Bordeaux Blends Around the World

Thursday "school-night" wine tasting. 10 bottles of Bordeaux blends from France, Italy, Australia, Chile, California, Washington. Single blind. Some decanted up to 12 hours.

• 2006 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Decanted 4 hours. Wow - I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but this was fantastic. Beautiful nose of cedar and spice. Harmonious blackberry and cherry fruit. Nice balance, long finish. Built to be great for a long time.

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• 2004 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva 96 Points

  Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

  Decanted 12 hours. Elegant nose, ripe fruit and perfect balance. Beautiful.

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• 1996 Château Cos d'Estournel 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Splash decanted and served. Very nice. Exactly what one would expect from this wine. Fine tannins, minerality and good acidity, all in balance. Loved it.

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• 2003 Château Léoville Poyferré 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Splash decanted and served. Very ripe fruit, earthy nose. Surprisingly drinkable at this stage. Not sure it will hold up over time, but tastes great now.

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• 2000 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 95 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

  Splash decanted. Terrific wine. Garnet color. Integrated black and red fruit. Tobacco, spice and silky smooth. Drank late when my tastebuds were shot and still this was delicious.

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• 2001 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, Washington

  Decanted and served. Nice fruit and balance. Big nose. Getting better and better in the glass as it opened up.

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• 2005 Andrew Will Sorella 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills

  Decanted 12 hours. Big, rich wine. Blueberry pie. A bit flabby and unstructured. i liked it overall, but others were underwhelmed.

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• 2005 Château Lascombes 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Decanted over 12 hours. Very tight and tannic. Not showing much fruit. Hopefully just in a closed stage now. Was opening up a bit in the glass over the course of the evening. Try again in a few years.

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• 2001 Henry's Drive Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway

  Splash decanted and served. A bit of a fruit bomb. I like this style sometimes, but not with the more subtle blends we were tasting this evening.

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• 2007 Gemstone G

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  Decanted 12 hours. I thought this would open up after a good long decant - Wrong. Very tight and tannic. I think this has the potential to be very good, but hard to tell at this point. A little disappointing but mea culpa for opening so young. I'm not rating it.

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All of the wines were very good, although some were too young. The wines that stood out as exceptional included the Almaviva, Cos D'estournel, Araujo, and Poyferre.