Second Sunday Group: Paloma Merlot Vertical
Our house
Tasted November 13, 2016 by AllRed with 278 views
Introduction
The host provides a couple of double blind warm up whites for the group, followed by 8 wines fitting a theme. The main flight of 8 is tasted double blind, and tasters are given the task of identifying the theme. Each tasters ranks the wines from 1st though 8th, and the wines are unveiled worst to first, is descending order of total points. Ties are broken by number of higher place votes. Following the tasting, we enjoy dinner and nonblind wines contributed by the tasters. The host charges for the tasting. Today we had 9 tasters and the cost was $40.
Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 notes)
As always at our house, we begin with a nonblind Champagne starter before moving on to the double blind whites.
White
2013 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
USA, California, Napa Valley
Apple and coconut. The palate follows the bouquet but there's also a washed out muddled dirty quality that overwhelms the fruit. The group did not pick this out as a Chardonnay- much the same as the bottle tasted double blind the week before at the Geja's competition.
The first bottle of my six pack, and the second tasted within a week, and neither were good. Did Montelena screw up the 2013 Chardonnay?
Flight 2 - Themed flight (8 notes)
Shown in the order tasted.
Red
1997 Paloma Merlot
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Opens with a tomatoey, stewy note- typical '97 it would seem. The palate redeems the bouquet though, with nice cherry and red plum qualities. Better as it sits- red fruit and toasted spice qualities. Decent finish; heightened acidity.
My #6, Domino's #5
Group #5, 46 pts
Red
1999 Paloma Merlot
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Cherry and chocolate notes. Flavors of cherry, currants and plum with a long finish. Takes on a somewhat greenish Cab Franc-like quality as it sits, which I rather enjoy.
My #3, Domino's #7
Group #6, 47 pts
Red
2001 Paloma Merlot
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Chocolate and red plum notes with a dominant streak of VA. Cherry cough syrup on the palate. A mess. Knowing this was the '01 added to my disappointment.
My #7, Domino's #4
Group #7, 47 pts
Red
2002 Paloma Merlot
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Chocolate and cherry notes. Has some tannin to shed, with flavors of currants and cherry. Decent finish. Good, if not exciting.
My #5, Domino's #6
Group #4, 37 pts
Red
2003 Paloma Merlot
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Reticent at first, then very dirty and muddy with red frut nuances underneath. Red fruit on the palate with a very sour edge.
My #8, Domino's #8
Group #8, 61 pts
Red
2004 Paloma Merlot
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Notes of violets and florals with red berries, cherry and plum underneath. Integrated tannins. Flavors of cherries, chocolate and macerated red berries. Finishes with nice length and balance.
My #1, Domino's #2
Group #1, 28 pts
Red
2005 Paloma Merlot
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Notes of chocolate, cherry and red berry fruit. Red fruit on the palate; good finish. 91+ pts.
My #2, Domino's #3
Group #3, 30 pts
Red
2007 Paloma Merlot
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Opens with dark fruit, plum and chocolate notes. Perhaps also just a hint of VA, perhaps not. Good fruit on the palate but the acid is a bit sharp. Develops notes of florals and tobacco and the acidity becomes less angular.
My #4, Domino's #1
Group #2, 28 pts
Flight 3 - Dinner/dessert wines (0 notes)
Nonblind with a dinner of pork ragu over rigatone, a green salad and fruit tart.
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