$100 wine event

Wine of the night was 2015 Tignanello, with the 2014 Sassicaia and 2016 Tignanello right behind it.

• NV Roederer Estate Brut Rosé Anderson Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  This was a little warm when I got to it, but remained a consistent champagne-styled sparkler with some creamy red fruit and brioche.

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• 2014 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  I'm surprised I don't have a note for a Fevre Bougros, I guess my friends and I tend to buy the Bougros Côte Bouguerots. This was brought directly from a cellar and warmed up from there. You don't want an ice cold chardonnay, but this was too warm. It came across flat, and I will blame the temperature. It still had some chiseled flinty minerality. Unscored.

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• 2021 Orin Swift Equinox Edition XVIII - Ceremonial War Mask 85 Points

  USA, California

  I'm a little surprised by the price. This tasted like a big sweet fruity spoofed wine. I did not recognize this as pinot noir. For the price, I suspect I could buy 10 bottles of similarly tasting wines instead of this one, not that I'd want to.

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• 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Three Palms Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This is a crowd-pleasing American-styled wine with a lot going on, just quite familiar. A touch sweet. This wine is impressive for what it is, but no one will ever mistake it as a right bank. While I wish there were more new world merlot wines released, I'd prefer a more sophisticated style.

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• 2014 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia

  7.5 hour decant, poured back in bottle and brought to a tasting. This remains a light-bodied wine with great lift and nuance.

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• 2015 Antinori Tignanello 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  4 hour decant. Beef blood, full-bodied, cherry, clearly Italian. This was paired with the 2016. The 2016 will be better someday, but the 2015 was better today.

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• 2016 Antinori Tignanello 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  A 3 hour decant. This was bigger and meatier than the 2015, but had less complexity. Purple fruit, very full-bodied with a lot of weight right now.

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• 2011 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  I don't think this was decanted. This was hardly recognizable as cabernet. Quite light and also good nuance with underbrush, bell pepper, black pepper, graphite and a touch of oak. This wine leans towards old world, but I think it suffers due to the vintage and I'd like to try one from a better year. The drinking window on CT is humorous, based on this bottle, it is past peak.

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• 2012 Sine Qua Non Syrah Stock 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  I'D RATHER BE DRINKING WINE's bottle. This had the classic SQN profile. Tons of flavor, bacon, leather, spice and earth. As good as it was, just a touch heavy or less lively (even for SQN).

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• 2015 Château Suduiraut 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  From a half bottle. Wow, young and delicious. Orange rind with slight marmalade, spice, chalk.

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