Virtual Men's Wine night

After a year of lockdown we decided to do a virtual men's wine tasting over Zoom. I poured the wine into labeled mini-carafes with lids and delivered them to the homes before our 5pm start time. It worked pretty seamlessly and I'd recommend this while we wait for the pandemic to wind down and vaccines to ramp up.

• 2011 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  From carafes poured two hours earlier. Still very tight. Nose of smoked meat. Dense and earthy on the palate with lemon zest and finish of liquid smoke. These are very special wines even drunk young although it needs quite a bit more cellar time to mature fully. My #1 of 5 and the group's #3.

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• 2010 Mollydooker Shiraz Velvet Glove 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  From carafes poured two hours earlier. This seemed slightly bretty so possible I would rate another bottle higher as I'm very sensitive to brett. Other than that, bold, intense dark fruit balanced with intense minerality on the palate. Long finish. Raspberry jam on the delicious nose. I'd like to try this again without the brett for sure. My #3 of 5 and the group's #5.

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• 2012 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  From carafes poured two hours earlier. Unmistakable Cayuse funk on the nose and palate with dark red and black fruit, saucy acid, long finish with some bitterness. Perhaps a slightly oxidized bottle. I've had a lot of flawed bottles of Cayuse. My and the group's #4 of 5.

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• 2006 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mason's 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  From carafes poured two hours earlier. I didn't like how this showed as the capsicum jumped out at me, overwhelming the palate. More air may have calmed that down and it didn't seem to bother the others. So much for being a supertaster. Nice ripe cassis and earth, typical for a good Napa Cab. My #5 of 5 and the group's #2.

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• 2009 Barterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 95 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  From carafes poured two hours earlier. Dense, elegant, and balanced on the palate with cassis, strong tannins, and some smoke on the finish. I think this would have benefited from more air or cellar time. My #2 of 5 and the group's #1.

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My rankings:
1. 2011 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne ($315)
2. 2009 Barterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($130)
3. 2010 Mollydooker Shiraz Velvet Glove ($165)
4. 2012 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard ($87)
5. 2006 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mason's ($60)

The group's rankings:
1. 2009 Barterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
2. 2006 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mason's
3. 2011 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
4. 2012 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard
5. 2010 Mollydooker Shiraz Velvet Glove