Hanging With Stevie N and The OC Gang, Doing It Blind

Antanello's In Costa Mesa (Orange County)
Tasted Saturday, March 14, 2009 by Frank Murray III with 589 views

Introduction

Thanks to once again the generous vibes of Steve Nordhoff, a group of the OC whinos got together @ Antonello for a 5 course meal and wines, served blind, provided solely from Steve's cellar. Each flight was revealed once everyone had tasted the wines and had a guess. We had a great time, paired to some nice food served by Thad's gang in the kitchen.

Flight 1 - Blind Whites (3 Notes)

My serving for this flight was a mixed green salad with red apple slices, goat cheese and a balsamic.

  • 2005 Kongsgaard Chardonnay

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Toasty with mashmallow. Lemon curd, kiwi and a long zingy finish.

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  • 2005 Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Smoky nose with some buttery oak. Viscous with papaya, a bit of wax and some fennel, along with green apple and a long finish. I thought the wine was roussanne or a rhone white and humbled again by a blind format, was proved quite wrong.

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  • 2007 Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    As opposed to the 2005 Reserve that preceded this wine in the same flight, this 2007 was quite different and would seemed to have been cut from a different cloth. Smoky nose, alomost with a sugar cookie note. Mineral, pear, medium body with great balance and even length. My wine of the flight and a wine that was classy and well done.

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Flight 2 - Blind Reds--#1 (3 Notes)

Rich risotto

  • 1999 Carlisle Mondeuse

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Poured from a magnum and served blind. My intial impression was a wine of about 10 years in age, as it showed the older nose with a light cream and sweet tobacco and light cedar. All of this rang for me like a 99 CA cab or something in that vein. Palate of currant, cherry, some light chocolate and notable acidity. Revealed to be the Carlisle and the first edition of this wine that he made, according to CT.

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  • 2004 Carlisle Three Birds

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    I intially thought syrah with the zippy blueberry and oak notes. Some chalk, espresso and dark chocolate and a touch of heat. For me, not ready and put it away for another 3 years to let the structure soften.

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  • 2000 Arcadian Pinot Noir Francesca's Cuvée

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    This bottle came from Gerry's cellar, poured from mag. Gerry says it was a blend of Garys', Pisoni and Bien Nacido and was never released but was a wine that Joe would give as gifts or save for family or other types of events. Bit of smoke, a hint of stalkiness and what to me seemed light some new wood signature on the nose, but hard to imagine given the age so I suspect I am off on that point. Juicy with cranberry and mulch/loam. Clearly a pinot nose so I guessed that part correctly blind.

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Flight 3 - Blind Reds--#2 (3 Notes)

Pasta alfredo

  • 2004 Pax Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Initially, I thought Rosella's fruit, as it had that merde signature that faded once it sat in the glass. Big time whole cluster here, with menthol and herbals on the nose. Palate of iron ore, dark blue fruits and chalk. As it sat and I tasted the wine, I thought then it might be a Copain Garys' but later revealed to be Pax. Stumped me there and this wine needs a few more years to let the stems soften.

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  • 2005 Pax Syrah Cuvée Keltie

    USA, California, North Coast

    Had a bit of what I call a "rubber" or tire smell on the nose. I don't like this kind of aromatic signature and I found it there, although not dominant. Deep olive, blackberry, menthol, some green notes, chalk and chocolate. Some really liked this wine, but for me, it needs time again to let the whole cluster setttle in. Full weight and big wine, for sure.

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  • 2005 Pax Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    This was a helluva wine. I know some at the dinner preferred or liked the 2005 Keltie more but this Castelli did it for me. This is the kind of CA syrah that defines the varietal for me, with the richness, dark color and flavor profile. It also of the three wines in the flight reflected the least amount of whole cluster signature (as compared to the 05 Keltie and 04 Kobler). Rich, a big blast of juicy blue and black fruit, licorice, milk chocolate and in the finish, shows some red fruit underneath. I ended up collecting about another 6 ounces of the wine, to which I finished about an hour after my original tasting note. That glass showed more whole cluster to me, more menthol, coffee and some crushed rocks, along with the dark blue and black notes and same milk chocolate. For 2009 being so young, this is my best syrah YTD. Great wine for me and my preferences.

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Flight 4 - Blind Reds--#3 (3 Notes)

Pounded thin chicken breast with garlic mash

Flight 5 - Dessert--Again, OOPS, did not get the wine.....called "Nobility", I think

Mixed fruits (berries, grapes, orange) with chunks of white and dark chocolate and some toasted walnuts

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