Friday Night Brown Bagger

• 2012 Etude Pinot Gris

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Pale color with notes of grass, mineral and citrus. Melon and white fruit, perhaps apple too, on the palate with a nice finish. Good acidity and balance. Guessed Grigio/Gris.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Villa Wolf Pinot Gris

  Germany, Pfalz

  Aromas of apple, mineral and white fruit- at first similar to the first wine. White fruit and peach on the palate, ending with a hint of spice- white pepper perhaps? Initial thought was Gruner, but the spice disappeared and I was left with no real guess.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Château Lanessan 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Garnet color. The bouquet shows ripe- but not overly so- fruit, raspberry and currants. Notes of herbs, spice and tobacco emerge as it opens. Raspberry and currants on the palate with a raisin undertone. As it opens, the raisin note disappears leaving ripe currants and herb flavors. Finishes well. Guessed young Bordeaux.
  
  An impressive showing for this wine, and drinking very well now. I wish I had a few in the cellar to open over the next few years.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Kapcsándy Family Winery Vino Del Sol State Lane Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  Garnet color. Notes of raisin, boysenberry and currants- smells like a port. Loads of fruit on the palate- macerated black raspberry, white and black currants, plum, blackberry and chocolate. Long finish. I set the glass aside to have with dessert.
  
  The person who brought this did not realize it was a fortified dessert wine, so while it was out of place in the flight of dry reds, it was a nice glass with dessert following the tasting.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Ghost Pines Winemaker's Blend 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast

  Aromas of dark fruit with a subtle meaty undertone- Syrah-like. Medium tannins and flavors of currants and black fruit with hints of chocolate and herbs. Medium+ finish. Guessed Cab blend.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Shafer Merlot 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep garnet color. Aromas of clay, earth, mineral, herbs, red berries, vanilla and spice. Dark fruit on the palate, with spice, clay, vanilla and red currants as well. Tannins have a slightly chalky quality, but there is good length on the finish. Guessed CA Bordeaux blend.
  
  Much more Cab-like than I remembered this being, but then I had only double-decanted this very quickly prior to leaving for the tasting. I will wait on the next bottle for a few years.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Robert Biale Syrah Hill Climber Jack & Jill 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Opens with notes of red fruit, spice and meat. Red fruit, spice and pepper flavors on the palate.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Coniglio Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Notes of ripe cheese blow off leaving red fruit, plum and herbs. Red fruit, spice and vanilla tones on the palate. Becomes more elegant and floral as it sits, with a nice mix of red and dark fruit. Plum and berry flavors with slightly chalky tannins. Guessed Napa Cab.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les Terrasses 90 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Notes of herbs, iron and black fruits. The palate follows the bouquet. Opens quite a bit as it sits, becoming more floral- violets, rose petals and black currants. Plum, currant, tobacco and iodine flavors with a nice finish. I thought this was a Bordeaux.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Sky Vineyards Syrah

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Currants, plum and floral notes. Dark fruit dominates the palate with vanilla and oak notes as well. Has a fairly long finish. Develops a strange bubble gum aroma. Flawed?

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Maroon Cabernet Sauvignon Maroon Vineyard Coombsville 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville

  Vanilla, blackberry and cassis aromas with chocolate, plum and violet notes emerging later on. Nice fruit on the palate; balanced with dusty tannins and a nice finish. Chocolate and plum notes on the finish. Guessed Napa Cab.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Ghost Pines Winemaker's Blend

  USA, California, North Coast

  Meaty, with an odd wooly note too. Red fruit on the palate with a sweet, candied edge. Perfumed meaty dark fruit aromas and tart cherry and red currant jam on the palate. Needed some time to open.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

A bonus bottle, tasted double blind.

• 2009 Gallica Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Notes of plum, blackberry, chocolate and cassis. Dark fruit dominates the palate, with chalky tannins. Becomes more plush and rounded as it opens. Chocolate notes emerge with air. 90+ pts. Guessed Napa Cab.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue