Seattle Wine Group - Dec 2014 Tasting - Theme: CA Cabs
Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue
Tasted December 9, 2014 by f22nickell with 517 views
Introduction
(Although we have met every month, its been awhile since I've posted notes on our monthly events)
Jeff's choice for December: California Cabernet Sauvignon.
A LOT of wines brought to this month's event. I didn't taste everything, but final tally for the evening:
Opening Wines: 5 whites/1 Champagne
Double-Blind Tasting: 9 CA Cabs
Dinner Wines: 1 Napa Cab/1 Brunello/1 WA Southern Rhone Blend
Dessert Wines: 1 Eiswein/1 Passito/1 Tokaj
Flight 1 - Opening Wines (1 note)
A tub of whites and one Champagne. I captured notes for the Alsace Pinot Gris that I opened, but did not get the details for the following:
Champagne - Freelon (I tasted, but did not get the name to enter a note -- Decent, I enjoyed it well enough_
Pinot Gris - Henry
Homemade White - Henry
White Rioja - Matt and Heather (I tasted, but did not get the name to enter a note -- No thanks, not my cup of tea. one sip was all I could take.)
and finally ...
NV Taylor "American Chablis." Secret Santa gag gift wine. Cork pushed into wine with light touch. So oxidized it was almost red in color. Undrinkable, but still tasted by many ... Tasted like a Madeira soaked in sheep's wool.
Pared with aged Gouda/aged Cheddar/Parmesan cheese with bread (I brought), olives (thanks Matt and Heather), and cured meats (thanks Brandon!)
Flight 2 - Double-Blind Tasting (9 notes)
Double-blind tasting - Even the host did not know what was on the table. Jeff's only stipulation was to try and keep an equal offering amount of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley wines.
Final tally for the tasting: 5 Napa bottles, 4 Sonoma bottles.
(Roger)
Cinnamon almost a touch of red hots on the nose. Behind that is bing and black cherry. Some raspberry as well as charred oak. Very fruit forward. A bit light and disjointed, needs more tannins. Short finish, lacks complexity and depth.
My Ranking: 8th out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 8th out of 9 bottles
(Jeff)
Nose of dark cherry fruit, dusty earth, and gritty briar, more of the same on the palate. Hard attack, weak mid-palate. Medium body, slightly fruit forward. High acid, low complexity, and a tad bitter on the short finish.
My Ranking: 7th out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 6th (3-way tie) out of 9 bottles
(Brandon)
Nose of cassis, some smoke and a little leather. Palate was muted, but followed the nose with added hints hints of juniper and eucalyptus. Lighter body, medium complexity, and a tad bitter on the medium finish. Not bad, but expected more from this vintage/producer.
My Ranking: 4th out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 2nd out of 9 bottles
(Mike)
Nose is slightly vegetal with understated blueberries and sage. The fruit is overwhelmed by the heat and tannins on the palate. Modest finish. Medium - finish, a bit hot and simple, but enjoyable with food. Easy drinker, but very memorable.
My Ranking: 6th out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 7th out of 9 bottles
(Scott)
Nose is blue fruit, cedar, slight tobacco, and a hint of clove. Palate was light but very smooth and rich. Hints of mocha and chocolate, flavors kept evolving in the glass. High complexity, medium + finish. I guessed this one (correctly) to be my wine. Shows what a good producer can do with a poor vintage.
My Ranking: 1st out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 1st out of 9 bottles
(Jason)
Nose is ed fruit, currants, spice, florals, tobacco and dark fruit. Balanced and well-integrated. Flavors of leather, spice, florals, tobacco and spice box. Shows some power and finesse. medium finish. Henry correctly guessed the age of 18 years, but I thought it tasted younger, maybe 9-10 years old. Nice wine.
My Ranking: 3rd out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 3rd out of 9 bottles
(Lee)
Nose of new oak, and pruny, red, ripe fruit - Palate is light, with basic fruit. This is a table wine, and a forgettable one at that. After reveal, found this out to be a $15 bottle ... Not a bad bottle for that price, but also not a good bottle for that price.
My Ranking: 9th out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 9th out of 9 bottles
(Ron)
Nose is dusty with cedar, saddle leather, cherry, and some funk. The palate has dark cherry, hint of mint, black tea, and some dried leather. Guessing this is an older wine (20+years) as the tannins almost resolved. Not too complex, finish a bit short.
My Ranking: 5th out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 6th (3-way tie) out of 9 bottles
(Matt & Heather)
This wine smelled like a higher-end Walla Walla Cab with a nose of blueberries and chocolate. The palate was CA for sure, with flavors of blackberry compote, saddle leather, sweet tobacco, and a hint of clove. Tannins were young, but mouthfeel was mild and persistent. Long finish, medium complexity. Nice bottle, did not taste as young as it is.
My Ranking: 2nd out of 9 bottles
Group Ranking: 6th (3-way tie) out of 9 bottles
Flight 3 - Dinner Wines (2 notes)
3 reds to go with dinner of Caesar salad (thanks Matt and Heather) and meatballs in marinara sauce (thanks Jeff!)
2 notes captured below, I did not get a chance to taste the Brunello.
Flight 4 - Dessert Wines (3 notes)
Good sampling from different types and countries.
Closing
Sadly, we all left feeling a little "underwhelmed." We expected palate fatigue early on, but this was not the case. While the wines were (for the most part) enjoyable, nothing really stood out as something any of us would search out to add to our cellars. A fun, enjoyable tasting, but not a memorable one (good or bad.)
Cheers!