...Sketchy notes from a blind tasting (in reverse order of appearance).
1999 Alois Kracher Traminer TBA #2 Nouvelle Vague Neusiedlersee
Mine. Since no one has a recent palate reference for 20 year old Austrian Traminer, took awhile to guess but we relished the wait. Delightful with dark toffee, tea and honey notes.
2018 Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rouge Pinot Noir
Black raspberry with rustic tannins; medium body. Tasty and easy to drink, but rough around the edges and lacks pinotsity. 14.5% abv.
1995 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard St. Helena Petite Sirah
Erik's. Dark and brooding. Good tannins and heft; not cabernet or syrah-like, but that kind of body. Finally dawned on us: had to be Petite Sirah. Showed well. And I had a '91 Stags Leap PS in my bag--after this, put mine back (unopened).
1994 Beringer Vineyards Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch Carneros
My wine. Deep garnet color. Dark cherry with a tad of rubber on the nose. Acidity and balance excellent. Finish went on forever. Swoons around the table. Wasn't an easy one to guess either--Barolo and a Rhone blend were ruled out among other things--no one thought American or pinot. Outstanding.
2017 Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Mirabai Dundee Hills
Vic's. Extremely light, almost rose in appearance. Drinks more like gamay than pinot noir.
2006 La Bastide Blanche Bandol Mourvèdre Blend, Mourvèdre
Erik's. Some sweaty horse notes but no blood, and still very tannic, tasters failed to identify this just-opened wine. Another hour of aeration probably would have cinched it though.
2019 Beckham Estate Vineyard Trousseau A.D. Beckham Amphora Chehalem Mountains
My wine. Pulled it out to follow an Oregon Pinot Meuniere from another producer. Brighter, deeper and spicier than the other with cran-raspberry fruit and depth. Wish I had more to see where this goes in the future--'wow' level stuff, a serious wine.
2021 Teutonic Wine Company Pinot Meunier Borgo Pass Vineyard Willamette Valley
Gabe's. Light ruby red. Easy, joyful cherry-cranberry fruit with some faint herbaceousnous in the background. Loved it.
2017 Stoller Chardonnay Reserve Dundee Hills
Mine. Complex and graceful with Chablis-like steel and minerality--expert palates are fooled every time I pour it.
2010 Guy Saget Vouvray Marie de Beauregard Chenin Blanc
Vic's. Pineapple nose, sweet and rich, rounded by age, and a bit too much RS at this point. Thumbs down.
2014 Matteo Correggia Roero Arneis La Val Dei Preti
Has aged very nicely and it's not over yet.