Blind Chardonnay Tasting

Scott and Amy's House
Tasted Saturday, October 13, 2018 by 3daywinereview.com with 165 views

Introduction

This was a fun and humbling event. Cellar Tracker averages and Pro reviews mean nothing when it is blind. I find too many are biased on wines based on others scores so go more blind and you will score the wines more accurately. Some wine drinkers think their wine is wine of the night before the tasting starts but when blind you have not clue which is your wine. I brought a Ridge Monte Bello and would not have paid $20 for it had I know how bad it would have shown in this format. Do more blind tastings people!

Flight 1 (9 Notes)

  • 2016 Sea Slopes Fort Ross Winery Chardonnay 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Fort Ross - Seaview

    Starter wine to the tasting. Minerals, apple, spice and shells. Medium plus finish and good acidity. This tends to be one of my top whites under $20 for 2018. Excellent value. Will sample on day 2.

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  • 2012 Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet

    Drinking at peak right now. Floral, orange peel, sea shells and spices. This is balanced and delivers the classic Burgundy experience. Medium finish. Drink now or hold for only a few years. Don't wait.

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  • 2013 Ridge Chardonnay Monte Bello 89 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Blind Tasting Wine 1: This is why I love blind tastings. This was my wine. It featured lemon, spice, apple and oak. Short to medium finish. Nothing wrong with this wine but nothing great. I guessed Raymond LVE but it was Ridge. None of the six guests guessed right.
    Day 2: A little better but not much. This lacks the focus of previous vintages for me. Nothing wrong with the wine just not that exciting. 90 points

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  • 2015 LVE Chardonnay 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Blind Tasting Wine 2: On paper this would have finished dead last. For me it was the second best wine of the night. Lemon, spices, floral and sour apples. Multilayered finish and medium to long. More personality than the Ridge prior to it. I guessed the 2015 Patrick Javillier due to the lack of oak.

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  • 2013 Miner Family Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard Carneros 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Blind Wine 3: On par with the Ridge score wise. Lemon, spices, some oak and medium finish. Nothing bad about this wine but nothing great either. Guessed Ridge but it was Miner.

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  • 2015 Domaine Patrick Javillier Meursault Les Tillets 90 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

    Blind Wine 4: My third favorite of the night. Orange peel, minerals, spices and sulfur. This adds some match stick on the medium plus finish. Nice wine and balanced overall. Guessed Miner but it was Javillier.

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  • 2012 Far Niente Chardonnay 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Blind Tasting Wine 6: Oak!!! Fruit tried to show through but too much oak. Some lemon and spices but oak. I would drink tis but not the most balanced wine. Medium finish. Guessed Far Niente and it was Far Niente.

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  • 2014 SIXTO Chardonnay Uncovered 90 Points

    USA, Washington

    Bonus wine in our blind tasting. Heavy oak, lemon, spices and cardboard. Not bad but not good. Lacks personality and overpriced. I would rather drink a Columbia Crest H3.
    Day 2: Better as I would expect. Lemon, subtle spices, minerals, orange peel and oak has laid down a bit. Pretty complex wine and much better. This is why I love doing 3 day wine reviewing. 89 points
    Day 3: Tropical fruit, dust, subtle oak, orange peel and minerality. Even better. 90 points
    Recommendation: Cellar and try in 2020 and beyond. An amazing transformation for this wine.

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  • 2013 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series 92 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Blind Wine Five: Spice, floral, Carmel and lemon. Biggest wine of the night and longest finish. Excellent wine drinking well right now. This Art Series has one Chard tastings before and was all six drinkers wine of the night!!! Old reliable and congrats Gary. 92 plus.

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