No theme this month, always brings out the weirdos (in the best way I can mean that).
2015 Grgich Hills Chardonnay Napa Valley
Vic started with this. Strong pear flavors linger on the palate in a way that points more toward grenache blanc than chardonnay, and California wasn't even on my radar.
2015 Idiot's Grace Sémillon Columbia Gorge
So I whipped this one out. Light petrol nose, a little sage on the palate with lemon balm. Exceptional minerality and acid for domestic semillon which is why I thought it would stump the boys. First guess from the best taster at the table was Northern Italy--SCORE!
2009 Château D'Arlay Côtes du Jura Chardonnay Blend, Chardonnay
Nutty almond, bone dry, lots of body buoyed by pineapple-y acidity, interesting. In fact, the most interesting thing about it was that it didn't show the oxidative notes so common to Jura whites.
2014 Perennial Vintners Melon de Bourgogne Puget Sound
I was so enthused after my first bottle of this a few months ago that I grabbed the out-of-town retailer's remaining two bottles and held them for future blind tastings. This is the best of all worlds for a blind tasting: vivid and complex flavors, exciting texture, low alcohol and nobody would ever guess it was THAT grape from THAT place. It did not disappoint: first guesses were CdP blanc, then 100% Marsanne. Blew everyone away.
2017 Hacienda La Lomita Grenache Cursi Ensenada
Rich and sweet, seems high alcohol, with notes of Aperol and pink grapefruit. Not a fan.
2018 Cacique Maravilla País Pipeño Yumbel Bío-Bío Valley
Light red wine, unfiltered looking. Beaujolais-ish, pineau d'anuis-ish, but it's neither. It's pais (pronounced pie-eesh), aka mission, and it comes in a liter bottle. Loved it.
1995 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
Another Erik bottle, and another disappointment. Dry, crumbly cork, taupe-y color, thin body, old Rioja-ish. Not undrinkable but not at all what we know this wine can be.
2008 Qupé Los Olivos Cuvée Santa Ynez Valley Red Rhone Blend
Tim's. Pinot colored. Chocolatey nose with dried rose and tea flavors on the palate and a bittersweet, tannic finish. We all believed it was a nebbiolo--but no, a California GSM, aging super well.
1991 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder
Mine. Initial guesses went to the Southern Hemisphere for reasons I still don't understand. Yes there was a hint of something Pyrazine but there was also the classic black cherry and tobacco of Napa Valley. Decanted earlier to remove sediment. Leftovers showed better the next day.
2016 The Eyrie Vineyards Trousseau Dundee Hills
Medium to light red in color. Shows loganberry, bay, leaf and some reductive notes. Needs food.
2006 Leonetti Cellar Reserve Walla Walla Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Modern Bordeaux in style, huge in body and hot on the palate. My first Leonetti Reserve and I appreciated a chance to taste one, but too dense and OTT for my tastes. I miss the finesse of the regular.
2012 Ruby Trust Cellars Fortune Seeker Colorado Red Blend
Mine. Blue-ish color with blueberry and violets from the dominant petit verdot (60%). Dense, unfiltered and rustic with very chewy tannins. Hard to love in a blind tasting--it needed beef ribs--but interesting and obviously competently made.
2012 Domaine Giacometti Patrimonio Cru des Agriate Nielluccio, Sangiovese
Startlingly high acid blend of grenache and sangiovese. Even acid lovers like me found it hard to like.
2009 Wilridge Barbera Cockburn Vineyard Walla Walla Valley
Solid fruit here showing pomegranate, Rolo's candy, sweet herb, sour cherry and decent acidity. Nice.
1995 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne Syrah
My finale. Olives, vegemite, old fruit, dried strawberries, antique sofa, all that. Great aromatics. WOTN for most.