Blind Tasting on a Saturday Night

Woodley Park - Washington, DC
Tasted Sunday, April 7, 2013 by isaacjamesbaker with 592 views

Flight 1 - Starters (3 Notes)

  • 2011 Eric Texier Rouletabulle 88 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Ardèche

    A sparkling chasselas (mixed with 20% black muscat) from the Rhone? Must be Eric Texier. An interesting light gold-copper color. Nose of melon, blood orange and apricot. Tangy and mineral-driven, but also slightly sweet, like cream soda and cotton candy mixed in with the apricot and melon. Thanks, Jonathan!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2010 Yannick Amirault Bourgueil La Coudraye 91 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil

    Similar notes as 3/30/13. This had been open for most of the day, which helped coax out some more violet and tar notes. Beautiful stuff. On Day 2, even more expressive and sexy. Squirrel this away for a decade and hope you live that long.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2011 Holman Ranch Rosé of Pinot Noir 87 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Carmel Valley

    Bright strawberry-cherry colored. Smells of watermelon and wild strawberry topped with lime juice. Brisk acid on the palate, with flavors of wild strawberry and lime mixed with a spicy-herbal note that reminds me of rosemary. 12.5% alcohol, this wine is a light, bright rose that paired wonderfully with an array of hard cheeses.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 2 - Blinds (8 Notes)

  • 2008 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Tuffeaux 91 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire

    Wow, these aromatics are kicking: salt, lime, honey, oil, apricot. Fresh and plump on the palate with medium acid, not the searing acid I crave, but still solid. Rich but not overwhelming, with chunky lychee and apricot fruit. Secondary flavors of mineral, quince and honeycomb need a decade to fully unwind. Delicious, but time in the cellar will offer great rewards.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2008 Vignobles Pueyo Tellus Vinea 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux

    Ruby-cherry color. Aromas of green olive and menthol accent the spicy cherry fruit. Tight on the palate, with firm tannins. I like the earth-mineral tones mixed in with the cranberry sauce and spice flavors. This has gotta gave some cab franc in it.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2008 Michael Shaps Merlot 87 Points

    USA, Virginia, Central Virginia, Monticello

    Tasted blind, I guessed this as a Beaujolais. It's got that light purple color. Aromas of raspberry jam, smoke and earth. The palate is juicy and fresh with black cherry, violets and red licorice. Notes of mineral and earth linger on the finish. Was impressed to see this was a Virginia merlot. I've never tasted a wine from this producer before.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2000 Andrew Will Cabernet Sauvignon Sheridan Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

    The aromas were a bit musty at first, but then it opened up to show dried black currants, soil and herbs, a bit stinky like dried seaweed. Lots of acid on the palate, with waning red fruit. Actually, I don't remember the last time I tasted such a fruitless cabernet. I thought this was an aged syrah because I got a lot of olive brine, along with crazy flavors of mussel shell, peppercorn, salami and radish. A funky wine, but I really enjoyed it. Drink up before it gets totally insane and undrinkable. On Day 2, I cooked up some brussel sprouts with onion garlic and a sauce made from leftover sparking wine... the combination was fun and I think it "worked." That's what kind of cabernet we're dealing with. My palate tends toward fascination with the extreme, so that's why I got such a kick out of this wine.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2001 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

    Aromas show dried roses, stewed fruit compote and even a hint of orange peel. Fresh acid on the palate and very soft tannins. Flavors of dried cranberry and raspberry mix with pickle and brine notes. Probably a little past it's peak, but still quite interesting.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1998 Cameron Rouge Clos Electrique 91 Points

    USA, Oregon

    Showed very well in my opinion, but this is a wine for the adventurous palate. A dull cherry color. Aromas of garlic pickles, horseradish, tar and sage. Medium acid and soft tannins set the stage for a funk-filled palate, with notes of soy, olive, charcoal. "Holy peppercorn, Batman!" was the quote of the night with this wine. Briny and beautiful. I've enjoyed younger Clos Electrique pinots more, but this is a really fun, nerdy experience.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1989 Chateau Musar 94 Points

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Tasted blind from a decanter, this wine evolved and changed like waves in an approaching storm. I was guessing 20-year-old Bordeaux, 15-year-old Chateauneuf, but I knew it was unlike anything I'd tasted before. Was thrilled to see it was a Musar, as I have very limited experience with these wines, and no experience with Musar this old. A rusty-ruby color in the glass. Shifting and evolving aromas of bright cherries, wild strawberry, pepper and leather. The palate is really tangy with brisk acid. Crisp red apple and cherry flavors mix with seriously herbal aspects of bay leaf, brine, soy and wet leaves. The acid lingers long onto the finish, which is seamless and balanced. A beauty. Thanks, Brett!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2008 Domaine Dupasquier Mondeuse Vin de Savoie 90 Points

    France, Savoie, Vin de Savoie

    Aromas of sage, brewing hops and musk blend in with cranberry and red plums. The palate is fresh and light with high acid and soft tannins. Shows that mondeuse musky and earthiness, but this is not a simple or "rustic" wine. It's legit stuff, with all sorts of complexities and quirks, from the chalky frame to the lime juice acid to the charcoal and leather on the finish. Tasted blind, I had no idea what the hell I was tasting, but I knew I liked it.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

×
×