BLIND TASTING IN ASTORIA - (9/10/2014)
HUGE thanks to the group for letting me join this fun tasting. And a thanks to Jay for the wines - and the surprises. It was great to see old friends and meet some new ones. I must say that, other than Leo who was close a few times, the rest of us were sadly way off on the majority of these wines and as far as that goes - it was a pretty humbling experience. I was upset that the rioja and the brunello flight were not more obvious to me - since i do drink and love both. Gaja was the WOTN for me - and honestly was just a great bottle. The last thing i would add is the fact that a lot of these wines would probably do better with time over them - letting them develop in the glass and over an evening - such is the drawback of a larger tasting.
Thanks again to all, especially to Jay and Rebecca and Gil and Alan and Leo. Happy to see you all and hope to meet again soon.
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NV Valdespino Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Palo Cortado Viejo C.P. - Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
creamy, dry but with a hint of sweetness in the mid. figs and nuts. salty and a touch of caramel and perhaps of orange. bit of heat on the nose and the finish is a touch short - but that is purely nitpicking. excellent example. (92 pts.)
Penfolds Chard
most of us though this was burgundy. Gil was the closest with Cali. this was very much a surprising reveal.
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1998 Penfolds Chardonnay Yattarna - Australia, South Australia
this was good but not even close to the 99. good minerality but showing age. bit more sweetness in the middle which points to the new world. creamy, hints of oak. Still excellent fruit - falling toward the autumnal spectrum. very cool. (91 pts.)
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1999 Penfolds Chardonnay Yattarna - Australia, South Australia
this was pure Burgundy on the nose. Chablis (with my limited exp.) with some oak. light, fresh and young. the oak adds depth but does not overpower the floral, light and full of life notes on the nose. the mid is fresh, with a good zing and some power. excellent - one of the better dry whites i have had in a long time. amazing freshness for its age as well. (93 pts.)
Brunello
Leo and several others saw this as Italian Cab. But sangiovese? OUCH.
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1999 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
was this off? was it just me? ripe, rich, the structure may be there but overflowing with dark fruit. i did not get the iron or meat on this one at all. none of that cherry flavor i love in brunello. (90 pts.)
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1999 Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
ripe, lush fruit, this was most like a cab/bdx blend. very deep structure. perhaps in need of time. some herbs and iron with more time. this was very powerful - again surprised to see this as brunello. (92 pts.)
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1997 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Rennina - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
this was by far my WOTN. and my first Gaja. Lush wine with great acidity keeping it fresh. notes of iron and cherry well present here (this was the only one in the flight that felt like brunello. lots of red fruit and herbs. loooong finish. excellent. (oh and i love 97 as a vintage overall in Tuscany.) (94 pts.)
Tempernillo
UGH. i should have known this. Spain did come up - but not rioja or tempernillo.
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1999 Fernando Remírez de Ganuza Rioja - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja
this one made me sad on reveal. i usually adore his wines. this was tight, bitter notes, red fruit there but hard to get at them. perhaps needed time - in the glass or the cellar. potential ? rather surprised by this one. Love rioja but could not even come close to that as a guess. (91 pts.)
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1999 Bodegas Uvaguilera Aguilera Ribera del Duero Palomero - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
good red fruit. resolved tannins and some secondary notes. herbs. full bodied. interesting wine - but on the modern side. (91 pts.)
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1994 Bodegas Campillo Rioja Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
vanilla and cherry. resolved and showing age. secondary notes of leather and a bit of soy. good but not great. (90 pts.)
Aussie Bombs
Bombs away! … not my thing. at all. i can see how they can be for some people - and they are well made… but why? 
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1997 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
not for me. jammy sweet rich wine. balanced with structure but still on the overpowering side. the positives? this has not aged much lol. if you love powerful sweet red monsters - this is for you. (90 pts.)
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1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
see the note for 97. ripe, black fruit. oak is present but does not (or cannot?) overpower the fruit… not my cup of jam (90 pts.)
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1997 Greenock Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
cab! eucalyptus notes, ripe powerful wine with serious structure. not overly oaky or sweet. perhaps would need time for me… still mainly primary notes - surprised to see the age. (91 pts.)
Sweet wines
Yeah… sorry … i spoiled the Kracher surprise. well… not my fault that he is pretty much the only one who uses that type of a bottle. the Paumanok felt more like Sav though - cant say exactly why but i expect more zing in Riesling perhaps.
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2009 Paumanok Riesling Late Harvest - USA, New York, Long Island, North Fork
to me - this was much more sav blanc on the nose than riesling. light creamy notes, with vanilla touches. mid has a lovely note of citrus and lots of sweetness to balance the zing. good finish. (91 pts.)
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2002 Alois Kracher Scheurebe TBA #10 Zwischen den Seen - Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee
Kracher is Kracher. Sorry Jay - the bottle was too obvious. reminds me of a good aszu. rich, mango-peach-apricot compote. this is just plain good. (93 pts.)
Thanks to all.
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