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The Blind Drunks monthly tasting
Chateau Lay
Tasted June 14, 2009 by AllRed with 664 views
Introduction
Wines are concealed in brown bags and served double blind to the group. Each flight is tasted, discussed and unveiled before moving on to the next flight.
Flight 1 - I. Warm-up whites. (5 notes)
White
2005 Seven Hills Winery Viognier
88 points
Served double blind. Deep color. Aromas of flowers and mineral, with a subtle metallic note. Still has decent fruit on the palate, along with a minerally/stone note. After some time in the glass someone noted a suble toasty note which I agreed with.
White
2007 Silvan Ridge Viognier Reserve
88 points
Served double blind. Pale color with notes of minerals and white flowers. Flavors of peach and stone, with good acidity. 88-89+ pts.
White
2006 Zaca Mesa Viognier
86 points
Served doube blind. An odd showing for this wine, and while no one could quite pick out a flaw, this just didn't seem right to me based on previous bottles. Pale color. Aromas of fresh flowers, with an underlying waxy/oily note. Flavors of apples and stone, with a fuller mouthfeel than the previous bottles in today's lineup.
White
2007 Bunnell Family Cellars Viognier Talcott Vineyard
91 points
Served double blind. Pale yellow color. Aromas of minerlas, peaches and flowers. Good acidity on the palate, with flavors of apple and minerals with peach undertones. Developed a tropical fruit & banana flavor as it sat in the glass. Drink now - 2011.
White
2005 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Les Chaillées de l'Enfer
88 points
Served double blind. Relatively deep color copared to the rest in this flight. Opens with aromas of earthy minerals and apple, with a waxy Rhonish quality. Developed a prominent petrol note with air, more like an aged Riesling. Flavors of apple and pear, with a rich, medium to heavy mouthfeel.
Flight 2 - II. Rosés. (9 notes)
The plan was to have 4-5 rosés...and then Joe showed up with quite a few leftover sample bottles. It was a nice day, so we took these outside and leisurely worked our way through them all.
Rosé
2007 Domaine les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône Rosé Cuvée les Trois Soeurs
84 points
Notes of dirt and strawberry, overall very subtle and delicate. Tastes slightly better than it smells, but it's a bit hollow and thin.
Rosé
2007 Turkey Flat Rosé
88 points
Notes of berries, spice and maybe soem petrol. Bright fruit and acidity on the palate, with nice depth and balance for a rosé.
Rosé
2008 Lewis Cellars Syrah Vin Gris
89 points
Notes of strawberry, bright cherry and pepper. Nice depth of fruit and spice flavors on the palate, with good acidity and a very nice finish. Impressive.
Rosé
2008 Château de Lancyre Pic St. Loup Rosé
89 points
Pale color. This is elegant, delicate and nuanced, with subtle berry and floral tones. Flavors of berry and rose petal on the palate, with good underlying acidity. Excellent. 89-90 pts.
Rosé
2008 Château Massamier La Mignarde Vin de Pays des Côteaux de Peyriac Cuvée des Oliviers
87 points
Pale pink color, with notes of spice and red fruit. Good. Cinsault dominates this blend at 80%.
Rosé
2008 Château de Pena Côtes Catalanes Cuvée de Peña
86 points
Pale color. Notes of strawberry and watermelon follow through on the palate.
Rosé
2008 Commanderie de la Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé
87 points
Notes of cherry and strawberry, with flavors of cherry and red berries. A hint of spice on the finish. Nice underlying acidity.
Rosé
2005 Commanderie de la Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé
flawed
This bottle had been forgotten about in the cellar or warehouse. Long gone...oxidized.
Rosé
2008 Château du Donjon Minervois Rosé
Good berry fruit on the nose and palate, with good underlying acidity.
Flight 3 - III. Reds. (4 notes)
Red
2006 Robert Mondavi Winery Merlot Private Selection Central Coast
90 points
Dark garnet color. Notes of tobacco, tea leaf and dark fruit. Flavors of dark fruit and herbs, with sweet tannins and a long finish. 90+ pts.
The group was split between CA cab & Bordeaux. We did double and triple takes when this was unveiled. Could be the biggest surprise in my 3+ years of blind tasting.
The group was split between CA cab & Bordeaux. We did double and triple takes when this was unveiled. Could be the biggest surprise in my 3+ years of blind tasting.
Red
1997 Carruades de Lafite
90 points
Notes of red currant, figs, olives and earthy funk. Flavors of red fruit and oak, with a good finish.
Red
1984 Ridge Zinfandel York Creek
89 points
Notes off prune, dried fruit, and with air, a chocolate note. Flavors of red currant and earth, turning slightly acidic on the finish.
Red
2003 Maculan Brentino
88 points
Notes of dried fruit, prunes and chocolate. Dark fruit tones on the palate, with a decent finish.
Flight 4 - IV. Reds. (4 notes)
Red
1989 E. Guigal Hermitage
88 points
Aromas of black currants and spice, followed by a nice smoky note as it allowed to breathe in the glass. Flavors of dark fruit and nutmeg on the attack. Falls off relatively quickly, leaving a short, clipped finish.
Red
1996 Clos Mogador Priorat
87 points
Aromas of dark fruit, prunes, pepper and spice. Flavors of dark fruit and spice, finishing a bit hot.
Red
1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde
93 points
Garnet color. Constantly evolved in the glass, starting with notes of red currant and earth, moving on to roasted red bell pepper, smoke and bacon. Very well-balanced, with a very nice finish.
Red
1997 Sartori di Verona Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
87 points
A plastic, band aid note blows off, leaving dark fruit and eucalyptus aromas. Flavors of vanilla and coffee, with a decent finish.
Flight 5 - V. Nonblind dinner wines. (3 notes)
Red
2003 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández La Mancha El Vínculo
90 points
Deep crimson color. Notes of red and black fruit, with a nice spice & herb undertone. Deeply fruited, rich and hedonistic on the palate. Nice balance from the attack through the finish.
Red
2004 Turley Zinfandel Mead Ranch
90 points
Notes had deteriorated by this point. Earthy dark fruit and spice nuances. Needs time.