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4th Saturday Group: Uptown Brown Bag
V&M's
Tasted November 25, 2023 by AllRed with 80 views
Introduction
Construction now complete, V&M recently moved into their new house, and so that combined with the fact that this would be their first time hosting the group, they declared an uptown theme, meaning wines were to be a step above what we would normally bring to a tasting. Each taster is to bring a red in a brown bag which we randomly arrange in even flights. We spend some time tasting and analyzing the wines before making our guesses, then we discuss and unveil the wines before moving on to the next flight.
We had a near-record turnout with 17 tasters-- one of the largest groups we have had. Everyone was very careful about their pours and the bottles easily made it around the table...with wine to spare.
Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 notes)
White
2022 Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvée "Les Caillottes"
88 points
Double blind. Pale color, opening with a grassy quality which gives way to mineral and citrus notes. Bright acidity with flavors of citrus, mineral and unripe peach. Hints of tart apple in the finish. Correctly guessed Sancerre on account of the citrus and mineral elements. 88-89 pts. (V&M)
White
2021 Domaine du Chapitre Touraine Francois & Maryline Desloges
86 points
Double blind. Stark. Grassy elements dominate the nose and palate. The fruit is a bit lean. Guessed domestic sauv blanc. (V&M)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2018 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg
90 points
Double blind. Pale golden yellow color. Peach and ripe orchard fruit notes in the bouquet and on the palate. Slightly sweeter/ripe but with decent supporting acidity. Very good. (V&M)
Flight 2 - Reds (6 notes)
Red
2018 Domaine de la Vougeraie Vougeot 1er Cru Les Cras
93 points
Double blind. Light ruby color. Notes of red berry fruit, cherry, white pepper and herbs. Medium-bodied with an abundance of red fruit to balance the fine tannins that are present. Spice and herb elements join the fruit and carry through the finish. Nice balancing acidity as well. Guessed CndP. 93+ pts. (V&M)
Red
2015 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard
Double blind. Dark color. Aromas of chocolate, plum, cocoa nib and eucalyptus. Full-bodied, slightly tannic and a bit hot. Black fruit flavors dominate. Guessed '14/'15 Napa cab sauv. (R&S)
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Red
2019 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard
92 points
Double blind. Light color. Aromas of cherry, cranberry, sawdust and herbs. Cherry, nutmeg and cola on the palate, with balancing acidity. Guessed RRV pinot. 92-93 pts. (R&S)
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Red
2020 Alter Ego
88 points
Double blind. Deep color. Aromas of chocolate, blue and black fruit and dried herbs. Tannic and austere, with flavors of chocolate and black fruit. Guessed '19 Napa cab. (M&B)
Red
2021 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
85 points
Double blind. Aromas of black fruit, molasses, cherry cough syrup and barbecue sauce. Full-bodied and ripe. Flavors of cocoa powder and syrupy black fruit. A bit austere. Guessed 2020 Napa cab sauv. (M&B)
Red
2020 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino
90 points
Double blind. Inky garnet color. Aromas of chocolate, currant and blackberry. Full-bodied, slightly acidic and hot, showing its alcohol. Flavors of blackberry and chocolate. Guessed Napa cab. (V&M)
Flight 3 - Reds (6 notes)
Red
2019 Arkenstone Estate
94 points
Double blind. Deep garnet color. Perfumed and pretty, with notes of rose hip mixed with black and blue fruit notes. Fine tannins support black currant, chocolate and black cherry. Has a slightly ripe, plummy quality in the finish. Balanced. (J&T)
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Comments (3)
Red
2000 Château Monbousquet
86 points
Double blind. Faded garnet with a good bit of bricking. Aromas of red currant, iron, bouillon and tea leaf. This has that "just a bit too old" aroma. Medium-bodied, with flavors of red berry fruit, iron and rare beef flavors. Easy to pick out as Bordeaux, but I'd have thought a good bit older. Based on other '00s we've tasted recently, I am fairly confident in saying this was not a representative bottle. (MM)
Red
2016 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon The Pact
88 points
Double blind. Inky garnet color. Aromas of plum, black fruit and tomato paste. Tannic and austere, with black fruit, chocolate and plum flavors. I found this to be slightly disjointed and not as balanced as others in the lineup. (R&D)
Red
2008 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon
94 points
Blind. Opens with an elegant perfumed floral quality, almost potpourri-like. Notes of black fruit, plum and chocolate are apparent under the floral notes. Full-bodied, with medium tannin and flavors of plum, espresso powder, black fruit and chocolate. Finishes with good length. Balanced.
