[0.5] 4 blinds at Ungrafted

Ungrafted, SF
Tasted Thursday, February 26, 2026 by RajivAyyangar with 26 views

Introduction

Blind tasting at Ungrafted with Ellie, Uri, Laura, and Jehan. Two whites and two reds. Rebecca Fineman's picks.

Wines: 0 atypical
Score: 0.5 (2 misses in 4 wines)

2 calibration misses:
- Overestimated alcohol on the Riesling (guessed 9-11%, actual 12%)
- Overestimated tannins on the Rosso di Montalcino

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

  • 2022 Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Vulkangestein trocken 88 Points

    Germany, Nahe

    (Blind) Pale straw. Maybe slight RS. Slight effervescence. Reductive, petrol, passionfruit. 9-11% alcohol (actually 12%). High acid, including malic. No bitterness. Good.

    Called: Australian Riesling, Eden Valley 2025. Second option: German Mosel Kabinett Trocken.
    Actual: Nahe dry Riesling (Schäfer-Fröhlich Vulkangestein 2022 Trocken).
    Analysis: I misread the alcohol, but other than that, not bad. Decently in the ballpark.

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  • 2024 Walter Scott Chardonnay La Combe Verte 87 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (Blind) Dry. Pale straw. Struck match — hint of reduction. Savory nose: oak, non-fruit, maybe peaches, ripe lemon. Medium plus body. 12.5% alcohol (actually 13%). Oak on palate. Elevated acid, bordering on high. Light bitterness. Oily, unctuous. Decent.

    Called: Burgundy, village level, 2024.
    Actual: Oregon Chardonnay (Walter Scott La Combe Verte 2024, Willamette Valley).
    Analysis: I don't hate this call. I was in the ballpark.

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  • 2022 Eden Rift Pinot Noir Valliant 86 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (Blind) Medium minus ruby. Smuckers jam, underripe black cherry, confected. Slightly reductive cherry. Pinot fruit. 14.5% alcohol (actually 13.9%). Medium acid. Medium bitterness, low tannins. Low or no oak. Full-bodied for a thin-skinned red. Overripe.

    Called: Sonoma Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2024.
    Actual: Eden Rift Valliant Pinot Noir 2022, Central Coast.
    Analysis: This is pretty close to nailing it.

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  • 2024 Piancornello Rosso di Montalcino 88 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino

    (Blind) Also thin-skinned — medium minus ruby. Low aromatics. Hint of fresh cream, maybe dried raisinated fruit, raisin stems. A little earthy — soil, leaves, wet leaves. Dry. Full-bodied. 14.5% alcohol (actually 14%). Elevated acid. High tannins — papery and bitter. Savory fruit on midpalate. Good but not too aromatic.

    Called: Barolo/Barbaresco 2022.
    Actual: Piancornello Rosso di Montalcino 2024.
    Analysis: I might have overestimated the tannins. That said, this is a baby Brunello, which historically I think is quite difficult to tell from Barolo.

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