4th Saturday Group

Wines are tasted double blind in flights, which are arranged randomly, but as much as possible from light to heavy. Each flight is discussed & unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

• 2017 Flowers Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Double blind. Pale color. Notes of mineral crab apple blossom. Fairly light on the palate, with orchard fruit, citrus and mineral with heightened acidity. This seemed more like a Sancerre than a domestic chard. 88+ pts.

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• 2017 Quilt Chardonnay 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Loads of buttered popcorn with orchard fruit underneath. Rich, with decent weight on the palate, but very buttery.

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• 2017 Elouan Chardonnay 89 Points

  USA, Oregon

  Double blind. Initially quite reticent and closed. White fruit, spice and earthy notes follow through on the palate. I liked this although it didn’t really come across as chardonnay.

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• 2008 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos d'Audignac 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Blind. Shows a bit of age with slight bricking. Earth and red berry fruit, cherry and herbs. Medium-bodied and soft, with flavors of cherry, earth and mineral. Elegant. I hope this is our Volnay.
  
  This had been quickly but gently double decanted off its sediment about 75 minutes before the flight was poured, and remained under cork for most of that time. However, it needed a good bit of time in the glass to wake up and didn’t fully reveal itself until an hour later with dinner.

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• 2011 Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico Strada al Sasso Riserva 87 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Double blind. Light color - appears a bit older but has a deep core. Notes of florals- lavender, perhaps rose- along with currants and red berry fruit. Soft tannins. Enjoyable, if a bit nondescript- this doesn't really show its variety or place. (M&R)

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• 2018 Wilson Foreigner Valdiguié Rancho Chimiles 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Vibrant ruby red color. Aromas of cherry, florals and ripe berries. The palate follows the bouquet and adds hints of spice and mineral. Has a candied fruit profile in the best way- the fruit is ripe and sweet- and very enjoyably so. Guessed 1er Beaujolais. (R&S)

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• 2008 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Blind. Garnet core with some bricking. Aromas of herbs and baked cherry, spice and tobacco. Dark pinot fruit on the palate; a bit on the rustic side, but older and certainly showing plenty to like. Opens nicely in the glass with more fruit coming forward on the palate- strawberry, cherry compote and even hints of rhubarb. Some had this as WOTF, and R nailed this as RRV pinot. 92-93 pts.
  
  This had been quickly and gently double decanted 75 minutes before the flight was poured and had remained under cork for much of that time. Again, needed some time in the glass to fully awaken.

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• 2007 Greg Linn Wines Syrah Rim Rock 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  Double blind. Aromas of olive, pine, something a little smoky, and herbs, with abundant dark fruit underneath. Mixed red and black fruit qualities on the palate. Black fruit becomes more dominant as the wine sits. Guessed syrah. (R&D)

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• 2015 Duchman Family Winery Aglianico Oswald Vineyard

  USA, Texas, Texas High Plains

  Double blind. Faded; appears older. Dark berry fruit and spice notes on the nose and palate. Simple and tired, clearly older and past whatever prime it had. No guess on variety.
  
  An interesting revelation- unlike every other aglianico I have ever had. This was a gift to our hosts from a friend or colleague of theirs and they put it in the lineup as an extra bottle. Unique. Given a choice I would very much rather have almost anything else than drink this 'for the novelty of it.' (M&R)

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• 2007 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Sixtine

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

  Double blind. Dark core with some bricking- another older bottle based on all appearances. Aromas of dark fruit, bouillon and stewy fruit. Black fruit on the palate with a lingering finish. Ripe and stewy/plummy. No guess.
  
  Showing no CndP character, other than the ripe stewy garbage that is 2007. Ugh. (R&D)

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• 2008 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Baconbrook 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Blind. Perfumey and elegant, with currant and licorice notes as well. Black fruit on the palate; balanced wit a lingering finish. This is just a really nice wine with some tannin to shed yet, but the fruit is nice and there's plenty of it.
  
  This had been double decanted just over two hours before the flight was poured. I did not pick this out as our Match, but I am very pleased with how this is showing today.

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• 2016 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Veraton 93 Points

  Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja

  Double blind. Opens with notes of black fruit, meat and florals with spice undertones. Balanced. Flavors of roasted game, black fruit and black cherry. Long finish. This is really enjoyable and I think my favorite in the flight. Guessed syrah. (R&S)

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• 2002 Séléné Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Aromas of black currant; a touch high-toned, maybe just a hint of bouillon in there too. Medium-bodied with softened tannins and flavors of black currant, cherry, licorice and red berry compote. A bit of bouillon on the palate too. Good, if perhaps a bit past prime. (MM)

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• 2014 Jaffurs Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Double blind. Aromas of black fruit, herbs and blue fruit. Much of the same on the palate. Firm, with fine-grained tannins supporting the fruit. Excellent. (M&R)

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With grilled strip steaks with chimichurri, harissa and ratatouille, and a chocolate cake and scratch cherry & chocolate chip ice cream.

• 2009 Stefania Syrah Split Rail Santa Cruz Mountains 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Double decanted off its sediment three+ hours before dinner, remaining under cork until just before service. In a word, lovely. Black fruit, spice and floral elements turn to red fruit as it sits. Has just the softest bit of tannin, supporting red fruit and peppery spice flavors. Lovely. Drinking well at the moment- give it an hour to wake up and enjoy.

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• 2007 Château Doisy-Védrines 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  From 375ml courtesy of R&D. Apricot and marmalade notes on the nose and palate. Nice balancing acidity. Very good.

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Thanks M&R for being such gracious hosts.