Seattle Tasting Group does 'Go-to Wines'

Seattle, WA, USA
Tasted Friday, February 27, 2004 by Eric with 1,259 views

Introduction

The theme tonight was "go-to" wines. The wines were bagged and served double blind. There were a few controversial wines and a few disappointments. The dessert wines stole the show, as we ended up with an amazing crescendo.

Flight 1 - Starter (1 Note)

  • 1976 Groensteyn Kiedricher Wasseros Riesling Auslese 89 Points

    Germany, Rheingau

    AP# 34016*009*77. Very deep gold. The nose shows plastic with notes of honey. Other tasters cited diesel, but I found this to be a lot lighter than that. This has a somewhat bitter note on entry with some lemon pith. This still has a lot of sugar with a very thick, glyceral texture. Medium finish. As with nearly any well aged riesling, this is pretty lovely, but it doesn't display the acid or complexity of other aged examples I have tasted.

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Flight 2 - Whites (3 Notes)

  • 2002 Mason Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 80 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This is obviously Sauvignon Blanc with intense grassy notes and some hints of charcoal. On the palate this is very bitter with an astringent attack and loads of acid. This shows impressive length, but the bitter grapefruit on the finish is just over the top. I refer to wines like this as "strangled by grass" style of wines.

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  • 1994 Chateau Musar Blanc

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Made from Obaideh and Merwah. Deep color. This shows doughy, leesy notes on the nose with nuttiness and some heat. On the palate this shows very little interest with a flat, bitter feel. This clearly seems over the hill and somewhat oxidized. NR

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  • 1995 Schoffit Pinot Gris Cuvée Prestige 88 Points

    France, Alsace

    This show surprisingly deep color. The nose is unusual, highly floral with a hint of mint and some slightly green elements. The palate has a certain feel of riesling with upfront acidity, but from there the flavor profile differs. White pepper and spice with nice length. I found this wine to be somewhat confusing but quite enjoyable.

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Flight 3 - Red 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2001 Casaeda Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This shows lots of heat with blueberry and some white pepper. On the palate this is nicely balanced with medium intensity. This shows very pure fruit with some alcohol. Medium in length and somewhat monolithic but also fun. I would not have guessed this as Cabernet.

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  • 2001 Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend 91 Points

    Australia, South Eastern

    Deep color. This shows black pepper, a subtle hint of bacon and blackberry on the nose. Very big structure on entry with a Marquis Philips sort of feel (I guessed that blind). Boisterous blackberry and blueberry take over on the palate with a spicy finish. This really grows on you.

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  • 2002 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris 90 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    This was the surprise of the night. The nose of bacon, violet and tar screamed of Côte-Rôtie. This is showing quite young. Very spicy and smoky on the palate. This took about 25 minutes in the glass before fruit started to emerge. The finish on this is not terribly powerful but long and pretty.

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Flight 4 - Red 2 (3 Notes)

  • 1999 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape 85 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Light color. This shows chocolate and some milky notes on the palate. Very spicy with some clove. Somewhat clipped finish.

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  • 1999 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    This wine generated the controversy for the evening with 6 of 8 tasters claiming it was corked. I was just about alone in finding this wine enjoyable (Roy thought it was OK), but trust me, it was fine. Needless to say, my score was the high water mark, as I believe the wine was just showing a bit strangely. The funky nose shows iron, iodine, black olive and earthy depth. On the palate this was initally very prickly, but fortunately this passed quickly. This shows grenache notes typical of CNDP with a drying finish. Delicious is what I say! 89-92 points

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  • 1995 Ridge Geyserville 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    For me this was the dry wine of the night with only the dessert wines upstaging things. This is absolutely awesome and mouthfilling with sweet, spicy clove. Excellent balance and structure with lush, lavish and explosive fruit.

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Flight 5 - Red 3 (3 Notes)

Flight 6 - Dessert (4 Notes)

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