Friday Wine Group - JL (Blind Lunch)

First Course:
Scallop and Shrimp Roulade (Cauliflower Puree, Caviar Butter Sauce)

Second Course:
Potato and Chorizo Stew (Topped with Pecorino Romano Cheese)

Main Course:
Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop (Lightly Smoked with Pork Au Jus, Caramelized Honey Carrots, Parsley New Potatoes)

Finale:
Pineapple Upside Down Cake

• 2006 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Louis Salmon

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Tasted blind - lots of bubbles, nose of fresh green apple, with slight hint of honey. More green apple on the palate. But very fresh and lively. High acidity. I guessed a 2006 grower champagne with brut level dosage. Close. Fantastic wine.

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• 2010 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Tasted Blind - golden in color, high viscosity in the glass. Nose of slight lemon, and even slighter honey. Nose was not strong. Creamy mouth feel, acidic and dry, maybe a little hot. But subtle flavors of white fruit and lemon, and ever so slight honey. I guessed a southern Rhone around 10 years old, with a condrieu as my second guess. Close.

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• 2010 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc Le Méal

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Tasted blind - gold in the glass. Nose of subtle chardonnay. I could smell what I thought was some oak, and vanilla. Made me go immediately to chardonnay, but was unsure. Creamy mouthfeel, taste of slight tropical fruit, and white stone fruit. I guessed a 10+ year old Mersault.

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• 2010 Château Pontet-Canet

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Tasted Blind - Deep red in the glass. Aroma of cherries burst out of the glass, with a hint of earthiness. Good acidity, and integrated, medium+ tannins. My first thought was Bordeaux, and I thought a first growth 2000. Excellent, and drinking fantastic right now.

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• 2010 Dominus Estate

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted blind - Deep red in the glass, nose of plumb/raisin, and dark fruit; In my limited experience, the typical Dominus style of deep, dark black and blue fruit, with high tannins. Could taste some oak, which I remember from other vintages. I discussed how this reminded me of a younger Dominus, but then called a syrah. I look forward to tasting more vintages to see how the style evolves.

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• 2010 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Tasted blind - deep, dark crimson in the glass, nose of blue fruit. No bricking. Well integrated tannins and fruit, was not a fruit bomb, nor an overly tannic wine, especially compared to the Dominus right before it. Lots of red and blue fruits on the palate. I called a new world syrah.

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• 2010 Sine Qua Non Grenache Five Shooter

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Tasted blind - Bright red in the glass, and bright red fruit aromas. Fresh cherries on the nose and palate. Very well integrated tannins and fruit, and tasted fantastic. I called a 7-10 year old grenache based CDP.

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• 2010 Penfolds Grange

  Australia, South Australia

  Tasted blind - deep red in the glass, a good bit of sediment (I also had the last pour of the bottle). Blue fruit on the nose, and tons of black and blue fruit on the palate. Lots of blackberries, blueberries, mixed with some plumbs. Tasted excellent. I called either a Grange or some other Australian shiraz, or a CA petite sirah. So I was real close here. This wine drank extremely well, and we were lucky to have a second bottle that the host thought had slight cork-taint when first opened. By the time it was served, it had blown off, and maybe had even brighter fruit than the bottle we were served blind (which wasn't opened as long, and did not get the same 4 hour decant). Great wine.

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• NV Jonata Winery La Miel de Jonata

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley

  Tasted blind - nose of pineapple. Very strong pineapple. Fruit forward flavors, and perfectly balanced sweetness. I called a late harvest viognier, as it reminded me of the Matthiason late harvest. This wine is composed of 25+% viognier, so close enough. Paired excellent with pineapple upside down cake.

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