4th Saturday Group: Uptown Brown Bag

J&S wanted to host the June tasting as it fell on the date of their 12th anniversary and called an uptown theme in honor of the occasion. The uptown themes means wines were to be of higher quality than the usual brown bag wines.

Each taster brings a bagged red and sets it in a designated area, usually lighter wines are placed to the left and heavier to the right. Wines are mixed up a bit in order to prevent one from knowing exactly where his wine is, but only so much that we still end up, hopefully, tasting from light to heavy, generally speaking. We spend thirty minutes or so discussing each flight and making our guesses before the wines are unveiled and we move on to the next flight.

J mentioned that he wanted to start with a Champagne and when he mentioned the '08 RD as one of his options, I offered the '04 as a comparison. The 2004 has nice depth and complexity, but the '08 is just going to be something special and resonated with many of us tonight- the freshness and youthful depth is there and it's just a compelling young RD.

• 2004 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  2/2018 disgorgement. Medium color with a short mousse. Cashew, dough and apple notes. Baked apple, cashew and toffee on the palate. Slightly creamy texture. Excellent.

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• 2008 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Oct 2022 disgorgement. Lemon and almond aromas with a terrific saline overtone. Fine bead. Flavors of lemon, dried peach, biscuit and mineral. Still quite fresh and bright. Fun to try this alongside the 2004. (J&S)

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This was to be a flight of viognier from three countries but an oxidized 2022 Saint Cosme Condrieu resulted in a last minute addition of the Raen.

• 2023 Michele Satta Giovin Re Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Double blind. Dried peach and stone fruit notes. Pretty. Stone fruit follows on the palate, and there’s what seems like a subtle toasted element. There’s a bit of richness here that led me to guess viognier. A very nice example of the variety. (J&S)

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• 2023 Raen Winery Chardonnay Lady Marjorie Cuvee 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Double blind. Light color with notes of cotton, lemon and white florals. Fresh, light and billowy, I am enjoying this quite a bit. The palate follows the bouquet. Excellent, and very easy to drink and enjoy. My favorite of the three warm ups. (J&S)

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• 2024 Pride Mountain Vineyards Viognier

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Double blind. Aromas of florals and dried citrus with a distinct soapy aroma that I associate with albarino. Grapefruit and citrus on the palate with heightened acidity. (J&S)

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• 2016 Château Montrose

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Double blind. Deep color. Very reticent at the start, not giving up much of anything in terms of fruit on either the nose or palate. Generic was a word that kept cropping up. After thirty minutes or so, as we began discussing the flight it began to show black currant and perfumed floral qualities, but remained rather coiled and tight overall.
  
  This had been decanted for four hours, and was a generous bring by MM, but this needs a lot of time. Hide away until 2036, and if drinking now, double decant the day before service. (MM)

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• 2014 Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnément 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Double blind. Notes of dried herbs, plum, licorice, coffee and black fruit. Full-bodied with firm youthful tannins and flavors of plum, cassis, coffee and chocolate. Long finish, with vanilla and blueberry accents. Guessed 2014 Napa cab sauv. (J&S)

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• 2022 Darioush Merlot 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Big, tannic and firm, with lots of wood over the dark fruit tones. Slightly plummy on the palate, with vanilla and oak accents. Reminds me slightly of a Lewis Reserve cabernet with a little age. (P&R)

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• 2021 Francis Ford Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Archimedes 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak

  Double blind. Aromas of chocolate, vanilla and black currants. Full-bodied with dark fruit and firm tannins underneath. Barrel spice and dark fruit carry the finish. Decent and well-made, if a bit straightforward and simple at this stage. (V&M)

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• 2014 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence 94 Points

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

  Blind. Shows a touch of age at the meniscus. Beautiful, complex bouquet featuring black cherry, red currants, white pepper, dried herbs and Red Hots. Medium-bodied and integrated. Red berry fruit, earth, clay and herb flavors with hints of peppery spice in the finish. Just a hint of the typical Pegau funk underneath it all. Lovely. WOTF for a few of us.
  
