A Small Wine Tasting

10 wines in all, we've invited 5 couples to bring both a bottle of wine and an appetizer. We set this up on evite so they could select their varietal from a list ahead of time. We will match their varietal selection with a bottle from our cellar, hence having two blind tastes of each. The wine menu will include Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Bordeaux, Sangiovese, and an Alternative Red/Red Blend. We found some inexpensive wine bags on papermart.com that our guests can keep. We'll see how it all works out and I'll report back.

• 2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  A really special Pinot. Great body, nice spice for a pinot. Great from beginning to end. Great fruit, very lush.

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• 2006 La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 84 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Very light in the glass. Light pepper, slight cherry. Needed more time to open up. Tasted against Siduri Clos Pepe and the Siduri just over performed.

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• 2005 White Cottage Ranch Vineyards Ezivese 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Nice, big, robust Sangiovese. Hands down superior to the Santa Cristina we tasted with it. Spicy, a little anise. Nice full mouth from start to finish. I'm glad I have 3 more!

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• 2005 Antinori Santa Cristina Toscana IGT 82 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  We tasted this against a White Cottage Ezivese. Just not a lot to it. dissappeard quickly, not much body. It came a little more alive with some aeration, but not a favorite, even for the bargain it is.

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• 2005 David Coffaro Block 4 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  We love this wine! And so did everyone else, I"m sad I only have two of this vintage left, but the 2006 is actually supposed to be better. Great full mouth. Berry, licorice and chocolate.

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• NV Saint Cosme Little James' Basket Press 83 Points

  France, Rhône, Vin de France

  Nice little wine, not very complex, short on finish. Still a nice wine for the dollar. Drank with a David Coffaro Block 4, which totally dwarfed it.

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Darioush took top prize with Coffaro a close second.

• 2004 Darioush Shiraz 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Outstanding. Chocolate with a little licorice. Very full mouth, stayed from start to finish. Nice spice. The pick of the party.

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• 2005 R Wines Shiraz Boarding Pass 84 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Wanted to like this more than we did. Tasted with Darioush Shiraz which it paled in comparison to. A little hot, but a nice Aussie Shiraz. We enjoy Thorn-Clarke's better at the same price point.

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Neither very popular. Both likely need to sit a few years.

• 2005 Château Malmaison Baronne Nadine de Rothschild 83 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

  VERY tannic, but the group rated it better than the Chateau Grand Ormeau. Needs time.

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• 2005 Château Grand Ormeau 82 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol

  Bordeaux is not normally my cup of tea and this was no exception. Very tannic and dissappeared quickly. Tried aerating, helped a little. The other Bordeaux faired better with the group.

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Great party. Good time by all. Darioush and Coffaro were the hits. Can't wait to do it again.