4th Saturday group uptown tasting

Mike & LA's
Tasted Saturday, July 22, 2017 by AllRed with 313 views

Flight 1 - Warm ups (6 Notes)

Double blind warm ups

  • 2014 Montinore Estate Pinot Gris 75 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Double blind. Sauv blanc-like at first, with high acid and a grassy citrus quality. White fruit, no grassy notes, but it also has a bit of a varnishy/chemical quality to it that actually ends up being pleasant as it softens. Acidity remains high. I assumed this was some weird Italian variety. No one in the group was close to pinot gris, or Oregon.

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  • 2015 Zorzal Sauvignon Blanc Terroir Unico 85 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Tupungato

    Double blind. Opens with a lime/citrus note, along with a hint of cat urine. High acid with citrus fruit on the palate. Guessed NZ sauv blanc.

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  • 2014 Val du Charron Chardonnay Reserve 80 Points

    South Africa, Western Cape

    Double blind. Aromas of peach, honey and stone fruit. Stone fruit on the palate. Overly acidic and harsh through the midpalate and finish. I thought this may have been an odd Italian white given the acidity.

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  • 2013 Guy Saget Vouvray Marie de Beauregard 78 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

    Double blind. Honeycomb and waxy orchard fruit aromas. On the palate this is overly sweet without any balancing acidity. I had no guess as to what this was, nor did anyone for that matter. No varietal character to speak of.

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  • 2013 Duckhorn Vineyards Chardonnay Napa Valley 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Woody and oaky, with toasted elements and apple underneath. more of the same on the palate- apple and toasted oak char. Finishes with decent length but the toasted oak is a bit much for the fruit here. This has to be Napa chardonnay.

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  • 2016 Cenyth Cabernet Franc Rosé 88 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Double blind. A bonus warm up courtesy of T&L. Very pale, with just the slightest hint of pink. Notes of pepper and melon, with strawberry and red berry undertones. Strawberry tones on the palate. Guessed S. France. 88-89 pts.

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Flight 2 - Reds (5 Notes)

  • 1994 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Garnet core with just a bit of bricking. Peppery at first, with red and dark fruit underneath as well as floral elements. Cherry and red berry fruit on the palate with a good finish. Becomes more complex as it opens in the glass. Aromas of tobacco and currants come forward in the bouquet, while the fruit recedes ever so slightly on the palate giving this a slight leanness that had me believing this was old world. Guessed 2000 Pauillac. 94-95 pts.

    This came courtesy of Mike M, and the cork was perfect. I am happy to have one still in the cellar and hope it shows as well as this did. Given the lean quality this developed, I'll open mine within the next 12 months.

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  • 2002 Cayuse Syrah Coccinelle Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

    Single blind. Dark color. Aromas of grapey dark fruit with chocolate undertones. Medium tannins. Flavors of spicy dark fruit and macerated berries. Ripe, perhaps even a bit syrupy, but I like it.

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  • 2005 Château Pape Clément 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Double blind. Deep color. Opens with a terrific barnyardy funk followed by herbs and dark fruit. Flavors of tobacco, black fruit, earth, forest floor and iron shavings. The batrnyard fades and the fruit comes forward a bit, along with an iodine quality. Long and balanced. Guessed Graves.

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  • 2001 Château La Confession 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Double blind. Deep color. Aromas of black currant, red plum, tobacco and dried tea leaf. Medium tannins. Flavors of dark fruit and forest floor. Balanced across the palate; long finish. Guessed Bordeaux.

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  • 2007 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha Aquilon 93 Points

    Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja

    Double blind. Deep color. Cassis, currant, chocolate and plum aromas. Plum and ripe dark fruit on the palate. Medium plus tannins. I did not think this was Spanish, let alone grenache. Still a bruiser, I see I tasted this in 2014 and said 5-7 years...definitely not before 2020 with this.

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Flight 3 - Reds (5 Notes)

  • 1996 A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon Terrace Select 96 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Double blind. Faded crimson core with some bricking at the meniscus. Violets, currants- loads of florals and mixed fruit. My note says "gorgeous friggin' bouquet." Fully resolved on the palate with no tannin and a lovely silk texture. Black currant, red plum and violet liqueur flavors. Long finish.

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  • 2008 Krupp Brothers Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Veraison Stagecoach Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Slightly grapey at first, a positive attribute here, along with peppery spice and abundant black fruit. Firm and grapey on the palate as well, with a nice peppery spice lingering in the finish- syrah-like in a way. With more air, chocolate and vanilla notes emerge, becoming more cab-like. Guessed Napa Cab Sauv.

    Needed some air to reveal its full potential. Hold for a few years or decant for a couple of hours.

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  • 2011 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

    Single blind. Rather green and herbal, with a loamy quality and red fruit buried underneath. Medium tannins. Flavors of dark fruit and pepper with a greenness on the palate as well. I rather like this, some will no doubt be turned off. Fairly easy to pick this out as our Cayuse in this flight.

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  • 2011 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Double blind. Tight. Reticent. Dark fruit and cassis, showing quite a bit of alcohol too. Eventually able to coax a Chambourd quality out of this, but it remained fairly tight. There's fruit there, hidden behind the tannin and structure. Guessed 2013 Napa cab sauv. Opened a little by dinner time. Needs a healthy decant or preferably, a few years in the cellar. A winner in the context of the vintage.

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  • 2010 Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Aromas of chocolate, blackberry and currants. Firm, sweet tannins with flavors of black fruit and plum. Decent finish. Seems a little tight, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

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Flight 4 - Dinner/dessert wines (3 Notes)

Nonblind

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