Friday Night Brown Bagger

Wines are tasted double blind. Each flight is discussed and unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

• 2018 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Double blind. Pale color with grassy citrus notes dominating the nose and palate. Subtle straw and earth elements provide depth, with bright acidity supporting it all. There’s a touch of jalapeño in there as well, which stopped me from guessing L’Apres-Midi. Good, if just slightly atypical for this wine. Guessed Napa sauv blanc.

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• 2018 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc 86 Points

  USA, California, North Coast

  Double blind. Dominant aromas of urine, with tropical fruit undertones. Medium acidity with tropical fruit on the palate. Guessed NZ sauv blanc.

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• 2008 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Blind. Crimson red color with just the slightest bit of bricking. Opens with a floral lavender quality, which gives way to red plum plum, olive and currants. On the full side, with medium tannins, abundant red fruit, chocolate and spice. With time in the glass iron and herbal elements emerge, and the red fruit comes forward. Good balancing acidity.
  
  This ended up as WOTN for a couple of folks. Double decanted off its sediment not quite three hours before the flight. Absolutely no rush here- this kept getting better as we revisited it over the following two hours. Needs decanting if pulling the cork now- minimum two hours.

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• 2006 Kistler Pinot Noir Cuvée Natalie Silver Belt 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Blind. Light color with a bit of bricking. Black cherry and baking spice notes follow through on the palate. Well balanced. Quite simply, this is just an excellent mature pinot that’s in a great place at the moment.
  
  Double decanted off its sediment not quite three hours before the flight was served. Ready to go IMO - decant off its sediment and serve.

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• 2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon Monsieur Étain 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Double blind. Deep youthful color with notes of black currants, cassis and plum. Chocolate and mocha qualities emerge as this opens in the glass. Well-balanced, with flavors of black fruit, cedar, plum and herbs. Velvety and soft; elegant. Long finish. Guessed Napa cab sauv. (R&R)

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• 2013 Fontanella Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Double blind, though the bottle itself is a tell, so let’s call it blind since I didn’t know which Fontanella was in my glass. Deep crimson-garnet color. Aromas of cassis, violets and plum. Full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and flavors of chocolate, cassis and blackberry liqueur. Becomes a bit more red-fruited as it sits. Very good. Guessed 2016 BGIII…not too shabby. (R&D)

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• 2013 Knights Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Double blind. Lighter color, looks to have some age. Wood spice, black fruit, cedar and plum notes. Full-bodied, with currant, herb and cedar on the palate. Balanced. Leaning ever so slightly towards the “old school” style of Napa cab. (R&D)

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• 2010 Bure Family Cabernet Sauvignon Thirteen 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Red berry, herb and dill notes, becoming more black fruited as it opens in the glass. Black fruit dominates the palate, supported by chewy tannins. Finishes with good length. Excellent. 92-93 pts. (J&J)

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• 2004 Bleasdale Cabernet Sauvignon Langhorne Creek 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

  Double blind. Opens with herbal qualities of sage and eucalyptus, along with black fruit, earth and clay. Medium-bodied, with flavors of red and black fruit carrying the long finish. Guessed Aussie. (J&J)

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• 2006 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Double blind. Opens with black fruit with floral undertones, picking up a cedar element with air. Full-bodied, with medium tannins and flavors of plummy dark fruit, spice and brown sugar.

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• 2017 Realm Cellars The Tempest

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Deep opaque color, with notes of raisin, bordering on prune, and also a bit hot. Full-bodied and firm. Mixed black and red fruit on the palate which is not as heavy or ripe as the bouquet suggests. Easy to pick out as a young Napa wine, but I’d have guessed sauvignon based.

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