4th Saturday Brown Bagger

Wines are tasted double blind in flights, which are arranged randomly, but somewhat lighter to heavier. Each flight is discussed & unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

A nonblind Champagne starter enjoyed before the double blind whites.

• NV Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  A blend of 30% pinot noir and 70% chardonnay based on the 2010 vintage, disgorged in December 2013 at 6g/L. Pale copper color with notes of red apple and strawberry. Berry and apple fruit carries on the palate. Medium mousse with a small bead. Very nice.

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• 2022 Château Beauchêne Côtes du Rhône Viognier Grande Reserve Futs du Chene 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Double blind. Light straw yellow color. Bright and racy, with notes of lemongrass, jasmine, lily of the valley and unripe peach. The palate shows quite a bit more sweet stone fruit than I'd have expected based on the bouquet, and there’s a nice vein of acidity there as well. I correctly identified this as viognier.

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• 2020 Talbott Chardonnay Kali Hart 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey

  Double blind. Opens with a smoky note followed by orchard fruit, lemon and quince. Rich, with abundant orchard fruit tones on the palate. Easy to pick out as a CA chard.

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• 2021 Fontanella Family Wines Viognier 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Double blind. Very light, pale color. Citrus and floral notes. Heightened acidity on the palate, with flavors of citrus and white fruit. Takes on a subtle soapy quality with air, which for me usually signals albarino.

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• 2017 St. Supéry Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Deep garnet color. Perfumed, with incense, black fruit and peppery spice elements as well. Full-bodied, with flavors of blue fruit, raspberry liqueur and spice flavors with a long finish. Adds a mint note with air and becomes more perfumed. Integrated and balanced. Impressive. (V&M)

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• 2016 The Hess Collection Lion Tamer 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Dark color. Plummy and ripe dark fruit leads the way, with cocoa, sandalwood and floral qualities as well. Full-bodied. Flavors of plum, black raspberry and licorice with a lingering finish. Picks up a sweet tobacco note with air. Guessed Napa cab sauv. (V&M)

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• 2008 Sine Qua Non Syrah B 20 97 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Blind. Crimson color. Aromas of eucalyptus, black fruit, coffee, black raspberry and roasted meat. Well-balanced, showing just the slightest hint of tannin beneath the flavors of black and red fruit, pomegranate and white pepper. Long finish. Adds pine needle and kirsch notes with air. The most complex and nuanced wine in the flight, and a favorite of many around the table. I correctly identified this as the B20.
  
  This bottle was opened a little over 8 hours before the flight was poured and was quickly double decanted off its sediment just before we left for the tasting. I think this was the perfect treatment- pull the cork anywhere from 8-10 hours before tasting, gently decant off its sediment and serve. In lieu of this, perhaps 3-4 hours in a decanter?
  
  Plenty of life left here as well- this looked quite youthful for its age and cruised through the night without losing a step. With two bottles left, part of me wants to pull another right away as it's drinking so well, but I just may try and hold them for another 5+ and see what becomes of them.

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• 2008 Sine Qua Non Grenache THE Line 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Blind. Dusty crimson red color. Aromas of raspberry, dried herbs, sandalwood, sage and rosemary. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of mixed red and black fruit and peppery spice. Midway through I began to wonder if this was the grenache. 92-93 pts.
  
  Good, but not showing as much complexity as the syrah, but then again this was treated a bit differently. The cork was pulled 5.5 hours before the flight was served and it had been decanted for 2 of those hours. About 3 hours later with dinner this was much more open; definitely give this plenty of air at this stage.

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• 2018 Deep Woods Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 94 Points

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Double blind. Opens with rosemary and pine sap notes, with red berry fruit, sweet radish and sour cherry on the palate. Balanced, and lighter than the others in the flight but with abundant fruit and nuance. While not loamy, the herbal, sappy qualities reminded me of some Chilean cabernets that I have had. (MM)

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• 2018 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mason's 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Inky opaque color. Aromas of chocolate and Asian spices, along with black currant and root beer. Plush and velvety texture, with flavors of cassis, blackberry and blueberry; plenty of oak influence as well, though it works well with the abundant fruit. (R&D)

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• 2014 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Double blind. Notes of currant, soy and brown sugar. The palate mirrors the bouquet. Develops a nice Asian spice note as it breathes in the glass. Balanced, with an abundance of black fruit on the palate. 92+ pts. (J&S)

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• 2017 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos 91 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta

  Double blind. Notes of eucalyptus, mint and black fruit. Medium to full-bodied, with medium tannins and flavors of herbs and plummy dark fruit. Medium+ finish. 91-92 pts. (R&S)

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• 2016 Grgich Hills Zinfandel 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Opens with dominant spice notes with mixed red and black fruit underneath. There's a savory meaty element that I like. A touch hot, with a resiny/sappy quality as well. (J&L)

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• 2016 Elizabeth Spencer Syrah ExS Block 9 Sonoma Coast 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Double blind. Aromas of dark fruit and bouillon; on the riper side of the spectrum and a touch hot as well. Medium-bodied. Flavors of ripe black fruit, game and pepper. (J&L)

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• 2014 Calluna Vineyards Calluna Estate 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill

  Double blind. Dark color. Aromas of plum, dark fruit, soy and potpourri. Plush texture. Flavors of black fruit, plum, soy, chocolate and bouillon. Ripe, but nice. (J&S)

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• 2008 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Duel 95 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Blind. Dark color. Pine, raspberry and herb notes to start. Picks up a cinnamon note with air. Full-bodied, with medium tannins and flavors of raspberry liqueur, dried herbs, rosemary and plum. Asian spice accents in the finish. Well-balanced with an abundance of perfectly ripe fruit. Not as complex as the others, but really enjoyable.
  
  This had been opened just over seven hours before the flight was poured, and decanted for three hours in that stretch.

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• 2016 Vigneti del Vulture Aglianico del Vulture Piano del Cerro

  Italy, Basilicata, Aglianico del Vulture

  Double blind. Opens with a funky vegetal quality with black fruit and plum underneath. Well-balanced, with firm tannin and an abundance of nicely ripened black fruit. There's a bit of brettanomyces influence on the palate as well, and tonight I find it a bit distracting. Hope to have another crack at this sometime, as I have enjoyed other aglianicos in the past. (R&S)

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• 2008 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Duel 97 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Blind. Deep color. Aromas of licorice, blackberry liqueur, roasted game and spice. Full-bodied. Flavors of spice, black fruit, pepper, rose water and cured meat. Medium tannins with a lingering finish.
  
  This too had been opened just over seven hours before the flight was poured, and decanted for three hours in that stretch. There's still plenty of life left in this and the grenache.

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• 2018 Switchback Ridge Merlot Peterson Family Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Deep inky color with notes of black and blue fruit, oak spice and chocolate. Full-bodied. Abundant black fruit and spice on the palate. Medium+ finish. (R&D)

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With a beef salad Parisienne and a summer berry cake.

• 2014 Saint Helena Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Sympa 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  From magnum with dinner. Cassis and vanilla on the nose and palate. Full-bodied with medium tannins and a lingering finish. Excellent, and of course quite youthful in this format. (R&D)

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• 2003 Château Suduiraut 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Light golden color. Delightful tropical bouquet with pineapple, mango and marmalade with stone fruit undertones. Hints of warm spice as well. Rich and layered, with stone fruit and papaya. Balancing acidity; long finish. (R&D)

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