The Blind Drunks monthly tasting

Wines for the tasting are brought in brown paper bags and placed from lightest to heaviest. They are divided into flights and served double blind to the group. Each flight is tasted, discussed and unveiled before moving on to the next flight. Wines are listed in the order they appeared in the flight.

Domino & I, and one other couple from the group, Jody & Matt, were married within one week of each other last April, so we started with a nonblind bubbly to toast the anniversaries.

• NV Jean Laurent Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Notes of apple and lemon sith a subtle creamy undertone. Persistent mousse and medium bead, with citrus and brioche tones on the palate. Good acidity. 91-92 pts.

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• 2005 Talbott Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  Notes of popcorn and apple. Bright acidity with fresh apple flavors.

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• 2007 Château Graville-Lacoste Blanc 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves

  Notes of citrus and hay. Flavors of apple and citrus, with good underlying acidity.

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• 2007 Herman Story Viognier White Hawk Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Aromas of melon and peach blossom. Flavors of melon and apple, devloping more pronounced floral tones with air.

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• 2008 Vina Robles Sauvignon Blanc Jardine Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Reticent, with lime and citrus notes. Citrus fruit flavors on the palate, and very high aciidity. Albarino?

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• 2006 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Romaine 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Served double blind. Ruby color. Notes of raspberry, mint/menthol. Flavors of red fruit and cherry, but lacked the herbal element I have liked in previous bottles.

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• 2005 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Romaine 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Notes of earthy red fruit, currants and herbs. Flavors of cherry and red fruit with an herbal edge.

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• 2004 Cuvée de Peña Vin de Pays des Pyrénees-Orientales 88 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Vin de Pays des Pyrénees-Orientales

  Notes of black cherry amd roasted hearbs. flavors of cherry and red fruit. Nice balance, with a decent finish.

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• 1986 Nelson Estate Cabernet Franc

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Aromas of herbs, leather and black cherry which follow through on the palate. Really nice, until I revisited it as we began discussing the wine. It had turned very green, like smelling a cut green pepper.

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• 1983 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Selection Library Release

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Notes of mushrooms and Lipton Onion Soup Mix. some red fruit on the palate, but it was very tired.

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• 1985 Black Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Fat Cat 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

  Aromas of mint, herbs and menthol with a subtle leathery quality. Resolved tannins, nicely balanced, with flavors of herbs and red fruit. Quite nice. 88-89 pts.

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• 2005 Murphy-Goode Zinfandel Liar's Dice

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Notes of cherry, spice and beef. Spicy red fruit and herb flavors on the palate. Decent finish, if a bit short.

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• 1996 Pine Ridge Vineyards Merlot Crimson Creek 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Notes of red currant and iodine, with a subtle herbal note. Nice balance, with mature red fruit flavors and a solid finish.

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• 2005 Herdade do Esporão Esporão Reserva

  Portugal, Alentejano, Alentejo

  Aromas of herbs, dark fruit and cherry. Flavors of red fruit and herbs on the palate, with a nice finish.

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• 2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

  Notes of red fruit and spice, and showing a lot of alcohol. Flavors of raspberry and red fruit, but as on the nose, seems a bit "hot" with distracting alcohol tones.
  
  Quite a surprise when this was unveiled. The conclusion of the group, based on the opinions of those who had tasted this before, was that this bottle was not representative and must be flawed.

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• 2004 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Romaine

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Notes of herbs, dark fruit and garrigue. Lods of red fruit on the palate, with lifting acidity. Balanced, with decent length on the finish.

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• 2007 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Romaine

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Notions of dark fruit, spice and garrigue on the nose, which follow through on the palate.

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• 2000 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Panoplie 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Aromas of dark fruit, herbs, spice and red fruit. Well-balanced, with red fruit and spice tones on the palate. Delicious.

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• 2002 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Dehesa la Granja

  Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León

  Notes of meat--beef, chocolate and bouillon cubes. Flavors of red fruit and bouillon cubes.

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• 2005 Vina Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Dark fruit and mint notes follow through on the palate.

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• 2004 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Herb and dark fruit notes. Nicely balanced, with dark fruit, blackberry and oak flavors.

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