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The Blind Drunks monthly tasting
Rich & Dana's
Tasted October 23, 2010 by AllRed with 678 views
Introduction
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. (4 notes)
With the Geja's tasting coming up, Rich used this flight as a an opportunity to taste some "odd" whites. Appropriate that we brought a Michigan Chardonnay tonight as Geja's has been known to insert wines from Ohio, Virgina and other obscure regions.
White
2008 Martín Códax Albariño Rías Baixas
Pale straw color with aromas of melon and citrus. Honeyed citrus tones on the palate, with nice acidity. Has a rich, Rhonish texture. I guessed a Semillon/Sauvignon blend...never would have picked this out as Albarino, but one taster did.
White
2008 Elena Walch Pinot Grigio
Pale color. Very smoky at first, with citrus and apple tones. Good acidity, with soft pear and melon flavors. No guesses on this one.
White
2009 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontés
Pale color. Very florally aromatics. Richer palate than I expected based on the bouquet. White fruit and floral tones turning bitter on the finish. I guessed Viognier.
White
2008 Contessa Wine Cellars Chardonnay Reserve
Deep straw color. Aromas of pear and apple, with toasty overtones. Subtle flavors of orchard fruit, florals and toasty oak. Obviously Chardonnay, but some tasters thought California, others France.
Flight 2 - II. Reds. (6 notes)
The Ravenswood Zins both showed very well, but the Belloni was really terrific. Also loved the Chehalem and the 2004 Pride, which has, for the 2nd time in a blind lineup, had some tasters thinking Bordeaux.
Red
1993 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Hill
91 points
Pale crimson core, turning clear at the edge. Initially displays licorice, red currant and spice tones. Opens further in the glass with red fruit spice and subtle prune aromas. Balanced, with flavors of red fruit and white pepper, with a very subtle raisiny tone on the finish.
This was decanted briefly for sediment & rebottled for travel. It sat uncorked in bottle for about 45 minutes to an hour before it was tasted first in this flight.
This was decanted briefly for sediment & rebottled for travel. It sat uncorked in bottle for about 45 minutes to an hour before it was tasted first in this flight.
Red
2007 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel
Ruby color. Notes of black cherry, pepper and red fruit, though also hot and alcoholic. Medium-bodied, with tart red fruit and vanilla flavors.
Second time I have tasted this, and I am still not a fan of this wine.
Second time I have tasted this, and I am still not a fan of this wine.
Red
1993 Ravenswood Zinfandel Wood Road-Belloni
92 points
Crimson color. Herbal red currant, licorice and red berry aromas. Develops raisiny qualities with air; the fruit deepens too. Flavors of red fruit, cherries and herbs...terrific red fruit- vibrant. Guessed older Zinfandel.
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Red
2003 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc
Initial aromas of chocolate, cherry, leather and mint. Black cherry and red currant flavors. Opens further in the glass with caramel and vanilla notes and a very subtle burnt tire quality. The tire quality follows through on the palate with dark fruit tones as well; a bit harsh on he finish. I guessed Petite Sirah.
This was decanted for sediment & returned to bottle for travel. Uncorked and sat for an hour or so until it wound up in the first flight.
This was decanted for sediment & returned to bottle for travel. Uncorked and sat for an hour or so until it wound up in the first flight.
Red
2000 Chehalem Pinot Noir Rion Reserve
92 points
Pale ruby color- appears to have some age on it. Initial notes of sour red cherry. Expands in the glass with red cherry, subtle earth and cinnamon tones. Very well-balanced. Gorgeous. 92+ pts. No doubt Pinot- I thought older California.
Red
2004 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc
93 points
Garnet color. Gorgeous bouquet of red fruit, herbs and roasted red bell pepper. Amy detected some iodine. Lush red fruit, herbs and dark fruit. Bordeaux-like. 93+ pts. Guessed Cali Cab.
Decanted for sediment & rebottled for travel. Sat uncorked about an hour before this flight, about an hour & a half after the cork was first pulled.
Decanted for sediment & rebottled for travel. Sat uncorked about an hour before this flight, about an hour & a half after the cork was first pulled.
Flight 3 - III. Reds. (6 notes)
No contest here - the Togni was the absolute class of the flight, and the night for me. Somewhat polarizing though, due to how tasters perceived the bell pepper tones. I loved it, others felt it was too green.
Red
1996 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon
94 points
Crimson color. Notes of roasted red bell pepper, red currants, blackberry and leather. Gorgeous fruit on the palate; plums and red currants. Touch of leather and herbs too. Long finish. Balanced. 94+ pts. Guessed 1995 Togni.
Red
2007 Viña Peñalolén Cabernet Sauvignon
88 points
Initial aroma of grapefruit, followed by red fruit and leather. Citrusy red fruit on the palate.
Red
2005 Bodegas y Viñedos Montecastro Ribera del Duero Montecastro y Llanahermosa
Notes of sweet red fruit and smoke- something akin to barbeque sauce. Balanced, with red fruit and earth tones on the palate.
Red
2003 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
89 points
Retiscent. Subtle herb and red fruit aromas; turning to jammy raspberry and chocolate tones. Firm tannins; slight raisiny quality along with dark fruit tones on the palate.
Red
2006 Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Old Vines Todd Brothers Ranch
Herbal red and dark fruit aromas, though a bit retiscent as well. Light-bodied, thin really, with soft red fruit tones. Short across the midpalate and no finish to speak of.
Red
2004 Bodegas y Viñedos Conde de San Cristóbal Ribera del Duero Vino Tinto de la Anada
Opens with a smoky, meaty quality- also black fruit and herbs. Lush red fruit on the attack, but lacking much of a midpalate or finish. Young.
Flight 4 - IV. Nonblind pizza/dessert wines. (2 notes)
Red
2001 Robert Biale Petite Sirah Old Crane Ranch
90 points
From magnum. Aromas of chocolate, blackberry and roasted meat. Firm, sweet tannins, with flavors of blackberry and dark fruit.
Red - Fortified
1977 Graham Porto Vintage
94 points
Light ruby color. Terrific floral and berry aromas with underlying spice notes. Well-balanced, with red fruit and spice flavors on the palate.
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