Wine with Friends

Tony and Holly, Eric and Rita, Ken and Kelly, Brett and Carol were in attendance. No theme, just bring something to share. Wines were brown bagged but separated by old world and new.

• 2003 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  A modern, fruity brunello showing black cherry, a little licorice, and old world acidity. A little simple and boring compared to the 2003 Fornacina BdM that followed. This wasn't recognizable as a Brunello and showed no sense of place. Modern producer and the warm vintage shows.

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• 2003 Fornacina Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  This was very dry and more structured than the Siro Pacenti. Some mint, slight earth and red fruits. More rustic and old school. Very good.

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• 2010 Viña Ijalba Graciano Rioja

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Herbs, mint, cocoa beans, chocolate, oak. Very fruity with lots of acid. Young and interesting. May improve some if the oak integrates more.

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• 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Big nose with a little heat too. Ripe, dark fruits, a little oak, good acidity. I thought this was a bit simple but Ann really enjoyed it. I think decanting this for an hour or two before prior may have helped this.

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• 2007 Titus Petite Sirah

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky dark with some chocolate notes, intense blueberries and nice acidity.

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• 2007 Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cœur de Vallée

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  This is a dense, big Cabernet. Shows some mint and eucyliptus, chocolate hazelnut and ripe dark fruits. A little bit of heat on the finish.

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• 2007 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  A nice CA Rhone blend. Good acidity and fine tannin. Classic Rhone flavors. A little heat in this one though. Should drink well for a few more years.

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• 2007 Modicum Bordeaux Blend St. Helena

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  This is dense and velvety. Vanilla, oak, big, richly fruited. Very young. I was surprised to see this was 15.4% as it was well hidden, more so than some of the previous wines tonight. Decadent and tasty.

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• 2005 Avenel Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  If I didn't know this was from CA, I may have guessed Bordeaux. This was very dry, with some fine tannin, great acidity and red fruits. I like the balance and restraint in this. Very good.

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• 2004 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Delicious wine with some mineral, vanilla and pure red fruits. Fresh and lively. Still young.

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Tony pulled out the Cote-Rotie at the end when the group wasn't ready to throw in the towel. There were no dud's in the bunch but my favorites were the Fornacina, Modicum and Avenel and Guigal. My least favorite was the Siro Pacenti.