The Blind Drunks monthly tasting

Our tasting this month was held at Niche Restaurant, which allowed us a little extra space. The wines are brought in brown bags and arranged from light to heavy, then flighted and tasted double blind.

I. Warm-up whites.

• 2005 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc California - USA, California
  Tasted double blind. Pale color. Peach and tropical fruit notes, with a touch of citrus zest. Tangy acidity and nice fruit. Creamy mouthfeel. Guess: CA Sauv blanc. (89 pts.)
• 2005 Adelsheim Pinot Gris Willamette Valley - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Tasted double blind. Pale color, with not much on the nose. Florally, with soft fruit aromas and flavors. Well-balanced. Guess: Pinot Grigio. (88 pts.)
• 2005 Seghesio Family Vineyards Arneis - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  Tasted double blind. Pale straw, almost colorless. Mineral-driven fruit notes lead to a palate revealing metallic apple flavors and a nice acidity. No guess, as this had me all over the map. (91 pts.)
• 2005 Tangent Albariño - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
  Tasted double blind. Pale yellow with a green tint. Tropical fruit notes, with faint oak aromas. Rich creamy fruit on the palate with light oak undertones. This one was perplexing as well, and I guessed Cali Sauv Blanc. (90 pts.)
• 2001 Flowers Chardonnay Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  Tasted double blind. Deepest color of the flight. Toasty oak, popcorn and pear aromas. Plenty of fruit on the palate, with a bit of oak. Medium to full-bodied. Guess: '01 or '02 Cali Chardonnay. (93 pts.)
• 2005 Silvan Ridge Pinot Gris - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Tasted double blind. Pale, almost colorless. Rather light on the nose, with not much going on save a steely/mineral note. Apple flavors balanced by a nice tangy acidity. No guess.

II. Reds.

• 1990 Fernand Lécheneaut et Fils (Philippe et Vincent) Nuits St. Georges Les Damodes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges
  Tasted double blind. Dusty ruby color, bricking at the rim. Cigar, bell pepper and worcestshire notes. Tart cherry fruit on the palate. Guess: mid-1980s Bordeaux. (88 pts.)
• 1989 Château Talbot - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
  Taken to August Blind Drunks tasting, served blind. Upon opening there was a nose of tobacco and light fruit. We decided this did not need any decanting or breathing ahead of time. It sat corked for about 4 hours, then uncorked for an hour before we got to it in the first red flight. Dusty ruby color, bricking toward the rim. Pronounced bell pepper notes, somewhat stemmy. Spice and bell pepper flavors. I guessed '96 Bordeaux. This had deteriorated quickly, so pop and pour. (86 pts.)
• 1996 Bodegas Reyes Ribera del Duero Teofilo Reyes Tinto Cosecha - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
  Tasted double blind. Light ruby color. Initially an earthy funk aroma, with mushroom notes and a medicinal edge. Spicy tobacco and red fruit flavors, and as someone noted, a roasted taste. No guess. (86 pts.)
• 2001 Kelly Magee - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Tasted double blind. Deep ruby color, with mint and red fruit notes following through on the palate. Decent finish. (89 pts.)
• 1996 Flowers Pinot Noir Moon Select Camp Meeting Ridge - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  Tasted double blind. Dirty ruby color. Nice earthy notes, with mint and spice. Flavors of spicy red fruit, very well-balanced and integrated. Guess: Pinot. (90 pts.)

III. Reds.

• 2002 Willow Crest Rocking L Estate Series - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasted double blind. High octane. Hot, with alcohol, blueberry and blackberry notes. Tannic, with dark fruit and nice acidity. Guess: Aussie, shiraz. This tasting leads me to believe the last bottle I tasted from was flawed. (90 pts.)
• 2000 Château Bahans Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  Tasted double blind. Garnet color. Notes of bell pepper (in a good way), tobacco and mint. Medium bodied, with nice acidity, semi-firm tannins, and cassis and red currant flavors. No guess. (92 pts.)
• 2000 Château Pape Clément Clémentin de Pape Clément - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  Tasted double blind. Notes of tobacco, spicy cherries and plum. Dark fruit flavors, wet earth and currant. Sweet, firm tannins. Guess: 2001 Bordeaux. 92+. (92 pts.)
• 2000 Château Gruaud Larose Sarget de Gruaud Larose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
  Tasted double blind. Notes of tobacco and tart red fruit. Nice acidity on the palate, with tart cherry flavors. (91 pts.)

IV. Reds.

• 2000 Château St. Georges St. Georges-St. Émilion - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Georges-St. Émilion
  Tasted double blind. Earthy aromas, with tobacco and mint. Mint flavor follows through on the palate with red currants as well. Drinking very well now. 60% Merlot, 20% Cab Franc and 20% Cab Sauv. Guess: '99 Bordeaux. (92 pts.)
• 2003 De Martino Carménère Legado Reserva - Chile, Maipo Valley
  Taken to August Blind Drunks tasting and served blind. This immediately stood out as South American, and was easily recognizable as my bottle. Mint and eucalyptus, all the way through. The group was split in half as far as liking this wine versus thinking it overmanipulated plonk.
• 2002 EIEIO Pinot Noir Cuvée O - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Tasted double blind. Funky earthy aromas, maybe some mushroom too. Nice tannins, with red fruit and sweet oak on the finish. (91 pts.)
• 2000 Almus Seven Almvs 7 - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Tasted double blind. Plum, currant, tobacco and eucalyptus notes, with dark fruit and cherry flavors. Decent finish. 57% Merlot and 43% Cab Sauv.