The Blind Drunks monthly tasting

Chateau Lay
Tasted Sunday, February 15, 2009 by AllRed with 707 views

Introduction

As is our custom, the wines for the tasting are served double blind to the group in brown paper bags. Each flight is tasted, discussed and unveiled before moving on to the next flight. Wines are listed in the order they appeared in the flight.

Flight 1 - I. Warm-up whites. (5 Notes)

Flight 2 - II. Reds. (6 Notes)

  • 2007 Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhône 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

    Notes of raspberry and cherry jam, with a dusty/soily undertone. Slightly tart on entry, filling out with dark fruit and raspberry notes. Picks up a bit of spice through the midpalate and finish. 89-90 pts. 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% each Mourvedre & Cinsault.

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  • 2006 Hob Nob Vineyards Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d'Oc Flawed

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc

    Acetone aromas on first whiff. The acetone blew off after a short while, leaving cherry and dark fruit notes, with an odd sweaty, musty note. Flavors of chocolate and butter.

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  • 2006 Domaine La Millière Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

    Opens with herb and cherry notes. Bright acidity on the palate, with flavors of red fruit, raspberry and black cherries. Terrific balance and a lengthy finish. Lot 323.

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  • 1997 Chain of Ponds Shiraz The Ledge 90 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

    Dark garnet color. Notes of olive, tapenade and herbs, developing a spice/pepper note with time in the glass. Dark fruit and spice flavors on the palate with a decent finish and resolved tannins.

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  • 2001 Copain Zinfandel Arrowhead Mountain

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    This was an odd bottle. Dark color, nearly opaque at the center, with cassis, blackberry and currant notes. Chalky tannins, with loads of dark fruit on the palate. It fell apart in the glass over the twenty minutes we tasted this flight, becoming quite disjointed and developing a distracting grapefruit note.

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  • 2006 Palmina Dolcetto

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    Notes of spice, herbs and vanilla. Light body, with black cherry and spice flavors. A bit simple maybe, but well made and pretty tasty.

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Flight 3 - III. Reds. (5 Notes)

  • 2006 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha Campo de Borja 91 Points

    Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja

    Notes of dark fruit and spice, with a good herbal undertone. Shows a bit of alcohol on the palate, but there's also a lot of dark fruit and spice. Tannins are firm and dense, clamping down on the finish. Give this one some time. 91-92 pts.

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  • 2006 Vincent Arroyo Merlot

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Started out with an odd cheesy aroma that took a while to blow off. Once it did though, this displayed nice cherry and red fruit notes. Slightly tannic, with plush red fruit and nice underlying acidity.

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  • 2000 Brown Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Chiles Valley

    Notes of dark fruit and spice, followed by dark chocolate and herbs. Medium-bodied, with flavors of plum and dusty red fruit. Nicely balanced, with a decent finish ending with a lingering dark fruit quality. 92-93 pts.

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  • 2006 Vincent Arroyo Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Aromas of chocolate, thyme, vanilla and herbs. Very well balanced, even at this young stage, with loads of dark fruit on the palate, and a spicy, oak-tinged finish. 92-93 pts.

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  • 2004 Château Mille-Roses 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

    Opens with aromas of dark fruit, roasted herbs and rose petals. Well-balanced, with red currant, plum and black cherry flavors, with a nice finish. 91+ pts.

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Flight 4 - IV. Dinner wines. (4 Notes)

Additional bottles served nonblind with dinner following the tasting.

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