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4th Saturday Group: Anything but Domestic

Rich & Dana's

Tasted September 22, 2018 by AllRed with 179 views

Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. J. Lassalle Champagne Premier Cru Préférence Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
91 points
A bit of bubbly to begin the evening's tasting, nonblind, courtesy of our hosts. Nice appley citrus notes with mineral and dried dough in the background. Almond and green apple on the palate. Fine bead; nice acidity. 91-92 pts.
White
2017 Bodegas Forjas del Salnes Rías Baixas Leirana Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas
89 points
Double blind. Pale color. Opens with a nice floral note, followed by white fruit and citrus elements. Racy, bright acidity on the palate. Guessed albarino.
White
2016 Cantina Terlan Pinot Grigio Tradition Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol
Double blind. Has a cottony, billowy bouquet with tropical fruit overtones. The palate follows the bouquet; nice acidity. Medium finish. I was waffling between chenin and grigio & settled on the former- I always struggle with pinot grigio in the blind format.

Flight 2 - Flight I (6 notes)

Red
2015 Domaine Monier St. Joseph Terre Blanche France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
93 points
Blind. Inky dark color. Aromas of incense, dark fruit and pepper. Full-bodied and well-balanced, showing pepper and black fruit on the palate and lingering finish. Develops a subtle meaty note with air. Long finish. Easy to pick out as our St. Joseph, though I expected it to be in one of the later flights.
Red
2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Crianza Viña Cubillo Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
87 points
Blind. Garnet core with some bricking. Ripe, perhaps even stewed red plum fruit, currant and bouillon notes. Medium tannins. Red berry fruit on the palate has a cooked, jammy edge. Clearly older; beefy bouillon notes with red fruit. 87-88 pts. Guessed this was our Spanish wine. Meh. Not something I will need more of.
Red
2016 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée du Papet France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
93 points
Blind. Dark color, opening with a lovely perfumed floral note followed by dark fruit and herbs. Full-bodied with fine tannins. Really nice, pure fruit on the palate. Black fruit, licorice and herb flavors. As this opens in the glass you definitely get that floral/herb garrigue note coming through more and more. At this point I began to suspect this was our bottle of CndP.

Dunnuck bestowed 100 pts on this. I'm not going that far, but it is really damn good, that's for sure. 93-94 pts for me right now, and if you went higher, I wouldn't fault you for it. If this is representative of the vintage as a whole, there's no doubt that the hype is warranted.
4 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2008 Luca Beso de Dante Argentina, Mendoza
91 points
Double blind. Dark color. Black fruit, herb and iron with a subtle weedy brettanomyces note too. In this case the brett is a welcome component. Full-bodied. Black fruit with a good finish. No guess.
Red
2007 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
94 points
Double blind. Instantly my wine of the flight. Garnet color with a bouquet featuring iron, red berry fruit, garrigue, perfumed florals and a hint of horse blanket. Complex and interesting. Medium-bodied. Red berry fruit dominates the palate, with herb and spice undertones. Softened tannins. Long finish. I waffled between 2007 and 2005 Chateauneuf and settled on the wrong vintage...partial credit for this one.

I don't know if this was decanted prior to the tasting (I suspect not), but this is really coming into a nice place. There is certainly no harm in enjoying this now, and there's plenty of life ahead- I just wonder what the brett will do as this ages further.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2006 Mitolo Shiraz Savitar Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
80 points
Double blind. Deep color. Bouillon and dark fruit aromas. More bouillon on the palate, along with overly ripe plummy fruit. Astringent finish. No guess.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - Flight II (6 notes)

Red
2001 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico Italy, Campania, Irpinia
85 points
Double blind. Similar to the last wine of the first flight, this had a subtle bouillon note under the dark fruit. There's also a bit of brett evident as well. Sweet edge to the dark fruit on the palate. Tannic. No guess.
Red
2015 Clos I Terrasses Priorat Laurel Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
flawed
Double blind. Smells like rotten cabbage. There's just a really bad weedy/funky quality here. The palate shows dark fruit but is incredibly sour; grapefruity. Undrinkable. No guess.
Red
2011 Clos Triguedina Cahors France, Southwest France, Cahors
91 points
Double blind. Dark color with heavy legs. Notes of dark fruit and incense follow through on the palate. Long finish. Develops a nice violet aroma that I enjoy. Pretty and balanced. 91-92 pts.
Red
2015 Bibich bas de bas Croatia, Dalmatia, Dalmatinska Zagora, Skradin
85 points
Double blind. Black fruit and licorice notes. Has a good bit of tannin to integrate, along with flavors of black fruit and vanilla. Noticeable acidity. Thin on the palate and shortish finish.
Red
2012 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
87 points
Double blind. Garnet color. Red berry fruit, herb, iron and cassis notes. Medium tannins. Dark fruit and plum on the palate. Short to medium finish. Guessed cab sauv.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2010 Château La Confession France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Double blind. Dark fruit with a weird grassy sauv blanc-like overtone. I get a touch of VA on this as well. Dark fruit on the palate with medium tannins. Hints of earth and licorice as it opens, but that VA note remains, though others didn't think it was VA. A weird bottle, possibly flawed, but in any case, not a good bottle of wine. No guess.
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