Served blind. Pretty, light gold color in the glass, with a nose of lemon, and slight caramel. Slightly sweet on the palate, and fairly low acidity. Chardonnay was not on my list of guesses. I guessed a Loire chenin blanc, with 5-10 years of age. Quite wrong, but a nice apertif wine.

Served blind - this one was much lighter in color than the Trois Noix before it, and had a stronger lemony, and slightly metallic nose. It was a bit too cold when served. The nose had me thinking chardonnay, and the flavors confirmed that guess for me. This wine still had great acidity, and very little evidence of oak - but that may be the age. No caramel flavors, and I guessed a young, unoaked CA chardonnay. Quite tasty, and I was really surprised that this was 10 year old wine. It drank much younger.

Served blind - dark amber/deep gold in the glass, with a nose of sweet apricot and caramel. The sweetness on the palate was not overpowering, it was well integrated. A thick, oily, viscous wine, that was served with the second course and paired well. I guessed a 30 year old sauternes, so I was relatively close, just 10 years off...

Served blind. I was way off on this one. It was medium gold in the glass, and slightly cloudy. Nose of peach tea, and I expected an older, dry white wine, but was really surprised when the sweetness on the palate did not match the nose. It was thick and viscous, and sweet, but not cloyingly so. I guessed a 30 year old sec Chenin Blanc - a Huet or something. I would have never called a young riesling. Others did, but I didn't get the riesling flavors. It was a really good wine, with many years ahead of it.

Served blind - deep and dark in the glass, with lots of blue and black fruits on the nose. A bit sweet on the palate, and overpowered by the black pepper on the steak served with the reds. I did not get the dryness or dustiness I typically get with Rioja, so that wasn't even on my radar. It was pure fruit, and I wrote down a syrah, but I think ultimately guessed a zinfandel, as our host loves zins. Way off. But good wine.

Served blind - this was my second favorite of the night. The purity of fruit and lasting finish on this wine were amazing. It had a nose of bright red fruit - cherries, raspberries - nice, but integrated tannins, which helped it hold up to the steak. A beautiful red color in the glass, with nice clarity. Some cherry medicinal flavors as it opened up. This one was really tasty. I called a grenache heavy CDP, so I was in the arena, but I thought it was younger.

Served blind - this was mine, and most at the table's, wine of the night. A bit of bricking around the rim, and a bit of a dusty cherry nose. Very dry, and fairly high tannins. When first tasting through, before food, this one seemed faded. But with the steak, it popped, and more cranberry flavors came out. I thought it was merlot heavy, and called a 2000 or 2005 right bank BDX.

Served blind - wow, this one smelled and tasted young. Lots of barrel prevalent on the nose, with high tannins. But deep, dark fruit on the palate. This one needs quite a bit more time, but is a really good wine, that will be really good for a long time to come. I called a young Napa cab.

Served blind - with dessert. Here's that zinfandel we were all expecting. And one of the best. The chocolate dessert took away any of the sweetness of the wine, and brought out the alcohol. So maybe not the best pairing. Fruit forward, but not in your face. Tannins were still high, and this could use some more time in my opinion. But still a great wine, and a fun way to end the evening.