4th Saturday Brown Bagger

Wines are tasted double blind in random flights although we attempt to taste light to heavy. Each flight is discussed & unveiled before moving on to the next flight.

• 2023 Francine Bachelier Chablis Réserve du Sanglier 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis

  Double blind. Pale color. Citrus and straw aromas follow through on the palate, joined by apple and a somewhat bitter quality. Light, with heightened acid. A touch lean. (R&S)

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• 2023 Castello della Sala (Antinori) Chardonnay Bramito della Sala 90 Points

  Italy, Umbria

  Double blind. Opens with floral and dried peach notes. Medium-bodied, with flavors of pear, dried peach and mineral. This is a step up from the first wine, and very nice. Moderate acidity with good fruit. (R&S)

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• 2017 Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Double blind. Medium color. Notes of orchard fruit and honeycomb with subtle toasty undertones. Full-bodied. Apple, pear, honey and stone fruit qualities on the palate. Plenty of nice toasty elements as well, but there’s plenty of fruit to balance the oak. Excellent. Drinking well, though no need to rush here. (R&S)

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• 1987 Hop Kiln Riesling Verveux 90 Points

  USA, California

  Double blind. Deep mature straw yellow color. Notes of baked apple and caramel. Very little effervescence remains, but there is plenty to like with flavors of dried apple, pear and caramel. The fruit has a nice sweetness to it.
  
  I really enjoyed this, and had a glass about three hours later with fried chicken, and it paired very well. A unique treat. (R&S)

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• 1977 Ravenswood Zinfandel El Dorado County

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, El Dorado County

  From the February mystery library case. Quickly and gently double decanted off its sediment an hour before checking in. Brown color showing its age. Hints of bouillon dominate upon opening, but perhaps by the time it is served it will awaken and some fruit will emerge. Unfortunately the bouillon note got a little stronger on the nose and palate- this bottle is long gone.

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• NV Drappier Champagne Rosé de Saignée Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Double blind. Medium pink color with a short mousse. Aromas of strawberry, grape skins and sweet red berry fruit. Drier on the palate than I expected, with flavors of red berries, red apple and chalk dust. I did not catch a disgorgement date or lot, but M thought this would have been purchased a year or two prior. Excellent. (MM)

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• 2019 Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les Vignes d'Autrefois 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Double blind. Light color with a medium mousse and bead. Orchard fruit and dough notes. Fine bead, with flavors of orchard fruit and wet dough. Good, but sort of lost in the mix here. (J&S)

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• NV Etienne Doué Champagne Cuvée Sélection 85 Points

  France, Champagne

  Double blind. Short mousse. Opens with an odd funky aroma, almost like nutritional yeast or even a runny, funky cheese like Époisses. Better on the palate, with orchard fruit, nut and pastry flavors. I just couldn’t get past the bouquet on this, but others liked it well enough. (R&D)

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• NV J. Vignier Champagne Aux Origines Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Blind. Chalk, mineral and apple notes. Green apple on the palate, along with blanched almond and chalk. Bright acidity; chiseled. Short mousse with a persistent bead. 2014 base, disgorged in 2022 at 5 g/L.

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• NV Carafoli Lambrusco di Modena Nettare di Bacco Amabile 87 Points

  Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Lambrusco di Modena

  Double blind. Purplish red color with an aggressive mousse. Aromas of grape pomace and sweet red berry fruit. Medium bead. Flavors of raspberry and blackberry. Sweet.
  
  An off-dry version of Lambrusco, from a blend of Sorbara 50%, Salamino 30% and Grasparossa 20%, utilizing the Charmat method. (V&M)

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• 2018 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Sea Spray Blanc de Noirs 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Double blind. Medium yellow- appears a touch older than others in this flight. Medium mousse with a good bead. Aromas of orchard fruit, dough and cashew. The orchard fruit follows on the palate, along with dough and berry qualities. Has a nice richness that I enjoy quite a bit. Easy to pick out as a BdN, but I’d have guessed it to be from Champagne. (J&L)

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• 2009 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

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

  Double blind. Light red color. Aromas of garrigue, tobacco and red berry fruit. This is lovely, and I could keep my nose i the glass all night. Medium-bodied with soft tannin and good acidity. Red berry fruit and herb tones on the palate. Easy to pick out as Châteauneuf. With air this develops a nice wild feral element that I really like and led me to believe this has a bit more Mourvèdre in the blend. I guessed this was a bit older, however, in the '99-'01 range. If this bottle is representative it's definitely ready, and should hold for some time. (MM)

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• 1998 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Blind. Bricking at the meniscus, showing a bit of age. Aromas of tobacco, mint and blackberry compote. The fruit turns more plummy as it breathes in the glass, and shows more eucalyptus than mint. Full-bodied with fully-resolved tannins and flavors of plum, candied blackberry and cherry cordial with herbal elements as well. Easy to assume this was our Dead Arm.
  
  Our last bottle, double decanted off its sediment about three hours before service. If this is a representative bottle, this is a bit past prime and on the downside of its life, though certainly has time before it loses all its charm, but I would err on the sooner side.

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• 2017 Rockpile Winery (Mauritson) Zinfandel Cemetery Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile

  Double blind. Dark color with notes of ripe dark fruit, and a bit boozy as well- high octane. With air it develops notes of caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut to go with the plummy, ripe dark fruit. Full-bodied with ripe black fruit on the palate, finishing with a bit of heat. Good in this style, but half a glass is plenty for me. (V&M)

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• 2018 Mt. Brave Merlot 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Double blind. Opens with plum and rhubarb notes, along with something a little resinous/sappy. Chocolate notes emerge with time in the glass. Full-bodied, with plummy dark fruit and chocolate flavors, though rather tannic and somewhat austere. (J&S)

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• 2019 Trione Pinot Noir River Road Ranch 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Double blind. Opens with big ripe black pinot fruit. Root beer and spice qualities as well. A bigger style that will have a lot of fans. (R&S)

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• 2021 Charles Joguet Chinon Cuvée Terroir 89 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

  Double blind. Lighter color. Notes of red plum and black fruit. Plush, with red berry fruit and a nice finish. Good fruit. This was quite the surprise when unveiled- Chinon never crossed my mind as I was tasting this, and no one else picked up on it either. Not what I expect when I reach for Chinon. (R&S)

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• 2019 Pambrun Merlot 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Double blind. Cherry, vanilla and clay notes. Plush texture, with cherry and red berry fruit. Nice. (J&L)

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• 2015 Mt. Brave Syrah 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Double blind. Deep color. Big bouquet of wood, spice, chocolate and blue fruit. Full-bodied and tannic, with mixed blue and black fruit and spice flavors. Large-scaled and straightforward. Guessed cab sauv. (R&D)

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• 2021 Prosper Maufoux Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Domaine Vigne au Roy 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits

  Popped and poured with dinner following the tasting. Medium ruby with notes of cherry, earth and mineral. Warm spice tones and mineral in the finish. Very nice. (R&S)

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• 1977 J W Morris Vintage Port 88 Points

  USA, California

  One doesn’t see a nearly fifty year-old domestic port too often so this was a rare treat. Raisin, chocolate and plum notes on the nose and palate. This still has plenty of fruit and is drinking quite nicely right now. 88-89 pts. (R&D)

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• 2004 Château Nairac 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Medium yellow gold color with notes of stone fruit, marmalade and spice. Rich texture with stone fruit and pineapple flavors with balancing acidity. Excellent. (R&S)

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