Iowa State Fair
Krug
Brut Champagne Blend 2006
Lewis Grace
Alta Mesa Torrontés 2019
I judged this wine at the CA State Fair a couple of years ago (blind), where is won double gold. I had to subsequently research it to figure out what is was. It was amazing the , and the 2019 vintage is just as amazing. Loved this light, ethereal wine. — 5 years ago
Fair State Brewing
Giantsbane
Big but well balanced — the roasted notes are deep and balanced by the addition of some wort that’s kettle soured. That also adds some complexity and liveliness to the palate. Definitely worth a try if you’re in the MPLS/St. Paul area. — 7 years ago
Trader Moon
Velvet Moon California Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Overlooked this numerous times at TJs but once I saw it score a 99 at the CA State Fair I had to give it a try. Not disappointed! Don’t usually go for inexpensive cabs, but this $6 gem at TJs is tasty via tart cherry and light tannins. Pretty smooth. — 7 years ago
Myriad Cellars
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Montevertine
Pian del Ciampolo Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2019
My fair and humble State is very fortunate to get what we get but when it comes to Azienda Agricola Montevertine, we often get plenty of the eponymous Montevertine and even our fair share of Pergole Torte. However, when it comes to Pian del Ciampolo, we seem to get slighted. Maybe the restaurants hoard it all? Anyway, I was able to get my hands on this one without much effort and I’m so happy I did.
Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Delightful on both. Th enable is slightly different for the 2019 vintage in order to celebrate what would have been Sergio Manetti's 100th birthday. The wine pours a beautiful ruby color, medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is intense and complex with crushed raspberries, cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, bergamot, dried herbs, dusty earth, wet stone. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin, medium+ acid and confirmed the tart red fruits, dried herbs, orange citrus, and earth. Long satisfying finish that is somewhat savory. It does seem to gain just a little weight on Day 2 which was, for this palate, well received. A lovely, and classic example of Chianti Classico (though it’s not labeled as such). Killer with food yet lovely on its own as well. Drink now and over the next 10 years. — 4 years ago
Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Partying Past Burning Bridges
Fairly weighty. Very floral, red berries. — 6 years ago
Pabst Brewing Company
Blue Ribbon Beer Original
Wise Villa Winery
Sangiovese
2015 Bronze winner @ CA State Fair comp but underrated IMO. Red fruit, spice, earth. Good stuff. — 8 years ago
Frog's Tooth
Sierra Foothills Malbec 2013
Frog's Tooth Malbec has always been really good. With their new wine maker on board the 2013 kicks it up a notch further. Really noteworthy. Owners told me it won "best Malbec in region" @ Calif State fair. Well deserved. — 10 years ago
Demetria
Estate Santa Ynez Valley Syrah 2013
Red cherries, red currants, red licorice, red pepper. Oh snap that's a lot of red combo nasty that comes with a ticket to the State Fair minus cotton candy and a goat petting zoo. This is a fine vino I would not serve to pathetic guests. The complexity of this vivacious sap gets even better once its' hot armpits are allowed to open up. Highly recommended to eat with a bold ass spread of fine cheeses from exotic places I ain't never heard of before. — 11 years ago
Truth and Valor
Paso Robles Zinfandel 2018
Delicious candied back cherry notes. Very bright red fruit notes, black pepper, bright acidity. 1950s state fair candied apple. Red licorice. Honestly the notes are probably wrong for the style but it’s so over the top, I dig it. — 5 years ago
R. López de Heredia
Viña Tondonia Rioja Rosé Blend 2010
Our fair and humble state just received our meager allocation of this elusive wine just before the holidays and I swooped up a couple bottles for myself with plans to drink one early and cellar the other. This bottle was a not part of those plans. No, this bottle was generously offered by the Somm at V. Mertz for just a fraction over retail which was fantastic because now I could try the wine and not feel obligated to dip into my own bottles! In the words of Charlie Sheen, “Winning!” The color of copper River salmon at the core and an almost orange color at the rim. The nose was predominately blood orange and grapefruit with some red cherries for good measure. On the palate, cherries, citrus, and fruit pound cake, no cap. Incredible texture with the sensation almost that of a weighted blanket of flavor for the tongue which, is somewhat of a mind trick since you expect something much lighter due to the color. The finish is oh so long and oh so lovely. A lovely, if not singular Rosé that happened to be a perfect pairing with lunch. — 5 years ago
Christopher Tynan Wines
Judge Family Vineyard Syrah 2015
Decanted for three hours and then transferred back to the bottle so we could more easily transport to a friend’s place. Consumed over the next several hours. I gotta say, this was magnificent and really blurs the lines between northern Rhône and California Syrah. Glass-staining purple with a powerful bouquet of blue fruits, bacon fat, lavender, smoke and some baking spice. On the palate, it was beautifully ripened blue and red fruits with olive loaf mortadella. One of the most distinctive characteristics however was the unique texture...like the softest corduroy imaginable: tactile yet velvety. Hard to explain but it is awesome. Tannins are very present but not overly obtrusive; a bit like State Troopers at a large sporting event; stern but fair. There’s good acid and the finish is long and makes me want to smack my tongue on the roof of my mouth. What a delicious new world Syrah with a very bright future ahead. Drink now with an extended decant or hold. I expect this will drink very well for decades to come. — 7 years ago
Baily
Montage Temecula Valley Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Gold 95 pts Cal State Fair — 7 years ago
Caymus Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Birth year bottle for our first born daughter, Haley. Celebrating her graduation from Iowa State this weekend and her achieving gainful employment one week from tomorrow. The cork was stubborn but eventually cooperated, and we decanted and filtered the wine. Tart cherry the first sip, wondering if we needed a backup. Beautifully brick coloring and the sharp edges are rounding out and now we’re getting a smooth mid palate of dark berries and spice leading to a bright finish. And a bright future! 👍🏻🍷👩🎓. Cheers! — 8 years ago
Aaron Tan
"You didn't know Krug's oxidative?"
While I've had my fair share of Krug over the years, I've never found any as oxidative as this 06' (save for a few suspect bottles), which led me to proclaim that the bottle was less-than-pristine. Normally this would not have been strange given the abysmal state of cold chain in Malaysia, but GL was quick to rebut with the statement above.
He's had far more Krug than I have you see - decades, instead of years - so he may well be right here. It could have been the vintage, or my palate, or just needed more air to blossom - whatever the case, this certainly fell below expectations. Sure it was dense and quite linear, and Krug does indeed lie in the school of oxidative champagnes, but this just lacked the balancing freshness that one would expect from a producer of this caliber. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was a distinct musky note that I see so often in ill-stored whites, and abhor. So the real question is - was GL right? Is this a typical Krug 06'? I believe another specimen is required to draw proper judgement. — 4 years ago