The Blind Drunks monthly tasting

Chateau Lay
Tasted Sunday, June 22, 2008 by AllRed with 786 views

Introduction

As is our custom, the wines for the tasting are served double blind to the group in brown paper bags. Each flight is tasted, discussed and unveiled before moving on to the next flight. Wines are listed in the order they appeared in the flight.

Flight 1 - I. Warm-up whites. (5 Notes)

In a slight departure from tradition, we did a blind warm-up flight of bubblies to toast Matt & Jody's new house.

Flight 2 - II. Reds. (6 Notes)

  • 1980 Vichon Cabernet Sauvignon Fay 81 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Brickish color. Notes of cedar, soy and plum - kind of nice, but definitely old. The palate however, is thin and watery, with brackish red fruit qualities.

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  • 2002 Viñas de Vila Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza

    Aromas of black cherry, herbs and rosemary. Flavors of cherry, cola and black frit. Develops a grapefruit tone on the nose & palate as it sits in the glass.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Bricking - definitely an older wine. Notes of cedar, red frit and tobacco, but oh no - this has a mild cork taint too. Thin and watery on the palate, with a more pronounced TCA quality than on the nose. Still, some dried herbs and red fruit show through.

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  • 2001 Travaglini Gattinara Riserva 92 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara

    Aromas of baking spices, red fruit and bright cherries. Flavors od clove, red fruit and cinnamon. Develops a more perfumed, floral aroma with air. Really nice.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Bricking toward the rim - another older bottle. Terrific nose of tobacco, spice box, plum and red currants. Well-balanced, with flavors of old leather, tobacco, smoked herbs and red fruit. Long finish. '89/'90 Bdx. 94-95 pts.

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  • 2004 Hunt Cellars Syrah Hilltop Serenade Destiny Vineyards 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Dark, inky garnet color. Notes of mint, blueberry and black fruit. Firm tannins. Flavors follow the nose, ending with a woody tone. Syrah.

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Flight 3 - III. Reds. (6 Notes)

  • 2002 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon Tanbark Hill 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Garnet color with aromas of plum and blackberry, developing a smoky/meaty quality with air. Well-balanced, with flavors of dark fruit, caramel and spice bolstering the slightly firm tannins. Guessed Syrah on this one.

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  • 2004 Domaine René Bessac Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu 85 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu

    Initial aromas of burnt rubber and acetone blow off to reveal herbs and dark fruit. The palate is much better than the nose, with flavors of herb, sage and dark fruit. Finishes with a nice woodsy character. Rhone Syrah?

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  • 2004 John Duval Wines Plexus 92 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Dark inky garnet color. Initial aromas of grapefruit, plum and blackberry, and the grapefruit eventually blows off. Firm but sweet tannins support great dark fruit and spicy oak flavors. Nice finish. Guess - Aussie Syrah. This is a blend of 49% Shiraz, 27% Grenache and 24% Mourvedre.

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  • 2005 Melis Priorat Elix 90 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    Inky garnet color. Notes of sage and other herbs, with meaty dark fruit overtones. Blackberry and dark fruit lavors dominate the palate. Well-balanced, with a long, fruit-driven finish. 90-91+ pts. Guessed Syrah.

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  • 2003 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Taken to the June Blind Drunks tasting along with the 2004 and 2005. Opened with an odd ketchup-like aroma that blew off. Underneath was blackberry and dark fruit, with a subtle meaty aroma that developed with air. Flavors of blackberry and dark fruit, with spicy oak and fresh herbs.

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  • 2000 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills

    Aromas of smoked meat, black fruit and herbs. Nicely balanced, with dark fruit and herb tones. Showing very well. 92+ pts.

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Flight 4 - IV. Reds. (6 Notes)

  • 2004 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Served blind at the June Blind Drunks tasting. Inky garnet color, with aromas of blackberries, cassis and dark fruit with a subtle caramel note appearing later on. Full-bodied and well-balanced, with fine-grained tannins and flavors of blackberry, dark fruit and blueberry, with a spicy oak-tinged finish. Well received by the group.

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  • 1991 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Inky garnet color. Aromas of cedar, black fruit, roasted herbs and red currants. Red fruit and herb tones on the palate, with a long finish. Well-balanced. Guessed CA Cab.

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  • 2005 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Served blind along with the 2003 and 2004. Inky garnet color. Aromas of blackberry, brown sugar, dark fruit and anise. Again, well-balanced, with loads of dark fruit on the palate. Developed a chocolate flavor in the evening. Also well-received by the group. 93-94.

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  • 2003 Château Bellevue Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Garnet color. Starts off very subtle & restrained on the nose. Opens to reveal notes of dark fruit and spice. Well-balanced, with flavors of dark fruit, spice and oak, bolstered by sweet tannins. Guessed CA Cab.

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  • 1990 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Slight bricking. Notes of roasted red bell pepper, red currants, flowers and potpourri. Very well-balanced. Flavors of red fruit, cedar, leather and earth. Long, long finish. Guessed 1990 Bordeaux.

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  • 1990 Château Montrose 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Notes of roasted bell pepper, red fruit and cedar, with a subtle soy quality as well. NIce mix of dark and red fruit flavors on the palate, with cedar and herb tones. Mayb just a bit thin thorugh the finish, but that's really being picky. Excellent overall. 93-94 pts. Guessed '94 Napa Cab.

    Post-tasting edit: This is the 3rd or 4th time I've had this, and the first time the wine wasn't overwhelmed by brett, and thus the first time I have really enjoyed this wine.

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Flight 5 - V. Nonblind dinner & dessert wines. (4 Notes)

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