4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting

The two Champagnes were enjoyed nonblind.

• NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  From magnum. Fresh and lively, with orchard fruit, lemon pith, almond and yeast aromas with a pleasant toasty undertone. Medium coarse bead, with yeasty apple and almond notes on the palate.

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• 1996 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Medium color with notes of apple and a terrific nutty overtone. Citrus, mineral, orchard fruit and lightly toasted nut flavors with yeasty undertones. Long finish. Medium bead. Excellent, but not as complex as previous examples.

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• 2011 Finca Antigua Viura La Mancha El Palomar 90 Points

  Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, La Mancha

  Pale straw yellow color. Opens with apple and coconut aromas and develops a subtle grassy undertone. Nicely balanced, featuring white fruit, grass, citrus and stone nuances with a soft tasted quality. Guessed Sauvignon/Semillon blend.

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• 2013 Yalumba Viognier The Y Series 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Pale color. Apple and vanilla with subtle floral nuances. Lovely fruit on the palate with a rich texture and toast and vanilla tones. Guessed domestic Chard. 91-92 pts.

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• 2012 Falchini Vernaccia di San Gimignano Vigna a Solatio 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano

  Aromas of citrus- lemon- and crab apple with an underlying grassiness. Apple, grass and citrus qualities on the palate bolstered by bright acidity. Finishes very well. Guessed Sauv/Sem blend.

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• 2008 Kistler Pinot Noir Cuvée Natalie Silver Belt Flawed

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Deep color with notes of spice, black raspberry, cherry and clove, but also a bit of a VA issue which became worse as the night wore on. Cherry, white currant, cinnamon, black raspberry and spice flavors ending with a jammy red fruit finish.
  
  The Advocate reviewer commented that aspects of this wine reminded him of a 1er cru Volnay. Laughable.

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• 2011 Rhys Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Aromas of cherry, spice, clove and minerals. Lovely red fruit on the palate, along with mineral and spice notes. Finishes well, with good fruit and length. Develops a distracting plastic/band aid aroma as it sits, which I could not get past.

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• 2008 Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets 94 Points

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

  Bright cranberry red color. Aromas of violets, rose hips, lavender, cherry and earthy, forest floor. Medium-bodied and impeccably balanced, this has everything you could want- fruit, acid, structure- all right there for you. Cherries, earth and florals on the palate with a long, balanced finish. Elegant; gorgeous. 94-95 pts.

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• 2008 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Vigne de L'Enfant Jesus

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

  Faded rim; appears a bit older than the others in this flight. Opens with aromas of deli meats, turning to red fruit with a dusty, earthy quality and a subtle vegetal note. Starts to shut down in the glass becoming more reticent as it sits. Red fruit and cherry tones, but again, very closed. Give this some time.
  
  This was very quickly double decanted off its sediment and back into the bottle about 2.5 hours before the tasting began.

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• 1995 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Anniversary Release Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Corked.

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• 1995 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  The gentleman who brought the La Jota had brought this along for dinner but decided to bag it and put it in the blind tasting instead. Popped & poured, this showed beautifully right out of the gate. Aromas of tobacco, black fruit, currants, earth and just a bit of barnyard funk too. Giddy up! Medium-bodied and nicely integrated, this is in a wonderful place right now. A mélange of red and dark fruit, forest floor, tobacco and violets with cedar and red fruit tones on the finish. Balanced across the palate with a lingering finish. Spectacular. Guessed CA cab from an "old world" style producer. 94-95 pts.

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• 1992 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Opens with a beef bouillon cube aroma, then Worcestshire sauce. Ripe, with plum and raisiny fruit. Guessed CA cab. Obviously an off bottle, as this should have been terrific.

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• 1992 Joseph Phelps Insignia 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Aromas of currants, herbs, cedar and leather. Tannins are completely integrated leaving a balanced wine with lovely red & dark fruit qualities mixed with dusty earth and tobacco tones. Gorgeous.

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• 2011 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Flawed

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Corked.

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• 2003 Dominus Estate

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  I really struggled with this, finding it to be completely shut down. I got nothing on it.

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• 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Fortis 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark color. Aromas of vanilla, plum jam, black fruit and chocolate. Ripe but balanced, wit firm, sweet tannins and flavors of currants, plum and chocolate. Guessed Napa Cab.

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• 2003 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark youthful color with notes of black fruit, plums and chocolate. Tannic and firm, this needs some time. Plum, red berry and chocolate flavors. Guessed Napa Cab, but did not think it was a blend.

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• 2007 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Fortis 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Ripe black fruit and jam aromas; ripe and hot, showing its alcohol. The palate is similar, showing a lot of alcohol and overly ripe dark fruit.

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• 2006 Vinoce Cabernet Franc Mt. Veeder 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Similar to the previous wine, this is hot and alcoholic. Cassis and chocolate nuances underneath. Guessed Napa Cab.

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• 2005 Hendry Cabernet Sauvignon Hendry Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Aromas of chocolate, dark fruit and roasted herbs. Full-bodied and firm, the structure stands out a bit. Dark fruit, herbs, vanilla and spice flavors.

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• 2008 Fonseca Porto Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered 90 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Blackberry, licorice, cassis and dark fruit. Full-bodied, with nice fruit and cassis. Good value.

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