High/Low Blind Tasting - Can you taste the difference?

Amy and Scott's house
Tasted Sunday, January 15, 2017 by galewskj with 489 views

Introduction

I thought it would be fun and educational to do a blind tasting that pairs 2 similar wines at very different price points. I chose each pair to be from the same region, with a similar profile, but one wine was 2X to 4X the price of the other. I thought our group of 14 people would spot the more expensive wine most of the time, but we only managed 57% (56 out of 98 correct)

Flight 1 - Starter wine (1 Note)

  • 2015 Miner Family Rosato Gibson Ranch 89 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

    A small pour to start a tasting. I felt this had nice fruit of strawberry, and was fairly dry. It could use some more minerality, but still had good balance between the fruit and acid.

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Flight 2 - Champagne (2 Notes)

Flight 3 - Oregon Pinot Noir (2 Notes)

  • 2012 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir Original Vines 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Pop and pour, served blind alongside a 2013 Patricia Green Berserker Cuvvee. While it is certainly of decent quality, this was not the best showing for this wine. Less than half the group preferred the Eyrie, as it seemed to only offer it's big rich ripe fruit, while the 2013 PG had more complexity and structure. This may simply be a difference in vintage, and I hope the 2012 Eyrie OV ages well.

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  • 2013 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Berserkers' Cuvée 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Pop and pour, served blind alongside a 2012 Eyrie Original vines. This wine did quite well, garnering 9 out of 14 votes. It may be in a better place now than the big 2012 vintage. Good balance, nice floral component and minerality.

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Flight 4 - Spanish Ribera del Duero (2 Notes)

Flight 5 - Bordeaux (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Château Haut-Gravet 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    A 2 hour decant, served blind alongside the 2007 Pontet Canet, this little wine was well-received and got 7 out of 14 votes (but not mine). The tannins are slightly firm right now. It drinks like it has a fair amount of cabernet sauvignon in it, even though it does not. I only have 1 bottle left, but I'd like to revisit this in 5 years.

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  • 2007 Château Pontet-Canet 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    A 2 hour decant, served blind next to the 2010 Haut Gravet. 7 out of 14 people preferred this wine, as did I. This wine had significantly more complexity, and fantastic pure fruit. I'm not sure what those other 7 people were tasting. Quite well done, with an upside. Still, I was hoping for a better showing of this today. I could see buying this at up to $70, not sure I'd pay more.

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Flight 6 - Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (2 Notes)

  • 2009 Treasure Cellars Proprietary Blend 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    1 hour decant and served blind alongside a 2007 Switchback Ridge. This wine got 5 out of 14 votes (but not mine), which isn't bad considering the price difference. At this stage, it is a perfectly serviceable Napa cab with your typical Napa potpourri and fruityness. There is enough structure here to drink it with a steak. As others have said, this is not the screechingly amazing wine that Envoyer claimed, but for the price it represents a decent value.

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  • 2007 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A 2 hour decant, served blind alongside a 2009 Treasure cellars napa cab. This wine was preferred by 9 out of 14 people, although there were grumblings that it was an unusual Napa cab. The switchback drinks like a Napa wine, but it is so soft that it doesn't really drink like a cabernet. I agree with other tasters and people present at this tasting that it could easily be merlot or grenache. Soft, pillowy red fruit, quite feminine and plush. This is my first Switchback Ridge cabernet, and as nice as this is, I think I prefer their Petite Sirah or their merlot.

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Flight 7 - Rhone red (2 Notes)

  • 2009 Domaine La Garrigue Vacqueyras La Cantarelle 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras

    A 1 hour decant, served blind alongside a 2009 Clos de Caillou Les Quartz CDP, this wine got 7 out of 14 votes, but not mine. However, I felt it very much stood up to the Quartz, and was the best tasting bottle out of the 6 I purchased. Garrigue, mineral, anise, earth, red fruit. I was surprised by how similar the 2 wines were.

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  • 2009 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    A 1 hour decant, served blind alongside a 2009 Domaine La Garrigue Vacqueyras La Cantarelle. This wine got 7 out of 14 votes, including mine. The two wines were actually quite similar, but it was evident to me that the complexity in the Quartz was completely on another level. There is a lot of different aromas and tastes here. I felt the Cantarelle was probably at peak whereas this wine is on the way up.

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Flight 8 - Sauternes (2 Notes)

  • 2005 Carmes de Rieussec 86 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Pop and pour, served blind alongside the 2009 regular Rieussec, this wine was somehow preferred by 2 out of 14 people, although I have no idea why. To me, this wine is still serviceable, but clearly in decline, with alcohol and a burnt flavor starting to come through. The wine has not lost its sweetness, and it has nice acidity, along with apricot and spice.

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  • 2009 Château Rieussec 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Pop and pour, served blind alongside the 2005 Carmes de Rieussec, this was preferred by 12 out of 14 people, including me. This wine has balance, great purity to the fruit, spice, creamyness and a long finish. 92 to 93.

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Closing

Thanks to Amy and Scott for being such wonderful hosts. Thanks to all attendees.

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