I supplied two wines. Bob two wines, and James one wine.
Wine #1.
Clear ruby red. A nose of mushrooms and cherries with a hint of boysenberries and charcoal. Classic pinot nose. Tart cherries, light smooth tannins and nice balancing acidity on the midpalate. Medium finish that seems to fade quickly.
3 of 4 choose this as a new world pinot. Only Bob picked it as an old world pinot because he had tried it with food. This wine was much better with food.
Wine #2
Clear ruby red also. Earthy cherries with some spicy leather. Another classic pinot nose. Earthiness and nice spicyness on the midpalate. Long finish of earthy herbs. James said at first this was a new world wine done in an oldworld style but later changed his vote to old world.
3 out of 4 picked this as an old world pinot. Only brother Bob picked it as a new world pinot, mostly because it did not stand up to food that well.
Wine #3
Medium ruby red with slight fade to orange red at the edge. Evocative nose of sage, cloves, boysenberries and elderberries. Later some raisins. Seamless midpalate of herbs and slightly bitter dark fruit (elderberries again?), balancing acidity and nicely integrated silky tannins. Nice long finish of dark fruit.
Guessed as blend by all. My guess - Bordeaux, James's guess - other France. Cody - old world. Bob - Rhone, but he knew it was his wine.
Wine #4
Medium ruby red with slight bricking at the edge. Sweet vanilla oak and hickory nuts on the nose. Nice sweet red fruit (red raspberries and ripe strawberries) with well integrated tannins and judicious amount of acidity. Medium to long enjoyable finish of dark fruit. Solid wine but no wow factor.
All guessed new world blend. No one could really place region.
Wine #5
Deep garnet red all the way to edge - darkest wine of the 5. Nose of eucalyptus, mint, cassis and some enjoyable oakiness. Big tannins grip the midpalate in an engaging embrace followed by dark fruit (especially blackberries) and a nice long fruit tannic finish. James' first impression was it was a Washington Cab, but changed to CA cab. Great match with aged cheddar.
All but Bob guess Califorina Cab - New World. Bob knows this is his wine.
Ratings for wines without food:
Best wine of the tasting - #3 unanimous, all think it is a superior wine.
Second place wine - #5 by all but me. I voted for #2 as second.
Third place wine - #2 by all but me. I voted #5 as third.
Fourth place wine - #4 by all.
Fifth place wine - #1 by all
Ratings with food (we really didn't formally vote on this, but this is my interpretation of what was said):
#3, #5, #4=$1, and #2 (pinots switch places with food.
Wines revealed:
Wine #1 2003 La Montee Rouge, Domaine de la Vougeraie really improved with food - like most burgundies do. My wine
Wine #2 2004 Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir - One of Ontario's newest wineries. Noland brothers say this is the best ON pinot I have ever served them and I tend to agree. Better sipper than food wine, however. My wine
Wine #3. 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape E. Guigal Great match with garlic humus. All around great wine that really intrigued us and kept us guessing. Bob's wine
Wine #4. 1998 Cosentino winery "The Poet" Meritage, Napa Valley, Cab S, Merlot, Petit Verdot. James' wine.
Wine #5. 1999 Kiona Red Mountain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Washington State Wine Bob's wine
Dinner: appetizer (see below) Grilled bacon wrapped filet mignon, baked potato, sauteed aspargus with bernaise sauce, and dessert (see below)
Best match with bacon wrapped filet mignon: Kiona Cab Best with buttered baked potato: burgundy IMHO
Additional wines with dinner
2005 Partei Sauvignon Blanc, Matua Valley, Marlborough N. Z.
Clear yellow color. Nose of grass and gooseberries. Wonderful balance of sweet kiwis, acidity and smooth mouth feel on the midpalate. Long finish of lime and grapefruit zing that lingers and lingers. Great match
with appetizer of fried medallions of goat cheese on wilted spinach and tomato salsa.
Dessert wine. Essencia Orange Muscat 1998 Quady winery
Caramel color. Rich nose of honey and orange peel.
Matched nicely with orange pumpkin-cream cheese and pecan roll and Hershey's special dark chocolate. Fantastic match with chocolate
. Good with pumpkin roll.