Friday Night Brown Bagger

The group gathered for our regular third Friday tasting, delayed a week to accommodate Domino's travel schedule. Wines are tasted double blind. Each flight is discussed and unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

• 2009 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Double blind. Somewhat deep color, appears to have some age. Opens with a pleasant toasty quality, along with pear, florals and lemon curd. Full-bodied, with butterscotch, pear, wet stone and lemon. Long finish. I remarked to another taster that this is very Peter Michael-ish, and guessed 2010-2012.

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• 2009 Peter Michael Chardonnay La Carrière 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Double blind. Similar to the first warm up, though a shade or two lighter in color, but with pear and a bit of toast and a subtle lemon undertone. Shows a slight tropical coconut flavor to go along with pear and citrus. I am trying to decide whether we have a two bottle vertical or horizontal. Seemed like the group was split between the two in terms of preference; I preferred the first by a slim margin. 92+.

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• 2017 Querceto di Castellina Chianti Classico Sei Gran Selezione 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Double blind. Faded crimson red color. Opens with herb, iron and pine sap qualities with red fruit underneath. Lighter in body, with currant and iron flavors. Very nice, although I would not have guessed Chianti. (R&R)

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• 2007 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Double blind. Looks older with a brick red color. Herbal, with currant and iron along with red berry and forest floor. Medium-bodied; flavors of currant and tea leaf; heightened acidity. More red fruit emerges as this opens in the glass. Seems cab-based to me, and I do not recall anyone guessing sangiovese, but still really tasty juice. (R&D)

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• 2012 Bleasdale Cabernet Sauvignon The Iron Duke 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

  Double blind. Deep crimson color. Opens with black fruit, herb and eucalyptus aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with plum, chocolate, currant and herb flavors lingering on the finish. Doesn’t change much with air, it simply gains strength. Very nice, 92-93 pts. This seemed like franc or perhaps a Chilean cab to me; Australia wasn’t on my radar. (J&J)

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• 2008 Château Pontet-Canet 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Blind. Deep color. Currant and lavender to start; bright. Full-bodied, with fine, sweet tannin and flavors of currants and sweet-tart black fruit. Well-balanced. Develops rose petal, plum and herbal notes, with an abundance of dark fruit on the palate. I guessed Bordeaux but wasn’t certain that it was our Pontet.
  
  This had been decanted for an hour or so before ending up in this flight roughly two & a half hours after the cork was pulled. My last note said check in during 2022, and since friends were recently gifted a bottle this seemed like a good time to check in. I’d give this some time yet…2025+, but three to four hours in decanter will work for those who prefer them younger with a bit more fruit (looking at you SK).

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• 2014 Bodegas Ramirez Rioja Reserva Ramirez de la Piscina

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Double blind. Opens with a subtle citrusy grapefruit note, followed by loam, black fruit and plum. Medium-bodied with soft tannin and plum and berry fruit. Has a subtle earthy element in there. This is a style I find appealing; reminds me a bit of the 2003 Don Melchor. (J&J)

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• 2008 Château Cantemerle 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Blind. Dark garnet color. Aromas of iron, red berry fruit and something floral. Very appealing. On the full side of medium-bodied, with flavors of red berry fruit, spice and iron. Medium tannins. Easy to pick out as our other Bordeaux in this flight.
  
  Decanted for half an hour; cork pull to this flight was 3.5 hours. Drink now through 2030.

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• 2017 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Double blind. Light red color- lightest in the flight. Opens with a meaty note, followed by dark fruit with a slight loamy quality. Medium-bodied, with heightened acidity supporting flavors of black fruit, cherry and sandalwood. Easy to pick out as another Italian wine having seen a couple already this evening. (R&R)

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• 2013 Benanti Etna Serra della Contessa 91 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Double blind. Light color. Opens with a dried pine sap note, followed by red berry, spice and herb notes. Red berry fruit dominates the palate, with bright acidity. Very nice. (R&D)

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• 2007 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Double blind. Aromas of pine and dark berry fruit with a sandalwood overtone. The palate shows more red fruit than black, with a nice herbal edge. Easy to pick out as another Brunello. (R&D)

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• 2015 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Franc Old Stones Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Double blind. The bouquet is green and herbal, with black fruit underneath. A bit of oak is noticeable as well, but isn't distracting. Full-bodied, showing black fruit, caramel and clay flavors. Develops a bit of a brown sugar note as it sits in the glass. The herbal elements should have clued me in, but I fixated on the brown sugar oak notes and knowing at this point whose cellar this was from I guessed a TRB cab sauv. (R&R)

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