Un-named Atlanta wine tasting Group

Tasted Saturday, May 15, 2021 by CWilliam with 80 views

Introduction

Given we have not met since 1/2020 due to Covid, we decided to do a small tasting outside of "older wines." While two of the wines were not older, we got enough wines to sample at their peak or on the way downhill. For wines with 15+ years of age, don't dump them out if they are no good on opening (assuming it's not cork taint). My buddy brought an '03 Rioja which he thought was dead (decanted and then put back in bottle) that ended up being the wine of the tasting ~ 3 hours later.

Flight 1 (9 Notes)

Other than 1st 2 whites, all bottles were tasted blind and revealed after tasting. This was a humbling experience as I was way off in most cases, other than the 1st bottle ('17 Pinot Noir).

  • 2017 Bouchard Père et Fils Rully Blanc 90 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Rully

    White starter. Medium yellow color. Lemon, citrus, stone on nose. On palate, similar flavor profile to nose. Medium body, medium acidity, medium+ finish. 90+/-

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2018 Etienne Sauzet Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Jardin du Calvaire 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune

    1st wine in tasting (everything following was blind, this was not). Light yellow color. Stone, lemon, apricot on nose - beautiful. Similar flavor profile on palate. Full body, medium+ acidity and very long finish. Loved this - will buy more. Thanks to K. Farmer for bringing this.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2017 Black Sheep Finds Pinot Noir The Joy Fantastic 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    wine #1 in blind tasting (them of older wines - adding this kept us honest) - Medium red color. Cleary a Pinot on color alone and lack of tannic grip of Nebbiolo. On nose, bright cherry, strawberry, menthol and stems. Medium body, low tannins, high acidity - flavor on palate consistent with nose. Really enjoyed this. 93+/- Guessed Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2003 Benjamin Romeo Rioja La Cueva del Contador 93 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

    Wine #2 (here forward everything was blind - theme of "older wines")
    Black in the glass with large change from rim to center. Great nose -savory, black cherry, earth, licorice. On palate, blackberry, fig, licorice and savory notes. Full body, high tannins and very long finish. Thought this was an early 2000s Quintarelli - way off. My friend who brought this thought it was dead upon opening - it came to life 3 hours later. 93-94 range.

    Shocked this was Tempranillo - has aged very well despite the very warm vintage.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2004 Caiarossa Caiarossa Toscana IGT 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Wine #3 in blind tasting (theme of "older wines)- Didn't note color. Dark chocolate, oak, fig, jammy blackberry flavors and leather on nose - palate similar ex. leather. Full body, integrated tannins, good acidic structure and long finish. I was way off today - guessed Ribera Del Deuro, mid 2000s. 92+

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2004 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 94 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Wine #4 in Blind Tasting (theme of older wines) - Dark black color. Looked much younger than an '04 (maybe the oak treatment??). Great nose. Red licorice, menthol, sweet cherry, and tobacco on nose. On palate, tobacco, sweet/sour cherry and lemon/citrus note. Modern in style. Tannins integrated but still strong, high acidity, full body with a long finish. Can't recall what I guessed but it wasn't Barolo - this one threw me. My WOTN. 94+/-

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2007 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Wine #5 in blind tasting (older wines). Notes starting to get poor. Dark red color with clear meniscus. Currants, blackberry and savory notes (black tea and citrus). Full body, rich fruit flavors although starting to tire. Guessed CDP with age or potentially Burgundy from a very warm vintage. 92+/-

    Drink up.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2006 Col Solare 93 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    Wine #6 in blind tasting (wines with some age). Notes were poor. Dark black in the glass with slight gradient from rim to center. Blackberry, fig preserves, vanilla (not overdone) and black cherry on nose. Palate had similar flavor profile. Full body, good structure with integrated tannins. Wine has aged extremely well. Guessed Aalto (Ribera Del Deuro) given structure - nice surprise here. 93+/-

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2016 Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne St. Joseph 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

    Wine #7 in blind tasting (older wines - this kept us honest). Notes were gone by this time - purple color. Pepper, pepper, and more pepper with black cherry and meat. Wine is young and would be much better in 2-3 years but enjoyable now. 91+/-

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Closing

Great to see everyone and thanks to K. Farmer for donating a bottle of White Burgundy despite not being able to attend! Wine of Tastings was the '03 Rioja La Cueva del Contador followed by the '04 Caiarossa.

×
×