Blind. Guessed Sancerre. I need to taste more Chenin, this is delicious. Difficult to get a color read here in the restaurant but looks like a green fresh straw color. Perfume and tart fruit rind aromas. Lemon rind on full force with a splash of Granny Smith green apple. The rind note carries through the finish which is very long. Excellent acid and mineral balance. Load up in this one.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Blind. Guessed Pinot from 2011 and I was 95% confident of the vintage, never would have guessed '12.
Very light color, washed out strawberry and cloudy. Nose and palate of strawberry and cherry with barrel spice and interesting lacquer note (not a flaw) very nice restrained style.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
Blind. Guessed Pinot but unsure of the country of origin.
Good clarity yet fairly dark color. Nose shows some wood and ripe stems. Palate is light red fruit with a nice spice backbone. Medium finish and a nimble mouthfeel. I really enjoyed this one.
Blind. Wrote Pinot and then talked myself into a rhone Grenache. Damn cherry notes!
Medium plus darkness. A little fruit on the nose but I believe this was served on the colder side which held it back. Fruit forward sweet cherry core which keep me thinking Grenache even though everything else said Pinot. That's why we do it blind, makes the brain spin. Medium oak and a charcoal presence at the finish. Finished medium plus and a touch of sweetness.
Blind. Guessed CdP 2010 vintage. Only missed the age by 15 years.
Wow, amazing wine to taste because there is NO WAY anybody would guess this to be a '95 blind. There isn't a hint of age in the color, nose, or palate. They could have told me it was a barrel sample and I would have believed it. Very opaque. Nose is dark plum. Nice tannic structure with dark fruit, light leathery note, and iron. What's the drinking window on this one? 100 years?
Blind. Guessed old Grenache from rhone. This bottle was in trouble and became very obvious when compared to the syrah from the same vintage. Color was rusty and the nose quickly hinted at some challenges as it smelled like dry sherry. Fruit was a bit stewed and faded. Up for debate is this was technically flawed or had just pasted its expiration date.
Zin and petite sirah blend from Chris' family estate vineyard. Very light colored, leaning more towards a rosè color than a big purple zin. Nose is restrained as it was literally opened 15 seconds before I stuck my nose in the glass. Palate is beautifully restrained strawberry and rhubarb fruit. Light toasted and oak at the finish. Extremely refreshing for a zin as it's not thick, heavy, or overly ripe. Thanks for sharing.
2011 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Blind. Guessed Sancerre. I need to taste more Chenin, this is delicious. Difficult to get a color read here in the restaurant but looks like a green fresh straw color. Perfume and tart fruit rind aromas. Lemon rind on full force with a splash of Granny Smith green apple. The rind note carries through the finish which is very long. Excellent acid and mineral balance. Load up in this one.
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2012 August West Pinot Noir Peterson Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Blind. Guessed Pinot from 2011 and I was 95% confident of the vintage, never would have guessed '12.
Very light color, washed out strawberry and cloudy. Nose and palate of strawberry and cherry with barrel spice and interesting lacquer note (not a flaw) very nice restrained style.
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2005 Domaine Michel Gay et Fils Corton-Renardes Vieilles Vignes
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
Blind. Guessed Pinot but unsure of the country of origin.
Good clarity yet fairly dark color. Nose shows some wood and ripe stems. Palate is light red fruit with a nice spice backbone. Medium finish and a nimble mouthfeel. I really enjoyed this one.
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2012 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Blind. Wrote Pinot and then talked myself into a rhone Grenache. Damn cherry notes!
Medium plus darkness. A little fruit on the nose but I believe this was served on the colder side which held it back. Fruit forward sweet cherry core which keep me thinking Grenache even though everything else said Pinot. That's why we do it blind, makes the brain spin. Medium oak and a charcoal presence at the finish. Finished medium plus and a touch of sweetness.
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1995 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Cuvée Syrah
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Blind. Guessed CdP 2010 vintage. Only missed the age by 15 years.
Wow, amazing wine to taste because there is NO WAY anybody would guess this to be a '95 blind. There isn't a hint of age in the color, nose, or palate. They could have told me it was a barrel sample and I would have believed it. Very opaque. Nose is dark plum. Nice tannic structure with dark fruit, light leathery note, and iron. What's the drinking window on this one? 100 years?
Great treat to taste such an interesting wine.
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1995 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Reserve
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Blind. Guessed old Grenache from rhone. This bottle was in trouble and became very obvious when compared to the syrah from the same vintage. Color was rusty and the nose quickly hinted at some challenges as it smelled like dry sherry. Fruit was a bit stewed and faded. Up for debate is this was technically flawed or had just pasted its expiration date.
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2012 Seiber Cellars 87 Points
USA, California, Central Valley, Yolo County
Zin and petite sirah blend from Chris' family estate vineyard. Very light colored, leaning more towards a rosè color than a big purple zin. Nose is restrained as it was literally opened 15 seconds before I stuck my nose in the glass. Palate is beautifully restrained strawberry and rhubarb fruit. Light toasted and oak at the finish. Extremely refreshing for a zin as it's not thick, heavy, or overly ripe. Thanks for sharing.
I'm 87 on that! Ha!
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