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The Blind Drunks monthly tasting
Chateau Lay
Tasted February 15, 2009 by AllRed with 711 views
Introduction
As is our custom, the wines for the tasting are served double blind to the group in brown paper bags. Each flight is tasted, discussed and unveiled before moving on to the next flight. Wines are listed in the order they appeared in the flight.
Flight 1 - I. Warm-up whites. (5 notes)
White
2005 Rudd Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
Tasted double blind. Notes of citrus and cat urine, with good citrus fruit flavors on the palate, with grassy undertones. Plenty of acidity as well. Guessed a South African Sauv Blanc.
White
2006 Westerly Vineyards Viognier Estate
91 points
Notes of honeysucke, white flowers and peach blossoms, developing an interesting nutty undertone with air. Somewhat rich texture, with flavors of stone fruit, almonds and a mineral-tinged finish.
White
2005 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Montmains
88 points
Started out very reserved aromatically with a subtle apple and mineral notes which followed through on the palate. Good acidity on the palate. Really opened up about two hours later.
White
N.V. Wollersheim Winery Riesling
86 points
Dominant aroma of apple blossom, with a nice minerally undertone. The apple note follows through on the palate, with decent acidity. The finish is a bit short though.
White
1991 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée
88 points
Deep yellow color. Great nose with smoky mineral and almond/nutty aromas. A bit of a let down on the palate, with a slight harshness and subtle "dirty" fruit flavors.
Flight 2 - II. Reds. (6 notes)
Red
2007 Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhône
89 points
Notes of raspberry and cherry jam, with a dusty/soily undertone. Slightly tart on entry, filling out with dark fruit and raspberry notes. Picks up a bit of spice through the midpalate and finish. 89-90 pts. 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% each Mourvedre & Cinsault.
Red
2006 Hob Nob Vineyards Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d'Oc
flawed
Acetone aromas on first whiff. The acetone blew off after a short while, leaving cherry and dark fruit notes, with an odd sweaty, musty note. Flavors of chocolate and butter.
Red
2006 Domaine La Millière Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes
92 points
Opens with herb and cherry notes. Bright acidity on the palate, with flavors of red fruit, raspberry and black cherries. Terrific balance and a lengthy finish. Lot 323.
Red
1997 Chain of Ponds Shiraz The Ledge
90 points
Dark garnet color. Notes of olive, tapenade and herbs, developing a spice/pepper note with time in the glass. Dark fruit and spice flavors on the palate with a decent finish and resolved tannins.
Red
2001 Copain Zinfandel Arrowhead Mountain
This was an odd bottle. Dark color, nearly opaque at the center, with cassis, blackberry and currant notes. Chalky tannins, with loads of dark fruit on the palate. It fell apart in the glass over the twenty minutes we tasted this flight, becoming quite disjointed and developing a distracting grapefruit note.
Red
2006 Palmina Dolcetto
Notes of spice, herbs and vanilla. Light body, with black cherry and spice flavors. A bit simple maybe, but well made and pretty tasty.
Flight 3 - III. Reds. (5 notes)
Red
2006 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha Campo de Borja
91 points
Notes of dark fruit and spice, with a good herbal undertone. Shows a bit of alcohol on the palate, but there's also a lot of dark fruit and spice. Tannins are firm and dense, clamping down on the finish. Give this one some time. 91-92 pts.
Red
2006 Vincent Arroyo Merlot
Started out with an odd cheesy aroma that took a while to blow off. Once it did though, this displayed nice cherry and red fruit notes. Slightly tannic, with plush red fruit and nice underlying acidity.
Red
2000 Brown Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
Notes of dark fruit and spice, followed by dark chocolate and herbs. Medium-bodied, with flavors of plum and dusty red fruit. Nicely balanced, with a decent finish ending with a lingering dark fruit quality. 92-93 pts.
Red
2006 Vincent Arroyo Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
Aromas of chocolate, thyme, vanilla and herbs. Very well balanced, even at this young stage, with loads of dark fruit on the palate, and a spicy, oak-tinged finish. 92-93 pts.
Red
2004 Château Mille-Roses
91 points
Opens with aromas of dark fruit, roasted herbs and rose petals. Well-balanced, with red currant, plum and black cherry flavors, with a nice finish. 91+ pts.
Flight 4 - IV. Dinner wines. (4 notes)
Additional bottles served nonblind with dinner following the tasting.
Red
2003 Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Félix
92 points
Notes of red fruit, pepper and spices. Medium- to full-bodied, with red fruit and spice flavors. Nice balance and weight on the palate. From a bottle that had been opened the previous day.
Red
2006 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Sori Bricco Vineyard
93 points
Notes of herbs, plum and dark fruit. Full-bodied and really well-balanced, with plum and dark fruit carrying through the long, spice-tinged finish.
Red
2006 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard Diamond Mountain
92 points
Similar to the Sori Bricco, with dark fruit and herb qualities. Again, very well-balanced, with slightly drying tannins on the finish. 92-93 pts.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1988 Château Sigalas Rabaud
90 points
Deep gold color. Notes of honey and marmalade, with a nice spice quality. Rich texture, with baked apricot and honey flavors.