4th Saturday Group brown bagger

All tasted double blind in our usual format.

The ZHs were nice wines, though the Pinot Blanc was difficult to pin down. Textbook examples of Gewurz and Riesling- nice for the price point. Rich threw in the Kalin, having about a third of the bottle leftover from a few days earlier.

• 2009 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling

  France, Alsace

  Pale color with aromas of flint, apple and sulpher. Light body, with peach, apple and nice underlying acidity. No doubt that it was Riesling.

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• 2009 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Blanc

  France, Alsace

  Quite reticent on the nose- nothing really jumps out. Has a subtle grassy quality on the palate, along with white fruit tones and balanced acidity.

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• 2009 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer 90 Points

  France, Alsace

  Aromas of gooseberry, lychee and florals with rich Gewurz fruit on the palate. Textbook Gewurz.

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• 1996 Kalin Cellars Sémillon

  USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Livermore Valley

  Rich brought out a surprise warm up and said that I was going to be the one to identify it for the group. Deep golden color. Aromas of smoke, a touch of oxidation too- this was opened a few nights prior so we were tasting the remnants. A touch of citrus and a subtle honeyed cashew tone. Rich texture, with honeyed white fruit tones. Combined with the smoky profile and Rich's clue, that I have had it before, I was able to pick it out as the Kalin Semillon.

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Rich had a special first flight of four wines he wanted to try together and get some feedback from the group. The color on these wines was the same, and it was obvious from the first whiff that these were Pinots. Rich commented that the winery was one that most people didn't know made Pinot- I immediately knew these were Twomey's Pinots as I made the same comment to him after he set us up at Twomey last October and I came away impressed by the Pinots there. Very nice, varietally correct and elegant Pinots.

• 2009 Twomey Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Ruby color. Soft, feminine aromatics dominated by cherry and perhaps some clove as well. Balanced, with lovely cherry, clove and nutmeg flavors. Nice acidity, with a soft, elegant texture. Finishes well.

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• 2009 Twomey Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Ruby color. Primary note is cherry, evolving to pomegranate and florals; deeper fruit aromas than the first wine. Lovely black cherry and lifting acidity on the palate. Well-balanced with a long finish. 92-93 pts.

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• 2009 Twomey Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Ruby color. Notes of black cherry, florals and raspberries- a touch more ripe than the previous two, a subtle cola note too. Terrific fruit on tha palate- deeper and round, with spices and clove. Balanced, though a bit bigger than wines A and B.

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• 2009 Twomey Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  Ruby color- the same as the previous three wines. Cherry and floral aromas dominate the bouquet. Lovely red fruit and cherry tones, with soft spice undertones on the palate. The biggest of the four wines, but still elegant and balanced.

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• 2008 Paolo Scavino Barbera d'Alba 87 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  Garnet color. Reticent- dark fruit aromas, though a bit muddled and soft. Dark fruit tones dominate the palate, with good acidity.

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• 1995 Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Beckstoffer IV 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Garnet color. Initial aroma of prunes and raisins, then leather and black fruit. Flavors of dark fruit and currants and roasted herbs. Ripe Cali cab was the guess.

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• 2006 Oriel Pinot Noir Jasper 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Garnet color, light meniscus. Aromas of florals and red fruit follow through on the palate, with white currant and spice tones as well. Finishes nicely, with great length, fruit and balance.

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• 1994 Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Beckstoffer IV 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Garnet color. Notes of dark fruit with hints of leather and plum. Balanced, with dark fruit, plum and herb tones on the palate. Develops an interwsting feral/wild note with air.

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• 2002 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Garnet color. Opened with an odd grapefruit aroma, followed by chocolate and dark fruit. Red fruit and tart acidity on the palate. Would have expected more from this bottle, producer and vintage.

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• 2000 Teldeschi Petite Sirah

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Garnet color, dusty hue. Aromas of florals and adrk fruit with a subtle meaty quality. Medium-bodied, with red fruit, blackberry and plum tones and a sour red fruit note on the finish.

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• 1996 Cafaro Lot 2

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Garnet ruby color core, bricking toward the rim. Herbal red fruit aromas with red currant and plum flavors on the palate. Guessed CA cab blend.

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• 2000 Paloma Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Aromas of dark fruit and chocolate. Palate follows the nose, with nice acidity and a soft finish.

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• 2005 Bodegas Valsacro Rioja Dioro

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Dusty garnet color. Aromas of caramel corn and herbs with a sour red fruit flavor.

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• 2005 Owen Roe Abbot's Table

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Perfumed red fruit and floral aromas, followed by dark fruit tones. Grainy tannins, with flavors of red and dark fruits and a nice finish.

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• 1998 Beringer Vineyards Petite Sirah Hayne Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  Aromas of chocolate and blackberry. Integrated tannins, velvety mouthfeel. Lovely fruit and balance with sof chocolate and dark fruit flavors. Guessed Petite Sirah, but I did not think it had this much age.

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• 1996 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Garnet core, showing some age toward the edge. Aromas of red currants, roasted beller peppers and black fruits. Well-balanced, with lovely dark fruit, plum and roasted herb flavors. Long finish.

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• 1991 Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  A bit simple and also tired- dusty red fruit tones, finishing a bit thin and short. Has seen better days, this is on the downward slope- drink up.

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• 1999 Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Beckstoffer IV 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Notes of dark fruit, mint and a bit of vanilla. Still has some tannin to resolve; dark fruit flavors dominate.

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• 1988 Château de Rayne-Vigneau 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Deep golden yellow color with aromas of apricot and baked stone fruit. Marmalade and honey tones on the palate.

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• 1991 Graham Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Cranberry red color. Lovely blackberry and dark fruit notes, hints of cherry and plum. Youthful, with red and black fruit and hints of choclate and cherry. Long finish. Hold for a couple of years yet.

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