Monthly Tasting Group: Blind Pinots Worldwide

This was the monthly tasting group event. the theme was blind pinots form around the world. This is always an interesting and challenging event. We had 3 tables with around 8 people at each. Wines were poured blind and revealed after everyone made their guesses. Nit too many wines floated around tonight with this format.

• 2012 Lamy-Caillat Chassagne-Montrachet 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet

  Had the '12 La Romanee 1er a couple nights ago, this doesn't fall too far behind that. Very similar character, with a richness and depth on the palate that has nuance and finesse. toasty, lemon, flavorful.

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• NV Charles Ellner Champagne Brut Rosé 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Very pale orange- salmon color.Tasting pour. This was very toasted and yeasty with strawberry fruit on the nose and palate, there is a nice minerality on the palate as well. The nose definitely catches your attention. very tasty. I love their other cuvee's and, I'd rec this up if available. 90+pts.

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• 2012 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Light-medium gold color. Well this was a definite "about face" form what we had been drinking to this point (largely steely, minerally wines, but if can manage to separate yourself from that, this is a big, lush, decadent chard that is balanced. Sure, it has oak, butter, ripe fruit, a full bodied dense texture, but its all in place. Very good in a big Cali style. Buyer beware if you don't like the style. .

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• NV François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Méthode Traditionelle Demi-Sec 88 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire

  Tasting pour. Light medium gold color. Tropical, apple, sweet, floral Chenin character. Good for the style. Just not in my wheel house.

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• NV Champagne Lallier Champagne Grand Cru Grande Réserve 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Light gold color. pear nose with yeast, sour apple, subtle earth, apple skin. The palate is fairly consistent, sour apple, minerally, rather dry. Was probably a bit warm. Not quite as good as the last bottle.

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• 2014 Epoch Estate Wines White Wine

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  This had a viognier nose, very floral, aromatic, tropical fruit, citrus, big and full bodied. Was not really at a good place in the wine sequence for this, but it has a lot positive qualities. You need a really hot day and plenty of sunshine out on the deck to enjoy this at its best. 89(+?)pts.

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• 2013 Château Margüi Côteaux Varois Perle de Margui 88 Points

  France, Provence, Côteaux Varois

  Strawberry, dry, citrus, watery, meh...its fine, not bad if under 10-12 bucks.

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• 2009 Pierre Boisson Meursault 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  This was pretty lean and minerally, some oak, with a distinct matchstick character on the palate/finish, a bit sharper, but mostly clean. 89-90pts.

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• 2007 Ferrari Perlé 88 Points

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trentino, Trento

  Small pour. Foamy, very yeasty, subtle mineral, yeast palate, foamy, nutty, brioche.

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• 2009 Jean-Claude Boisset Nuits St. Georges Les Charbonnières 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges

  Hope fully this is the correct wine. Drank glass blind over an hour. So there's one anyway...nice fruit, ripe red berries, subtle earth, spice; introverted, cinnamon. Plenty of youthful tannin, cherry, dry, stems.

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• 2011 Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Juliard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Medium red color. Tasting pour, blind over an hour. Totally wrong on this one, wasn't really sure what it was, Cali, maybe a young Burg. Neither. Mineral, rocky, ripe cherry, berry, hints of brett, sour cherry. This had a lot of heat and big tannins, sauvage, cherry. Very tightly wound. Previous notes hopefully are correct in this needing more time. However, many of the 2011's are showing great now, so this does worry me a bit as to where its going. 87-88pts?

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• 2011 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Medium dark red to dark red color. Tasting pour, blind over an hour. Had this as Cali, Sonoma Coast, maybe RRV; very ripe, cola, cherry, earth, VERY ripe; big on the palate, cherry vanilla, rhubarb, cherry, full bodied, alcohol, slightly savory. This is another in a recent line of Sojourns that was underwhelming.

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• 2012 Chehalem Pinot Noir Corral Creek 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  Dark red color. Tasting pour blind over 2 hours. I was pretty certain this was my wine, so figured this was Ore. Decanted for 1.5hrs and slow-O for 2 hours prior. ypical of the 2012's, big and fuller body, ripe red fruits, becomes considerably more complex and interesting after 90 minutes. Adds in the expected earthiness, smoke, more finesse; the palate is ripe, dark berry fruit, strawberry, dried rose petals, ripe and lush, becomes more soft later. This is very young and despite a lot of air, it needs at least 2-3 years in cellar. 90+ to 91pts after 90 minutes. (4000)

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• 2011 Hubert Lignier Bourgogne 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne

  Dark red color. Tasting pour, blind over 90 minutes. Figured this was Burg or maybe Oregon, but went with Burg. This was pretty big, ripe cherry, sweet cherries, softer tannins, drying tannins. Guessed 2010.

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• 1993 Albert Morot Beaune 1er Cru Les Toussaints Flawed

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

  Full of VA, not drinkable.

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• 2005 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir West Block 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Dark red color. Tasting pour blind over an hour plus. Not much doubt in mind on this wine - Cali, RRV. Big, full bodied, ripe fruits, black cherry, strawberry, very lush and forward. I can drink it and appreciate it for what it is, but just a very ripe style.

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• 2013 Palliser Estate Pinot Noir 87 Points

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  Dark red color. Tasting pour, blind over an hour. This was another big wine, kind of different, hence the guess as "other" vs. Cali, Ore, or Burg. I'll go with that. Big fruit, extracted, high octane, heat, obnoxious, cherry. 86-87pts.

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• 2008 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Équinoxe 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Dark red color. PNP, Tasting pour blind over an hour plus. Wasn't sure what this was for awhile; ultimately, this came around and showed more Oregon character so went with that. the godfather, of course, nailed that it was Le Cadeau - show off. This started off with bigger fruit, berries, dark cheery, vanilla, full bodied; eventually the damp earthiness emerged with some funk, and the fruit dialed back and there was more finesse, still some firm tannins. The '08's are hit or miss right now, I think this needs more time or significant air to show well.

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• 2007 Icardi Langhe Pinot Nero Nej

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Tasting pour, blind, over an hour. Nasty, tannic, metallic, grippy, weird. guessed other, turned out to Italian- go figure, it needs food, and I wouldn't peg it as pinot. 84pts.

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• 2009 Bouchard Père et Fils Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot 91 Points

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

  Small pour, blind, at the end of the night. Clearly a burg, very good. Earthy, some youthful tannins that are firm, pretty red fruits, minerally, nicely layered, and expressive.

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• NV Château d'Arlay Macvin du Jura Vin de liqueur macvin 88 Points

  France, Jura, Macvin du Jura

  Small pour at the end of the night. Didn't think much of the nose - kind of raisiny and bland, but the palate was nice, berry fruit, strawberries, candied, balanced and flavorful.

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• 2008 Château Raymond-Lafon 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Small pour. Youthful and tasty showing some citrus and pineapple with a caramelized and toasty character. Drinking well already this will be fun to follow. 90+(+)pts.

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