International Blind Tasting

South Africa, Gauteng, Bryanston
Tasted Friday, May 8, 2015 by socidelvino with 375 views

Introduction

Fun and casual blind tasting of international wines with friends.

Flight 1 - Sparkling (2 Notes)

Fun tasting. Both bottles in brown bag with only top of neck showing. Groot Constantia was hands down favorite and actually selected by 6/8 as the Champagne.

Flight 2 - Reds (7 Notes)

Fun tasting. Each bottle was opened and tasted to ensure drinkability before tasting. Bottles were then put in brown bags with only top of necks showing. All wines selected had similar bottle shape. Bags were labeled 1-7. Tasting sheets were labeled with regions of the wines and participants were asked to match the wines with the regions.

Order of tasting (#1-7) matches order of tasting notes below.

Interesting results were:
- Favorite wine was the Barbaresco
- Least favourite wine was the Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
- Several experienced particpants had difficulty between the Brunello and the Bordeaux.

Fun format.

  • 2009 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 84 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Opened and let breathe in the bottle for 1 hour prior to tasting.
    Eye: deep dark purple. Nose: smoky, dried fruit, alcoholic, slight menthol. Palate: tannins still evident but fruit overpowering, high alcohol, medium to full body, long finish but not pleasant. Did not improve after further 90 minutes of breathing. Least favorite of the blind tasting.

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  • 2007 La Mannella Brunello di Montalcino I Poggiarelli 88 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Opened and let breathe in the bottle for 1 hour before tasting.
    Eye: dark garnet color. Nose: slightly musty but not corked, cherries, smoky, forest, herbs. Palate: good tannins, nice fruit, medium body, medium to long finish. Nose and palate improved after a further 90 minutes of breathing. Was surprised to note this as the Brunello after the blind tasting. Many expected this to be the older Bordeaux.

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  • 2007 Takler Szekszárdi Szekszárdi Bikaver Reserve 87 Points

    Hungary, Dél-Pannónia, Szekszárdi

    Opened and let breathe for 1 hour prior to tasting.
    Eye: medium to dark garnet color. Nose: berries, caramel, smoky, vanilla. Palate: full body, good fruit, crisp, medium to long finish. Tasting was consistent after further 90 minutes of breathing.

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  • 2001 Château Duhart-Milon 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Opened and let breathe for 1 hour prior to tasting.
    Eye: medium garnet color, good legs in the glass. Nose: slightly musty at first, cherries, vanilla, herbal. Palate: crisp at first, settled in the mouth with good fruit and medium body, long finish. Improved immensely after another 90 minutes of breathing with more fruit on nose and palate. Second favorite of the blind tasting.

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  • 2009 Rust en Vrede Estate Red Wine Stellenbosch 88 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

    Opened and let breathe for 1 hour prior to tasting.
    Eye: dark garnet color. Nose: high alcohol, fruity, berries, vanilla, smoky. Palate: very fruity, good tannins, full body, medium to long finish. Too young. Still very strong alcohol and fruit after further 90 minutes of breathing. Was not a strong favorite in the tasting, even though we have all enjoyed this estate before.

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  • 2004 Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy Barbaresco Martinenga Gaiun 92 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    Opened and let breathe for 1 hour prior to tasting.
    Eye: medium garnet color. Nose: cherries, vanilla, smoky, herbal, forest. Palate: crisp, good fruit, well balanced, medium to full body, long finish. Improved even more after further 90 minutes of breathing. Favorite wine of the tasting.

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  • 2006 Duca di Salaparuta Sicilia Triskelè 87 Points

    Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

    Opened and let breathe for 1 hour prior to tasting.
    Eye: deep dark purple/garnet color. Nose: smoky, herbal, dried berries. Palate: crisp tannins, good fruit, medium body, long finish. Became more flabby after 90 minutes of further breathing.

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Closing

Surprises in both categories (Sparkling and Red)

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