Minneapolis Wine Club Under $30.00 Challenge

What a fun event with Tom and Bruna as Hosts!

1. Achaval Ferrer Quimera 14 points
2. Kikland Barolo 11 points
3. Orin Swift 6 points
4. Ruffino 5 points

Love the 2023 Result White and wish I had more. Stunning value for $24.00. The Veuve du Vernay was very light and lack complexity but also it is around $15 or less.

• 2023 Result of a Crush White Blend 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Outstanding wine with saline, floral, minerals, chalk, lemon and orange peel. Medium plus finish. Hard to get Result Whites but seek them out.

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• NV Veuve du Vernay Brut 78 Points

  France

  Very basic stuff. Chalk, spice, some fruit and short finish. Easy pass.

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• 2022 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Liked this and had it many times but did not make my top 3. Some good competition in the blind. Red currants, blueberries, earth, spice and minerals. Nice earth notes on the finish.
  What is crazy is my notes on how this improves over 3 days and this is a testament to that. I tried this on day 1 with an hour decant and clearly not enough as did not make my top 3 but over 3 days this got to 93.
  No first, second or third place votes.

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• 2019 Kirkland Signature Barolo 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Herbs, spices, floral, some funk, raspberries and earth. Thought Rioja but second guess blind would be Italian which it was. Very good wine for sure at $20.00.
  Really delivered well in the tasting and a very good wine.
  Votes: 2 first, 2 second and 1 third (6 voters). 11 points

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• 2021 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  My second favorite wine in a blind tasting under $30.00. Herbal, spices, earth, blue currants and minerals. Very approachable now and medium finish.
  Votes: 2 second and 1 third. (six people voting). 5 points

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• 2020 Heritage Oak Zinjo 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

  What an interesting blend of Zin and Sangiovese 50/50. Perfume, twigs, strawberries, floral and sweeter style wine. Interesting. Solid overall.
  Votes: One third. (six voters). 1 point

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• 2023 Orin Swift Sign of the Times 88 Points

  USA, California

  Got to say on a pop and pour not bad. But as this wine sat in the decanter it declined and got a fruit overripe profile. Bold with cherry, plum spice earth and dark chocolate. The wine over time faded which is concerning but have to say on the first go around was a good wine. Drink now for sure.
  Early this was good but the ripeness caught up with it.
  Votes: 1 first place, 1 second place and 1 third place. (Six voters) 6 points

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• 2020 Achával-Ferrer Quimera 92 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo

  Open the day before and still sight at the blind tasting. Thankful we had everyone revisit and my wine ended up wine of the night in the under $30.00 event. Originally I gave it 91 but changed it to 92 plus. Funk, cherry, red currants, minerals, floral and earth. Amazing as I have had this wine several times and until the next go around realized it was mine. Wine of the night by the group. 3 first, 2 second and one third. 14 points total. Outstanding value. 92+
  Voting results: 3 first place votes, 2 second place votes and 1 third place vote (six total voters) = 14 points

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• 2022 Prisoner Wine Company The Prisoner 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Day 1: Actually more drinkable than the recent 1858 Napa Cab from Caymus. Sweet but some nice fruit flowing with blueberries, cherry and ripe plums. Dark chocolate, spice and dust. Doesn't have the chemical taste of some of the Caymus and other sweet red products. While I would not want to buy a bottle it is serviceable and that is coming from me. FYI poured this blind to a group of tasters and they hate it. 85 points
  Day 2: Classic high RS wine that completely falls apart on day 2. Good wine gets better on day 2 when it is young. This is not even drinkable. While not chemical taste the fruit has completely faded and some dried twigs. Watered down taste as well. Long and unpleasant aftertaste. 52 points
  Day 3: A bit better than day 2 but not by much. Fruit has faded and just some earthiness and smoke. These wines are meant for the non serious drinker for sure. 55 points
  Recommendation: Take a wine class if this is your go to wine although if you drink it do it young and pop and pour as even I found it drinkable.

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Got to love Julie on the Prisoner. Instantly hated and it and spit it out. Tried to sell this one as an extra bottle I was deciding on for the blind challenge but no one was fooled. Again I thought prior to bringing it wasn't too bad and I actually gave it 85 points. Way more balanced than a caymus product.