Weekly tasting group #144; A fully blind test.

@ The factory by MN
Tasted Monday, November 24, 2014 by Zweder with 239 views

Introduction

We get 10 wines in 10 glasses. All wines of a different varietal or blend and from a different location. We have to tell in approx 1 hour where the wine is produced and of which varietal or traditional blend, the vintage and as many details as we can give. For big ego’s this is the ultimate way to land with both feet on the ground and become humble again ;-) ;-)!

Flight 1 (10 Notes)

  • 2010 Peter Lehmann Shiraz H&V 88 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Beautiful bouquet with cherries, dark berry fruits and some vanilla. On the palate cherries and dark berry fruits again, some licorice, cigars, chocolate, a touch of sweetness balanced by good acidity and slightly sticky tannin. A really nice, medium to full bodied wine. Early maturity now and nice drinking until approx 2019. For a price below $20 a good qpr. 87-88

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  • 2008 Kanonkop Kadette 88 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

    Just read my TN from 2010 and the wine definitely has improved. My blind note of today: Clear blood red. In the bouquet red and dark berry fruits, some minerals and smoke. On the palate mainly juicy red fruits, sweet spices and some smoke. Ok acidity and round tannin with a pleasant bite. Completely ready now and no real hurry.

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  • 2009 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Red with a slightly carmine rim. In the bouquet fresh cherries and some sweet spices. On the palate juicy and friendly fruits, some sweet spices, coffee and cocoa. Ok acidity, some oak and round tannin. A really nice wine with a good qpr. Ready now and the next few years.

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  • 2011 Cantine Paolini Nero d'Avola Sicilia Baglio Amafi 81 Points

    Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

    Transparent purple red. In the bouquet candy, red fruits and Nero d’Avola or Gamay like flavors. On the palate sweet candy stick and other candy flavors. There is some acidity and bitterness as well, but no complexity. Clean alright and there might be people who like this style, but I am not one of them. My personal score is 81 because it is a correct wine.

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  • 2006 Producteurs Plaimont Madiran Maestria 86 Points

    France, Southwest France, Madiran

    Blood red with a slightly garnet rim. In the bouquet slightly harsh cherries. On the palate still a bit locked, cherries and dark berry fruits, good acidity and bitterness and fairly mild tannin. Nice wine in the beginning of its maturity stage and definitely drinking well until 2017+

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  • 2011 Quinta do Passadouro Touriga Nacional Douro 87 Points

    Portugal, Douro

    Consistent with previous note. Scored it one point less though.

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  • 2011 Domaine Brusset Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

    Dark purple red. In the bouquet a lot of cherries and fresh herbs and spices. On the palate a bit rustic, dark ripe berry and cherry fruits, ink, tobacco, a firm amount of sweetness and good acidity. Round tannin. The wine is still very youthful. Wait at least until 2017. 89+ for tonight.

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  • 2011 Lapostolle Pinot Noir Cuvée Alexandre Atalayas Vineyard 88 Points

    Chile, Casablanca Valley

    Transparent red. In the bouquet ripe red forest fruits, minerals and smoke like a better German Spätburgunder but a bit more sweet. Same on the palate. Very soft and smooth tannin, firm sweetness and ok acidity. Juicy, fairly full bodied wine. Ready now and the next few years. My score is 88, but real New World Pinot Noir lovers will probably score it higher.

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  • 2008 Bertani Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore Villa Novare 88 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore

    Garnet red. In the bouquet red fruits, a lot of sweet spices and some rustic impressions. On the palate ripe dark forest fruits, some chocolate and smoke, vanilla and oak as well. Good acidity and tannin. For a price of around $14 this is an extreme good qpr!

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  • 2005 Bodegas Altanza Rioja Lealtanza Reserva Club 88 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    See also my previous note of May this year. A juicy and friendly wine with soft tannin, a nice balance between acidity and sweetness and this time there was also some toast noticeable. Early maturity now and certainly potential until 2019, but I would like to taste then again to see if there is room for longer ageing. It is quite smooth already.

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