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4th Saturday Group brown bagger
R&D's
Tasted March 27, 2021 by AllRed with 132 views
Introduction
Wines are tasted double blind in random flights arranged roughly from light to heavy. When tasters arrive with their wines, the bottles are already bagged and so everyone is asked to place their bottle to the left if lighter and to the right if heavier. The bottles are then shuffled a bit and lettered. So in theory they should end up lighter to heavier, though we do occasionally end up with a newly released behemoth of a wine in the first flight.
Each flight is tasted, discussed, and revealed prior to moving on to the next flight.
Flight 1 - Warm ups (4 notes)
White
2019 Domaine Cherrier Père et fils Sancerre
88 points
Double blind. Pale color with aromas of grass and mixed citrus and orchard fruit. There’s something a little cottony in there too. Fairly bright with heightened acidity and light fruit tones on the palate. My initial guess was Sancerre but at the moment of unveiling I changed my guess to domestic as this this lacked that bit of minerality and sharpness I associate with Sancerre. (R&D)
White
2019 Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc
86 points
Double blind. Slightly darker straw yellow color. Grassy, bordering on jalapeño pepper qualities, with a hint of cat urine too. Limey citrus fruit on the palate with jalapeño as well. Debated whether or not this was from New Zealand or South Africa and guessed New Zealand. (R&D)
White
2020 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
88 points
Double blind. Here again grassy with hints of jalapeño in the bouquet. Bright acidity with citrus fruit flavors. Balanced; my favorite of the warm ups. Guessed South African sauv blanc. (R&D)
White
2017 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi
86 points
Double blind. Our hosts were not enthralled by the performance of the three warm ups so this was a late addition to the lineup. An initial bit of sulfur/matchstick covers what fruit may be here, and as it was just out of the fridge it was too cold. As it warmed it showed some citrus fruit and a soapy floral element. Citrus on the palate with a strong vein of acidity. I could have seen albariño or torrontes, or perhaps something from Italy, but at no point did l’Apres-Midi come to mind. This either needs some time to come into its own, or perhaps this was an off bottle, either way, not what I would expect from this label. (R&D)
Flight 2 - Reds (5 notes)
Red
2004 Joseph Phelps Le Mistral
86 points
Double blind. Shows a nit of bricking. Ripe raisiny fruit leads the way, with a bit of a funky soy quality underneath. Medium-bodied, with no noticeable tannin and flavors of ripe black fruit, plum and soy. I guessed old syrah. (T&L)
Red
2015 San Vito Merlot Colle dei Mandorli Toscana IGT
85 points
Double blind. Light red color. The bouquet shows something slightly floral, perhaps rose, along with red currant and something along the lines of fresh sawdust. Currant and plum on the palate, here again, with something just a little dusty/woody. The fruit is light but, nice. This had a bit of a thin/hollow feel that told me this wasn't cab. I guessed merlot. (R&S)
Red
2008 Château Pape Clément Clémentin de Pape Clément
90 points
Double blind. Opens with a nice herbal earthy funk over red berry fruit, showing hints of iron underneath. Medium tannins. Red fruit and earth qualities, hints of beef blood as well. Finishes with nice length. Shows a bit of bricking so it definitely has some age on it. I started to scribble "Graves" on my note pad but changed my guess to 2003 St. Emilion. (R&D)
Red
2008 Château Pape Clément
flawed
Double blind. Corked. It was a very subtle case but did become more noticeable as the wine sat in the glass. Those who weren't sure were absolutely convinced when this was unveiled and realized what this should have shown like. Clearly not a clean bottle. (R&D)
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Comments (1)
Red
2004 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor
92 points
Blind. Aromas of red and black fruit with herb and mocha overtones. Balanced and nicely integrated, there's no more tannin to integrate. flavors of red plum, herb and something a touch vegetal. I was fairly certain this was our bottle. Drinking very well right now, at peak for my palate. 92-93 pts.
This was double decanted off its sediment ninety minutes before the flight was poured. As I revisited this with dinner, some 3.5+ hours after the cork was pulled, it was still going strong and had not faded at all.
