New World Blind Tasting Group $25+

• 2012 Wolf Mountain Vineyards Brut Rosé

  USA, Georgia

  Roses, rich, round, decent acid, peach, strawberry; tasty.

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• 2011 De Ponte Cellars Melon de Bourgogne D.F.B.

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Faint nose, candle wax, medium to fuller bodied, higher alcohol; was not going to go with Melon...

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• 2010 Hartford / Hartford Court Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Dark garnet, semi-translucent; camphor, cedar, fire, currant, plum; soft and sweet tannin, not oaky, spice, red currant, some glycerin, decent tannin; unlike most Zins I've had to this point.

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• 2011 Peterson Winery Zinfandel Bradford Mountain Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  See through bright ruby purple; wild berry, new French oak, almost Pinot-like; smooth, sexy, fresh, strawberry, sour cherry, fresh acid and a long finish; Old Worldish; tasty.

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• 2006 Leviathan

  USA, California

  Dark core with reddish plum rim, showing some age; spicy, currant, stewed fruit, mint, modern; rounded palate, larger scaled, rich and dense showing a touch of heat on the finish; one of the favorites from the tasting; drink sooner than later.

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• 2010 Wellington Alicante Bouschet Old Vines Noir de Noirs

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Super dark, has to be Petite Sirah- right?, tart berry, soft, jammy, stains the glass (don't look in the mirror after this); tasty.

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• 2009 Mollydooker Cabernet Sauvignon Gigglepot

  Australia, South Australia

  Soft, drinkable, sweet cassis and vanilla.

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• 2010 Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Super dark and inky; cedar, cassis, rich, grainy tannin- Rutherford, bitter chocolate; good.

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• 2009 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Whole Cluster Willamette Valley

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Very light color, dull brick with orange rim; minty, sour cherry, tobacco, meaty; sweeter fruit, tobacco, older; good but lacking freshness.

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• 2007 Orin Swift Papillon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark color; very ripe nose, graham cracker, cassis; glycerin, long finish; good.

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• 2011 Crane Creek Vineyard Norton Hellbender Red

  USA, Georgia

  Watermelon, clay, sweet, jolly rancher, a little funky I later recognized as foxy- Norton, cinnamon; not my style but drinkable.

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• 2006 Clarendon Hills Grenache Kangarilla

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon

  Very thick and dense, stains the glass, thin bright purple rim; sweet berry, vanilla, spearmint, Wintergreen Lifesaver, raw meat; softer palate, sweet but not, sweet spice, noticeable alcohol; good but not sure of its ability to age.

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• 2012 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Bottle shaken then decanted for 2 hours; cloudier color, dark crimson, seems aged; glycerin, stewed fruit, spice, minty; richer on palate with a wall of flavor, some medicinal cherry and raspberry; not exactly what I was expecting (lighter) from this bottle but the pretreatment could have something to do with it.

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A very eclectic mix of wines. Melon de Bourgogne in Oregon...not sure about that, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Zinfandels. Both from RRV and in a lighter style makes me consider the seriousness of the grape in a good way.