The Blind Drunks monthly tasting

The wines are tasted double blind in brown papers bags, arranged in flights from roughly the lightest wines to the heaviest. We spend 15-20 minutes tasting the flight before discussing the wines and unveiling them before moving on to the next flight.

The Fluteau was served nonblind while we waited for everyone to arrive.

• NV G. Fluteau Champagne Blanc de Noirs Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Pale straw color, with a fine mousse and a persistent bead. Notes of lemon peel, flowers, stone and blanched almonds. Fine- to medium-textured bead, with citrus (lemon) and apple tones on the palate.

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• 1995 Pine Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay Stags Leap District 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Pale yellow color. Notes of melon and lychee, with subte nut and floral tones. Flavors of melon and spice.

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• 1994 Kalin Cellars Chardonnay Cuvée W 92 Points

  USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Livermore Valley

  Deep yellow color. Notes of lemon seed oil and waxy orchard fruit. Rather viscous texture, with orchard fruit and citrus tones. Fairly high acidity.

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• 2003 Stony Mountain Vineyards Pinot Noir Stoney Mountain 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Ruby color. Opens with notes of pine needle, nutmeg, peppermint and cherry. Nice balance with flavors of cherry, clove and peppermint.

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• 2008 Ventisquero Pinot Noir Gran Reserva Queulat 90 Points

  Chile, Maipo Valley

  Ruby color. Notes of cherry, mint and pine sap, with flavors of cherry, clove and baking spices. Finishes well, with decent length. While we all guessed this to be Pinot, no one thought South America.

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• 2003 Thistle Wines Pinot Noir 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Garnet color. Opens with an earthy Pinot funk, followed by notes of mint, dark fruit and wintergreen chewing gum. Flavors of black cherry and mint. Overall pretty good, but the finish is a bit thin and has a odd metallic quality. As it sat in the glass it developed a nice meaty quality and lost the metallic tone on the finish. 89-90+ pts.

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• 1995 Château Montrose 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Garnet color. Notes of eucalyptus, tobacco, black fruit and underbrush. Good acidity on the palate, with flavors of red fruit, currants and plum, with herbs on the finish. Got better with air. 90-92 pts.

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• 2004 Azienda Agricola Panzanello Chianti Classico Panzanello Panzano 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Garnet color with notes of olive tapenade, chocolate and dark fruit, with a subtle plastic aroma. Flavors of mint and dark fruit, with a spice quality on the finish.

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• 1995 Château Palmer 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Garnet color. Aromas of roasted red bell pepper, herbs, tar and roasted game. Flavors of red currants, roasted herbs, cherry and raspberry. Aromas are more perfumed/floral with time in the glass. Well-balanced with a decent finish.

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• 1995 Querciabella Camartina 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Garnet color. Notes of plum, violets, black fruit and beef bouillon. Very well-balanced, with flavors of red currants, cherry and sandalwood.

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• 1996 Melka Métisse 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Garnet color. Notes of olives, mint and evergreen upon pouring. Opened quite a bit in the glass- very florally/perfumed, with plum and dark fruit notes. Nice balance, with sweet, slightly chewy tannins. Flavors of dark fruit initially, turning to red currants and cherry with time. Long finish. 91-92 pts.

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• 1995 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel Howell Mountain 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Garnet color, very light at the edge. Notes of beef bouillon, herbs, cherry and mint. Light- to medium-bodied, with flavors of red fruit and tea leaves, with a saline quality on the finish. Old Zin. 88-89 pts.

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• 2005 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Franc Spring Mountain District 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Inky garnet color. Aromas of dark fruit, mint, blueberry and herbs. Well-balanced, with red fruit flavors and spicy tannins. Dries out slightly on the finish, with dark fruit tones.

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• 2005 Wolf Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Garnet color. This had a weedy, stewed vegetable streak that I couldn't get past. Others at the table found more redeeming qualities and liked it more than I.

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• 2004 Neal Family Vineyards Zinfandel Rutherford Dust 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Garnet color. Aromas of plummy dark fruit and spices. Flavors of spice, plum, dark fruit and leather. Nicely balanced with decent underlying acidity.

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• 2005 Château Suduiraut 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Decanted for 2+ hours. Pale gold color. Aromas of pineapple, marmalade and apricot. Lush, with good weight on the palate. Flavors of apricot, honey, marmalade and spice. Medium length finish. 92+ pts.

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