Budget wines done Blind

Everyone brought along a couple of $12-20 bottles to bag up & taste through blindly.

• 2001 Hyde De Villaine Chardonnay 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Hints of oak rise through light, fleshy white fruits on the nose. The oak hints are in the slight cracker to light toast suggestions. Front end brings a fleshy puree of white pear, melon, and hints peach. This leads to a mid with slight creaminess but is balanced by good acid. Finishes with all those white fruits, hints of toastiness and a touch of lemon zest. Very rich and balanced with multiple facets interacting interestingly throughout.

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• 2005 Château Cap de Faugères 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  Deep & dark nose--some darker red fruits and a hint of smoke coming from wet wood. Tastes of juicy dark & red fruits with a bit of woodiness. Tannins pull pretty hard on the back end with some sweet black cherry & good acid.

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• 2006 Henry's Drive Pillar Box Red 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway

  Scents of coffee, baking spices, and something that reminded me of sweet potatoes (probably similar to baking spices). Plum tones, but not heavy flavors--sort of lightened. Mixes well with spice hints in a rather elegant fashion. Lowish acid and an ok finish that is pretty smooth with dark fruits & soft hints of oak.

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• 2005 Giuseppe Campagnola Valpolicella Classico Superiore Caterina Zardini 91 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico Superiore

  Some veggies, definite dirt, something almost minty, and a hint of sweet cherry on the nose--intriguing scents! Light cherry and good acid up front with some of the earthiness that the nose hinted toward. Finish of cherry, some dark berry, rustic/smoky tones & dried dark fruits. 91+ for sure. Decanted 1 hour, poured back into bottle and it sat open about an hour before drinking. After being open a few hours it was still alive & kicking.

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• 2005 Château Pesquié Ventoux Terrasses 84 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ventoux

  Surprised at this. Dirty, somewhat crappy (in the literal sense) & fakeish cherry nose. Light flavor of cherry candy up front & through the mid. Finish has the cherry, touches of earthiness, some interesting acid, and a little alcohol. Fairly polished in the mouth.

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• 2002 Château Bonnet Bordeaux Reserve 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Tasting blind, slight rim bricking hinted toward a little age. Slightly reductive nose, hint of red fruit (cherry, strawberry), a dried fruit (almost fig-like) component and dried dark red fruits with a hint of vegetables coming & going. Quite a nose! Very agile and elegant in the mouth. Lots of dark red fruits including cherry & black raspberry. Tannins are somewhat granular but extremely polished while they hang around a wihle with a nice, light cherry flavor. This wine has a great nose but I say is really all about elegance.

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• 2004 Artadi Viñas de Gain 83 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Dark blue & black fruit jam on the nose. Good, tart dark fruits highlighted by nice acid in a somewhat jammy fashion. Ok finish is in balance with an enjoyable acid matching up to noticeable tannins.

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• 2005 Château Féret-Lambert 84 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur

  Dark raspberry & dried cherries on the nose. Those fruits take over the palate--good fruit, but simple. Slightly awkward finish, but good flavors of dried red fruits and some tannins to give it a little structure.

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• 2006 Fabre Montmayou Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Dark red fruits, a bit of blue fruit, some pine & smoke on the nose. Hint of a vegetable flavor up front, weighty dark red fruits, some acid and a little bit of dark fruit in there. Great balance, good acid & tannins on a finish of tart red fruits.

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Challenging, humbling, surprising...really interesting to dig into a wine with no contextual information. Very educational, lots of fun with good company, and something I'll certainly hope to do again at some point.