WCC: Totally Blind Reds

Bob was kind enough to provide all the wines for this tasting and serve them totally blind with bread and cheese. Unfortunately, it was mostly Gamay and Grenache, not 2 of my favorite grapes. Flights 2 and 3 were just too many big young wines.

• 2009 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Beaujolais Cuvée l'Ancien Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Bright nose of smoky red fruit. Tart up front, but sweet on the finish. A nice wine. I pegged it for a young Châteauneuf.

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• 2009 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Côte de Brouilly Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Dirty red fruit nose. Sour in the mouth. Very bretty. Unpleasant.

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• 2009 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Fleurie 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Fleurie

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Smokey red fruit nose. A touch of brett, but not too much. Sweet red fruit. I guessed Grenache again.

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• 2009 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Moulin-à-Vent 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Moulin-à-Vent

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Light fruity. Black fruit in the mouth and some tannin still showing. The most serious wine of the flight, but not my favorite.

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• 2009 Herman Story Grenache On The Road

  USA, California

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] HUGE! Big grapey nose. A huge change of pace from the last flight. Quite port-like. Most suspect California. I thought Cali Syrah for this whole flight, but who could. Long, sweet porty finish. Has some of the character of an SQN, but it is too hot and disjointed at this point. Judgement reserved.

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• 2009 Herman Story Syrah White Hawk Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Huge sweet black fruit. Stunningly thick and sweet. A wow wine if it wasn't so hot and disjointed. It is too much tonight? Will it come together in 10 years? I don't know. Judgement reserved.

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• 2009 Herman Story Grenache Larner Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] More of the same. Another huge, alcoholic wine. The 3 wines in this flight were indistinguishable at this stage. They have to be Cali Syrah or perhaps Aussie. Judgement reserved.

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• 2009 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Auguste Favier 55 Points

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

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Big waxy nose characteristic of young Rhone wines. In the mouth, hot alcoholic and nasty.

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• 2009 Famille Isabel Ferrando Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis 88 Points

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

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Big smoky waxy nose. Sweet and pleasant. The only drinkable wine in this flight.

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• 2009 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Collection Charles Giraud 62 Points

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

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Dirty, alcoholic, bretty, hot.

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• 2003 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 94 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  [Double decanted for about 12 hours.] Young rich fabulous. Great elegance and length. Needs probably 10 years or more. A bit hot and sweet at this stage, but so delicious.

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This was certainly an educational tasting, and the company was good as always. Not too many wines that I really liked. But as Bob said, "Not bad for free!" ;)