Sunday Group: 2000 Bordeaux

This was our first tasting as official members of the Sunday blind tasting group, and a great way to start. A different format than our Saturday group, the host provides a couple of warm up wines, and selects a theme of 8 wines, served double blind to the group. The warm ups are tasted and evaluated as members arrive, then unveiled prior to the main tasting. The main tasting is done in one flight- all 8 wines are poured and evaluated, all the while being discussed. Everyone settles on their guess as to the theme, and if possible, specific wines. Each taster ranks the wines from 1 to 8, with 1 point awarded for their favorite. The scores are tallied and unveiled from last place (most points) to first place (least points). After the main tasting we enjoy dinner and a few nonblind reds and dessert wines contributed by the attendees. Attendees chip in to cover the host's cost of the wines.

Barb had recently moved, so in addition to the blind warm ups, there were a few nonblind bubblies to toast the new house.

• 2010 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg 91 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Pale straw yellow color. Opens with a soft grassy note, along with citrus and mineral notes. With air, crab apple and subtle petrol qualities emerge. Lovely acidity balanced by white fruit, apple and citrus oil flavors. Once the petrol note appeared it was easy to identify this as Riesling. Lovely.

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• 2011 Domaine les Pallières Au petit bonheur 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Vin de France

  Pale pink-copper color. Notes of minerals, watermelon, strawberry and perfume/florals. Nice acid; mineral, strawberry and melon flavors. Guessed Pic St. Loup.

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• NV Gosset Champagne Brut Grande Réserve 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Nonblind. Aromas of pineapple, apple and orchard fruit with subtle toast and dough undertones. Fine bead with almond and baked apple flavors. 92-93 pts.

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• NV Franck Bonville Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 91 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Nonblind. Pale pink color. Melon, strawberry, floral and biscuit aromas. Terrific texture on the palate with a fine bead. Flavors of red berries, citrus and minerals.

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• NV Vranken Champagne Diamant Brut 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Nonblind. L02198014. Pale color. Lovely aromas of almond, grapefruit, smoke and dough. Flavors of citrus, hazelnut and toast with a long finish. 92-93 pts.

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Often times there are many opinions on the theme. This month eveyone was quickly able to settle on Bordeaux, but there were questions about the vintage. Most guesses ranged from 2004 to 2008- I do not recall hearing anyone suggest 2000. These all appeared very youthful with deep color. Listed in order they appeared in the flight.

• 2000 Château La Fleur de Boüard 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol

  Deep color. Notes of chocolate, vanilla, lavender and red fruit. Firm tannins, with chocolate, red fruit and spice flavors. Long finish.
  
  My #2, Domino's #1
  Group #2, 37 pts

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• 2000 Château Léoville Barton 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Deep crimson color. Notes of green tobacco, anise and black fruit. Full-bodied, with firm tannin. Flavors of red fruit, spice and roasted herbs; hint of underbrush.
  
  My #6, Domino's #6
  Group #6, 58 pts

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• 2000 Château Faugères Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Garnet color. Dominant note of beef bouillon cubes; some red fruit underneath. Acidic, with firm tannins. Red fruit and bouillon flavors; austere midpalate & finish.
  
  My #8, Domino's #8
  Group #8, 67 pts

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• 2000 Château Léoville Poyferré 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Deep color. Red currants, lavender and floral notes, black currants as well. Full-bodied, with black and red fruit, underbrush and herb flavors. Nice finish with balanced acidity. 91-92+ pts.
  
  My #1, Domino's #5
  Group #5, 49 pts

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• 2000 Château Lynch-Bages

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Deep crimson color. Aromas of spice, red fruit, chocolate and vanilla. With time, herb, tobacco and roasted meat notes emerge. Full-bodied, with fairly firm tannins and flavors of red fruit, spice and tobacco. Lengthy finish.
  
  My #5, Domino's #2
  Group #3, 42 pts

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• 2000 Château Malartic-Lagravière 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Garnet color. Notes of vanilla, dill and red fruit with herbal undertones. Becomes florally, also displays red currant, charcoal and tobacco aromas. Medium tannins, with lush red fruit and herb flavors; underbrush and incense. Medium+ finish with nice acidity.
  
  My #3, Domino's #3
  Group #4, 43 pts

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• 2000 Château d'Issan 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Crimson color. Opens with a slight green/herbal note- in a good way- along with spice box and tobacco. With time, aromas of florals, incense and iron appear. Medium- to full-bodied with flavors of red currants, herbs, tobacco and vanilla. Tannins are beginning to soften.
  
  My #4, Domino's #4
  Group #1, 33 pts

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• 2000 Château Sociando-Mallet

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Garnet color. Initial aroma is of freshly cut green bell pepper. It took a while to develop in the glass, but eventually red fruit, blackberry and roasted herb notes emerged, and the bell pepper took on a pleasing roasted quality. Medium-bodied, with stemmy red fruit to start; a bit green and acidic. Again, with enough time in the glass, this came around a bit and featured red fruit, game and green tobacco qualities.
  
  My #7, Domino's #7
  Group #7, 67 pts

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• 2000 Château du Tertre 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Aromas of plum, incense and red fruit. Lovely fruit on the palate, with a nice meaty undertone and a medium+ finish.

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• 1987 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep crimson color. Aromas of dark fruit, red fruit, plum, mint, evergreen and saddle leather. Well-balanced, with red fruit, leather and cedar flavors. Long finish.

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• 2000 Clos René

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Perfumed dark fruit, lavender, florals and incense. Medium- to full-bodied with terrific dark fruit flavors dominating the palate. Long finish. Lovely.

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• 2007 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  Aromas of tapenade, black fruit, spice and leather. Full-bodied, with ripe dark fruit- bordeing on raisins, along with cassis, leather and tapenade.

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• 2009 Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

  Notes of blue fruit, anise, pepper and florals. Medium-bodied, with spice, red berry and plum qualities. Nice, but not particularly exciting.

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• 1985 Graham Porto Vintage 93 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  pale ruby color. Lovely black fruit- cassis, plum, blueberry, anise and lavender aromas. Loads of fruit on the palate; long finish.

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Thanks Barb for a wonderful tasting.