Sauv. Blanc and Merlot Night
Bear and Star, Los Olivos, CA
Tasted Thursday, March 8, 2018 by JonnyG with 338 views
Introduction
A fun but admittedly somewhat frustrating night, as the diversity within each variety made it such that it was hard to draw any real conclusions.
Flight 1 - Sauv. Blancs (8 Notes)
Flight 2 - Les Merlots (9 Notes)
Flight 3 - A Stickie with Dessert (1 Note)
Closing
My takeaway with respect to Sauvignon Blanc would be that I find length of finish to be the best indicator of a well made version, hardly a shocking insight, I know, but I was impressed by the persistence many of these bottles exhibited. With respect to the Merlot, it really was all over the place, many surprises, to the upside and vice versa. I'm sticking with Bordeaux and the Bolgheri, though Campania provided a wonderful outlier of a bottle, too.
2014 Desparada Sauvignon Blanc Beta Cassiopeiae. 2. f4 Presquile 87 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
An oddity to my palate, with some green notes not meshing well with the grass and citrus one expects. Sharply acidic, though did mellow out some with air. Very good persistence.
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2014 Grimm's Bluff Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
A very grassy nose, muted on the palate, a touch sharp & unbalanced, which should improve with age. Very concentrated. Nice chamomile and honeysuckle notes emerged as it came up in temperature.
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2015 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre Les Romains 89 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre
Decidedly old world, floral, light bodied and delicate, but almost to a fault to my palate, veering toward the ephemeral.
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2013 Lis Neris Sauvignon Picol 92 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT
A super-interesting Sauv. Blanc, very primary and with loads of room for further improvement. A touch funky, green & reduced, very clean and round on the palate, expansive and fruity, with notes of sage and tomato leaf.
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2015 Quivet Cellars Sauvignon Blanc McGah Vineyard 85 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
Definitely not my style, though I like Quivet a lot (didn't bring this bottle). A ridiculously coconut nose, admittedly more balanced on the palate, with some lychee and other tropical fruits, but badly lacking acid (and typicity).
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2016 J. Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Not my style, I'm afraid. A touch austere, shy fruit, hay, clipped finish, but clean. Maybe during a heat wave...
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2014 Greywacke Wild Sauvignon 90 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
A good SB in all respects, but great in none. Notes of gooseberry and lime, too much oak for me, and virtually no persistence.
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2010 Cantina Terlan Sauvignon Terlano Quarz 92 Points
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Terlano
Needs a few more years to shine. A clean saline nose, no grass; a fine cool climate SB, sharp, herbal, still primary.
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