Very good to excellent. Let’s call it four out of five stars.

wine – 2011 Charles & Charles Syrah Rosé

• 2011 Charles & Charles Syrah Rosé – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope (5/26/2012)
  WIML88

  Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.

  Salmon color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of grapefruit, cherry and a hint of sea spray. Flavors of lime, cherry, a bit of black raspberry and a tiny hint of bubble gum. Medium acidity, light to medium body. Bone dry. Good QPR here. PURPLE says it is more of a roasted chicken than pool wine. I can dig that. (88 points)
  

Posted from CellarTracker

beer – Moylans Kilt Lifter, Dragoons & Moylander

All served on draught. Tasted March 18, 2012:

* Moylans Kilt Lifter
* Moylans Dragoons Dry Irish Stout
* Moylans Moylander Double IPA

The Kilt Lifter is reddish, copper color in the glass, slightly opaque with a short head. Nose is simple with lightly roasted hops. The palate is citrus and malt flavors with a fairly clean presence and a medium weight. Good. Let’s call this one three out of five stars.

The Dragoons is dark brown color in the glass, opaque throughout with a nice tight head. The nose is a mix of dark chocolate and coffee. The palate is split between coffee and cocoa powder with a clean presence and medium weight. Good to very good. Let’s call this one four out of five stars.

The Moylander is gold color in the glass, slightly opaque with a good medium head. The nose consists of lemon pledge, pineapple and hops. The palate is dried pineapple and dominating bitters with a medium weight and lengthy finish. Good to very good. Let’s call it four out of five stars.

beer – Shiner Wild Hare, Rahr Bucking Bock & Deep Ellum DreamCrusher

All served on draught. Tasted March 15, 2012:

* Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale
* Rahr and Sons Bucking Bock
* Deep Ellum DreamCrusher

The Shiner is copper colored in the glass, fairly clear with a tiny head. The nose is light but a pleasant floral nose. The palate is a light to medium palate, fairly clean & refreshing. OK. Doesn’t rock my world. Let’s call this one three out of five stars.

The Rahr is golden colored in the glass, fairly clear with a tiny head. The nose is light & slightly muddled. The palate is earthy, almost bretty. Pass. Let’s call this one two out of five stars.

The Deep Ellum is dark bronze colored in the glass, slightly opaque with a medium head. The nose is full of apricots & peaches with a hint flowers. Flavors are apricot core with a hint of peach and a strong bitters finish. Good. I’d order again. Let’s call it four out of five stars.