4th Saturday Brown Bagger & Anniversary Celebration

We gathered for our regular monthly Saturday group tasting, which just happened to fall on the date of our wedding anniversary- number 17 for Domino and me. The hosts sent a note to the rest of the group requesting 2008s if folks had them in the cellar. Domino and I offered a couple of Champagnes as well.

Wines are tasted in flights, no more than six to a flight, arranged randomly but roughly light to heavy. We spend 30-40 minutes evaluating the wines in the flight before discussions really get going and we make our guesses.

• 2008 Rare Champagne 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Our first of four, opened to kick off the tasting and in honor of our 17th wedding anniversary. Youthful pale straw yellow in color with a medium mousse. Apple and citrus notes with hints of vanilla cream underneath. Flavors of almond, apple and citrus with just a subtle toasted element. One pro review notes this is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir with a dosage of around 10g/L, but this drinks like the dosage is much lower. The house notes ageing potential to 2050, and while I don't know that I'd go quite that far, it remains quite youthful today, striking a nice balance between the fruit and acidity.

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• 2022 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Double blind. Light color. Aromas of tangerine, lime and honeysuckle. Full-bodied with flavors of yellow apple and grapefruit. There's a richness here balancing the acidity, which was on the softer side so I thought this might have had a couple of years to settle in. Guessed 2021 L'Apres-Midi. (R&D)

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• 2022 Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Sonoma 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Double blind. Light golden yellow with a subtle youthful green tint. Aromas of coconut shell, banana and ripe apple. There's a touch of wood on the palate, along with apple, cardamom and green fig. Guessed Lewis Barcaglia Lane. (R&D)

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• 2021 Fontanella Family Wines Viognier 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Double blind. Pale color. Aromas of clay, unripe pear and honeycomb. Flavors of apple and white pepper with a bitterness as well, although it's not off-putting in any way. There's some weight on the palate that had me leaning towards northern Rhone white varieties, and I finally settled on Viognier despite a lack of floral/stone fruit notes. I often find a somewhat viscous, almost oily texture with Viognier and this seemed to fit here. 89+ pts. (R&D)

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• 2008 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Double blind. Opaque purplish color. Aromas of boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry- very fruit-driven and forward. Good density and concentration, full-bodied with soft tannin. Flavors of chocolate, black fruit, vanilla and blue fruit. Drinking nicely, I believe it had been opened about 90 minutes before service. (J&L)

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• 2008 Gérard Raphet Clos Vougeot 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  Blind. Light color, this looks like an old wine. Aromas of lavender, rose, cherry, currants and spice. Full-bodied with soft tannin and acidity and flavors of cherry and spice. Develops a meaty, bacon-like quality as it opens in the glass.
  
  Easy to pick out as one of our Burgs in the flight. This was double-decanted off its sediment 2.5 hrs before service, and it improved in the glass. Right now I'd say 3-4 hours would be perfect.

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• 2008 Château Pape Clément 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Double blind. Dark color with perhaps just a little age/bricking at the meniscus. Notes of animal fur, black and blue fruit and spice. Medium tannins. Flavors of mixed red and black fruit, with hints of beef blood/iron in the finish. Develops a nice herbal streak as it opens in the glass. Guessed 2008 Pichon Lalande. This had been opened about two hours before service. (R&D)

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• 2008 Gérard Raphet Charmes-Chambertin 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Blind. Medium ruby color. Opens with notes of game, cherry, flowers and spice. There's a really intriguing wild/feral streak in this. Medium tannins with flavors of dried cherries, raspberry and spice. Lingering finish. Balanced; there's some power in this as well. Excellent.
  
  This had been double decanted off its sediment 2.5 hours before service.

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• 2016 Azelia Barolo 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Double blind. Light color. Abundant red berry fruit on the nose and palate. Rose and peppery spice elements as well. Full-bodied, with medium tannin and a lingering finish. Well-balanced. (R&S)

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• 2008 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Double blind. Dark youthful color, opaque. Aromas of black fruit, plum, blueberry and baking spices. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors that mirror the bouquet.
  
  This was a surprise to me when it was unveiled. It came off a bit generic- good, for sure, but I would have expected more. Nevertheless, a very generous contribution to the tasting. (J&L)

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• 2019 Antichi Castelli Toscani Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Double blind. Ruby color with notes of dried herbs, red plum, topsoil and cherry. Muddled dark fruit; supple. A bit of a conundrum. (V&M)

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• 2008 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  Double blind. Dark color. Currant, plum and chocolate notes with hints of bouillon underneath. Full-bodied with softened tannins and flavors of plum and currants. Well-balanced, ending with good length. Drinking well at the moment. (R&D)

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• 2018 K Vintners Syrah Klein 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Double blind. Notes of black raspberry and perfectly ripe red berry fruit. Forward, with abundant fruit and hints of peppery spice. Drinking beautifully at the moment. (R&S)

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• 2018 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Double blind. Deep color with notes of dark berry fruit and tar, with white pepper and blue fruit overtones. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of blueberry and black raspberry. Nice concentration and depth. Excellent. (V&M)

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We enjoyed these with a spring lamb stew and a strawberry clafoutis.

• 2008 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  While we transitioned from the tasting to dinner I put it to the group to decide if we needed another bottle of Champagne, and the answer was an emphatic “yes,” so I reached into the bag for the 2008 LGD.
  
  Youthful pale color with a full, lingering mousse and bead. Yellow apple, lemon curd, dough, biscuit and pear with a subtle floral element as well. Fine bead with lemon, pastry dough, orchard fruit and cashew flavors. So very good. A 2008 that has drunk well from the start, we purchased just over a case of this and are down to just four bottles. 94-95 pts.

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• 2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Magnum, courtesy of our hosts. Cassis, blackberry, plum and saddle leather aromas. Full-bodied with some tannin to integrate in this format. Balanced, with a plush velvety texture and flavors of plum, cassis and tobacco. Chocolate and kirsch tones in the lengthy finish. Gorgeous, and a delightful match for D’s spring lamb stew. (R&D)

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• 2008 Château Doisy-Védrines 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Light golden color with notes of mango, pineapple and pear nectar. Full and rich, with an abundance of ripe tropical fruit and peach. Hints of honey in the finish. Excellent. (R&D)

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