Bordeaux Varietal Blind tasting

My place
Tasted Sunday, November 21, 2010 by dkoontz with 727 views

Introduction

THE CLUB gathered at my place with Vytauras, Dhiraj, Pat, Matt, and me in attendance. We sat down with 6 masked bottles, and aimed to rate each one as well as to identify it as old or new world and guess the Bordeaux varietal.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 2006 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Annum 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Dark Ruby color. Nose of cassis, which showed some maple with air. Palate with big ripe black fruit on a full body. Long finish set this apart from the other wines of the evening. Consensus WOTN.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 (1 Note)

  • 2007 Concannon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Livermore Valley 90 Points

    USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Livermore Valley

    Ruby color, but not as saturated as some other cabs on the night. Some reduced aromas on nose, including barnyard, and some licorice. Palate with cherry and a higher acidity than the other cabs and prominent dry tannins. Medium finish. Enjoyed by all, but pegged as a cab by only 1 of 5 blind tasters.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 2008 MontGras Carménère Reserva 89 Points

    Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley

    Saturated ruby color. Nose of candied cherry with a little singe of heat. Texture was silky smooth with chocolate and more candied fruit backed up by sweet tannins. Medium finish. Pegged as a merlot by most of the blind tasters.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 4 (1 Note)

  • 2008 Arboleda Carménère 87 Points

    Chile, Aconcagua Valley

    Saturated ruby color. Petrol and heat on the nose. Palate with more petrol along with leather and pepper notes and some cherry at the back. Short finish. Least enjoyed wine of the evening.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 5 (1 Note)

  • 2007 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

    Ruby color. Interesting but subdued nose with hints of molasses. Silky texture on the palate with flavors of chocolate, black currant, and tar. Medium finish. Uniformly pegged as a merlot by blind tasters.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 6 (1 Note)

  • 2003 Rutini Merlot Felipe Rutini 89 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, La Consulta

    Ruby color. Cherry on the nose. Palate with higher acidity and tannin than other wines drunk on the evening. Med-long finish. Pegged as a cab by all, tasted blind.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Closing

The group correctly identified 5 of 6 as old world. We were less successful in getting the grape - we were unanimous in our opinion on the varietal of 3 pours - and correct on only 1.

×
×