The OC Goes Blind

The Winery, Tustin, CA
Tasted Saturday, June 20, 2009 by WetRock with 796 views

Introduction

All flighted wines served double blind with reveals coming after each flight.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 1990 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé

    France, Champagne

    Earthy nose showing lots of oxidation but also some pleasant complexity with a nice note of vanilla standing out. Lean palate showing some apples and strongly tart acids and a touch of smoke. This is down but not out though I wouldn't hold onto it much longer. Probably best 5 years ago.

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Flight 2 (4 Notes)

  • 1995 Verget Meursault Les Rougeots

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

    Nutty nose with caramel and a vinegar note. Palate still on the elegant minerally side in contrast to the nose but over all this is probably well past its prime.

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  • 1994 Kalin Cellars Chardonnay Cuvée LD

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Growing perfume on the nose with rich complexity with smoke and apples. Fruit is strong and concentrated but in a lean feeling package with lemon and apple notes. Terrific and probably my WOTN.

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  • 2005 Arnaud Ente Meursault

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

    Smokey nose showing some oak with some popcorn coming out later. Light palate with a touch of minerals and nice acids but not very expressive. Wrote down 'Montrachet' as the nose made me think of previous experiences with some young Burgs.

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  • 2004 Rhys Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Sweet nose showing butterscotch, buttered popcorn and smoke. This seemed to most 'Californian' with a lemony but sweetish palate. Surprised at the result as it was more typical of what I expect from Cali Chard in the wrong direction.

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Flight 3 (4 Notes)

  • 2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Lots of nail polish on the nose. Ripe tart and syrupy palate. Over done Zin.

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  • 2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlo's Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Huge fat jammy nose showing some spice. Big palate chunky and tannic, bit lacking in the middle. Definitely seemed like Zin on the nose and palate. Not as over done as the others in the flight.

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  • 2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Montafi Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Ripe zinny nose with plenty of nail polish. Pretty fruit very much on the ripe end of the spectrum with plenty of tannin and a bite of heat on the back end.

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  • 2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Pietro's Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Rich ripe nose showing some soil like notes and signs of oak. Juicy and ripe with a touch of VA though some minerals on the back end. Something interesting hiding in there but hard to get to.

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Flight 4 (5 Notes)

  • 2007 Wind Gap Wines Pinot Gris

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Nose of apples and peaches. Baked stone fruits on the palate showing some signs of oxidation but nicely acidic finish. This was all over the place. Interesting but uneven.

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  • 2005 Melville Pinot Noir Estate Verna's

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    Sweet ripe nose showing cranberries and apple skins plus some tell tale stem notes. Stemmy palate that is nicely balanced but a bit plain in expression.

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  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Nose is a bit tight showing berry skins. Juicy and a bit light but balanced with some cinnamon.

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  • 2004 Roar Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Earthy funk and smoke that fades into strawberries. Acidic and balanced, on the tight side with some soil. The longer this sat in my glass the better it got. Easily the best Pinot on the night and probably my favorite of the reds.

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  • 2003 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Dark rich spicy nose. Tons of fruit with good length and juicy. From a big camp. Darkly fruited for a Russian River.

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Flight 5 (6 Notes)

  • 2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

    Soft nose, primary showing vanilla and cocoa. Bit short with drying tannins.

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  • 2003 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M.

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    Complex nose with pepper and a roasted quality. Juicy with a fat midpalate and on the tart side. This spoke of Aussie to me though I enjoyed it more than I the note seems to indicate as I think the complexity on the nose help sell it for me.

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  • 2002 Kongsgaard Syrah Hudson Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Crazy nose with odd spices, dill, sweet cookies, graham crackers and vanilla though it seems to become increasingly dominated by Lemon Pledge. Tight, astringent and tart. Tempted to call it flawed.

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  • 2005 Saxum James Berry Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Peppery nose with some heat. Full and rich but tight in expression.

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  • 2004 Gemstone Facets

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Soft and tight but clearly a Bordeaux type blend. On the tart side with heat on the back end. Palate didn't live up to the promise on the nose.

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  • 2007 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Huge soft hot nose. Very tight palate that is on the astringent side. Needs some time but clearly in the blockbuster model.

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