Block Party Blind Tasting

My block party organized a blind tasting for both whites and reds, all under $20. Some good wines, including mine, some not so good.

• 2021 Château de Rouanne Vinsobres 85 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vinsobres

  Double blind. Fleshy and rich with backbone. Accessible with more in reserve, this is near good balance now with some upside from here. Very good value wine.

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• 2021 Metz Road Pinot Noir Riverview 81 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County

  Tasted double blind. Lighter style with some candy notes, making me think New World Pinot Noir. Lacking much of anything.

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• 2019 Podernuovo a Palazzone Therra Toscana IGT 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Plump black fruits with firm tannins in the middle and an engaging finish. The Cabernet and Merlot comes through more prominently than the Sangiovese.

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• 2015 Pax Syrah The Hermit 87 Points

  USA, California, North Coast

  Fleshy black fruit with good balance of ripe and tart. Much better than my previous bottle opened in 2019.

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• 2019 Erath Pinot Noir Oregon 79 Points

  USA, Oregon

  Double blind. Light and barely interesting, this was clearly a New World Pinot Noir with little to say.

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• 2022 Bodegas Breca Garnacha El Nacido 86 Points

  Spain, Aragón, Calatayud

  Double blind. Clearly Old World with black fruits and a firm, furry middle culminating in a richer finish hinting at more to come.

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• 2021 Decoy Red Wine 85 Points

  USA, California

  Double blind. Simple but well balanced New World Cab-based blend. Pleasant.

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• 2021 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir Grand Assemblage 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Tasted double blind. Back berries and plum with faint spice, this is easy and very well balanced, very well made. Simple but fun, excellent wine to find in this "value" tasting. Group's wine of the night, my #2.

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• 2022 The Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon California 78 Points

  USA, California

  Double blind. Clearly a simple New World Cab-based wine that is nearly pleasant, and tries to get by on its sweetness with little substance.

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• 2023 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 71 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Double blind. Light and lacking much beyond a sense of sweetness.

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• 2020 Charles Smith Merlot The Velvet Devil 77 Points

  USA, Washington

  Double blind. So sweet it was no longer fun, this was almost drinkable.

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• 2022 Browne Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Do Epic Shit. 86 Points

  USA, Washington

  Double blind. Also clearly New World Cabernet-based wine with good balance of fruit and structure, easily enjoyable with good finessed notes on its finish.

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• 2019 Freie Weingärtner Wachau / Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel 86 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  Double blind. Lemony start-to-finish with a faintly tart finish, nearly bitter.

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• 2022 Loveblock Vintners Ltd Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley 86 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Awatere Valley

  Double blind. Lemony goodness throughout with a bright raciness. Best right now.

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• 2023 Neyers Chardonnay 304 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Double blind. Rich apple with some lemon, all the hallmarks of a well made barely oaked New World Chardonnay, that is easy to enjoy in its youth right now.

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• 2024 Lyrarakis Assyrtiko Vóila 80 Points

  Greece, Crete

  Double blind. Simple and kind of non-descript, lacing much of interest, but nearly drinkable.

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• 2023 Honig Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 81 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Very Sauv Blanc and very New World. Simple, starting off fleshy and ripe, finishing near bitter.

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• 2024 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 82 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Double blind. Very grassy in the distinct style of medicore NZ Sauv Blanc with good enough weight and length and pleasant lemon character.

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• 2013 Bruno Lorenzon Montagny 1er Cru Les Truffières Blanc 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Montagny 1er Cru

  Rich apple aromas and flavors, some baked apple and honeycomb. Lots here, still nicely fresh.

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• 2022 Goldschmidt Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Boulder Bank Fitzroy 85 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Double blind. Lean apple and lemon, more tart than rich, but enough of both to be interesting. Oddly, the group's favorite white.

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• 2024 Seaglass Pinot Grigio 74 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Double blind. Sweet, not particularly pleasant at all.

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• 2022 Domaine Robert Groffier Bourgogne 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne

  Ripe red cherry and berry with some candied fruit notes. Good volume for its level and overall very good balance now, this is an excellent Bourgogne for near term enjoyment.

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• 2020 Gérard Boulay Sancerre Monts Damnés 91 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre

  Popped-and-poured. Bright apple with a clear fleshy richness that was fully and wonderfully balanced by brightening acidity and minerality. Very good now.

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• 2020 Domaine du Roc des Boutires Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Aux Bouthières 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru

  Popped, decanted, and poured. Lots of orchard fruit, some lemon curd and floral elements adding more. Good weight and volume with abundant bright energy Very good now, well balanced, with some possible further upside from here.

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