The SF International Wine Competition '08 gold and double gold award winners were tasty at The Tasting Panel's review of their wines. The Mandarin Oriental was a gorgeous setting in their library, and we were even escorted from the door to the tasting. It was a unique tasting for me, as I used to having winemakers or distributors' reps there to talk about their wines, but instead we were self-pouring. It was also unique in the selectivity -- more of a minimalist apporach than the usual hundreds of wines.
Nicholas Feuillante champagne was a treat, i've ben a fan since John @ Mt View BevMo hyped it 5 years ago
Sparkling Gewurtz was delightful, with a nose of litchi and peach
Across the reds, I was surprised at the restraint and accessibility, none of the fruit bombs or tannin monsters (other than the zin).
Notably absent were any pinot noirs, probably all sold out of that year already
I was surprised at the selection of spirits, and as I'd never been to a spirits tasting. Highlights include the ginger liquor, chartreuse, two Lagavuilins (16 year and 1991) peat monsters tho they were, the nose of the malbec vodka. The spinning glass top of the tequilla would have been fun to show the kids, but they'll have to do with my video...
I'm sadly missing the Wine & Spirits Top 100 which i've gone to for years but will be taking my daughter to Bible Study Fellowship since I'm gone too much this month...
