4th Saturday Brown Bagger

Wines are tasted double blind in flights, which are arranged randomly, but as much as possible from light to heavy. Each flight is discussed & unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

• NV Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

  France, Champagne

  Lot LAM9M. Light color with a medium mousse and fine bead. Red apple, almond and chalk qualities with subtle toasty undertones. Excellent.

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• 2018 Arns Chardonnay 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Double blind. In a word- excellent. Medium yellow color with notes of apple and waxed fruit, there's a Rhone-like richness to it. With air the fruit comes a bit more forward and the wine becomes brighter, a touch more racy. The chardonnay character begins to shine, culminating in the fresh, orchard-fruit dominated finish. Guessed Sonoma chardonnay. (R&D)

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• 2018 Knights Bridge Sauvignon Blanc Fairview 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Double blind. Light color. Citrus, mineral and honeysuckle notes. Citrus and lemongrass flavors with heightened acidity. Fresh and bright. Doesn't have the richness of l'Apres Midi so I guessed Knights Bridge sauv blanc. (R&D)

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• 2018 Peter Michael Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Double blind. Slightly darker color opening with a terrific toasted quality and apple, lemon, shaved coconut and mineral underneath. Full-bodied, but elegant and bright, with lemon, pear and tangerine qualities. There's a touch of oak showing in the finish, but there's plenty of fruit balancing it out. There's an old world sensibility here, and it fooled some other tasters tonight, but this was easy to pick out as a Peter Michael on account of the fruit- the only question was which one...and the tangerine note and elegance had me thinking Indigene. The Ma Belle Fille has fooled me a few times recently- it's a lot more elegant and pretty than I had been giving it credit for. 94+ pts. (R&D)

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• 1995 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Bosché 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Blind. Slight bricking is the tell that this is one of the older wines in the flight. Aromas of red currant, green tobacco and warm spices. Medium-bodied and integrated, featuring red berry fruit, plum and cedar flavors. Well-balanced and elegant, this is showing beautifully. A wonderful example of mature Napa cabernet at peak. This had been double decanted off its sediment ninety minutes prior to service.

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• 2016 Stonestreet Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  Double blind. Dark color. Notes of cassis, blue fruit, white pepper, coconut and sage. Full-bodied with medium+ tannins and flavors of vanilla, black cherry, coconut and currants. With time in the glass notes of dill and lavender are evident. Good complexity in the bouquet but the palate is still a bit primary by comparison. I would give these some time yet, perhaps from 2028+. 92 now with some upside. (J&S)

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• 2008 Dominus Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Dark color. Aromas of blue and black fruits, clay and paprika. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of red and black fruit, spice and dried herbs. Twenty minutes in the glass and some swirling coaxes out green tobacco, blackberry and mocha elements. The palate becomes more plummy and dark, picking up a chocolate flavor as well. Quite rich and plush, with a lengthy finish.
  
  Each time this shows up in our tastings it gets a little better, more open and enjoyable...even if it is on the more modern/generous side for Dominus. This certainly tasted much younger than sixteen. With three bottles of my own in the cellar, I am always happy to get a taste and see how it's doing. I'll continue to hold for now...check in perhaps 2028-2030? (R&D)

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• 2016 Roc de Cambes 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg

  Double blind. Youthful inky color. Aromas of tobacco, black currants, licorice, chocolate and lavender. Full-bodied and slightly firm, with fine tannins and flavors of black currants, boysenberry and chocolate. Vanilla and herbaceous elements emerge with aeration. I love the forward dark fruit here, and I kept oscillating between this and wine A for my favorite in the flight. I guessed Napa cabernet sauv blend but at no point did Bordeaux cross my mind.
  
  This had been given a decant about 2.5 hrs before service. Certainly a Bordeaux for Napa cabernet lovers, made in a modern style, which isn't a dig as it's a very good wine. Another wine that I happen to have a few of and so based on this I'll hold for a good while and hope for some of its heritage to show. 2030+. (V&M)

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• 1996 Chartron et Trébuchet Chambolle-Musigny

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny

  Double blind. Pours a reddish brown color, clearly quite old. Aromas of tea leaf and tomato, but there's some red fruit hiding underneath. Soft and light, with flavors of cherry and sweet tea with a slightly stewed/baked fruit element. With air the fruit comes forward and the stewy elements fade away. While this is old and well beyond its best, there is some charm here if you're willing to look for it. (R&S)

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• 2008 Lagier Meredith Syrah 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Double blind. Deep youthful purplish red color. Vanilla, blue fruit, chocolate and black fruit notes. Has a touch of heat as well. Full-bodied. Flavors of black fruit, pepper and black raspberry. Balanced, with a lingering finish. A gorgeous syrah. 93-94 pts. (MM)

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• 2021 Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Le Génie 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Blind. Inky color with notes of cassis, blueberry, dried herbs and graphite. Full-bodied with fine tannins and flavors that mirror the bouquet. Abundant black fruit is perfectly ripe, front and center. Elegant and balanced, with a long finish. Having had this a week prior, it was easy to pick out as our Le Génie in this flight. This had been decanted for four hours with the cork first pulled 6.5 hours before service.

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• 2008 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Hillstone Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Blind. Dark youthful color with notes of chocolate and plummy black fruit. Full-bodied. Flavors of black fruit, plum and chocolate with a dusty, Rutherford-like quality. Finishes with good length. Rich and chocolatey. Good in this style. This had been double decanted 6.5 hrs before service.

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• 2020 Typhon Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Lumen 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Double blind. Aromas of vanilla, black fruit, blueberry and barrel spice. With air this picks up a buttery caramel aroma that I like...it works here. Full-bodied with fine, but firm and perhaps slightly chalky tannins and flavors of blackberry, plum and chocolate. No smoke issues that I can detect with this 2020. (V&M)

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• 2014 Gorman Winery The Evil Twin 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Double blind. Youthful dark color with notes of fresh herbs- rosemary and dill- coffee liqueur and black fruit. Tar and black fruit on the palate, with hints of pepper and dill in the finish. Excellent. (R&S)

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• 2008 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Double blind. Inky color. Cassis and currants with chocolate and dried herb notes. Full-bodied with fine tannin and flavors of cassis and black currants. Vanilla, chocolate and herb elements as well. Balanced, with a lingering finish. Lovely. (R&D)

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• 2014 Castellucci Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Double blind. Opens with notes of earthy clay and loam, with black fruit and floral qualities as well. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of mocha, black currants and herbs. Picks up a subtle bouillon note with air that slightly detracts from the wine. Medium+ finish. (J&S)

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With a terrific penne pasta with peas, asparagus, bacon and lemon, and blueberry cheesecake dessert.

• 2008 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  An overly generous contribution to dinner from our hosts, in magnum format, of course. Plum, black currant, vanilla and chocolate with blue fruit undertones. Fine, elegant tannins support an abundance of perfectly ripe black fruit. Balanced, with a long finish. Lovely, with no hurry in this format. (R&D)

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• 2008 Château Doisy-Védrines 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Medium golden yellow color. Notes of mango, pear and pineapple- rather tropical in nature. Pear and peach on the palate with balancing acidity. A delightful match for the blueberry cheesecake served alongside. (R&D)

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