California Vs Burgundy Blind

Frank Murray's Casa
Tasted Saturday, December 4, 2010 by WetRock with 929 views

Introduction

The theme was California versus Burgundy, white and red. Everyone contributed at least one bottle which was bagged and unknown to the group. We served them all in flights of three and did all reveals after each group was done(white and red groups). Not a lot of wows among the blind wines though many were very interesting. Some of the bonus end of the night wines were actually the most interesting with one being my WOTN.

Thanks again to Frank for setting up another great and fun night.

Flight 1 - Pre-Event Tastes (2 Notes)

Flight 2 - White Flight #1 (3 Notes)

I voted:
1 - 08 Sauzet
2 - 08 Rhys
3 - 08 Carillon

Overall winners:
1 - 08 Carillon
2 - 08 Sauzet
3 - 08 Wind Gap

  • 2008 Wind Gap Wines Chardonnay

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Served blind. Reticent nose with some pear and ripe tropical fruits. Touch of minerals. Rich with a very thick midpalate and clipped on the finish. Saying that, it wasn't overdone though there was a touch of heat on the finish. Guessed Cali, maybe an Aubert.

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  • 2008 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champ-Canet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

    Served blind. The sulfur/smoke nose screamed Burgundy to me. Otherwise the nose showed very little but the palate was very good. Tight and precise with an acid driven expression, even grippy across the palate. This lingers for quite some time and showed some minerals. I think its best days are ahead of it but it was the easy winner for me of the flight. Very good.

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  • 2007 Wind Gap Wines Chardonnay Brosseau Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone

    Served blind. Tight nose of graham crackers and Gatorade. Odd, weak palate with some grip and butterscotch notes. This bottle was a mess. Best guess was Cali.

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Flight 3 - White Flight #2 (3 Notes)

Flight 4 - Red Flight #1 (3 Notes)

I initially had the 03 Lambrays marked for a top spot but a revisit made me rethink that. I also liked the Weber, Dublere and Rossignol besides what I voted for.
My votes:
1 - 04 Prive
2 - 99 Mugneret-Gibourg
3 - 09 Wind Gap

Overall winners:
1 - 03 Lambrays
2 - 04 Prive
3 - 06 Copain

  • 2008 Weber Wine Company Pinot Noir Kelley Family Vineyard

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Served blind. Piny spice on a bright nose with reductive stank coming out later on. Sharp and biting on the palate with more reduction. The nose made me think of a Rivers Marie. The palate feel short.

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  • 1992 Etude Pinot Noir Estate Carneros

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Served blind. This bottle clearly showed aged qualities on the nose and the palate though the color was still very dark with not much bricking. Rich nose with notes of meat and oxidation. Dark cherry and tea palate with plenty of oxidized notes. Still good grip. Interesting but past its prime.

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  • 2006 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Served blind. Decanted about 6 hours prior to serving. Tight nose with notes of cranberry and juniper. Lean feeling palate with more cranberry. This showed far less than I would have expected. Seemed perfumey on the nose later on but the palate still seemed in its shell being acidic and tart. Guessed Cali.

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Flight 5 - Red Flight #2 (3 Notes)

  • 2006 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Te Muna Road Vineyard

    New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

    Served blind. Big dark fruits on the nose coming with a baked quality and notes of sassafras. Bright big fruits that are juicy and baked with a touch of heat. Would have bet on Cali.

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  • 2003 Domaine des Lambrays Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Loups

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru

    Served blind. This was intriguing early on with its complexities and I initially marked it as a possible favorite. A revisit after tasting all the wines wiped that hoped away as the ripeness showed in an ugly way with some volatile acetone notes dominating. Very dark in color. Complex with subtle qualities. Notes of dill and wood. Balanced palate showing lots of fruit but backed by a strong acidic core and lots of tannin for a Pinot. Guessed Burgundy initially but the revisit really threw me. Seeing the vintage on the reveal explained a lot. I think this is a drink now wine.

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  • 2009 Wind Gap Wines Pinot Noir Gap's Crown & Griffin's Lair

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Served blind. Woodsy notes with pine, cranapple and sweet chalky characters. Juicy palate with woodsy lignified stem characters. This was interesting and balanced and probably needing a few years. I guessed Copain from Anderson Valley and voted it 3rd.

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Flight 6 - Red Flight #3 (4 Notes)

  • 2007 Domaine Dublère Volnay 1er Cru Pitures

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

    Served blind. Tight nose showing some rocky mineral notes. Juicy cherry with strong acids and minerals. Even with the mineral acids the finish came up weak and watery. Never took a stab on a guess in my notes. Hard to tell if it was a weak Burgundy or a Cali wine from a producer trying to go way restrained.

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  • 2004 Privé Vineyard Pinot Noir Le Sud

    USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

    Served blind. This was an interesting changing wine that had me guessing France for certain. Sharp nose with stems and apple skins. There is some volatility present also and a note of iron. Clean long palate with lots of acid and a sweet cherry finish. The more this sat in the glass the better it got also. The complexity and balance won me over and made me vote this one #1. Nice going Oregon.

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  • 1999 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Charmes-Chambertin Flawed

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Served blind. Badly corked.

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  • 2006 Copain Pinot Noir Monument Tree

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    Served blind. Ripe baked fruits on a round candy like nose. Little bit volatile. Broad and clean palate. Very juicy at the finish. Clearly Cali. Never would have guessed Copain though this bottling has never wowed me as much as some of the others.

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Flight 7 - Red Flight #4 (3 Notes)

  • 2005 Nicolas Rossignol Volnay 1er Cru Santenots

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

    Served blind. Nose shows some stewed fruits and sulfur. Lean acidic driven palate with a strong rip. Very tight as it gets towards the finish. I guessed Burgundy. Seems like a nice wine in need of more bottle time.

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  • 2007 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Chambolle-Musigny

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny

    Served blind. Ripe baked fruits on the nose. Ripe fruit on a tart palate. The finish at that acidfied sweet 'n sour quality. There was a touch of earth so I guessed New World instead of just Cali.

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  • 1999 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

    Served blind. This was decanted shortly before serving. Not much on the nose. Big yet pretty mouthfeel, well balanced with lots of grip. Concentrated with an acidic core and underlying complexity. I wish we had had this with more air but it was a winner even as tight as it was. I guessed France and voted it #2. Very good.

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Flight 8 - Some After Event Treats (5 Notes)

The Bouchard was great. Incredible for a village wine to drink so well so long. Still don't get the RM Cabs(love the Pinots!) and the Hartwell was a nice contrast to it even if it represents a more middle style. The Turley is a nice rarity. Worked nicely with the cake for me.

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