4th Saturday Brown Bagger

EBCC
Tasted Saturday, November 23, 2024 by AllRed with 106 views

Introduction

Wines are tasted double blind in flights, which are arranged randomly, but somewhat lighter to heavier. Each flight is discussed & unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 Notes)

Flight 2 - Reds (5 Notes)

  • 2022 Bergström Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Double blind. Light color. Aromas of cherry, nutmeg, clove and cranberry. Medium-bodied. Delightful red cherry fruit with nutmeg and a resiny herb tone in the finish. Nice fruit and balance. Some would say this is lighter, perhaps a touch sweeter in style than I expect from Bergstrom, but I rather like it. 91+ pts. (V&M)

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  • 2018 Battle Creek Cellars Pinot Noir Battle Creek Vineyard

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Double blind. Medium color, with an initial aroma that reminds me of Hunt's ketchup, along with hints of molasses, worcestshire sauce and red plummy fruit. Develops a subtle balsamic note with air. Flavors of dark fruit, plum and red berry. No guess, and probably not a representative bottle. (J&L)

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  • 1997 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Our penultimate bottle, double decanted off its sediment and served double blind to the group a little over two hours after the cork was pulled. Dark youthful color. Aromas of black currants and sweet tobacco with that delightful green overtone that tells me this is our bottle of Togni. Medium-bodied with soft tannin, this starts a little thin on the palate but I am positive it will flesh out as it breathes. Develops aromas of green tobacco and worn leather to go with the abundant black cabernet fruit notes. It has indeed put on weight in the glass as it breathes, adding flavors of tobacco, black currant, plum and cedar. Absolutely gorgeous. As one taster commented, this needs another ten years...indeed, this bottle showed much younger than I would have guessed. Would have been the clear WOTN had it not been for the Fuligni. 97 pts.

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  • 2014 Bodegas y Viñedos Castro Ventosa Bierzo Valtuille Cepas Centenarias 92 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo

    Double blind. Dark crimson red color with a lovely bouquet of eucalyptus, tapenade, mixed red and black fruit, plum and pepper. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of plum, dried herbs, tapenade and white pepper, finishing with good length. Guessed Gigondas. 92-93 pts. (Fut)

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  • 1989 Château Duhart-Milon 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Blind. Our final bottle, double decanted off its sediment a couple of hours before it was served double blind to the group. Medium garnet core with some age-appropriate bricking. Notes of red plum, currants and forest floor with just a little bit of an earthy/funky undertone. Medium-bodied with fully-integrated tannins and flavors of red currants, plum, leather and cigar tobacco. Balanced, with a lingering finish...wish I had a piece of lamb alongside. Drinking very well right now...with perhaps a few years left at this level with proper storage. I wish I had a couple left, especially considering I sourced it for $62 back in 2007.

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Flight 3 - Reds (5 Notes)

  • 2016 Mira Winery Merlot Hyde Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Double blind. Deep color with notes of boysenberry and dark plummy fruit. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of black fruit and fig; a little jammy, though it works here. (J&S)

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  • 2015 Château La Mission Haut-Brion La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Double blind. Dark color, opening with a weird funky, almost cheesy aroma that took a few minutes to blow off. Notes of black and red fruit, spice, plum and graphite. Full-bodied. Flavors of red fruit, plum, currants and earth. Guessed young St. Emilion. 91+ pts, and I think a touch young yet. Give this one a few years to develop more complexity. (R&D)

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  • 2005 Calistoga Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Double blind. Notes of plum, blackberry and cassis with a little bit of brett adding a nice earthy quality in the background. Full-bodied, with medium tannins and flavors of cassis, plum, chocolate and earth. Finishes with good length. Shows much younger than 2005. (J&S)

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  • 2016 Château Le Prieuré Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Double blind. Aromas of earth, plum, red berry fruit and something just a little dirty/funky- something hinting at sweat socks but not that unpleasant...this funky quality works nicely here. Flavors of black fruit, plum and chocolate. 92+ pts.

    While this is definitely coming along, I would say continue to hold for now...check in perhaps 2030+. (R&D)

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  • 2018 Rockpile Winery (Mauritson) Zinfandel Rockpile Ridge Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile

    Double blind. Aromas of blackberry liqueur, spice and plum. Full-bodied, with flavors of blackberry, chocolate and plum. Medium, somewhat chalky tannins, with a medium finish. Good ripe fruit, but not overdone. (V&M)

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Flight 4 - Reds (4 Notes)

  • 2019 Robert Hall Syrah Cavern Select 91 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Double blind. Dark color. Similar to the last wine in the previous flight, with notes of chocolate, plum and blackberries. Full-bodied. The palate follows the bouquet. A bit firm, with some tannin to shed, but finishes with good length. Bright raspberry qualities emerge with air. Very nice. 91+ pts.

    This had been opened 8.5 hrs before service. (J&L)

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  • 2020 Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chênes 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    Double blind. Dark color. Black fruit, plum and raisin with meaty overtones. Full-bodied, ripe and plummy, with blue fruit and pepper flavors as well. Full and rich, slightly heavy. Rather zin-like. (R&S)

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  • 2001 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 96 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Double blind. Deep color. I am immediately smitten with this wine and its bouquet of tobacco, plum, iodine, melted licorice, macerated red berries and asphalt. My mind immediately went to Graves. Full-bodied, with softened tannins and flavors of black currant, plum, iodine and dried herbs. Long finish. Absolutely gorgeous. 96-97 pts. Guessed Graves. (Fut)

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  • 2021 Psi Ribera del Duero 90 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Double blind. Notes of black currant, graphite and cedar. Plum, chocolate and black fruit on the palate. Nice.

    Second time with this wine in just over a month but I failed to recognize it. So much for palate memory. (R&S)

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Flight 5 - Dinner & dessert wines (4 Notes)

  • 2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Dundee Hills 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Popped and poured with the salad course, no formal note. Light color with notes of orchard fruit and florals. Has a nice melony undertone. Medium-bodied. Very nice- wish I'd have grabbed more than a six pack.

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  • 1993 Ravenswood Merlot Sangiacomo Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    Magnum, double decanted off its sediment almost four hours before service. Age appropriate bricking with a crimson core. A little dusty earth and softened red fruit on the nose and palate. No tannin left to integrate, this is just a decent old merlot that's pleasant enough. Drink up.

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  • 2014 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Magnum. Poured with dinner, this was inky and dark. Notes of cassis, plum and chocolate with plenty of barrel influence. Full-bodied, with abundant black fruit and chocolate on the palate. (R&D)

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  • 2001 Château Guiraud 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    I find a touch more spice in Guiraud and so I thought it might pair nicely with Chef's seasonal cheesecake offering, and I wasn't wrong. Standard bottle, medium gold color, with aromas of honey, apricot, ripe peach and spice. Full-bodied and rich, with a wonderful weight across the palate. Stone fruit, botrytis spice and stone fruit on the palate with a lingering finish. A terrific showing from this bottle.

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