Method: blind; uncorked 4 - 6 hours in advance; about 60 degrees; Grassl Cru
Look: medium ruby/garnet
Nose: strawberry, strawberry leaf, light clove
Palate: strawberry, tree bark, black tea; long finish of a ton of black pepper, black tea, herbs; dry; medium- body; low+ tannin; medium+ acidity
Overall thoughts: I don't know if it was served a bit too cold, my palate was off, the bottle was off or if this is just the kind of surprise I should expect when tasting blind, but I was shocked this was the Rivers-Marie. This didn't show as I remembered it 2 years ago. Much more red-fruited and retrained than I expected, with pretty high acidity, and it came of as a bit leaner as well. Regardless of this not showing as expected, it showed nice complexity and nice Pinot typicity. Very good wine.
Consensus 5th place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 17 of possible 35.
Palate: cherry, VA, grapefruit; long finish for light herbs and minerality; dry; medium body; medium- velvety tannins; medium fine and nicely incorporated acidity
Overall: What a wild wine! Nose is wild with both VA and what we think is mustard seed (something we've never smelled in wine before), but also more familiar notes of fruit and earth. The VA was maybe getting close to a bit too much, but it wasn't and it added nice complexity. The palate, while less wild, was still pretty surprising with what I think was a bit of grapefruit thrown in there. Complex and unexpected all around. Really great mouthfeel and balance. Great wine.
Consensus 1st place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 26 of possible 35.
Method: blind; uncorked 4 - 6 hours in advance; about 60 degrees; Grassl Cru
Look: pale garnet
Nose: cherry, baking spice, faint black tea
Palate: cherry, baking spice, mineral, orange peel; long finish of black tea, clove, black pepper, and mineral; dry; medium body; medium- rounder tannin; medium acidity
Overall thoughts: Sufficient complexity, very tasty, great mouthfeel and balance. Despite the pale color, I called Sonoma Pinot blind due to the flavors been very similar to me. Not what I expected. Great wine.
Consensus 4th place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 19 of possible 35.
2021 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Method: blind; uncorked 4 - 6 hours in advance; about 60 degrees; Grassl Cru
Look: medium ruby/garnet
Nose: strawberry, strawberry leaf, light clove
Palate: strawberry, tree bark, black tea; long finish of a ton of black pepper, black tea, herbs; dry; medium- body; low+ tannin; medium+ acidity
Overall thoughts: I don't know if it was served a bit too cold, my palate was off, the bottle was off or if this is just the kind of surprise I should expect when tasting blind, but I was shocked this was the Rivers-Marie. This didn't show as I remembered it 2 years ago. Much more red-fruited and retrained than I expected, with pretty high acidity, and it came of as a bit leaner as well. Regardless of this not showing as expected, it showed nice complexity and nice Pinot typicity. Very good wine.
Consensus 5th place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 17 of possible 35.
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2018 P. Dubreuil-Fontaine Père & Fils Aloxe-Corton 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Aloxe-Corton
Method: blind; uncorked 4 - 6 hours in advance; about 60 degrees; Grassl Cru
Look: pale red
Nose: cranberry, light srawberry, mushroom, light barnyard, wintergreen mint
Palate: strawberry, cherry, herbs; finish of bitter herbs, mineral; dry; light body; medium tannin; medium+ acidity
Overall thoughts: Great nose but mediocre palate, with the finish being more bitter than preferred. Overall, good wine.
Consensus 6th place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 1 of possible 35.
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2020 Dawson & James Pinot Noir Meadowbank Vineyard Tasmania 88 Points
Australia, Tasmania
Method: blind; uncorked 4 - 6 hours in advance; about 60 degrees; Grassl Cru
Look: pale garnet
Nose: bell pepper, herbs, cherry, forest floor
Palate: cherry, forest floor; long finish of orange peel, light bell pepper, mineral, herbs; dry; medium- body; [didn't note tannins...]; medium (maybe medium+) acidity
Overall thoughts: Nice complexity and I love the bell pepper and forest floor notes. Very good wine.
Consensus 2nd (tied) place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 21 of possible 35.
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2023 St. Reginald Parish Pinot Noir The Marigny Super Deluxe Cuvée 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Method: blind; uncorked 4 - 6 hours in advance; about 60 degrees; Grassl Cru
Look: pale ruby
Nose: band aid, cherry, hoisin sauce
Palate: cherry, mineral; finish of baking spice, light herbs; dry; medium- body; medium- velvety tannins; medium+ acidity
Overall thoughts: Decent complexity on the nose and palate. Great tannins. 91 - 92 points. Great wine.
Consensus 2nd (tied) place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 21 of possible 35.
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2016 Errazuriz Pinot Noir Las Pizarras 92 Points
Chile, Aconcagua Valley
Method: blind; uncorked 4 - 6 hours in advance; about 60 degrees; Grassl Cru
Look: pale garnet with bricking (maybe hint of tawny/browning)
Nose: mustard seed, blackberry, VA [wood/furniture polish], hoisin sauce, wet forest floor
Palate: cherry, VA, grapefruit; long finish for light herbs and minerality; dry; medium body; medium- velvety tannins; medium fine and nicely incorporated acidity
Overall: What a wild wine! Nose is wild with both VA and what we think is mustard seed (something we've never smelled in wine before), but also more familiar notes of fruit and earth. The VA was maybe getting close to a bit too much, but it wasn't and it added nice complexity. The palate, while less wild, was still pretty surprising with what I think was a bit of grapefruit thrown in there. Complex and unexpected all around. Really great mouthfeel and balance. Great wine.
Consensus 1st place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 26 of possible 35.
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2015 Rudolf Fürst Bürgstadter Spätburgunder 91 Points
Germany, Franken
Method: blind; uncorked 4 - 6 hours in advance; about 60 degrees; Grassl Cru
Look: pale garnet
Nose: cherry, baking spice, faint black tea
Palate: cherry, baking spice, mineral, orange peel; long finish of black tea, clove, black pepper, and mineral; dry; medium body; medium- rounder tannin; medium acidity
Overall thoughts: Sufficient complexity, very tasty, great mouthfeel and balance. Despite the pale color, I called Sonoma Pinot blind due to the flavors been very similar to me. Not what I expected. Great wine.
Consensus 4th place wine (out of 6) between 7 people, with a score of 19 of possible 35.
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