Gibby's Uncorked, Flight I

The first of three flights in the Spring tasting series.

• 2006 Toad Hollow Chardonnay Francine's Selection 86 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Pale color with notes of apple and stone. Clean, with apple and par flavors. Simple, but well made.

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• 2005 Gustave Lorentz Riesling 87 Points

  France, Alsace

  Pale color with aromas of apple and stone. The palate follows the nose, with nice underlying acidity.

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• 2005 Roger Moreux Sancerre Chavignol Les Bouffants 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre

  Note sof flint, gunpowder and sulpher. Nice white fruit tones of the palate, with nice acidity and a powdery, chalky quality.

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• 2005 Cataldi Madonna Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 88 Points

  Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

  Opens with a funky earthy red fruit quality, and a subtle meaty tone. Nice red fruit on the palate, ending with an earthy edge.

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• 2005 Château Haut-Beauséjour 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Poured at a retailer tasting. A blend of 52% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot. Notes of red fruit, cedar and Bordeaux funk. Flavors of red currant, smoke and red licorice on the palate. Nice weeknight Bdx.

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• 2006 Montes Alpha Syrah

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Garnet color. Opens with big, herbal and red fruit notes. Tons of red fruit on the palate, with a nice, long finish.

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• 2005 Mer Soleil Chardonnay Reserve Santa Lucia Highlands 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  Notes of apple, baked pear and smoky oak. Tropical fruit and banana tones on the palate. Maintains a nice balance of fruit and oak.

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• 2005 Casa Girelli Primitivo Canaletto Puglia IGT 86 Points

  Italy, Puglia, Puglia IGT

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Opens with a funky meaty, salami-like aroma. Nice balance, with red fruit tones dominating the palate.

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• 2006 Gypsy Dancer Pinot Noir Emily Ann's Young Vines

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Ruby color. Notes of earth, baked cherry and rhubarb. Cherries and rhubard on the palate, with good acidity, and a long, fruity finish. A "complete" wine. Excellent.

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• 2006 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Loads of red fruit and spice on the nose, following through on the palate. Well-balanced, with a long fruit and spice-filled finish.

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• 2005 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Garnet color. Notes of dark fruit, currants, spice and raspberry. Chewy tannins, with red fruit dominating the palate and finish.

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• 2003 Twomey Merlot Napa Valley Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Cooked.

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• 2006 Jean François Mérieau Sauvignon Touraine 89 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Opens with nice aromas of mineral flint and orchard fruit. Flavors of limestone and apple.

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• 2005 Local Wine Company SNAFU 88 Points

  USA, California

  Notes of spice, earth and black currant. The palate follows the nose, with the addition of red fruit tones on the finish.

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• 2005 Andrew Rich Mesalliance 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Garnet color. Notes of funky rd fruit, with a slightly dirty undertone. Well-balanced, with nice red fruit (currant) tones on the palate.

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• 2005 Vinifera Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Notes of red currant, cassis and spice. Loads of red fruit and spice on the palate, with dusty tannins and a nice finish.

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• 2006 Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Notes of herbs, tea leaf and red fruit. Sweet tannins, with spice and red fruit tones on the palate. Nice finish.

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• 2007 Elio Perrone Bigaro

  Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC

  Poured at a retailer tasting. A 50/50 blend of Moscato and Brachetto with aromas of peach, apricot and potpourri. Flavors of white peach on the palate. Would be terrific with a light dessert or fresh berries.

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• 2007 MontGras Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 86 Points

  Chile, Casablanca Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Pale color. Aromas of smoky grass and lemons, with flavors of lemongrass and mineral. $12.95.

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• 2007 Waterbrook Riesling 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Notes of peach and apple blossom. Pear and stone fruit notes on the palate.

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• 2006 Emiliana Carménère Natura

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Ruby/garnet color. Earthy plum notes and alcohol aromas. Overly alcoholic on the palate, with an odd tinny/metallic quality. Perhaps flawed.

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• 2005 Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Ruby color. Aromas of violets and rose petals with red fruit and subtle earth notes. Red fruit flavors, with oak and floral nuances.

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• 2005 Ognissole (Feudi di San Gregorio) Primitivo di Manduria

  Italy, Puglia, Primitivo di Manduria

  Garnet color with red fruit and subtle spice tones.

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• 2006 Raymond Sauvignon Blanc Reserve Selection 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Pale color. Aromas of minerals and white flowers. Decent fruit and mineral tones on the palate.

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• 2006 Milbrandt Vineyards Riesling Traditions 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Aromas of peach and apple blossoms that follow through on the palate.

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• 2006 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Waxy fruit notes, with a lanolin-like quality. Good fruit and acids on the palate, very pure. Nice finish.

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• 2006 Artezin Zinfandel Mendocino County 88 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Bright ruby color with notions of flowers and spice. Good spicy red fruit flavors.

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• 2005 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep garnet color. Notes of plum, red currants and eucalyptus. The palate is loaded with fruit- currants, blackberries and cassis, with a little cedar tone coming in on the finish.

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• 2005 Jim Barry Shiraz The Lodge Hill 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  Poured at a retailer tasting. Deep color, with aromas of blue fruit, eucalyptus and smoke. Firm but sweet tannins, with flavors of dark fruit. Has a nice long finish.

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