This was double decanted off its sediment ninety minutes before the flight was poured. As I revisited this with dinner, some 3.5+ hours after the cork was pulled, it was still going strong and had not faded at all.
Flight 3 - Reds (4 notes)
Red
2018 Lynmar Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
92 points
Double blind. Pours a light ruby color suggesting pinot noir. Lovely bouquet featuring cherry, nutmeg, orange peel and crushed mint. Balanced and elegant. Flavors of cherry, white currant and baking spices with good balancing acidity. I could very easily spend an entire evening with this. I didn't pick up any of the cola notes I often find in RRV pinots and this seemed younger so I guessed 2017 Sonoma Coast pinot. 92+ pts. (P&R)
Red
2017 Sante Arcangeli Family Wines Pinot Noir Integrato
90 points
Double blind. Anither light one- appears to be pinot. There’s a bit of reduction leadiing the way which blows off with some time and a good bit of vigorous swirling. Cherry dominates the nose and palate. Subtle spice tones add some interesting elements. Balanced. Guessed Sonoma County pinot. (R&S)
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Comment
Red
2014 Round Pond Estate Proprietary Left Bank Blend
92 points
Double blind. Deep garnet color with plenty of glycerin, the legs were thick and clung to the sides of the glass. Aromas of blue and black fruit, a touch hot too, with an intriguing dried mint undertone. Soft tannins. Blue and black fruit on the palate. This was a bit of a puzzle as i just couldn’t pin it down and I settled on malbec. Good, if a bit confusing, at least for me. (T&L)
Red
2010 Bodega Atamisque Cabernet Sauvignon Atamisque
88 points
Double blind. Starts out very syrupy - definitely a Robitussin quality to it. There’s also some black and blue fruits as well. Has some tannin to shed. Flavors of dark fruit and spice. (SS)
Flight 4 - Reds (4 notes)
Red
2013 Trois Noix Cabernet Sauvignon
90 points
Blind. Aromas of sweet syrupy dark fruit and blue fruit with spice and vanilla undertones. Medium-bodied with slightly firm tannins and mixed fruit flavors. Guessed CA cab sauv.
This had been double decanted three hours before the flight was poured.
This had been double decanted three hours before the flight was poured.
Red
2011 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille
90 points
Double blind. Notes of sweet dark fruit with florals and herbs mixed in. Black fruit dominates the palate. Finishes with good length. Guessed Napa cab sauv. (M&R)
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Comment
Red
2011 Tres Sabores Zinfandel
90 points
Double blind. Notes of cherry, florals and white currant with a touch of something herbal underneath. Medium-bodied. Nice chewy red fruit on the palate. No guess. (M&R)
Red
2014 Perinet Priorat Perinet
89 points
Double blind. A touch hot with a bouillon quality in the bouquet. There’s black fruit underneath which follows through on the palate. Medium finish. Guessed older cabernet. 89+ pts. (P&R)
Flight 5 - Dinner & dessert wines (3 notes)
Enjoyed nonblind with braised chicken thighs and berries with sweet cream and sauternes.
Red
2014 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection
88 points
From magnum, popped and poured. Aromas of vanilla, burnt caramel and chocolate underneath syrupy black fruit. Full-bodied and ripe, with abundant gloppy black fruit, vanilla and brown sugar flavors. A style that falls well outside of my wheelhouse, this was actually a bit better than I anticipated. (R&D)
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2011 Château Suduiraut Lions de Suduiraut
89 points
From 375ml. Light color. Apricot, pineapple and tropical fruits. Nice, if perhaps a bit simple. (R&D)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2003 Château Suduiraut
93 points
Light honey gold color with aromas of apricot, pineapple and fruit cocktail syrup. There’s just a slight hint of botrytis spice in there as well. Rich texture. Apricot and tropical fruit flavors with a slight tropical edge. Excellent, 93-94 pts. (R&D)
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Closing
Welcome to the group P&R, and thanks to R&D for a fun tasting!