VLG Does Blind Pinot Noir, From Anywhere 2003-2005

With 7 wines I would have expected to be wowed at least once. I can't say that I was although the Talley came very close for me. Gerry brought the 2nd place wine but it was technically out of the category and a superior vintage. As always we did have a good time.

• 2006 Miner Family Viognier Club M Wild Yeast Napa Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Served Blind: Guessed Cali Viognier but thought there might be some Marsanne in there. I liked this. Smelled great. The wine is probably nearing its end. Not enough acid to sustain it.

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• 2007 Loring Wine Company Chardonnay Keefer Ranch Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley of Russian River Valley

  Served Blind by me. I opened this 2 days earlier to pour a small glass. Showed similar. Most guesses were that this was French and there were comments about how tight it was. It is not very expressive aromatically but the palate has a nice balance. One of the more reserved LWC Chardonnays I have had.

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• 2004 Rutz Cellars Pinot Noir Sonoma Cuvée 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Served Blind. This was very pleasant at first go around. Lots of cherry fruit. Medium bodied and drinking nicely. At the end of the day the fruit started to show more raisined and the balance started to leave.

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• 2002 Tandem Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain

  Served blind. So this was Gerry's wine. You can see how well he payed attention to the theme :-) Darker and more forest elements than the other wines. Also showed more aged qualities. One of the more interesting wines of the day. The nose did show some VA. My #2 / VLG #2.

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• 2005 Weingut Juris Pinot Noir Selection 85 Points

  Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

  Served blind. I went back this three times but still could not come to grips with it. Nice to drink but not intriguing.

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• 2004 WesMar Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Served blind. Well no controversy here. Pretty much universally hated. I do think it was flawed as there was definitely something weird going on with the aromatics. Still, I was able to easily recognize it as a WesMar. By far the biggest aromatics of the day ... probably not a good thing with this bottle. Well there was plenty to take home. I poured a glass for Laura who said yum when she smelled it. Shared with a few other friends too who commented on the smell but they really liked the wine.

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• 2003 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rincon Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley

  Served Blind. Big and ripe with good balance. Starting to show some aged qualities. Showing more complexity than the other wines. I think because of the juicy central coast acidity. I have one bottle of this and I think I'll let it sleep to see if it will stand the test of time. My #1 / VLG #1

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• 2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  Served blind. I have tasted this wine multiple times and have loved it but on this day I didn't find it as balanced as I have in the past. I could not escape the sweet grapefruit acidity. it was totally dominating. This has always a big and slightly brash wine to me but one of my favorite 03s. I'll leave my remaining bottles sleeping. VLG # 3

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• 2005 Nicolas Potel Volnay Vieilles Vignes 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay

  Served blind. Ahhh for the first time of the day, tannins make an appearance and they make an appearance in a big way. This was also the only wine at the table that was wound up tight. This had the flavors and structure that drew me to pinot noir. I was surprised there was not more concentration and fruit for an 05. I think this we evolve just fine but I doubt it will ever show great complexity. I won't be touching another bottle for 8-12 years. A very nice wine fro $25. My #3

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• 2005 Dain Wines Pinot Noir Rebel Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  Served blind to the others. After going through 7 blind pinots with only 1 really standing out and some showing somewhat poorly I sneaked around the corner, popped the cork and threw this in a decanter. Showed very nicely. Seems to show some whole cluster on the nose. I enjoy wines from this vineyard. Big ripe wines where the acidity seems to always compliment the fruit. Nice amount of spice elements too. I actually still have some that I'll try to try tonight or tomorrow. I had to exclude it from the voting because I had revealed the wine. Had I not, it probably would have finished third.

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