"The Good Stuff" 2011 -- A double blind tasting

La Fonda del Sol, NYC
Tasted Tuesday, January 25, 2011 by MRichman with 686 views

Introduction

We served all of these wines double blind in identical paper bags. What an interesting--and humbling--experience. We had prizes for WOTN and best guesser. I was the worst guesser and bestowed upon myself the "WTF" award.

Flight 1 (10 Notes)

  • 1999 Domaine Luneau-Papin Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie "L" d’Or

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

    Mineral, acid but somewhat round. Long finish with yeast and some oil. Very bright, nicely complex. Really nice, soft for a Muscadet. Drinking very well with no signs of overaging. This wine is a steal.
    B/B+

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  • 1988 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins

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

    Bright and a bit candied. A little mellowed but still pleny of life left. In its drinking window. Long tar finish. I guessed 1981 Bosconia. This was the group's WOTN, although it wasn't in my top 3.
    B+/A-

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  • 1997 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

    Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

    Big, strong and brawny. Maturing but still young. Black tannins are a bit bitter with a long dark finish. Expansive with a a lot of bright energy. Dark oak. I thought this was a 1986 Bordeaux. Liked it a lot, my #3 of the night (group's #5).
    A-

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  • 1989 Tertre Rôteboeuf

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Mellowed but still going strong. Tobacco, plum. Rich, big with a bit of sweetness. A beautiful, comlete, well aged wine. Iron and mineral and some toasted oak and coffee. Long meaty finish. I thought this was 1990 Bordeaux and guessed Leoville Las Cases. Glad the wine I brought (and have a few more of) was my blindly picked #2 WOTN (group's #3).
    A

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  • 1991 Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

    Sweet, light, expansive. Explodes in the mouth with cherry and cola. Very extracted. Great smooth feel. Very full, richly flavored but light weight. A nice example but a bit sweet for me. I guessed Napa Pinot from the late '90's. This was the group's #2 WOTN but missed my top 3.
    B+

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  • 1985 Casa Ferreirinha Douro Barca Velha

    Portugal, Douro

    Big, dark, round, brawny, strong, mature but still lively. Some acid but fruit is fading a bit. Some softness in the fruit and an acidic finish. Not getting any better. This was a real stumper and I took a stab at it by guessing Heitz Martha's from the '70s.
    B

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  • 1989 Diemersdal Cabernet Sauvignon

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Paarl

    Big and extracted but soft. Seems like not a great bottle or overaged. Lots of fruit, plummy, hot. Acidic, wide. Lacks focus. I'm not sure where it's going. Lots of coffee. This completely stumped me. Just so I could stop thinking about it and move on to wine I liked I guessed it was a flawed bottle of 2003 Clos des Papes. Way off.
    B-

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  • 1996 Château Haut-Brion

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Big, Rich, extracted, full flavored. Somewhat light weight. Bright with som tobacco and dark flavors. Clean, clear. Tar tannins. Young. I found this too young to grade, but based on it's full flavor, light weight, and dark tar I guessed mid 90s Barolo.

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  • 1995 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Warm, round, friendly fruit. Young but drinking pretty well. A little hot. Smooth,silky. Bright with some dark notes. Complex. Lovely. My WOTN (groups #4). I guesed 90 Margaux.
    A

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  • 1986 Château Rieussec

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Nice. Ready to drink.

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