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4th Saturday group uptown tasting

M&R's

Tasted June 22, 2019 by AllRed with 214 views

Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 notes)

Rosé - Sparkling
2014 Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
88 points
Nonblind. Perfumed and floral with subtle berry undertones. Berry and apple on the palate.
White
2014 Château Cos d'Estournel Blanc France, Bordeaux
87 points
Double blind. Light yellow color. Aromas of waxy fruit, quince and pepper. Peppery white fruit on the palate. The first variety to cross my mind was gruner veltliner. As it warms it shows more citrus and a rich texture. Fairly easy to pick out as a Bordeaux blanc, though I guessed younger.
White
2012 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
88 points
Double blind. Notes of citrus, white fruit and earth. Rich texture. Citrus, white fruit and spice flavors. Easy to pick out as Bordeaux blanc, though here again, this showed much younger than I'd have guessed.

Flight 2 - Reds (6 notes)

Red
2013 Saxum James Berry Vineyard USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Willow Creek District
89 points
Double blind. Perfumed; plummy red fruit and cherry underneath. With air, develops aromas of cinnamon and darker fruit. Ripe plummy dark fruit and peppery spice on the palate fairly firm tannins. A bit hot. This felt like a big ripe full throttle pinot, something along the lines of Peter Michael's pinot noirs.
Red
2003 Château Pape Clément France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
90 points
Double blind. Garnet color, looks like it has some age as it has a lighter meniscus. Aromas of iodine, earth, tobacco and mixed red and black fruit. A hint of brett underneath. Red fruit on the palate, along wit tar, asphalt/burnt embers. Turns a bit austere and thin as it sits. Guessed Graves, though I'd have thought a bit older.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1997 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages USA, California, Sonoma County
70 points
Double blind. Lots of bouillon to start, wit dark fruit underneath. More of the same on the palate. Acidic and plummy fruit, a bit of charred wood and more of the bouillon. No guess.
Red
2012 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel The Montelena Estate USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga
88 points
Double blind. Cherry and currant notes. Slightly tannic, wit white currant, cherry and spice flavors. More spice and dark fruit as it opens. Elegant. I like this but I am not sure what it is. No guess on the variety. 88-89 pts.

Always a nice zinfandel, in a style I like, but certainly not what should be put in an "uptown" tasting.
Red
2009 Metaphora Wines Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Double blind. Aromas of violet, plum and florals with just a slight hint of overly ripe raisiny fruit. Fully-integrated tannin, with dark fruit and plum flavors. Starts to show just a bit hot and alcoholic. Guessed Napa cab sauv.
Red
2001 Neal Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Second Chance Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak
Blind. Red fruit and subtle bouillon notes. Resolved tannin. Dark fruit, spice and a hint of bouillon on the palate as well. The bouillon notes get stronger as this sits in the glass. This had been quickly double decanted about 90 minutes before the flight was poured (no off notes or bouillon at that time). Passive storage may have had a hand in this.

Flight 3 - Reds (6 notes)

Red
2001 Neal Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
92 points
Blind. Dark fruit and floral elements with a hint of VA and maybe just a touch of bouillon here too. Nicely balanced; tannins are resolved and this glides across the palate. Dark fruit, plum, chocolate, and cherry cordial flavors. Lingering finish. This had been quickly double decanted off its sediment; poured in the 2nd flight just over two hours later.
Red
2010 Booker Vineyard The Alchemist USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
90 points
Double blind. Starts out showing a ton of alcoholic heat, eventually taming that and showing black fruit and peppery spice. There's a nice floral quality too. Medium tannins. Flavors of pepper and candied black fruits, and that works really well here. Guessed syrah.
Red
2002 Ridge Monte Bello USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Double blind. Reticent. Tight and closed. Just absolutely shut down and closed. No guess.

While a generous contribution, it was absolutely mistreated by not being decanted well ahead of the tasting. Unfortunate.
1 person found this helpful Comments (3)
Red
2009 St. Supéry Cabernet Sauvignon Dollarhide Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
Double blind. Perfumed and bright, with blackberry, cherry and raspberry as well. Dark fruit, spice and plum with a medium+ finish. Starts to show some alcoholic heat as it sits. Guessed Napa cab sauv.
Red
2010 Booker Vineyard Remnant USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
89 points
Double blind. Hot and alcoholic. Black fruit and also a good bit of VA here too. Loads of dark, ripe fruit on the nose and palate. Doesn't change much during the duration of the flight. Guessed syrah. 89+ pts.
Red
2010 La Jota Merlot W.S. Keyes Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
90 points
Double blind. Notes of dark fruit, plum, pepper and spice. The palate follows the bouquet-loads of dark fruit with a ripe edge, as well as cooked raspberry. Guessed Napa cab sauv...I don't recall anyone guessing merlot.

Flight 4 - Dinner/dessert wines (3 notes)

Enjoyed with smoked brisket, beans and mac & cheese, lemon & almond cake and cherry pistacchio ice cream.

Red
2009 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
96 points
Courtesy of R&D, popped and poured with dinner. Really lovely and abundant fruit on the nose and palate. Pretty floral elements in the bouquet. Cassis, plum and black fruit carrying the finish. Nicely integrated tannins. Drinking very well.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2005 Château La Confession France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
90 points
Courtesy of Sue, popped and poured with dinner. Lavender, violet and black fruit. Dark fruit- currant and plum- on the palate. Medium-bodied with a nice finish. Drinking very nicely at the moment.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White - Sweet/Dessert
2001 Château Suduiraut France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
97 points
Notes of apricot, honey, papaya, pineapple and botrytis spice. Really terrific richness on the palate. Pineapple, tropical fruit and apricot syrup on the palate. Wonderful rich texture.
4 people found this helpful Comment
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