4th Saturday group uptown tasting

R&D's
Tasted Saturday, September 23, 2017 by AllRed with 365 views

Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 Notes)

  • NV Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Nonblind warm up. Lot LAJTC. Pear blossom, limestone, apple, yeast and chalk. Racy and bright, with apple, yeast, citrus and mineral flavors.

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  • 2015 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    Double blind. Pale color with a subtle grapefruit citrus aroma with a grassy undertone. The palate follows the bouquet. Nice acidity. Guessed Bordeaux. 92+ pts.

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  • 2011 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    Double blind. Medium color. Aromas of banana and coconut with a touch of smoky toasted oak in the background. Tropical fruit on the palate as well, along with apple and vanilla nuances. Finishes with very good length. Well-balanced too. Definitely a CA chardonnay, and I debated between Lewis and Peter Michael. I finally guessed Peter Michael Belle Cote, though I would have guessed it was a year or two older. Excellent.

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Flight 2 - Reds I (6 Notes)

  • 2000 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Blind. Faded crimson color showing notes of dried leaves/forest detritus and mixed berry fruit. Cherry and currant notes emerge with a bit more air. Shows just a hint of brettanomyces too, bordering on the dried hay bale variety, but it does not overwhelm the wine in this case. Red fruit and spice on the palate, with a lengthy finish. I guessed Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

    This had been quickly double decanted off its sediment about an hour before this flight was poured. I don't see any improvement from this point, so I'd say drink now to 2023 assuming this bottle is representative.

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  • 2011 Peter Michael Pinot Noir Clos du Ciel 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Double blind. Aromas of cherry and raspberry- lots of red berry fruit here- along with underlying hints of pepper and baking spices. A bit more substantial and full-bodied than the bouquet suggests, with flavors of cherry, pepper and dark fruit. Lengthy finish. This is a pinot, but it's big, so I guessed this was a Peter Michael pinot noir. 91-92 pts.

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  • 2001 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 96 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    Blind. Dark crimson core with just a touch of bricking at the meniscus. Opens with a terrific eucalyptus note with loads of dark fruit and plum underneath. Very well-balanced, this glides across the palate with a silky texture, carrying red plum, black currant and mint flavors through the finish, where it shows just a hint of licorice that I find strangely appealing (I do not care for licorice). Long finish. Class of the flight for me, and it wasn't until we were about half way through the flight that I suspected this could be our bottle of Dead Arm. A terrific showing, and if memory serves me correctly, WOTF for most of the group.

    This had been very quickly double decanted off its sediment about an hour before the flight was poured. Likely at the start of a long window of prime drinking- now to 2024+. I'm very happy to have another of these in the cellar.

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  • 1995 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Double blind. A bit funky at first, along with a dark fruit profile and spice qualities. Lighter on the palate though, with red fruit, pepper and earth tones. Balanced across the palate, finishing with good length. Fully mature.

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  • 2001 Château Pape Clément 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Double blind. Deep red color, no bricking. Aromas of red and dark fruit, iodine and roasted herbs- a heavenly bouquet which immediately took me to Graves. Full-bodied, with medium tannins and flavors of iodine/beef blood, red berry fruit and earth. Long finish. Balanced. 95-96 pts. I guessed 2000 Pape Clement.

    I don't know how much, if any, air this had before the flight was poured, but this is wonderful now, with a long life ahead- may not necessarily improve, but certainly change/evolve. Now-2030.

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  • 2012 Jarvis (California) Winery Merlot 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Dark fruit and alcohol dominate the bouquet- this is fairly "hot." Black fruit and sweet vanilla bean on the palate with a medium+ finish. I guessed Napa cabernet, but Domino had identified this as a merlot.

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Flight 3 - Reds II (6 Notes)

  • 2013 Bernard Magrez Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Deep color- inky and opaque. Aromas of violets, black fruit and cassis. Full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannin and flavors of blue fruit, vanilla and cassis. Tannins are fine and sweet. Long finish; love the floral note here. Guessed Napa cabernet.

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  • 2000 Château Gruaud Larose Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Double blind. An overwhelming amount of brettanomyces rendered this undrinkable. One of the worst cases of brett I've encountered. I believe this was a recent purchase, so it's possible the bottle was stored in a warmer place than it should have been and experienced a bloom in bottle.

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  • 2013 Haber Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Double blind. Terrific floral note that reminds me of wild phlox, followed by cassis, rose petal, currants and vanilla. Sweet tannin with loads of black currant, cherry and cassis. Long finish. A big wine, but very well-balanced and at times, elegant. Guessed Napa cabernet. Impressive. 94+ pts.

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  • 2009 ZD Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 85 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Opens with a black fruit quality but has a sourness as well. Medium tannins with flavors of mixed red and black fruit that turn sour through the midpalate and finish.

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  • 2009 Peter Michael Les Pavots 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    Double blind. Dark fruit and floral notes with underlying spice and earthiness. Full-bodied with relatively firm, but fine-grained tannins and flavors of cassis, black fruit and violets. Long finish. 93-94 pts.

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  • 2007 Merryvale Cabernet Franc 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Reticent. Black fruit and pepper; a bit hot, showing some alcohol. Cassis and dark fruit dominate the palate- has a rustic quality to it. I guessed Rutherford cabernet sauvignon- this showed no cab franc character whatsoever.

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Flight 4 - Dinner wines (3 Notes)

Enjoyed with a simple choucroute garnie and dessert.

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