4th Saturday Group: Old & Young

J&S
Tasted Saturday, May 27, 2023 by AllRed with 60 views

Introduction

Our hosts declared a theme of "older and younger," wishing to have each couple bring something with a bit of age, and something young/newly released. While they did not specifically request the wines be the same, we thought it would be fun/educational and grabbed a couple of extra bottles to have a four-bottle vertical spanning 30 years (Duhart).

Each taster brings a bottle in a brown bag, which is set on a table in areas designated as light, medium and heavy. The wines are mixed up slightly such that we don't know where our bottles are and tasted in flights. Each flight is discussed and unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

Flight 1 - Warm ups (4 Notes)

Flight 2 - Reds I (6 Notes)

  • 2003 Château Duhart-Milon 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Blind. Some bricking with a lovely bouquet of black currant, leather, tobacco and violet, becoming more red-fruited as it opens in the glass. Medium-bodied with softened tannins and flavors of red fruit, tobacco and spice.

    In a really nice place, this had been decanted for an hour and then rebottled, ending up in the first flight a little over two hours after the cork was first pulled. With seven bottles remaining in the cellar I think I may pull a bottle or two each year over the next three to five years.

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  • 2019 Turley Casa Nuestra 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. An initial dominant aroma that reminded me of the red fruit roll ups I enjoyed in my childhood. It’s cooked/jammy but not in an offensive way. With time in the glass it becomes less cooked/jammy and more dark fruited, adding an intriguing pine forest quality as well. Ripe, sweet dark fruit on the palate. (V&M)

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  • 2021 Prisoner Wine Company Saldo

    USA, California

    Double blind. Note of candied red fruit, licorice and cherry, becoming more dark-fruted as it breathes in the glass. Juicy, bright fruit on the palate. This did not strike me as zinfandel. (R&D)

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  • 1988 Château Duhart-Milon

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Blind. Old brownish red color with notes of cedar, tea leaves and forest floor/detritus. The palate is slightly better than the bouquet suggests it will be, with tea and mushroom but also some fruit.

    Clearly our bottle, which came as a bit of a surprise as when I double decanted off its sediment only 75 minutes prior to this flight being served, the bouquet was very much enjoyable and I couldn’t quite believe the wine deteriorated to such a degree in a relatively short time. Oh well, c’est la vie.

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  • 2009 Orin Swift The Prisoner 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Shows a little age with slight bricking at the meniscus. Notes of red berry fruit and forest floor. The palate follows the bouquet. Showing very well. (R&D)

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  • 2009 Château Potensac 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc

    Double blind. Notes of leather, plum, sandalwood and watermelon. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of black currants, leather and tobacco. Guessed Bordeaux. Still very young, i might suggest holding until 2028+. (J&S)

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Flight 3 - Reds II (6 Notes)

  • 2018 Château Duhart-Milon

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Blind. Deep color with notes of graphite, black fruit, plum, forest floor and lavender. Full-bodied. Flavors of mixed red and black fruit, green tobacco and spice, with an herbal element in the finish. Firm youthful tannin. Easy to pick out as our young Bordeaux in this flight.

    This had been decanted for five hours, rebottled and poured another two+ hours later.

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  • 2019 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Double blind. Candied red fruit notes with spice overtones. Ripe red fruit on the palate with a medium finish. Nice, if a bit straightforward. (J&L)

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  • 2008 Château Duhart-Milon 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Blind. Red fruit, leather and tobacco notes. Really nice fruit on the palate, mostly red, but something dark and almost plummy as well, along with graphite and mineral qualities. Finishes with good length and balance. 93+ pts.

    This had been decanted for two hours before being rebottled and poured another 2+ hours later. Drinking very nicely, albeit in a youthful manner, with this treatment.

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  • 2018 O'Brien Estate Romance 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Jammy dark fruit notes backing up spice and raspberry aromas. Ripe dark fruit continues on the palate, carrying the finish. Despite being nearly three-quarters merlot, this seemed very zin-like to me. (J&S)

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  • 2012 Hendry Zinfandel Block 28 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Jammy red fruit and raspberry notes with dusty overtones. Red berry fruit and pepper flavors. Easy to pick out as a zin; very nice. 89-90 pts. (J&L)

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  • 2012 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino Flawed

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Double blind. Mature almost brownish red color. A bit reticent, with plum and leather notes discernible following vigorous swirling. More fruit is evident on the palate, but there's also flavors of sweet tea and spice. I think it's fairly safe to assume this was not a representative bottle. (V&M)

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Flight 4 - Dinner/dessert wines (2 Notes)

Nonblind with a terrific roasted beef tenderloin, roasted potatoes and beans.

  • 2007 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    From magnum, pours a dark inky crimson color. Notes of plum, cassis, Asian spice and charcoal. Still has some grippy tannins to integrate. Flavors of black fruit, pepper, vanilla and licorice. Long finish; balanced. (R&D)

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  • 1994 Delaforce Porto Vintage 90 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Double decanted off its sediment and served about four hours later. Notes of licorice, black raspberry, cherry and kirsch. The palate mirrors the bouquet, adding cherry cordial and chocolate elements as well. Improved in the glass over thirty minutes or so, and I suspect the leftovers were likely even a bit better followed over a couple of days.

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Closing

We always look forward to our monthly tasting groups and catching up with everyone. Many thanks to J&S for a wonderful dinner and tasting.

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