4th Saturday group uptown tasting

• 2014 Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Nonblind. Perfumed and floral with subtle berry undertones. Berry and apple on the palate.

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• 2014 Château Cos d'Estournel Blanc 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Double blind. Light yellow color. Aromas of waxy fruit, quince and pepper. Peppery white fruit on the palate. The first variety to cross my mind was gruner veltliner. As it warms it shows more citrus and a rich texture. Fairly easy to pick out as a Bordeaux blanc, though I guessed younger.

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• 2012 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Double blind. Notes of citrus, white fruit and earth. Rich texture. Citrus, white fruit and spice flavors. Easy to pick out as Bordeaux blanc, though here again, this showed much younger than I'd have guessed.

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• 2013 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Willow Creek District

  Double blind. Perfumed; plummy red fruit and cherry underneath. With air, develops aromas of cinnamon and darker fruit. Ripe plummy dark fruit and peppery spice on the palate fairly firm tannins. A bit hot. This felt like a big ripe full throttle pinot, something along the lines of Peter Michael's pinot noirs.

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• 2003 Château Pape Clément 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Double blind. Garnet color, looks like it has some age as it has a lighter meniscus. Aromas of iodine, earth, tobacco and mixed red and black fruit. A hint of brett underneath. Red fruit on the palate, along wit tar, asphalt/burnt embers. Turns a bit austere and thin as it sits. Guessed Graves, though I'd have thought a bit older.

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• 1997 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages 70 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Double blind. Lots of bouillon to start, wit dark fruit underneath. More of the same on the palate. Acidic and plummy fruit, a bit of charred wood and more of the bouillon. No guess.

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• 2012 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel The Montelena Estate 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  Double blind. Cherry and currant notes. Slightly tannic, wit white currant, cherry and spice flavors. More spice and dark fruit as it opens. Elegant. I like this but I am not sure what it is. No guess on the variety. 88-89 pts.
  
  Always a nice zinfandel, in a style I like, but certainly not what should be put in an "uptown" tasting.

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• 2009 Metaphora Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Aromas of violet, plum and florals with just a slight hint of overly ripe raisiny fruit. Fully-integrated tannin, with dark fruit and plum flavors. Starts to show just a bit hot and alcoholic. Guessed Napa cab sauv.

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• 2001 Neal Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Second Chance Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak

  Blind. Red fruit and subtle bouillon notes. Resolved tannin. Dark fruit, spice and a hint of bouillon on the palate as well. The bouillon notes get stronger as this sits in the glass. This had been quickly double decanted about 90 minutes before the flight was poured (no off notes or bouillon at that time). Passive storage may have had a hand in this.

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• 2001 Neal Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Blind. Dark fruit and floral elements with a hint of VA and maybe just a touch of bouillon here too. Nicely balanced; tannins are resolved and this glides across the palate. Dark fruit, plum, chocolate, and cherry cordial flavors. Lingering finish. This had been quickly double decanted off its sediment; poured in the 2nd flight just over two hours later.

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• 2010 Booker Vineyard The Alchemist 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Double blind. Starts out showing a ton of alcoholic heat, eventually taming that and showing black fruit and peppery spice. There's a nice floral quality too. Medium tannins. Flavors of pepper and candied black fruits, and that works really well here. Guessed syrah.

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• 2002 Ridge Monte Bello

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Double blind. Reticent. Tight and closed. Just absolutely shut down and closed. No guess.
  
  While a generous contribution, it was absolutely mistreated by not being decanted well ahead of the tasting. Unfortunate.

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• 2009 St. Supéry Cabernet Sauvignon Dollarhide Estate 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Perfumed and bright, with blackberry, cherry and raspberry as well. Dark fruit, spice and plum with a medium+ finish. Starts to show some alcoholic heat as it sits. Guessed Napa cab sauv.

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• 2010 Booker Vineyard Remnant 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Double blind. Hot and alcoholic. Black fruit and also a good bit of VA here too. Loads of dark, ripe fruit on the nose and palate. Doesn't change much during the duration of the flight. Guessed syrah. 89+ pts.

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• 2010 La Jota Merlot W.S. Keyes Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Double blind. Notes of dark fruit, plum, pepper and spice. The palate follows the bouquet-loads of dark fruit with a ripe edge, as well as cooked raspberry. Guessed Napa cab sauv...I don't recall anyone guessing merlot.

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Enjoyed with smoked brisket, beans and mac & cheese, lemon & almond cake and cherry pistacchio ice cream.

• 2009 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 96 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  Courtesy of R&D, popped and poured with dinner. Really lovely and abundant fruit on the nose and palate. Pretty floral elements in the bouquet. Cassis, plum and black fruit carrying the finish. Nicely integrated tannins. Drinking very well.

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• 2005 Château La Confession 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Courtesy of Sue, popped and poured with dinner. Lavender, violet and black fruit. Dark fruit- currant and plum- on the palate. Medium-bodied with a nice finish. Drinking very nicely at the moment.

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• 2001 Château Suduiraut 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Notes of apricot, honey, papaya, pineapple and botrytis spice. Really terrific richness on the palate. Pineapple, tropical fruit and apricot syrup on the palate. Wonderful rich texture.

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