JD Friday Wine Group - CAB Host

City Club FW - Wine Room
Tasted Friday, October 20, 2023 by Gregmonroe with 66 views

Introduction

Blind tasting and guessing dinner.

We were not told the theme, but as a hint, the host said that vintages were important.

Our host was celebrating his birthday.

Flight 1 - Apertif (1 Note)

  • 2012 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame

    France, Champagne

    Tasted blind - from flute. Great color and bubbles, but not much on the nose at first. Slight salinity, light flour/bready/yeasty profile. Some lemon. After about 30 minutes, and warming a little, the green apple nose came through. Guessed a 2006 billecart salmon Nicolas Francois cuvée.

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Flight 2 - First Course (3 Notes)

Lobster Bisque

  • 2015 Gaja Langhe Chardonnay Gaia & Rey

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

    Tasted blind - pale yellow in the glass. At first smell, I thought Chardonnay. Had some lemon and oak on the nose. But also a good bit of stone fruit on the nose and palate. Upon tasting, the high acid and slight bitterness took me away from Chardonnay to something else. After a bite of the lobster bisque, the wine had a sour finish. I enjoyed this one more without food. I guessed a 2018 L’ apres midi from Peter Michael. The Sauvignon Blanc that doesn’t taste like one. Wrong.

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  • 2015 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Tasted blind - light gold in the glass. All grapefruit and stone fruit on the nose. Definitely a Sauvignon Blanc. While acidic as it should be, it still felt soft on my palate, and was delicious. Flavors of stone fruit and cantaloupe. I was trying to make this a white Bordeaux guess, but the fruit seemed too sweet, and the nose not pungent enough. I guessed a white Bordeaux style Napa Sauvignon Blanc. The acidity in this wine cut through the lobster bisque and made for a great pairing.

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  • 2015 Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Tasted blind - cloudy gold in the glass. Nose was lemon and oak, and smelled great. Sweet, creamy stone fruit and lemon on the palate, with a bit of a steely finish. This one also paired well with the lobster bisque. I guessed a 2018 Aubert Lauren.

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Flight 3 - Second Course (5 Notes)

Beef Wellington with Bernaise Sauce, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Baby Spinich Risotto

  • 2010 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Tasted blind - dark in the glass, but slightly transparent. Nose of blackberry - like blackberry pie. Huge sweet fruit on the nose. I could have been happy just smelling this wine. Tons of black and blue fruit on the palate, with noticeable, but balanced tannins. First red of the night, and because it drank so well, I feel it was overshadowed. But it should not have been. Great wine. I guessed the reds were all the same vintage (correct) and guessed a 2005 St. Emilion (very wrong).

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  • 2011 Colgin IX Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted blind - this one was strange. I couldn't pinpoint what I was smelling, but it was meaty and vegetal, and slightly metallic. On initial taste, the tannins were fairly big, but it still had a soft mouthfeel. Underlying flavors of cherry, but overshadowed by savory, vegetal, tertiary flavors. As for the theme, this one did taste like it was from a cold, wet year, but in the moment when guessing, I didn't think of that. I kept with my 2005 guess, and called this a Pomerol something, because of the slight green pepper and other savory characteristics. Was so different after the Unico, tasted right before it.

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  • 2011 Futo Oakville

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Tasted blind - Bright red fruit on the nose, with complexity. Someone at the table said "stemmy" and I think I agree with that. It was red fruit + something. On the palate, it was a bit hot, with big tannins, and lean fruit. It did not taste like a cabernet to me - this wine was really complex and really tasty. I called a 2005 Jaboulet Cote Rotie. Very wrong, but really good wine.

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  • 2011 Peter Michael Les Pavots

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    Tasted blind - Deep and dark in the glass, red fruit and black tea on the nose. Amazingly balanced on the palate, with the red fruit integrated with balanced tannins and baking spice. This wine is ready to go, and is drinking well now. Guessed a 2005 grenache heavy CDP.

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  • 2011 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Few and Far Between

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted blind - WOW. Huge red fruit + black fruit nose. Deep and dark in the glass, brooding. Creamy almost, with sweet red and black fruits on the palate, maybe a bit of prune in the background. Hints of chocolate. Tasted so good with roasted sweet potatoes. Amazing wine. guessed a 2005 ribera del duero.

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Flight 4 - Third Course (1 Note)

Birthday Cake

Closing

The theme was "Are there Bad Vintages?" - and the answer is no, when you drink amazing producers.

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