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4th Saturday Brown Bagger
M&R's
Tasted September 25, 2021 by AllRed with 112 views
Introduction
Wines are tasted double blind in flights, which are arranged randomly, but as much as possible from light to heavy. Each flight is discussed & unveiled before moving on to the next flight.
Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 notes)
White
2019 Massican Sauvignon Blanc
Double blind. Aromas of mineral, citrus and lemongrass. The la.ate follows the bouquet, with nice underlying acidity. Very nice, and my favorite of the three. Guessed S. African sauv blanc.
White
2019 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc
Double blind. Opens with an odd toasty funky aroma, followed by grass and citrus notes. Melon and citrus on the palate with light acidity. Seems like sauv blanc, and I went old world given the bit of funk this had. My least favorite of the three.
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White
2019 Lail Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Blueprint
Double blind. Pale color with grass, melon and citrus qualities on the nose and palate. Bright acidity. Clean and focused; very nice. Guessed domestic sauv blanc.
Flight 2 - Reds (6 notes)
Red
2015 Hickinbotham Shiraz Brooks Road
89 points
Double blind. Garnet color. Aromas of currants and sandalwood with a sweet floral perfume overtone. Jammy red fruit on the palate with decent acidity. Forward and bright. Very nice. Grenache-like in some respects, but not. (M&R)
Red
2001 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle
90 points
Double blind. Showing some age with a lot of bricking. Loads of sediment, and I was the 2nd to pour- clearly this should have been decanted in advance of the tasting. Opens with a note of bouillon followed by candied black currant fruit. Noticeable acidity on the palate, with flavors of cherry, raspberry and candied rhubarb. Develops a nice herbal note with air, and the bouillon quality disappears. Turns more red-fruited than black, and picks up a good bit of spice too, getting better as it sat. Guessed old Chateauneuf-du-Pape. (R&D)
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Red
2010 Duca di Salaparuta Sicilia Duca Enrico
88 points
Double blind. Another opening wit a bit of bouillon, along with ripe dark fruit- plum and prune- a bit stewy. Tastes better than it smells, the fruit does not taste as ripe as the nose suggests. Also much better the longer it sat in the glass. Finishes well, with good length and plenty of fruit and spice. None of us could pin this down so "cab blend" became the guess by default. (M&R)
Red
2011 Château Duhart-Milon
90 points
Blind. Aromas of iron, currant, graphite and tobacco with a nice earthy overtone. Balanced, with medium tannins and flavors of red berry fruit and spice. Has a bit of brett showing through as well.
Beginning to drink nicely, and easy to pick out as our Bordeaux in the lineup. Put some lamb on the grill and pull the cork. This had been double decanted off its sediment and hour before the flight was poured. Very enjoyable now with a short decant.
Beginning to drink nicely, and easy to pick out as our Bordeaux in the lineup. Put some lamb on the grill and pull the cork. This had been double decanted off its sediment and hour before the flight was poured. Very enjoyable now with a short decant.
Red
2017 Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico
89 points
Blind. Garnet color. Aromas of candied dark fruit, cinnamon and sawdust. Medium tannin. Flavors of sweet dark fruit, berries and spice. Finishes with good length. Guessed GSM. What a surprise when this was unveiled as our sangiovese.
This had been double decanted off its sediment an hour before the flight was poured. An enjoyable, if atypical, Chianti.
This had been double decanted off its sediment an hour before the flight was poured. An enjoyable, if atypical, Chianti.
Red
2018 Vintae Toro Matsu El Viejo
88 points
Double blind. Opaque inky color with notes of black fruit and vanilla. Black fruit and sweet vanilla on the palate. Develops roasted game and brown sugar aromas with air. A big wine, but not very easy to identify. Guessed syrah. (V&M)
Flight 3 - Reds (5 notes)
Red
2018 Rockpile Winery (Mauritson) Zinfandel Jack's Cabin Vineyard
Double blind. Aromas of candied dark fruit, with meaty undertones. Medium-bodied with soft tannin and acid. Dark fruit and spice dominates the palate. Guessed syrah. (V&M)
Red
2016 Charly Thevenet Régnié Grain & Granit
87 points
Blind. Candied dark fruit, cinnamon and salami. Soft, with sweet red fruit and balancing acidity. Easy to pick out as our Beaujolais in the flight.
This had been double decanted about two hours before the flight was poured. Not the best showing for one of these, but still quite nice.
This had been double decanted about two hours before the flight was poured. Not the best showing for one of these, but still quite nice.
Red
2016 Sightglass Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
flawed
Double blind. Black currant and brown sugar under an overwhelming dose of VA. Tannic. No guess. (R&S)
Red
2018 Tensley All Blocks
90 points
Double blind. Jammy raspberry fruit and spice aromas. Medium-bodied, with abundant red and black fruit on the palate. Balanced, with good length and fruit in the finish. Ripe but not overly so, I guessed zinfandel here. (R&S)
Red
2013 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley
85 points
Double blind. Blueberry, sweet syrupy dark fruit, brown sugar and perfume aromas- this is big and ripe. Smells like it belongs served over a sundae. Flavors of red fruit and plum with noticeable alcoholic heat. Guessed syrah. (R&D)
Flight 4 - Dinner wines (3 notes)
Nonblind, with brisket, greens and cornbread.
White - Sparkling
2008 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame
95 points
Pale color with a short mousse. Apple, marshmallow and orchard fruit notes upon opening. With air, ginger and citrus elements emerge. Fine bead. Flavors of citrus, almond, dough and orchard fruit. Delicious and so easy to drink- it will be tough keeping my hands off of these.
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Red
2011 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
90 points
From magnum. Red and white currant notes, along with spice and stone qualities. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and flavors of red berry fruit and spice. Good underlying acidity. (R&D)
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Red
2016 Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Chateau Buena Vista Napa Valley
88 points
Notes of cassis, plum and chocolate. Medium-bodied with slightly firm tannins and flavors of black currant, plum and macerated black berry fruit. Picks up a bit of barrel spice through the midpalate and finish. (V&M)
Flight 5 - Dessert wines (2 notes)
In a twist, these were served double blind to the group, along with chocolate chocolate chip ice cream and caramel cake.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2007 Château Rieussec
93 points
Double blind, from half bottle. Aromas of apricot, marmalade and florals. Tropical fruit and pineapple on the finish, with terrific supporting acidity. Guessed 2013 sauternes. (M&R)
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2009 Château Suduiraut
91 points
Double blind, from half bottle. Slightly deeper color than the first. Aromas of cantaloupe, stone fruit and honey. Nice acidity. Flavors of marmalade, stone fruit and pineapple. Richer texture than the first wine. Guessed '13 sauternes. (M&R)
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Closing
Thank you M&R for hosting a terrific tasting and dinner.