Tried these three for dinner Fri night w/ Susan. Went 0-for-3:
1. RubiconEstate Blancaneaux Rutherford/NapaVlly (6.5 acres; 50% Roussanne/27% Marsanne/23% Viog; 808 cs; 14.5%) 2009: Light gold color; fairly strong Rouss/honeysuckle/honeyed slight floral/Viog/appley light toasty/oak quite simple nose; somewhat soft slight tangy/appley fairly rich/honeyed/honeysuckle/Rouss light floral slight hot/alcoholic rather simple flavor; med.long bit tangy/appley some Rouss/honeyed/honeysuckle light floral/peach/Viog/appley finish; a pleasant/simple white Rhone blend, but just that; grossly overpriced at $57.50 (SFW&S)
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2. Mercatto DOCG: Barbaresco (14%; TLS Imports/Denver) LuigiVoghera/Fraz.Tetti/Neive 2005: Med.light slightly garnet color; rather tarry/earthy/licorice bit alcoholic slight floral/violets/perfumed bit barnyardy/unclean nose; rather acid/austere bit barnyardy/horsecollar/unclean light tarry/licorice/pungent very loight floral/violets quite tannic/astringent/thin/bitey flavor; med.short tannic/astringent/bitey/thin light tarry/pungent some barnyardy/unclean/bretty finish w/ harsh/astringent tannins; not a good Nebb at any price. $33.50 (KK)
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3. TraderJoe's Reserve PinotNoir NapaVlly (13.5%; "Flavors of black cherry, raspberry and plum w/ vanilla overtones") ABJ Wines/Geryserville 2011: Med.color; some vanilla/toasty/oak rather earthy somewhat coarse/plummy/PN(?) nose; tart/lean slight tannic/bitey rather toasty/vanilla/oak rather earthy flavor w/ a paucity of fruit; short earthy/coarse slight plummy/PN lean/thin/eviscerated slight tannic/bity finish; no redeeming features at all; total fail. Overpriced at $9.00 (TJ)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Rubicon: This came into SFW&S several weeks ago. It was the price that caught my attention, but I had my doubts. It's a Rubicon...probably overpriced. So, needed a white last Fri, so I sprung for it. Big mistake. It was a pleasant enough white Rhone blend..but at a stupid price point. Not nearly as good as the Jaffurs Roussanne at less than half the price. Definitely one to avoid. Should have gone w/ the Simcic PG at $18.00....a third the price and a far better wine.
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2. Mercatto: Never before done/did see'd this producer. The price was not so bad...so took a flyer. Total fail....this wine sucks big time. On the level of the bottom-of-the-line TraderJoe's Barbaresco at $18...not even that good. Avoid.
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3. Not a good showing for a wine geek tonight. But Susan's gonna keep me...I hope.
Tom