Filling in w/the Friday Brown Bag Group

Once again the other group had a light turnout so we were asked if we would like to attend. Rules are similar to the Sunday Blind Drunks group - wines are served double blind to the group in brown bags, arranged in flights from roughly lightest to heaviest.Each flight is tasted & unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

All of the wines tonight were double blind.

• 1995 Domaine Patrick Javillier Meursault Les Casse-Têtes 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  Deep yellow color indicating a bit of age. Baked apple and nut tones dominate the nose. Full-bodied, with a heaviness on the palate. Finishes with flavors of apple and that distinctive old Chardonnay tone. Other tasters liked this a bit more than I. My guess was a 1998/1999 burg, but I couldn't pin down an appellation.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1995 Domaine Patrick Javillier Meursault Les Clous Cuvée Spéciale 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  Deeply colored, again showing some age. Aromas of apple and white fruit with an underlying minerally quality. Again, fairly weighty on the palate, with flavors of apple, mineral and almond butter. Took on a slight Rhonish quality as the temperature came up a bit and got some air in the glass. Very similar to #1, but seemingly a bit more fresh and complex. Again I guessed a 1998/1999 burg.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2005 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Clos St. Landry Blanc 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  Our bottle. Pale color, especially compared to the two previous wines. Notes of tart apple and mineral with an underlying smokiness. Nice acidity, with flavors of apple and stone. I'll probably drink my remaining two this year. 89-90 pts.
  
  I didn't say anything knowing this was ours, but it was interesting to hear everyone's comments and to see their surprise to find a "lowly" white Beaune revealed. I am happy to have a couple more, and wish I'd have been able to find more than 3 at the $16 closeout price.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2007 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Inky purple color - how did this get into the first flight? Notes of mint, dark fruit, and boysenberry with meaty overtones. Tannins are sweet, with falvors of dark fruit, spice, blueberries and caramel. Well-balanced. Easy to pick out as Cali syrah, but not sure of the appellation.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Frédéric Magnien Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Chatelots 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Pale ruby color, bricking a bit at the edge. Notes of herbs, cherry, red licorice and maybe garrigue? Developed a meaty quality with air and lost some of the herbal garrigue-like notes. Soft, subtle red fruit tones on the palate, finishing with a subtle smoky quality. Nice acidity carrying through the finish. First whiff had me leaning toward southern Rhone, but as it evolved in the glass it was very clearly Pinot. Quite nice too.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Frédéric Magnien Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Gruenchers 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Pale ruby color, again bricking at the edge. Notes of licorice, herbs, cherries and currants. Gorgeous cherry, spice and barnyard tones. More full across the palate than the previous wine, with terrific balance and acidity. Shows similarities to the previous wine, but has more of that funky quality. Gorgeous. Burgundy. 91+ pts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2003 Azienda Bricco Asili (Ceretto) Barbaresco Bricco Asili Flawed

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Light bricking at the edge, with a dusty crimson core. Initial musty aroma blows off revealing an aroma akin to smoked gouda cheese. Drying and astringent on the palate, with a plastic-like quality. Flawed.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1998 Paloma Syrah 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Notes of pepper, garrigue, spice and bright red fruit. The palate follows the nose. Finishes with a wealth of fruit and spice, and decent length. Myself and one other were convinced this was a Grenache-based southern Rhone. My bottle, and different than I remember.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Deep garnet color. Notes of olivev, vanilla and dill, with a subtle citrusy/grapefruit quality. Flavors of red fruit dominate the palate, with hints of herbs and soil. Good balance, with a really nice finish. 90-92 pts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2003 L'Aventure Syrah 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Opaque. Aromas of spice, black currant, black fruit and more spice. Firm tannins, with flavors of dark fruit, herbs and maybe even a bit of chocolate. Syrah?

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2003 Frank Family Vineyards Zinfandel 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Crimson color with aromas of red currants, herbs and loamy clay. A bit "hot" too. Relatively well-balanced on the palate, with flavors of red fruit; raspberry & pomegranate.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Copain Les Copains James Berry Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Garnet color. Aromas of dark fruit, soy, sous bois and beef bouillon. A bit thin across the palate, with flavors of dark fruit and caramel. Became more acidic with time in the glass.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2005 Kaesler Grenache The Fave 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Garnet color. Nots of red current, herbs, cherries and spice, with a subtle chocolate quality. Flavors of red currant, herbs and spice. Long, balanced finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Château Cos d'Estournel 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Dark garnet color, opaque. Notes of used saddle leather, dark fruit- blackberries, currants, as well a lovely violet and perfumey floral tones. Well-balanced, with dark fruit flavors lasting through the long finish. Really gorgeous stuff. 94+ pts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Opaque inky garnet color. Aromas of new leather, mint, cassis and blackberry liqueur. Tannins are still there, but have a sweetness to them, and they're balanced by a good amount of dark fruit. Medium-long finish, dominated by dark and spice tones. 92-93 pts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No