Well, another flurry of wines came cycling through, as I tasted 15 bottles in two days time. In Class we took a brief trip to Alsace via projector and then off to Burgundy, where we would taste these fine wines:

07 Domaine Ronald Schmitt Muscat

07 Domaine Ronald Schmitt Pinot Gris

08 Domaine Ronald Schmitt Reisling Grand Cru, Vielles Vignes

08 Hervé Azo Chablis 1er Vau de Vey

96 Hervé Azo Chablis 1er Vau de Vey

07 Goisot Saint Bris Sauvignon

98 Goisot Fie Gris

It was awesome to do a vertical tasting (tasting the same wine in different vintages), seeing bottle evolution and it’s intriguing effects—firsthand. The 96 Chablis had staying power on the palate. And after class, my roommate and his girlfriend offered me an actual glass of 09 Sauvignon Blanc from the Franciscan estate in Napa Valley to celebrate her interview with an extraordinary school.

The following night it was on to the wines of Bordeaux—specifically the right bank—from the appellations of St. Emilion and Pomerol. Renown for their structured and powerful Merlot-based blends; it would be an exciting class. We tasted:

05 Chateau St. Jean de Lavand

05 Ch. Gombaude Guillot

05 Ch. Tour Canon

08 Ch. Cheval Noir

04 Ch. Fleur Cardinale

05 Ch. Grand-Mayne

06 Ch. Canon-La-Gaffeliere

My mouth was thoroughly thrashed after the two rounds of Bordeaux. Rounding the rotation of carousel vin with the last stop falling on Canon La-Gaffeliere, which displayed unparalleled finesse and my ravaged tongue was appreciative. Scents of cedar and earth gave way to soft tannins on the palate. It was in a class of it’s own that night.

Fifteen wines from three premium regions (four, if you include my glass of Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley)… my goodness I have tasted thirty wines in less than thirty days, only 470 left to go. It might go faster than I thought.