3rd Friday Group Tasting

Our small group of eight gathered for our regular third Friday brown bag tasting. Wines are brought in paper bags and arranged randomly but we attempt to go somewhat light to heavy by placing wines towards one end of the table or the other, and then we mix them a bit from there. Each flight is tasted and unveiled prior to moving on to the next flight.

• 2007 Domaine Vincent and Sophie Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Baudines

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Double blind. Deep color. Slightly nutty, with apple and baked pear notes. Full-bodied, with pear, lemon curd and mineral. Has that woolly quality that I associate with Chassagne. Guessed 2005 Chassagne. No oxidation here, but certainly mature and I agree with toulon10trader that it’s time to drink up. A few of us preferred this of the two warm ups. It was later revealed that this bottle came from a departed friend’s cellar. Cheers, JC. (R&R)

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• 2021 Kistler Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Double blind, pouring a light yellow color. Lemon, stone and citrus blossom notes. Flavors of citrus, pear and lime with soft acidity and a slight richness. Excellent, though it didn’t scream Chardonnay. (R&R)

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• 2005 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Blind. Significant bricking. Red berry fruit, pepper and bouillon aromas, the latter of which becomes more dominant as this sits in the glass. Better on the palate, with red berry fruit and pepper. Clearly one of our Cote Rotie, and one taster did identify this as an older Rhone Syrah. Despite a nearly pristine cork, at least based on appearances, this had a bit of exposure through its days and suffered as a result. Not a truly representative example, though not undrinkable.

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• 2009 Château Pape Clément 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Double blind. Medium crimson color with subtle bricking. Notes of red fruit, herbs and iron. Full-bodied with red fruit carrying the palate. Balanced, with a lingering finish. Develops a nice perfumed floral note as it sits in the glass. Clearly Bordeaux, this had soft tannins and looked a bit older, and I guessed 2000…if pressed I’d have guessed Pauillac. I was shocked to see 2009 as (1) this looked a good bit older, and (2) I think of 2009 as a “modern” vintage and that’s not how I would describe this. Drinking nicely after a couple of hours of breathing in bottle, and throwing a fair amount of sediment too. (R&D)

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• 2020 Cheval des Andes 93 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo, Vistalba

  Double blind. Blackberry and anise notes to start, evolving to pine needles, cherry, loam and chocolate. Medium-bodied with abundant red and black fruits and a pleasant herbaceous undertone. Lingering finish. Wonderful balance. 93-94 pts. (R&R)

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• 2004 Concha y Toro Carménère Terrunyo Peumo Vineyard Block 27 92 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley

  Double blind. Resinous to start, along with dried herbs, sage and eucalyptus, with red fruit and meaty aromas as well. Full-bodied with soft tannins and flavors of mixed red and black fruit. The eucalyptus follows on the palate. With air green bell pepper qualities emerge. The herbaceous/eucalyptus elements had me guessing Aussie Shiraz. Excellent. 92-93 ts. (J2)

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• 2005 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Cuvée Classique 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Blind, but again, fairly evident that this was our second bottle of Cote Rotie, showing a faded crimson red with some bricking. Aromas of white pepper, red fruit and roasted game. Red berry fruit and pepper on the palate. A very nice showing for this bottle. This had been double decanted off its sediment about 2.5 hrs before service.

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• 2009 Château Palmer Alter Ego

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Double blind. Grapey - almost smells like grape must - that kind of aroma. There's some green, herbaceous undertones as well. Medium-bodied with good fruit. Youthful and bright, with plenty of fruit. (R&D)

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• 2010 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Double blind. Aromas of red fruit, spice and herbs/garrigue. Medium-bodied, with nicely ripe red berry fruit, pepper and herbs. Raspberry elements in the finish. I thought this was a few years older, but it's drinking nicely. (R&R)

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• 2012 Bodegas Poesia Poesia 91 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo

  Double blind. Notes of dark fruit, tobacco, chocolate and green herbs. Balanced, with an abundance of dark fruit and herb on the palate. Excellent. 91-92 pts.

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• 2022 MOWE Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  Double blind. Opaque purplish color. Aromas of cassis, brown sugar, violet, blackberry and vanilla. Full-bodied, with slightly rustic tannins and flavors of black cherry, kirsch and cassis. Long finish. Easy to pick out as a Napa Cab Sauv, but the brown sugar elements and knowing R's cellar had me thinking TRB's Rivers-Marie...would not have come close to guessing MOWE.
  
  This had been opened and allowed to breathe in bottle 3-4 hours before service, which is simply not enough time. Dustin's recommendation is spot on - a quick double decant in the morning of followed by 1-2 hours in a decanter before service really allows this to open and soften. (R&R)

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