4th Saturday Group brown bagger

The October tasting featured the debut of m/m thelostverse as hosts. The trek north had fewer red lights and less traffic than most of us anticipated so we surprised tlv by arriving early, but they were ready for us with warm up whites already perfectly chilled and a nice spread of cheeses and other tasty morsels for us to snack on. All tasted double blind, except for the dinner/dessert wines.

• 2012 Collestefano Verdicchio di Matelica 89 Points

  Italy, Marche, Verdicchio di Matelica

  Pale color with citrus and apple notes with a subtle grassy undertone. Nice acidity; palate follows the bouquet in terms of flavors. Nice finish. Guessed Sauv Blanc.

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• 2011 Celler Cal Pla Priorat Mas d'en Compte Blanc 91 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Opens with a smoky quality that reminds me of a Kalin Semillon. Also notes of apple, honeyed pears and smoked almonds. Flavors of white peach, baked pears and nuts. Has a waxy, lanolin-like quality too. Finishes very well. Guessed Rhone blend.

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• 2012 Domaine Lafage Cuvée Centenaire 91 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon

  Light color. Honeyed pear, apple and white fruit with an underlying minerality. The palate follows the bouquet. Good bit of underlying acidity keeps it fresh and lively through the long finish. 91+ pts. Gessed white Rhone blend.

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• 2010 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Clisson

  France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine

  Pale almost colorless. Apple, cotton and flinty mineral notes on the bouquet and palate. I guessed French Sauv Blanc.

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• 1997 Flowers Pinot Noir Moon Select Camp Meeting Ridge 86 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Fairly dark color with aromas of cherry, spice, dried leaves and bouillon. Medium-bodied with flavors of dark fruit and cherry. Ripe fruit and prune notes evident in the bouquet and on the palate.
  
  Decanted very briefly off its sediment, rebottled & vacuvinned about 2.5 hours prior to the tasting, stopper removed 45 minutes prior to this flight.

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• 1996 Flowers Pinot Noir Moon Select Camp Meeting Ridge 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Aromas of cherries, spice, red fruit and florals- very pretty. Cherry and red fruit flavors with an underlying minerality and a bit of spice coming in on the finish. Youthful; needs a few years yet. 90-91 pts.
  
  Decanted very briefly off its sediment, rebottled & vacuvinned about 2.5 hours prior to the tasting, stopper removed 45 minutes prior to this flight.

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• 2010 Mount Eden Vineyards Pinot Noir 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep ruby color with notes of chery, raspberry, clove and nutmeg. With additional air, forest floor and subtle earthy elements emerge. In a word, elegant. Medium tannins with a flavors of cherry and spice. Plenty of fruit with nice balance- plenty of structure and acid. Obviously Pinot, but I thought RRV. 93+ pts.
  
  One of our hosts' contributions, decanted for 5 hours.

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• 2008 Clos Apalta 93 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta

  Opaque inky color. Plum, dark fruit and chocolate aromas. Full-bodied with chalky tannins and flavors that mirror the bouquet. Long finish. Guessed young Napa Cab Sauv.
  
  I was very surprised to see that this was Chilean- no loam or green, vegetal tones here.

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• 2002 Torbreck Shiraz The Struie 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Opaque crimson color. Opens with an odd note reminiscent of corn silk, followed by plums, chocolate and black raspberry. Tannins are firm. Flavors of plum, black fruits and chocolate with a fairly long finish. Develops a blue fruit overtone. Guessed domestic Syrah.

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• 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Deep garnet color with aromas of black raspberry, currants and black cherry with a dominant dill overtone that just didn't quit- been a long time since I've had a wine with that much dill. Flavors of black fruit, raspberry and chocolate. Firm tannins; young and structured. Guessed Napa Cab Sauv.

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• 2008 Robert Biale Petite Sirah Royal Punishers 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Opaque inky purple color. Raspberry, blackberry, vanilla and dark fruit. Full-bodied but not tannic; fine-grained with a sweet edge. Flavors of raspberry liqueur and blackberries. Balanced; lengthy finish with loads of blackberry fruit. Biale's Petites are the only ones I can recall tasting where you get the blackberry fruit without the massive tannins when young.

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• 2011 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  Dark color with aromas of black fruits and green, vegetal qualities, bordering on weedy/swampy. Develops a coffee note with air. On the full side of medium-bodied, with flavors of dark fruit and spice. Guessed Chilean Cab Sauv blend.

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• 2007 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Dark color. Aromas of black currants, coffee, chocolate, plum and mocha. Firm tannins; flavors of vanilla, black cherry, oak spices, black currants and cassis.

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• 2004 Iron Horse Vineyards Bdx-3 T Bar T Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  Aromas of black currants and dark fruit. Medium-bodied with black cherry, currants and cassis flavors. The alcohol shows through on the bouquet and palate.

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Served nonblind with dinner, which consisted of prime strip steaks, grilled to a perfect medium rare by tlv, along sides with mac & cheesae and creamed spinach. For dessert, we enjoyed Mrs. tlv's ooey gooey bars, which paired perfectly with the Sauternes.

• 2010 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  Brought this as a nonblind dinner wine to accompany tlv's strip steaks. Garnet color with notes of raspberry, red currants, oak spices and vanilla. Medium-bodied, with flavors of red currants, vanilla and black cherry. Tannins are understated and not obtrusive. Finishes nicely, with red fruit and herb nuances.
  
  Decanted & rebottled about 4 hours prior to dinner.

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• 2003 Château d'Arche Sauternes 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Golden color with notes of apricots, honey and caramelized sugar. Flavors of honey and stone fruit on the palate, turning more tropical on the finish.

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