I suspected this might be our bottle as it seemed a touch older, but as I switched bottles I wasn't entirely sure. This had been double decanted off its sediment three hours before the flight was poured. Drinking well, but there's no need to rush here. Drink now with a bit of air or hold through 2028+.
I suspected this might be our bottle as it seemed a touch older, but as I switched bottles I wasn't entirely sure. This had been double decanted off its sediment three hours before the flight was poured. Drinking well, but there's no need to rush here. Drink now with a bit of air or hold through 2028+.
Red
2012 Château Pape Clément
94 points
Double blind. Deep garnet color. Aromas of earth, red plum, currants, forest floor and herbs. Full-bodied and well-balanced, with medium tannin and abundant fruit. Flavors of red fruit, iron and tobacco with a long finish. Easy to identify as Bordeaux, though I did not get the iodine or tar notes I would typically expect from Graves. Still, this is eminently enjoyable, and drinking very well for being so "young." 94-95 pts. (R&D)
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Comments (1)
Red
2013 Clos Apalta
91 points
Double blind. Deep color. Aromas of herbs, bacon and black fruit. Full-bodied. Flavors of black fruit, plum and tapenade, with balancing acidity. Very nice. Guessed syrah. 91+ pts. (J&S)
Flight 4 - Reds (5 notes)
Red
2018 Vaso Cabernet Sauvignon
93 points
Double blind. Perfumed and floral to start, with currants and blackberry as well. Well-balanced, with an abundance of fruit supporting fine tannins all with good underlying acidity. Flavors of black currants and chocolate. Medium(-) finish. (J&L)
Red
2015 Peju Province Winery Fifty/Fifty
85 points
Double blind. Black fruit and bouillon notes. Flavors of candied cherry, currant and red plum. Fine tannins. Medium finish. The bouillon note is a bit distracting. (J&L)
Red
2016 Sesta di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Double blind. Light garnet color- appears to have some age. Aromas of sawdust, red berry fruit and roasted meat. A bit acidic, with noticeable tannin and flavors of red berry fruit and spice. Finishes with good length. Given the color, acid and tannin, I figured this had to be sangiovese and guessed BdM. (J&T)
Red
2015 World's End Cabernet Sauvignon CrossFire Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard
93 points
Blind. Aromas of dark plummy fruit, chocolate, black cherry and coffee. Firm, fine tannin and flavors of cassis, plum and blue fruit, with hints of vanilla and caramel. Lingering finish.
This had been double decanted nearly four hours before the flight was poured.
This had been double decanted nearly four hours before the flight was poured.
Red
2017 El Enemigo Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Agrelo
92 points
Double blind. Aromas of blueberry, herbs and clay. Full-bodied. Flavors of dark fruit, plum and blackberry syrup. Dense, chewy tannins. Guessed Howell Mntn cab franc. 92+ pts. (J&S)
Flight 5 - Dinner/dessert (1 note)
With mostaccioli, barese sausage and focaccia.
Red
2008 Château Malartic-Lagravière
89 points
Popped and poured with dinner. Youthful appearance. Plum, iron and mixed berry fruit on the nose and palate. Medium tannin. Nice. Drinking well and will hold for quite a while at this level. A nice weeknight Bordeaux.
Closing
Thanks all for a fun evening.