2009 Yasa Calatayud: grassy, white peach, a bit of RS. My notes don't indicate that I knew the grape but most likely grenache blanc. Just okay.
The rest were served blind at a session of the Dorks of York:
1) Malo-creamy, mineral driven, crisp acidity, clean, pale, green apple, minimalist. Excellent. 2008 Blue Mountain Chardonnay, cream label.
2) Odd nose, floral, chenin-y, light, resin, pleasant but not memorable. 2004 Musar Cuvee Blanc.
3) Sweet fruit, pomegranite ruby color, too clean for Burgundy, Brian guessed sangio, youthful palate, fruit-focussed, tea notes. Group was very surprised both that it was a California pinot and as old as it was. I brought this. 99 Lane Tanner Julia's Vineyard.
4) Bread and butter pickle, salty, secondary fermentation going on (cloudy) to my eye and palate. Alan commented, "It's going to explode any second." 15.5% alcohol. It's owner claims this is typical of the wine. 2006 Tuderi "Badde Niolosu" Romanjia Rosso, Sardinia. Too weird for me.
5) Major Pinosity, very similar to the Lane Tanner but younger. 2009 J. Hofstatter Meczan Pinot Noir, Italy.
6) Beautiful nose, big aroma and plate, very syrah-y, quite youthful but developing well, shows very well. Shockingly, it's one of those big Parker successes, the 2003 Juan Gil Monastrell. I never would have guessed that wine could become this.
7) Tobacco, green pepper, red and black fruit, good acid, reasonable tannins. Not great but not bad, an interesting novelty: 2005 Chaddsford "Merican", Pennsylvania.