4th Saturday Group brown bagger

R&D's
Tasted Saturday, March 25, 2017 by AllRed with 356 views

Introduction

Each taster brings their wines in brown bags, which are then arranged randomly from roughly light to heavy and tasted in flights. We taste, discuss, then unveil each flight before moving on to the next flight. Wines are shown in the order tasted.

Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 Notes)

  • 2014 Weingut Markus Huber Grüner Veltliner Hugo

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Traisental

    Double blind. Opens with a subtle grassy note along with citrus/lime and then florals. Slight funk on the palate beneath white fruit and and grapefrut flavors. Fairly high acidity here. Initial thought was sauv blanc but I eventually talked myself into thinking this was albarino.

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  • 2014 Carlisle Grüner Veltliner Steiner Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain

    Double blind. There's an initial whiff of something earthy/minerally which blows off leaving white fruit, pepper and citrus qualities. Flavors of apple, cooked lemon rind and melon. Not as much acidity as the first wine but I think this is better balanced on the whole. The pepper note immediately had me thinking gruner veltliner. Pretty tasty.

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  • 2014 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    A nonblind pour from a bottle opened by R&D the previous evening. About what you would expect, with plenty of toasty oak on the nose and palate. Notes of apple and caramel corn with flavors of apple and toast. Nice finish. Very good in this style.

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Flight 2 - I. Reds (5 Notes)

  • 2006 Turley Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Single blind, as I knew this was somewhere in the night's lineup. A bit pruny, with plum and raspberry jam notes as well. Zinny raspberry and red fruit with plenty of pepper and spice as well. Adds a subtle floral note, as well as bright cherry fruit, and the acidity comes through a bit more.

    This had been double decanted off its sediment about 80 minutes before the flight was poured. Already in decline, drink 'em up.

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  • 2007 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

    Double blind. Garrigue. Your nose goes to the glass and you are greeted with a textbook example of garrigue- lavender, herbs, spice and underbrush. There's also red currant, plum, clay and licorice. Medium-bodied with flavors of red fruit, spice and herbs with a terrific meaty quality too. Guessed 2007 Chateauneuf.

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  • 2008 Peter Michael Pinot Noir Le Moulin Rouge 89 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Double blind. Aromas of cherry, herbs and spice with blue fruit undertones. Not as "big" on the palate as one expects based on the bouquet, this is on the lighter side. Flavors of currants, black raspberry, red plum and pepper. It's somewhat generic though and it's hard to identify what it is or where it is from. I think Mrs. TLV was the only one to identify this as pinot.

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  • 2005 Turley Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Single blind. Peppery, with red zin fruit in abundance. Red fruit, pepper and spice on the palate. Drink up. This had been double decanted off its sediment 80 minutes before the flight was poured.

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  • 2010 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Deep opaque color. Aromas of blue fruit, blackberry, spice, vanilla and underbrush. Fairly tannic, with black fruit and earth and clay flavors in the finish. Guessed CA cab sauv blend.

    I came back to this a couple of hours later with dinner and it had taken on a decidedly sour overtone. During the tasting this was my favorite of the flight- not sure what that says about where this is heading.

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Flight 3 - II. Reds (5 Notes)

  • 2009 Robert Biale Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

    Double blind. Opaque color. Aromas of blackberry, chocolate and incense. Firm tannins, flavors of black currants, blackberry and cassis with vanilla on the finish. Easy to pick out as petite.

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  • 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Double blind. Aromas of roasted bell pepper, mocha, black fruit and hints of tobacco. Medium tannins, with flavors of loamy dark fruit and plum. Guessed CA cab sauv. In a good place right now.

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  • 2003 Paloma Syrah Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Double blind. Bouillon and beef base notes. Dark fruit but very sour. Oxidized and undrinkable. What a shame- this should have been delightful.

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  • 2012 Shafer Merlot 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Hints of violet, mint, sage and black fruit. Dark fruit and vanilla on the palate with a lengthy finish. Balanced; excellent. 93-94 pts.

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  • 2014 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Vignes de Bila-Haut 94 Points

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages

    Double blind. Gorgeous. Spice, pepper, red fruit, licorice and black fruit with floral undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, with medium tannin and flavors of red fruit, black fruit and pepper. Lengthy finish. There was no doubt that this was southern Rhone. Develops a tapenade quality that had me thinking this may have been Gigondas rather than Chateauneuf du Pape. What a surprise to see this unveiled! Punches well above its class- more like Tyson than Glass Joe.

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Flight 4 - III. Reds (4 Notes)

  • 2010 Lagier Meredith Syrah 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Double blind. Opaque color with aromas of spice, pepper and dark fruit, developing blue fruit and brown sugar notes. On the palate, the tannins are on the firm side, but there's also plenty of fruit. Black fruit, grapey- in a good way- with pepper and brown sugar flavors. Long finish.

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  • 2009 Ridge Petite Sirah Lytton Estate 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Double blind. Opaque inky color. Aromas of vanilla, brown sugar and black fruit with toasty, oaky overtones. Flavors of blackberry, cassis and vanilla. Guessed petite.

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  • 2004 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Double blind. Aromas of bouillon and stewed vegetal qualities. Green. Develops an aroma of a wet hay bale. Very sour on the palate.

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  • 2014 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Double blind. Opaque inky crimson/purple color. Starts out with abundant grapey dark fruit and potpourri notes, along with pepper and black fruit liqueur. There's also a touch of VA which is a bit distracting. Hard tannins. Flavors of cassis and black fruit, vanilla and oak spices. Develops a subtle green herb note which I like.

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Flight 5 - Dinner wines (5 Notes)

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