Blind tasting with MWs and wines after

Tasted Tuesday, November 18, 2025 by melvinyeowq with 75 views

Flight 1 - Blind tasting with MWs (8 Notes)

Fun and educational blind tasting MW-style which reminded me why I would never take MW, could care less if the wines were raised in ambient yeast (?!). Pretty happy with my guesses other than the three Chardonnays that I got hopelessly wrong (I actually thought the reds were much more difficult).

  • 2017 Hubert Lamy Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes Blanc 90 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru

    Quite reductive and youthful, I guessed as a 2022 '00 as it was remarkably similar to the '00 Richard Hermann Cuvee I had last month. Not much development for its age and quite simple for a Lamy and vintage.

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  • 2023 Freeman Chardonnay Ryo-fu 85 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Too artificially sweet and wouldn't actually have guessed Chardonnay so I thought that this was the Catena Zapata (which was actually better than expected).

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  • 2022 Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay White Stones Adrianna Vineyard 92 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Gualtallary

    Ripe with some sweetness but very classic, thought that this was the Lamy! Impressively the MW who inserted this wine was probably the only one who got it right. Did become creamier with air but very impressive for South American Chardonnay.

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  • 2015 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Easily identifiable as the Cepparello with the dark red cherry fruit and firm structure. More integrated than I expected and became more seamless with air.

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  • 2021 Gabrielskloof Syrah On Shale 92 Points

    South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Bot River

    Easily identifiable as the Syrah in the line-up even though it was more northern Rhone in style. Very classic with peppery, bacon fat notes and probably my favourite red of the line-up.

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  • 2021 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 70 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Wow had the horrible combination of overripe purple fruit and pyrazine that I hate with lots of unnecessary new oak. Guessed Chilean Cab Sauv Carménère whatever that I would say was still theoretically correct.

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  • 2003 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Champans 90 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

    Like what the MWs said, this was a definite banker that didn't even require tasting to nail as a Burgundy. Some browning and developed some plummy and soy notes, fresh pour was probably better. Classic but lacked presence, turned oxidative with air.

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  • 2018 Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Rioja Macan Flawed

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Oxidised as hell so I thought this was an older Italian but Derek managed to impressively nail this as a modern Rioja. The MW admitted that these bottles were probably not in the best condition but still served them so go figure...

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Flight 2 - Wines at dinner (3 Notes)

We stayed back to have dinner and it was a pleasure to have Eugene from Vajra join us after her dinner engagements to share some interesting (in a good way) wines.

  • 1978 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barbaresco Bernadotti 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    Wow a unicorn from purchased grapes. Bottle was in good condition with excellent fill. Initially nose was more beguiling than the palate but soon reversed; after time in the glass as the nose developed soy and tertiary notes but the palate put on structure and the dark red fruit became more prominent. Both nose and palate freshened up with air so I dreaded the new pour, was fascinating to see how an older wine developed as usually a bottle would be shared among a bigger group. A treat to have had this thanks to Dibbs who spotted it off the list.

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  • 2020 Dalamara Winery Paliokalias Naoussa 90 Points

    Greece, Macedonia, Naoussa

    Not familiar with this grape and wouldn't have picked this if not for Derek who spotted it off the list. Had the candied nature of young Pinot but the tannin and acidity profile of a young Pinot, good density and purity but still too young to drink at this stage for my palate.

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  • 2023 Place of Changing Winds Syrah Harcourt Heathcote 92 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote

    My pick off the list, most landed on Syrah but Derek impressively nailed this as Place of Changing Winds. Dark and quite concentrated with some initial jamminess, but became more integrated with air. Very refined tannins for such a young wine, agree that it was probably picked early since it had ample acidity for a warmer region. My first time trying this producer and very impressed, would love to try the Pinot.

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