Gibby's Midsummer Nights' Dream Tasting

Four distributors were on hand at Gibby's to pour a few wines.

• NV Casalnova Prosecco di Conegliano 70 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Prosecco di Conegliano

  Absolutely bland and flavorless.

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• 2005 Peter Zemmer Pinot Grigio

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

  Nice soft fruit, pear and floral tones. A bit of pear and nice floral tones on the palate. Simple, but well made and enjoyable.

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• 2006 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 88 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Pale color. Nice lime and grapefruit notes. Sligtly creamy mouthfeel, with grass and lime flavors. Nice acidity.

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• 2005 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Pale yellow color with aromas of apple, caramel and toasty oak. Good depth to the apple dominated fruit on the palate, with spicy oak nuances on the finish.

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• 2005 Logan Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County

  A bonus taste from a bottle opened by the retailer to compare to the Patz & Hall. Nice fruit, but with a green olive streak that followed through on the palate.

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• 2006 R. Stuart & Co. Pinot Noir Big Fire 86 Points

  USA, Oregon

  Dusty ruby color. Aromas of cherry and dirty red fruit. Dusty cherry flavors on the palate.

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• 2005 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Chianti Castiglioni 87 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti

  A Merlot lover's chianti, with plum and red currant tones and a plush, velvety mouthfeel. Has a slight earthy undertone and decent acidity.

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• 2006 Loosen Bros. Riesling Dr. L 87 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Aromas of slate, minerals and pear that follow through on the palate. Relatively simple, but well made and pleasant.

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• 2006 Lagaria Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 83 Points

  Italy, Delle Venezie

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Billowy cotton aromas and waxy pear tinged fruit flavors. Short finish.

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• 2005 Writer's Block Grenache 86 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Lake County

  A heavy rose wine. Deep rose color...reminiscent of the 2004 Pax Rose. Notes of strawberry and dusty cherry, with raspberry, bramle and spice flavors.

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• 2005 d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz Mourverde 87 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Earthy plum, cherry and pepper aromas. Nice spicy plum flavors, with a woody, toasted oak finish. Always a solid value.

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• 2004 Elderton Tantalus 84 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Deep garnet color. Notes of cherry, plum, and an odd note I couldn't place. Nice rush of red fruit, but then a pronounced vegetal character comes out.

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• NV Cristalino Cava Brut 82 Points

  Spain, Cava

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Almost colorless. Crisp crabapple and white flower notes. A musty, mushroomy flavor on the palate...not enough fruit.

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• 2006 Viña Peñalolén Sauvignon Blanc 84 Points

  Chile, Casablanca Valley

  Pale, almost colorless. Aromas of grapefruit and lime. Light boded, with tart grapefruit flavors and a very short finish.

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• 2006 Foxglove Chardonnay Central Coast 87 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Pale color. Wonderful aromatics - minerals, white flowers, almost like a summer breeze. Flavors of pear and maybe some mango, very crisp and refreshing. A tart edge on the finish prevents a higher score.

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• 2005 Redheads Studio Yard Dog Red 85 Points

  Australia, South Eastern

  Ruby color. Aromas of red fruit and spice. Sweet currants and chewy red fruit on the palate.

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• 2003 Domaine de la Terre Rouge Syrah Les Cotes de l'Ouest

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills

  Garnet color. Aromas of grilled bologna with a medicinal, herbal edge...perhaps this is flawed? Some red fruit and spice tones on the palate. Potentially flawed - no rating.

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• 2004 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Romaine 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Ruby color. Notes of garrigue, pepper and herbs. Nice acidity, with chewy red fruit and a long finish.

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• 2005 Four Vines Zinfandel Old Vine Cuvée 87 Points

  USA, California

  Bright ruby color. Brambly blueberry, herb and earthy notes. Peppery red currant, slightly jammy, with a nice round finish.

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• 2005 TuTu Pinot Grigio

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Pale color with an odd cheese-like aroma. The palate is bland and flavorless. Perhaps flawed? Rating withheld.

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• 2006 Murphy's Law Lemberger Rosé 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Made by David O'Reilly of Owen Roe fame, this is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah and Lemberger (aka Blaufrankish). Light raspberry, cherry and spice notes. Flavors of strawberry, watermelon and cherry. Nice acidity.

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• 2005 Crios de Susana Balbo Syrah-Bonarda 88 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Deep ruby to garnet in color. Faint earth and red currant notes. Flavors of red currant, mint and blackberry with firm sweet tannins.

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• 2004 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les Terrasses

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Deep garnet color. A very faint minty/blackberry note...maybe some red fruit peeking out from the big, drying tannins. This was so tight and unforgiving as to be unratable.

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• 2004 Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Notes of sage, thyme pepper and...popcorn. Nice red fruit on the palate, with vanilla, cherry, plum and toasty oak. Medium length finish. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Sangiovese.

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• 2003 L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Garnet color. Aromas of blackberries, cedar, currant and mint. Flavors of red currant and mint, with fine tannins and a medium length finish.

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