A nonblind starter courtesy of our hosts. L0329K. Short mousse. Apple, dough, pear and roasted almond aromas. Large bead. The palate mirrors the bouquet adding a pleasant citrusy tone in the finish.

Double blind. Opens with a petrol note, followed by apple- Granny Smith evolving to Golden Delicious- with a slightly smoky overtone. Brighter on the palate than the bouquet suggests, with pear and orchard fruit notes rather than the stone fruit I anticipated. Decent acidity with a medium finish. I ended up guessing Pacific NW Pinot Gris, but no one was confident in their guess and no one even suggested Gewurtz (then again, who tastes nearly ten year old CA Gewurtz often enough to identify it double blind?!?!).

Double blind. Deeper color than the first wine, and very reticent- there's just nothing to the bouquet. On the the palate there's an odd chemical-like quality, along with marshmallow and white fruit that has somewhat of an oxidized quality to it. Perhaps well past its prime, perhaps just a flawed example, though I think most likely a bit of both. No guesses whatsoever from the group.

Double blind. Pale color. Petrol/diesel, white peach and apple aromas. Bright acidity with flavors of peach, honeycrisp apple, diesel and stone with a lingering finish. Very nice, and easy to pick out as a German riesling.

Double blind. Fairly dark color with notes of earthy plum and black fruit. As it sits a lovely perfumed note emerges and the fruit turns toward the red. Flavors of dark fruit, plum and tobacco. Medium tannins with a nice finish. Easy to pick out as Bordeaux. Excellent.

Faded crimson color. Aromas of sour cherry, raspberry and red plum. Flavors of pepper, dark fruit and plum; spice and sour red fruit on the finish. As it sits it becomes less sour and brighter, improving quite a bit. Notes of cherry and chambord with cherry compote flavors. One taster's WOTF.

Our last bottle, and a nice showing once it opened up and blossomed. This had been double decanted off its sediment about 90 minutes before this flight was poured.

Double blind. Aromas of chocolate, spice cake and plum. Mixed fruit and vanilla notes with air. Red fruit- cherry and currants- on the palate, along chocolate and oak spice. Guessed CA cab sauv blend.

Dark opaque color. Notes of green tobacco, plum black currants and dried leaves...lovely forest floor notes. Red and black fruit, herbs and earth flavors. Gorgeous Bordeaux bouquet; a bit austere on the palate though. Easy to pick out as Bordeaux.

Double blind. Faded crimson red color with some bricking. Aromas of spice, cherry and red fruit. Medium-bodied. The color shows old, but this is a young wine. Red fruit and spice flavors, wood in the finish. Must be Sangiovese given how young this is despite the color.

On the young side- give this a couple of years yet.

Double blind. Opaque inky color. Black fruit, mint and vanilla flavors with floral notes developing as it breathes. Full-bodied and firm, with flavors of black fruit, oak spices, plum and maple syrup. Lengthy finish.

Aromas of eucalyptus, plum, currants and dark fruit. Medium tannins with flavors of mixed fruit, herbs and mint. Lingering finish with a nice spice quality on the back end. Very tast, and in a good place right now.

This had been double decanted about two and a half hours before the flight was poured. Drink now-2022

Nonblind with dinner following the tasting. Notes of red plum, herbs and pepper. Softened tannins with flavors of mint, thyme, red fruit and warm spices.

Black currant, cassis, spice and oak. Firm tanins with flavors of black fruit, toasted oak and spice.

Corked.

From 375, showing notes of pineapple, paya and tropical fruit. Rich texture,with the tropical fruit coming through on the palate as well. On the fat side, this could use a bit more acidity.