OC Blind Wine Crew Does Dinner and Italian

Our regular meeting of the gang. 15 of us assembled, with 5 members assigned a flight to provide the wines, paired with the food course being served. Total of 17 wines, served blind and bagged with various courses, which I failed to capture in my notes. We had 2 kinds of pizza, which were excellent, along with bruschetta, a fish dish (Brazino?), pasta, marsala chicken and a filet mignon/rib eye stew. The food was done very well and the pairings by the gang were well-thought out, which follows below. Good times, gang!

• 1996 Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut Millésimé

  France, Champagne

  My bubbles knowledge is very nascent at this stage so take my notes here with that context in mind. I found this bottling to be medium-full bodied in texture, with yellow apple, bit leesy and a richer styled finish. I thought it lacked tension and some cut, a bit big.

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• NV Hello Kitty Brut Rosé

  Italy, Lombardia, Lombardia Spumante

  I had no idea what was in the bag so I just judged this bottle like I normally would blind. Rose colored with bricoche, lots of leesy and yeasty notes and strawberry. Wasn't 1/2 bad but the Billiot Rose that followed it was arguably better.

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• NV H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Smooth and balanced with a nice red fruited palate and finish. Drank very nice.

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• 2008 Jorge Ordoñez & Co. Moscatel Seco Botani

  Spain, Andalucía, Sierras de Málaga

  Honeysuckle and orange blossom aromatics. Palate showed nice notes of lime, tropical fruits and a hint of oily texture. I was thinking rhine white varietal but served blind as it was, totally off on the guess. Enjoyed this wine and for less than 20 bucks.....hmmmmmm.

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• 2008 Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero

  Oily notes, pear, fennel with light mineral. Nice acidity that appears with a licorice and earthy finish. Another nice pick by Wet Rock, served blind.

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• 2008 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie Vieilles Vignes Clos des Briords

  France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie

  Damn it, with all the Chablis on the brain recently, I thought Wet Rock had inserted one blind into the flight but this is what was under the bag. Chalky with lots of minerals, sea shell and lime notes. Lean texture that was crisp and had really no ripe edges. Another lasered-like white that I was drawn to. Excellent bottle and my white wine of the night. Price I am told is about $15. Sick.

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• 2008 Failla Chardonnay Keefer Ranch

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Disappointing. Aromatically, had the cloak of cologne-like smells that was too dominant for me. The texture was heavy and I tasted it once and then dumped it.

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• 2009 Copain Pinot Noir Tous Ensemble Rosé

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Served blind, as a lead in to the first red flight of the night. Props to Robo for guessing this wine blind, as well. Salomn colored, strawberry, red fruited hard candy, and red apple. 3rd time I have drank the wine this year, consistent with past two bottles.

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• 2000 Frédéric Magnien Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses

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

  Not in the database so hope I got the right Magnien. Served blind. Funk, barnyard note in the bouquet, raspberry, tight and seems very young still. Ramon said he decanted the wine about 90 mins before the meal, likely needed more. The aromatics of this type are attractive to some but I tend to stray away from these stable-like aromas. On the other hand, I do appreciate trying a wine like this, to broaden out my perspective of burg.

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• 2001 Maison Champy Clos Vougeot

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  Served blind. Fruit seemed crunchy with leathery tannin and red fruited creamy-like texture. I don't regularly sit down and drink GC burg so I do appreciate Ramon flighting this wine for me, along with the Magnien that preceded it.

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• 2003 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Served blind. Bit of tire, rubber smell in the bouquet. Black raspberry, seemed more ripe and dense to me, too. Full of anise seed and bittersweet espresso on the finish. Given the rep for this bottling, I thought I would be more wowed but I honestly was not.

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• 2002 Carlisle Three Birds

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Served blind. When I tasted this wine, I went right to a guess of the 2002 Alban Tithings, which I last had about 4 years ago. Not sure why that Alban stuck with me but this Carlisle resonated similar tones to it. Nose of lavender, face powder/talc. Palate shows the Tithings-like stone fruit pit, like nectarine. Blueberry fruit, as well. Ready to drink and is ripe-toned so pair accordingly.

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• 2001 Alban Vineyards Grenache Alban Estate Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  Served blind. The best wine of this flight and was of stand out caliber to me. Started off with a bloody, marrow aromatic. Great fruit, balanced but very dark in tone, generous and delicious.

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• 2003 Lewis Cellars Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Served blind. Plump, rich and dark with some pruny edges and this wine gets close, oh so close to being over the top but it manages to stay just below that line. Drink up and enjoy the hedonism.

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• 2002 Paloma Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Served blind. Plum sauce, powdered cocoa, black fruit, milk chocolate bar, decadence. As Nordie called it "slutty"......concur! There are occasions when I can drink this wine and really enjoy it, as I did last night. Surely not old world but hey Rob, if you a few of these left in your cellar, I'll buy one from you. Big but still in line and my WOTF.

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• 2006 Lewis Cellars Alec's Blend

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Served blind. Followed the 2003 Lewis Merlot and 2002 Paloma Merlot, so I was at a stage of grooving the new world big stuff. Dark, rich and still very tight. Tannin, licorice, structure and needs another 2-3 years. I had formerly sold off all my Lewis a few years back due to the high oak but this 2006 seemed to do just fine, I did not note any big wood and I enjoyed the youth of it, as young as it tasted.

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• 2005 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco Albesani

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Served blind. At this stage in my wine drinking habit and hobby, even with my renewed desire to branch out flex my range, I have to admit I still cannot enjoy the Italians. The aromatics of Barabaresco just don't do it for me. I liked the fruit more in this wine than the bouquet but in the end, I'm just not an Ital guy.

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