Friday Night Brown Bagger

• 2009 Joseph Drouhin / Drouhin-Vaudon Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Double blind. Deep straw color. Opens with a subtle varnish/chemical note, with apple and floral notes underneath. Bright acidity. Orchard fruit, a touch older. The fruit comes forward a bit more as this opens in the glass, but hints of oxidation remain. Guessed Italian chardonnay.

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• 2009 Joseph Drouhin / Drouhin-Vaudon Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Double blind. Pale straw yellow color, looks much more youthful than WU1. opens with an odd cheesy/funky aroma, but that eventually blows off leaving pear, florals, sweet/ripe (meant to be complimentary) orchard fruit and some sort of spice that I couldn't place- I noted cardamom, but that's not quite right- whatever it was it was pleasant. Orhcard fruit and pear, with nice acidity. I preferred this to the first. Guessed chardonnay. 91+ pts.

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• 2016 Corazon del Sol Luminoso Revana Vineyard Single Block 13 92 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco

  Double blind. Opens with notes of flower petals, cherry, raspberry and perfume. On the palate, there's ripe cherry fruit and spice, supported by fine tannins and acidity. Very tasty, and while grenache crossed my mind for the briefest of moments, I settled on Sonoma pinot. (R&R)

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• 2010 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva 88 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Blind. Garnet color. Currant, clay, earth and cedar notes. Medium tannins; slightly chalky mouthfeel. Flavors of black raspberry, currants and blue fruit. With air I detected a bit of a bouillon note which I found distracting.
  
  First of a six pack, double decanted this 3 hours before the flight was poured. When the cork came out this smelled fantastic- loads of bright fruit and earth. So this was a little disappointing.

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• 2008 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Double blind. Looks older, with a light meniscus. Leads with a vegetal aroma followed by red berry fruit, florals and spice. Soft tannins. Red berry compote flavors. Medium finish. A bit perplexing, I had no guess on this one- I think all of us were stumped. At least the color made sense once it was unveiled, but BdM never came up during group discussion. (R&D)

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• 2012 Cameron Pinot Noir Reserve 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Blind, though as soon as my nose went in the glass I knew this was my Cameron. Garnet color with notes of bacon, earthy funk and cherry. Flavors of cherry, spice, clay and raspberry. Turns to a darker pinot fruit profile with air, and adds forest floor notes to the typical “Cameron funk.”
  
  This had been double decanted about three hours before the flight was poured.

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• 2018 Newfound Wines Grenache Gravels

  USA, California

  Double blind. Strawberry, cranberry, spice, herb and ripe red berry aromas. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and flavors of cherry and blackberry. An abundance of terrific ripe frut and balancing acidity. (R&R)

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• 1996 Sterling Vineyards SVR Reserve Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Light bricking, with notes of dark fruit fading to bouillon cube. This faded quickly in the glass. Too bad.

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• 2015 Betz Family Syrah La Serenne 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Double blind. Opens with weedy vegetal notes, definitely has some brettanomyces taint, with black fruit in the background. Black fruit on the palate along with a chemical quality. Chemical and higher acid, lots of weedy elements too. Guessed Rhone. (R&D)

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• 1992 Silverado Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Black fruit followed by band aid and plastic, chemical notes. The same on the palate. Bouillon and plastic with air- not getting better. Myself and another taster shot each other a look when a few others commented that this was rich and a good wine, as if we were tasting different bottles. To each his own. (J&J)

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With a terrific fruit tart

• 1986 Château de Fargues 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Double blind. From half bottle. Mature golden color. Apricot, honey and tropical fruit notes. Rich texture, showing dried peach and orange flavors. 92-93 pts. (J&J)

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• 1986 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Double blind, from half bottle, showing a light golden color and a slightly off nose- something a little musty at first, turning to a funky ripe cheese aroma. Strange. Much better on the palate though, with pear liqueur, marmalade and apricot flavors.

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• 1989 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Double blind, from half bottle. Deepest color of the flight. Subtle bouquet; tropical fruit and orange blossom notes. Rich texture, featuring apricot, marmalade and spice flavors.

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