Bring Your Blind Zins! - Any Vintage

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

Let's just do this thing! It has been well over a year since we Zined as seen HERE. Just bring your blind zin and a cane.

Who's in?

Theme: Zinfandel served blind ... any vintage

Location: The Command Center

Start Time: Sipping at 11:15 ... eating and drinking at 11:30

Food: Pizza?

Mystery White: Karnopolis

Zinners: The Hage, Dr/VP, DJ, Mel-K, Karnopolis, C-Rock

Not Sure: G-Dawg, Scottie

Southern Rhone - Notes! - Finally

Sorry, I forgot to add these here. Add any additional thoughts ... if you can remember.

Thanks to Cris for being the scribe.

I believe the Alary was voted tops which was a recent discovery for me at WineX for only $20. I voted #1-99 St Cosme, #2-05 Alary and #3-tie between the Walla Walla Syrah and the Crozes-Hermitage. Seems the outsiders always end up in the top. Jason will drop in with the overall voting hopefully.

• 2007 Novy Family Wines Pinot Noir Blanc de Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Served blind. Light nose of soft butter and a note of caramel with a touch of heat. Lean feeling palate with a very soft light richness in the middle with lemon and stony notes. Guessed Chardonnay that seemed something between the Cotes and Chablis. Cool surprise, a very unique wine and very good for the price. First time I tried this next to Adam and liked it them though not quite as much as I did on this occasion.
• 2006 Italo Cescon Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Grave
  Served blind. Soft nose of lemon chiffon and white flowers. Soft and light palate that is a bit inexpressive but no real flaws. Guessed Grenache Blanc or Pinot Blanc....close!

• 1999 Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
  Rustic nose of roasted fruits, figs, bits of herb and 'garrigue' roasted slope. Very richly fruited and long, soft yet substantial. Finish seems abrupt yet lingers in the corners of my mouth. The nose really picked up sitting in my glass for over 20-30 minutes becoming more expansive and deep. Lots of fruit here. Drinking well now with a bit of air but seems like it has quite a few years ahead of it. Very nice and the fav on the day for me.
• 2005 Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
  Nice to try this next to the '99 for comparison. Garrigue and roasted hillside dominate the nose. Rich and dark palate, very tannic with a light note of brett. Not showing much more than potential today. Throw this in the back of the cellar.
• 2005 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
  Big sweaty sock/wet wool brett upon pouring that lingers for some time but does blow off with some time in glass. Nose is still primary with a touch of heat. Very tight palate with tons of tannin and young primary fruit without the roasted quality seen in most other wines from the region. This was more of the riper, brighter, sweeter styled fruits but I'm not going to touch the modern versus old world styles. Interesting contrast next to the 05 Cosme though.

• 2005 Montirius Vacqueyras Garrigue - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras
  Big dark and ripe with lots of garrigue. Full feeling yet soft palate with tannins that linger on the finish that is silky and long. Probably needs a few years for the fruit to express itself best but a very good wine now and would be a great dinner companion.
• 2005 Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne La Font d'Estévenas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne
  Slight brett greets with bright fruits, spices and some espresso. Complex dark palate with nice tannins and good acidity. The pieces are all very good right now yet probably need another year or two to really come together. Very good all around and I think this won the voting for the day.
  Took the remnants home and finished it 3 days later. Showed no signs of oxidation unrefrigerated and had actually picked up some palate weight. Will get more and leave them be for a couple more years. Still the bargain I tasted in store at WineX.

• 2006 Sierra Vista Grenache El Dorado Estate Bottled - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, El Dorado
  Served blind. Odd nose that changes a lot with some herbs and heat. Very sweet palate that is soft and has some length. Thought maybe a ripe Pinot....way off.

• 2005 Waters Syrah Pepper Bridge - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  Back to the New World, I could have really taken this for a Cali Syrah. Light pepper on a big broad nose with a dose of vanilla. Big dense with decent acidity and some sweetness. Very modern styled though a good example of that kind of wine. Hadn't heard of this producer before but will keep my eye out. A Frank Murray wine I'm sure.
• 2005 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
  Very dark in color. Lots of pepper on the nose. Nice lean feel and kind tight and wrapped up. The nice Northern Rhone Syrah is in there but is still hiding a bit. I still liked this and would love to try it again in a few years.

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