“Patio” Wine Challenge Blind Tasting

“Patio” Wine Challenge Blind Tasting
July 25, 2009

Thanks to our gracious hosts Meri & Andy, and the twelve other wonderful winebrats who contributed the wines for this BLIND tasting. Just about every wine had at least one vote as the number one wine, so there were no clear mandates, as evidenced by the scores. The best possible score for #1 wine was 14 points, but the best actual score was 77 points. Every wine had something to offer a number of varying palettes. All the wines, except for one happened to be under $15. That said, here was the line-up, starting with highest rated at #1, to lowest, at #17. Tasting notes are not included because we each had a different experience of the wines.

1. Bonterra, S. Blanc 08, Mendocino Cty., $13
2. Bodega Tamari, Torrontes 08, Casablanca Valley, Chile, $11
3. New Age, white (this was a shock to many of us), $10
4. Veramonte, S. Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile, $13
5. Spanish Quarter, Chardonnay/Albarino blend 06, Costers del Segre, Spain, $12
6. The Other, Chardonnay/Viognier blend 07, Lodi, $12
7. Nobilo Icon, S. Blanc 08, Marlborough, NZ, $19-$24
8. Monkey Bay, S. Blanc 08, Marlborough, NZ, $10
9. Pomelo, S. Blanc 07, CA, $10
10. Moscato Asti 08, $14
11. Natura, S. Blanc 08, Casablanca Valley, $10
12. Wine by Joe, Pinot Gris 07, OR, $9
13. Coopers Creek Cat’s Pee on a Gooseberry Bush, S. Blanc 08, NZ, $11
14. Gazela, Vinho Verde, Portugal, $10
15. Charles Krug (Robert Mondavi), S. Blanc 07, Napa Valley, $16
16. Fr. Rose wine (sorry I did not get deetz on this one), $12
17. Dancing Bull, S. Blanc 07, CA, $8

Congrats to Kris and Jim for contributing the group’s best scoring wine.

Border Hopping

1-31-09 Border Hopping at Joan’s…
…with the following wines accompanied by a few combined notes:

1. Principessa Gavia, Gavi, Garantita, 2006 (P) – pear, pineapple, astringent, floral, mineral

2. J Vidal – Fleury, Cotes du Rhone, 2006 (R) – cream soda, viscous, oaked, full-bodied, sweet

3. Chateau Pesquie, Terrasses, Cotes du Ventoux, 2006 (R) – big nose, good fruit, short finish, dark red fruit, earthy, WOW!! Big Attack!!!,

4. Boroli, Quattro Fratelli, Barbera d’Alba, 2006 (P) – fruit, honey, big, body, acid, tannic, earthy, deep w/a Pinot nose, bl currant, mineral, nice mouthfeel

5. Poderi di Luigi Einaudi, Dolce di Dogliani, 2006 (P) – pretty bouquet, big, fruit, dry, dk red and blk fruit, scorched earth, spice, dark, big finish

6. Michele Chiarlo, Le Orme, Barbera D’Asti, 2005 (P) – spice, good fruit, elegant, barnyard, red fruit

7. E. Guigal, Gigondas, 2001 (R) – “Smells like shit!” says Tom. “I’m getting that flavor I so often notice, but can’t identify,” says the other Tom. “That would be Brettanomyces,” says Joan, “a common occurrence in French wines”. Other notes: very barnyard nose, fragrant, a little spice, pie cherry

8. Michele Chiarlo, Le Orme, Barbera D’Asti, 2005 (P) – bright, good spice, florals, lots of body, little barnyard, spicy, fruit, short finish, cranberry, skunky, earthy

9. Saint Cosme, Les Deux Albion, Cotes du Rhone, 2006 (R) – acid, minerals, big fruit, barnyard (Gerry was seriously stuck in the barnyard), dk fruit, dry, cherry, rhubarb

10. Seghesio, Dolcetto d’Alba, 2005 (P) – light, good tannins, long finish, very dk, very fruit forward, but lighter w/acid, fruit, acid, harsh, sowy, dry, raspberry, earthy

11. Le Clos de Caveau, Fruit Sauvage, Vacqueyras, 2004 (R) – silky, good fruit, long finish, fruit-forward, dk cherry, barnyard (Gerry again), fruit, round, vanilla, cherry, sugar, floral

12. Layer Cake, Cotes du Rhone, 2006 (R) – earth, deep fruit tones, young, a little tannic, not much fruit, a little acid?, mineral, approachable, strawberry, tar, fruity, earthy

13. Perrin & Fils, Les Christins, Vacqueyras, 2006 (R) (Taste Off Bonus)

14. Domaine Cote de Lange, Cotes du Rhone, 2006 (R) (Jodi’s and Johns’s)

15. Marchesi Di Gresy, Monte Aribaldo, Dolcetto D’Alba, 2006 (P) (Jodi’s and John’s)

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J