Sunday Brown Bag Tasting: 2009 Libournais

The double blind reds are served in one flight. Tasters are to identify the theme of the tasting and rank the wines. Votes are tallied and the wines revealed. We had ten tasters, cost was $35.

• 2009 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Viré-Clessé 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Viré-Clessé

  Light color with aromas of minerals, apple and stone. Mineral and apple tones on the palate, with nice acidity and brightness. 89+ pts.

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• 2010 Emile Beyer Pinot Blanc Tradition 89 Points

  France, Alsace

  Notes of peach, petrol, mineral and stone. Medium bodied, with stone fruit, mineral and peach tones. Guessed Alsatian Riesling.

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• 2009 Château Joanin Bécot 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  Deep color. Notes of vanilla, black currants and spice. Full-bodied, with red fruit, blackberry and cherry flavors. Long finish, dominated by red fruit and vanilla. 89+ pts.
  
  My #5, Domino's #5
  Group #2, 37 pts

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• 2009 Château Moulin Pey-Labrie 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Canon-Fronsac

  Deep color. Aromas of cherry, black fruit and vanilla. Full-bodied; firm tannins. Flavors of vanilla, sweet red fruit, black fruit and a long finish. A soft herbal streak adds complexity on the palate. 91+ pts.
  
  My #1, Domino's #3
  Group #1, 28 pts

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• 2009 Clos Lunelles 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  Deep color. Vanilla, spice and black fruit aromas. Full-bodied with firm, slightly austere tannins and flavors of vanilla, red & black fruits. Currant and cassis qualities on the medium finish. Oaky.
  
  My #7, Domino's #6
  Group #7, 52 pts

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• 2009 Château Cap de Faugères 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  Deep color. Notes of vanilla, black fruit and raspberry liqueur. Has a nice herbal streak on the palate, along with red fruit, juicy black berrries and vanilla. Medium finish.
  
  My #3, Domino's #1
  Group #4, 42 pts

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• 2009 Château Côte Montpezat Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  Corked, albeit slightly. Vanilla, red fruit and blackberry aromas. Tannic and a bit austere, with dark fruit and herbs on the palate. All with a corky overtone. Too bad.
  
  My #8, Domino's #8
  Group #8, 66 pts

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• 2009 Château La Croix de Gay 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Deep garnet color. Notes of spice, vanilla, red and black fruit with a nice herbal undertone. Full-bodied, with loads of dark fruit on the palate. Perhaps just slightly dry and austere through the finish.
  
  My #2, Domino's #7
  Group #5, 48 pts

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• 2009 Château Vieux Maillet 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Dark color. Vanilla, dark fruit and raspberry aromas. Full bodied with firm tannins and flavors of vanilla, pepper, black fruit and spice.
  
  My #4, Domino's #2
  Group #3, 38 pts

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• 2009 Château Montlandrie 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  Deep color. Black fruit, raspberry and vanilla aromas. Full-bodied, with vanilla, dark fruit, blackberry and cassis flavors.
  
  My #6, Domino's #4
  Group #6, 49 pts

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Wines served nonblind with dinner and dessert.

• 2011 Lewis Cellars Syrah Vin Gris 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Aromas of strawberries, florals and berries. Bright acidity with flavors of cherry, berry and melon. Long finish; paired nicely with the gumbo.

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• 1998 Domaine des Rémizières Hermitage Cuvée Émilie 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Garnet color. Meaty red berry and plum notes, along with dark fruit and herbal qualities. Medium-bodied, with cherry and red currant, meat and floral qualities. Lengthy finish.

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• 2006 Ridge Grenache Lytton Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Red fruit, currant and cherry toes with a nice spice and herb quality in the background. Structured; good acidity. Flavors of red fruit, spices and roasted herbs. Balanced across the entire palate ending very nicely.

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• NV Bailly-Lapierre Crémant de Bourgogne Réserve Brut 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Crémant de Bourgogne

  L1078749. Pale color with notes of lemon, stone and grapefruit. Light on the palate, with good acidity and focus. Citrus and apple tones dominate.

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• 2008 Ridge Syrah Lytton Estate

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Initially quite reticent and shy, eventually showing notes of dark fruit, pepper and roasted meat. Structured, but balanced. Black fruit and spice qualities with a medium+ finish. Could use a couple of years.

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• 2006 Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

  Loads of red fruit, spice and garrigue which follow through on the palate. Nice structure with good acidity and balance. Medium+ finish.

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• 2011 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer 89 Points

  France, Alsace

  Pale color. Aroams of lychee, white fruit, apples and spice. Nice texture with good underlying acidity and typical spice and lychee qualities. Nice finish.

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• 1996 Château Rieussec

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Deep color- looks a bit older than I would have expected. Notes of honey, baked apricot and marmalade. Has some weight on the palate; a bit lacking in acidity. Marmalade and cooked honey qualities with a somewhat short finish.

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