Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Eucalyptus, milk chocolate, heat and v.a. Funky, lactic palate with milk chocolate. Something very wrong with this one, maybe heat damaged. (my 6th, group's 6th)
Pretty, ripe strawberry nose. Medium bodied, juicy, ripe raspberry palate. Really nice, soft texture, some baking spice accents and a long berry finish. I actually thought this was the Pinot, no one else did though. (my 2nd, group's 2nd)
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Very ripe red fruited nose with heat. Very sweet baked strawberry palate with more heat. I thought this was an overripe Aussie Grenache. Oops. (my 4th, group's 4.5)
Stewed cherry, caramel, cinnamon nose. Overripe, pruney, confected palate showing lots of heat. I can't figure out what everyone saw in this but I was clearly the outlier. (my 5th, group's 1st)
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Nice black fruited nose that's a bit smokey and meaty. This is dense on the palate with blackberries and plums. Youthful with some light tannins and a long finish. Not particularly complex but still quite nice. (my 3rd, group's 3rd)
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Kangaroo Island
Most elegant nose of the group, with blackberries and a hint of green herb. Youthful palate of fresh blackberries. Well balanced with nice acidity. Drinking really nicely right now. (my 1st, group's 4.5)
1998 Charles Melton Grenache Flawed
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Eucalyptus, milk chocolate, heat and v.a. Funky, lactic palate with milk chocolate. Something very wrong with this one, maybe heat damaged. (my 6th, group's 6th)
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1998 Rockland Petite Sirah 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Pretty, ripe strawberry nose. Medium bodied, juicy, ripe raspberry palate. Really nice, soft texture, some baking spice accents and a long berry finish. I actually thought this was the Pinot, no one else did though. (my 2nd, group's 2nd)
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1998 Testarossa Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 81 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Very ripe red fruited nose with heat. Very sweet baked strawberry palate with more heat. I thought this was an overripe Aussie Grenache. Oops. (my 4th, group's 4.5)
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1998 Cedarville Vineyard Zinfandel 79 Points
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, El Dorado
Stewed cherry, caramel, cinnamon nose. Overripe, pruney, confected palate showing lots of heat. I can't figure out what everyone saw in this but I was clearly the outlier. (my 5th, group's 1st)
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1998 Scarpantoni Estate Reserve 89 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Nice black fruited nose that's a bit smokey and meaty. This is dense on the palate with blackberries and plums. Youthful with some light tannins and a long finish. Not particularly complex but still quite nice. (my 3rd, group's 3rd)
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1998 Cape d'Estaing Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Kangaroo Island
Most elegant nose of the group, with blackberries and a hint of green herb. Youthful palate of fresh blackberries. Well balanced with nice acidity. Drinking really nicely right now. (my 1st, group's 4.5)
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