The Blind Drunks monthly tasting

As is our custom, the wines for the tasting are served double blind to the group in brown paper bags. 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.

An interesting comparison to do blind.

• 1998 Yves Boyer-Martenot Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  Pale yellow/gold color. Aromas of hazelnuts, almonds and minerals. Good weight on the palate, and nice depth to the fruit. Finshes with a minerally edge.'00/'01 Meursault?

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• 1998 Yves Boyer-Martenot Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières Cuvée Unique 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  Yellow color. Opens with nutty tones, followed by aromas of waxy fruit, apple and maybe lychee. Full-bodied, with flavors of apple, lychee, oak and lots of mineral. Long finish. '01 Meursault.
  
  This was the Cuvee Unique - the North Berkeley Special Barrel Selection bottling, which was fun to taste next to the regular bottling. Thanks for sharing R&D!

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• 1997 Chateau St. Jean Malbec St. Jean Estate Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Inky purple color. Aromas of currants, blackberry, and mint. Notes of spice, oak and dark fruit, with a florally undertone, emerged as it opened in the glass. Flavors of dark fruit and blackberry with a slightly sweet edge.

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• 1998 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 86 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Color shows some age at the rim. Notes of red fruit, tobacco and spice box. Flavors of sweet red fruit, tobacco, spice and herbs, developing a beef jerky quality toward the end.

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• 2003 Reininger Carménère Seven Hills Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Inky purple color. Notes of mint, grapefruit and blue fruit. With a little time in the glass, the bouquet took on an herbal tone, but also a roasted quality. Flavors of dark fruit, with a slight sweetness. Firm but sweet tannins, with a spicy edge to the finish. Thought 2002/3 Washington Syrah.

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• 2004 David Coffaro Petite Sirah Dry Creek Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Inky purple color with notes of mint, evergreen and black fruit, gaining a savory herbal tones with air. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and flavors of dark fruit and blackberry.

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• 1997 Lava Cap Cabernet Franc Reserve 85 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, El Dorado

  Garnet color, showing a bit of age at the edge. Initial notes of red fruit are followed by, oddly enough, joint compound. Light- to medium-bodied, with subtle red fruit and spice flavors. Kind of interesting...

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• 2001 Ernie Els Flawed

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  Corked.

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• 1991 Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Garnet color. Notes of tobacco, spice, blackberry, dark fruit and mint. Medium-bodied, with flavors of red fruit, spice and herbs. The finish is just a bit on the short side, but wow this was tasty.

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• 2005 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri

  Inky garnet color, opaque at the center. Aromas of black fruit, licorice and roasted herbs. Develops a jammy floral quality with air. Terrific balance, with dark fruit and spice tones and firm tannins with a slightly sweet edge.

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• 2005 Robert Keenan Winery Zinfandel Napa Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark garnet color. Aromas of sice, blackberry, citrus and grapefruit. Showed more dark fruit and lost the citrus tones with air. Flavors of drk fruit, blackberry and Juicy Fruit gum, finishing with a bit of heat.

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• 2005 Pago del Vicario Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Penta

  Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

  Garnet color with aromas of cherry and saurkraut. Flavors of red fruit and citrus. Odd, maybe flawed. 55% Tempranillo, 25% Cab Sauv, 10% Syrah, 8% Merlot and 10% Petite Verdot.

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• 2004 Glaetzer Shiraz Bishop 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Opaque inky garnet color. Aromas of meaty dark fruit, blackberry, mint and rhubarb. Full-bodied, with flavors of dark fruit. Has a juicy/jammy quality to the finish. Tannins are a bit chalky, but have a sweet edge. 91-92 pts.

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• 2003 d'Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Opaque inky garnet color. Opens a bit "hot" giving way to licorice, blackberry floral/violet tones. Medium-bodied, with flavors of red fruit and eucalyptus leading to a spicy, oak-tinged finish. Nice.

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• 2005 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel The Montelena Estate 83 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  Garnet color. Notes of grapefruit, citrus and black fruit. Flavors of jammy dark fruit. The grapefruit quality on the nose is dominant and very distracting, but the wine tastes good.
  
  Couldn't believe my eyes when this was unveiled, as this bottle was nothing like previous tastes. Perhaps off in some way, but no one could determine a particular flaw.

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• 2007 Domaine Cabirau Côtes Catalanes Serge & Tony 85 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes Catalanes

  Notes of currant, green pepper and spice, developing a bit of a jammy quality with air. Flavors of red fruit and spice with a distinctive green streak running through the finish.

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• 2006 Novy Family Wines "Oley" Late Harvest White

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Notes of peach blossom and flowers. Peach tones dominate the palate which is sweet, but not cloying. Very nice.

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• 1977 Warre Porto Vintage 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Pale ruby color turning clear toward the edge. Notes of spicy red currants, flowers and berries. Nice balance on entry, with flavors of red fruit, cinnamon and spice. Nice finish, dominated be red fruit tones.

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