  This had been double decanted off its sediment three hours before service. This was our penultimate bottle and as well as this is drinking I may have to pull our final bottle too…why wait?

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• 2021 Paradigm Merlot 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Double blind. Big, but pretty, with notes of perfume, red berry fruit and herbs. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of dark fruit, raisin and pepper. Medium+ finish. (P&R)

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• 2014 Animo Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Dark youthful color. Clay, mulberry, vanilla and black cherry notes. Full-bodied and balanced, with flavors of red plum and sage. Picks up a molasses note with air. (MM)

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• 2016 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon The Reserve To-Kalon Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Double blind. Notes of graphite, plum, herbs, tobacco and red berry fruit. Full-bodied, with medium tannins and flavors of red berry fruit, tobacco, herbs and black cherry. Well-balanced and elegant. This is absolutely wonderful. 94-95 pts. (R&D)

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• 2014 Burgess Mountaineer Estate Vineyards 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Deep color with aromas of coffee and black fruit. Full-bodied. Plum and dark fruit on the palate. Reveals chocolate, earth, blueberry and vegetal notes as it breathes in the glass. Expressive and interesting. (J&L)

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• 2015 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Willow Creek District

  Double blind. Aromas of cinnamon, blueberry and mixed red and dark fruit with floral/perfume overtones. Abundant red fruit on the palate along with spice, pepper and herb qualities. Red berry fruit carries the finish. (J&S)

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• 2014 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Double blind. Aromas of red berry fruit, tobacco, plum, chocolate and rare beef. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of red fruit, iron and pepper. Impeccably with a long finish. Clearly “old school” Napa here. M suggested Togni but I disagreed as it lacked the bell pepper elements I typically find (and enjoy) in Togni’s cabs, then again I have only tasted a few as young as this one was. Immensely enjoyable and just beginning to enter what will undoubtedly be a long window. (R&D)

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• 2014 Ridge Monte Bello 96 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Blind. Deep youthful red color. Aromas of black currants, red plum, florals, blueberry and violets. Fine, elegant tannins support black currant, cassis, black raspberry, herb, pepper and green tobacco flavors. Long finish. So well-balanced.
  
  Our first of six, opened in honor of our friends' 12th anniversary. This was decanted off its sediment 8.5 hrs before service. Still quite young, but already seriously impressive.

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• 2019 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Double blind. Aromas of iron, red fruit, tobacco, black currants and lavender. The palate follows the bouquet. Soft, velvety tannins with a lingering finish. Becomes more dark-fruited as it breathes in the glass and remains balanced and elegant. Beautiful. (V&M)

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• 2006 Château Pavie 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Double blind. Aromas of tobacco, dark fruit, plum and herbs. Good red fruit on the palate, picking up hints of raisin in the finish. Slightly rustic tannins; the raisin elements become a touch more pronounced as this breathes. (J&S)

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• 2014 Antinori Tignanello 94 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Our first of two, double decanted off its sediment 8.5hrs before service in honor of our friends' 12th anniversary. Youthful color, perhaps just beginning to suggest some age at the meniscus. Currant, black cherry, herb and cedar notes. Full-bodied with plush tannins and flavors that mirror the bouquet. Balanced, with soft acidity. Long finish. Gorgeous.

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S made pappardelle with short rib ragu and chocolate pots de creme- all delightful and a great dinner to follow up the tasting.

• 2005 Château Latour Les Forts de Latour 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  From magnum. Tobacco, iron, red currant and plum aromas. Mixed red and black fruit on the palate, with iron, tobacco and herb qualities as well. Full-bodied with soft, approachable tannins. Surprisingly accessible in this format. A lovely example which paired well with supper. 93+ pts. (R&D)

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• NV Van Zellers Porto 40 Years Very Old Tawny

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Notes of caramel, walnut, fig and pear. Rich texture. Fig, walnut and dried apricot flavors. Excellent. (J&S)

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Many thanks to J&S for hosting such a fun tasting, and happy anniversary!