Blind Tasting via Zoom

Over Zoom
Tasted Thursday, May 14, 2020 by Frank Murray III with 140 views

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2011 Edi Kante Chardonnay La Bora di Kante Venezia Giulia IGT

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT

    Tasted blind. I had pegged this for Chenin Blanc, as it had some intersection with how I see that varietal tasting. Honeysuckle and cut green apple aromas. I tasted this twice over a 1/2 hour and the first time through it shows a mango, nectarine and spicy green apple and a lithe but structured palate. On the second pour, I can still feel the structure in the palate, finishing with anise and some toasted wood. I can see how this can ring true for Chardonnay but overall, it gave me kind of a pure, solid Chenin feel. This is a delicious wine, well built and balanced.

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  • 2009 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Tasted blind. This shows an advanced color that is bronzy/gold, and the aromatics also give off a nutty, toasted barrel aromatic. The wine is built around apple, some nuttiness, lemon oil and ripe cut mango. The finish oddly shows bright citrus, which juxtaposed with the wood notes, the goldish color and heavier texture, it just seems out of whack to me. For those who know me, I think Alpine Chard is top of the class in California--it's that damn good and is for me what world class Chard can do, what Rhys does so well, much like the 2017 that just arrived this week. But, I don't regret finishing my 2009 Chards back in 2017 when I thought they were ready then. Unless this bottle is an aberration for how it has aged, I'd suggest drinking these up as it's not going in the right direction at all.

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Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 2010 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Tasted blind. Of the flight of 3 Pinots I had in front of me, this was the lightest colored of the three, a light rose in tone. I guessed this as 2011 from California. Little stem in the aromatic which came through as some cracked spice. Cedar, pine needle, tangy, some tobacco leaf and a touch of stone fruit, finishing with a lovely strawberry and herb. This tasted very good but got outclassed tonight by the 2008 Rhys Skyline (which was also blind) that it had to go up against!

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  • 2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Tasted blind. Holy crap, this is gorgeous. Balance and depth are immediately noticeable, as the wine is seamless across my palate. Soil/loam, red fruits with blueberry, both that exhibit a purity of ripeness and depth that is sublime. Outstanding, and yet another testament to me as to how good the 2008 Rhys wines are aging. I am thrilled to have one of these left in my cellar. Just wow.

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  • 2013 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Tasted blind. And as good as the 2008 Rhys Skyline was that was also blind and just before in the flight, I gotta say this 2013 Dougie is fantastic too. In terms of fruit, this was the most fruit expressive. Loads of berry yet a twang of citrus to keep it all together. It's showing some of the whole cluster, but it's become well integrated for me as it gives the wine a seasoned herbal note, even perhaps letting the red fruits seem a bit tarry. Dark plum, zesty, with a dark raspberry and great length. I know this stands as one of Jamie's favorite wines that he has ever made and I can see why. As good as this was last July when we tried it blind with Jamie, it showed again tonight why it's such a great glass of Pinot Noir. Excellent.

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Flight 3 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind. I love the aromatics here, which show a mix of rose petal, face powder and tar, Juicy and concentrated, lively in the glass with concentrated cherry, a jammy quality that doesn't become heavy or tiring. Really just pure and drinking very well now, too. Delicious.

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  • 2008 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind. This showed some brett, both in the aromatics and inside the palate. It wasn't a big blast of brett but enough to distract me, as I don't care for brett. Dark cherry, a bit fatter and more mouthilling, too. Tangy acid, spice and raspberry, but for me this was beat hands down by the 2010 Fuligni Brunello we tasted alongside it.

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