Double blind. Pale color opening with notes of citrus and wood spice with grassy overtones. Full-bodied and showing a good bit of barrel influence at this point. With air the fruit took on a diminished profile and the oak became the more dominant quality. While I initially thought sauv blanc, by the time it came to unveil I wasn’t so sure.

Double blind, showing a light youthful color and aromas of lemon, mineral, honeysuckle blossoms and hints of coconut. The lemon and mineral follow through on the palate, along with pear and quince flavors, all supported by a judicious amount of wood. Almost like a baby Indigene in some ways, but not as rich or oaky. Easy to identify as Napa chardonnay though given how well the oak was integrated I thought it was a couple of years older.

Double blind. Apple and earthy clay aromas are followed by toast and pear flavors on the palate. Almost chardonnay, but not. Guessed chenin blanc. This was a surprise as viognier never entered my mind as it was lacking stone fruits, florals and the texture of the variety. Decent, but not what I would hope for if I wanted viognier.

Double blind. Lighter in color with some bricking, this appears to have a little age. Opens with an herbaceous aroma with tired red fruit and hints of worcestershire sauce as well. Almost tastes oxidized, but there’s some red fruit hiding in there, but with an unpleasant sour note on the finish. This wine changed more than any other in the flight over the forty or so minutes we spent with it. The red fruit came forward and the oxidized notes faded. Soy, red berry fruit and tomato leaf qualities. I was thinking grenache, but placing it as mid 2000s southern Rhone. (J&J)

Double blind. Dark color with notes of currants, mocha, mulberry and spice with an herbal/greenish undertone that I find very appealing. Full-bodied and firm, with a youthful structure and black fruit lingering on the finish. On the first pass I was convinced this was a young Napa blend with a nice dollop of franc. It wasn’t until just before we began discussing these that its origin began to reveal itself. A chocolate note joined the black fruit, but the palate lagged behind and lacked a certain generosity of fruit that made me think perhaps it was Bordeaux. Fine, sweet tannin with flavors of black currant and green tobacco. I feel great that I guessed 2009 Pauillac, though I never suspected PLL, which is a property I have pegged on several prior occasions. I don’t know how this bottle was prepared for the tasting other than I was told it had not been decanted. Still youthful and tight, if I had any of this I would hold off another five years at least…will be a stunner when it reaches its peak. (R&D)

Double blind. Bright crimson red color. Aromas of candied raspberry and wild strawberry with jammy red fruit undertones. There is something a little briary/spicy underneath. Medium body, with flavors of jammy dark fruit and raspberry that become brighter as the wine sits in the glass. This is all about the bright exuberant fruit and I am a fan. Guessed grenache. 92+ pts. (J&J)

Double blind. Deep color with a bouquet that shows Bordeaux from the start. Iron, black fruit, tobacco and dried herbs with forest floor undertones. Full-bodied with fine tannins and flavors of black fruit, cigar tobacco and mineral. Graphite and cedar elements emerge with air. Lovely. (R&D)

Blind. Herbaceous notes with black and blue fruit underneath along with hints of vanilla. Medium tannins with flavors of black cherry, plum and vanilla. Nicely balanced.

Blind. Deepest color of the flight. Vanilla, herb, blue fruit, clay and mocha notes. Fine tannin with black fruit, plum, herb and vanilla. Excellent.

Double blind. Deep opaque color. Vanilla, currant, dill, brown sugar and subtle perfumed floral notes. Youthfully tannic with flavors of plum and dark fruit, mineral and raspberry liqueur. (R&D)