3rd Friday Group Tasting

We gathered for our regular third Friday brown bag tasting. The hosts provide warm up wines which are followed by two flights of reds. We discuss and unveil each flight before moving on to the next flight.

• NV Antoine Derigny Champagne Grand Cru Brut 87 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Medium mousse and soft bead. Apple and marshmallow with subtle oxidative elements. This bottle may have been held just a little too long, although others enjoyed this more than me. I’ll pull our remaining bottles from storage and plan to drink in the near term.

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• 2017 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Buena Tierra Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Served double blind to the group. Deep color. Aromas of lemon curd and florals. Pear and beeswax on the palate. Rich but not heavy, with nicely integrated oak. Excellent and really coming into a good spot.

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• 2025 Palisades Canyon Petite Sirah Rosé 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  Served double blind to the group. Pale pink color. Notes of carnation blossoms, strawberry, melon, dried rose petals and cherry. Bright and pretty on the palate as well, with cherry, white currant, strawberry, mint and peach flavors. Excellent; well-received by the group. 92-93 pts.

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• 2017 Blagden Cabernet Sauvignon Oakview 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Blind. Dark color, opening with plummy dark fruit, along with licorice and herb notes. Full-bodied. Flavors of blackberry, pastry dough, root beer, chocolate and blueberry. Fine tannins. Easy to pick out as Napa cab, though I wasn't certain this was ours since I’ve not had it before.
  
  Good for the price. This had been double decanted off its sediment 9 hours before service.

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• 2010 Château Haut-Bergey

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Double blind. Dark fruit and boysenberry notes at the outset, adding pepper and meaty notes with air. There’s something a touch feral as well, reminding me a bit of some Mourvèdres that I have had. Plum and dark fruit on the palate. (J2)

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• 2009 Château Valandraud Virginie de Valandraud 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Double blind. Notes of iodine, dark fruit, spice and tobacco. Red berry fruit on the palate, along with tobacco and iron. Medium tannins. Picks up an earthy/gravel note as it breathes in the glass. Lovely. (R&D)

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• 2020 Podere Prospero Bolgheri Rosso 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri

  Double blind. Aromas of tar, black currants and plum. Exuberant fruit. Loads of dark berry fruit on the palate along with soft, dusty tannins and hints of peppery spice in the finish. Excellent. (R&R)

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• 2018 Blagden Cabernet Sauvignon Oakview 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Blind. Deep color with notes of red fruit, boysenberry, florals and black currants. Full-bodied with flavors of red plum and currants, picking up barrel spice and herb accents in the finish. Slightly firm, rustic tannins.
  
  This had been double decanted off its sediment 9.75 hrs before service.

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• 2019 Prats and Symington Douro Chryseia

  Portugal, Douro

  Double blind. Aromas of blackberry and blueberry with woodsy and herbal overtones. Firm, fine-grained tannins support an abundance of black fruit. Hints of chocolate as well. Lots of potential, but youthfully firm at this stage. (J2)

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• 2016 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Double blind. Aromas of raspberry, soy and rhubarb. Medium-bodied, with red fruit and herb flavors. I guessed southern Rhone, but thought it was much older- 2005/2006. Good, a little advanced, perhaps not a representative example. (R&D)

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• 2022 Palisades Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Aromas of dark fruit, soy, pomegranate molasses and black raspberry. Full-bodied. Flavors of black fruit, hoisin sauce and plum with a long finish. Guessed syrah.
  
  The cork was pulled 75 minutes before the flight was poured- it definitely needs a very healthy decant...though some time on its side would be better. (R&R)

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• 2020 Tidings Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  Opaque inky color. Aromas of tapenade, black fruit, pepper and spice. Loads of black fruit on the palate, with white pepper, game and herb flavors as well. Full-bodied and balanced, with more than enough fruit for the structure. A terrific, albeit young, syrah.
  
  This had been double decanted off its sediment five hours before service.

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• 2009 Chateau Montelena Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  Medium color- age appropriate. Aromas of pineapple, papaya and cotton candy. Rich texture with soft acidity and flavors of stone and tropical fruits. Very nice, if a touch straightforward.

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