NV Doyard Champagne “Cuvee Vendemiaire Premier Cru” Brut Label doesn’t say Blanc de Blancs, but back says 100% Chardonnay. This is fresh, but man the dosage is high. Lemon pie, apple turnover, and a little floral note. Good but not my style. B-
2013 Pinon “Le Vouvray” Lovely bottle of sec-tendre Chenin, great in context of the vintage. Lemona de and crisp apple with a touch of wool and wax, good length, good acids. B
++
My turn to host local group, theme was some F&$*ing Merlot
Some charcuterie (lonza, cecina, cotto salami, lamb pate, pate grandmere) c heeses, (Kasseri, Stella Vallis, and Hudson valley “camembert? ?) and dips (baba ganoush, hummus, and htipiti). Plus I grilled some Toul ouse style sausages. Blind Wine #1 Ripe sweet, guessed California, black plum with a little jammy note.Some ta nnic backbone. Roger said it was Oregon, which surprised me, not run across many OR Merlots, but then revealed. 2015 Crossfork Creek Merlot (Yakima Va lley) B- Blind Wine #2 Way leaner, I thought a lot of Cab Franc, black plum and some green notes a nd cedar. I guessed Fronsac, Dave says label says next to Fronsac (pure luc k). 78% Merlot. 12% Cab Franc. 10% CS . Ch. Recougne (Bordeaux Superieur) B-
Blind Wine #3 Mine, so no guesses. First comment “I thought Dale would open somet hing old, this is young.” I gradually walked them back through the decades till we got to Marc’s birthyear (his birthday was a couple weeks ago). Decanted about 90 minutes before serving, best showing yet of t his. Beautiful black cherry fruit, topped with mocha, leather, and cigarbox . Very long, great balance. Gets a nice smoky topnote in glass. 1966 Ch. Ma gdelaine (St. Emilion) A/A-
Blind Wine #4 Pretty sturdy, more structure than fruit. The fruit that does show is quite dark, some cocoa, but pretty tightly coiled. I thought young St. Em. 2005 Ch. Bourgneuf (Pomerol) B/B- for now, potential for more
Blind Wine #5 Pretty good acids, fresh and grapey, bright. 2015 Bonny Doon I Am Not Drink ing Any $%&*#! Merlot, B/B-
Blind Wine #6 Heavy bottle, heavy wine. Some people’s fave. Obviously Cali, prett y representative of the style. Oak, kirsch and cassis, but with surprising acidic lift. 2014 Trefethen Merlot (Oak Knoll, Napa) B-/B
Blind Wine #7 Such nice dark berry fruit, but a hint of CF greenness. I guessed young St. Em.
2014 Ch. Mayne-Viel (Fronsac) B
Blind Wine #8 I didn’t do any guessing, because as it was poured Cal said he used to drink a lot of this in the 80s as one of the owners’ daughter w as a violinist. So I knew Ridge. But I don’t think I’ve eve r had a Ridge Merlot before, and this was a seriously good one. Black cherr y and dark berry fruit, cocoa, spice. Nice balance of tannin, acid, and fru it, good length. 2013 Ridge Merlot B+/A-
Blind Wine #9 A bonus bottle, an orphan I found in my cellar, from a producer I don? ?t know. Some people’s fave of the night. Cassis, black plum, dar k chocolate, licorice. Ready to go. 2000 Lafleur St. Jean (Pomerol) B+/A-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.