traveling with friends and going to do a broad tasting “throwdown”, incrementally pitting wines against each other to see which are our favorites.
the list:
Double Diamond 2019
Marques de Murrieta Castillo Y Gay Gran Reserva 2010
Boudreaux 2013
Fidelitas Blackwood Canyon Cabernet 2018
Andrew Will Sorella 2013
Mark Ryan Dead Horse 2020
Domaine de la Grange Des Peres 2015
Domaine de Terrebrune 2015
Longship Cellars Ginger Man 2020
Mark Ryan Crazy Mary 2020
Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench 2020
Kerloo Cellars Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet 2020
Klipsun Cabernet 2016
Ridge Estate Cabernet 2019
Le Petit Lion 2018
Leoville Las Cases 2014
Baer Ursa 2015 (thanks Berserker Day!)
Paul Jaboulet La Maison Bleue 2019
Ramonet Chassagne Montrachet “Boudriotte” 2018
Kistler les Noisetiers 2019
Reverse Sancerre 2020
Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 2005
Chateau d’Yquem 2017
Chateau Guiraud 2009
tasting notes to come. First pass upon pop n pour, I rank these in reverse order, my friend the opposite. I find the Petit Lion has the purest blackberry nose, and both it and the Ridge are way out in front in terms of fruit richness. Surprising as I remember Klipsun as a star of the NYWE this past year. Looking forward to tasting this over the course of the evening.
Seems like you’ve got things covered but if you’re in need of a changeup, Viaggio Wine Bar in Bend always has something worth drinking. Enjoy my part of the country!
Klipsun - opened up considerably with air. very fine grained tannins, but not mouth filling. medium acid. well resolved. red fruit, and a slight green olive flavor that dissipated with time. relatively light nose with a slight herbal quality to complement the cherry pit scent. my 2nd place finisher.
Ridge - ripe purple fruit, rosemary and bing cherry, light acid and resolved tannin. Nose of plum and pine bay leaf. delicious. my 1st place.
Le Petit Lion - very pure blackberry compote nose, mineral and blue/purple fruit with velvety tannins on the palate. Smooth, medium/full body, and best at pop & pour. Interestingly gave way to the other wines over the course of the evening, as it showed less complexity. nonetheless, a lovely wine, and a great match for the pasta dinner with bolognese. 3rd place tonight.
footnote: opened a Mark Ryan Monkeywrench for a nightcap. No match for the other wines this evening. very musty/yeasty nose. medium body, medium acid but really quite simple. would not recommend based upon qpr. will try again another night and see if there is improvement.
Double Diamond 2019 - medium/full body, unsurprisingly fruit forward but pleasantly restrained. purple fruits, fine tannins, a surprising touch of earthiness (iron?). my 2nd place, friends 1st place for the evening.
Marques de Murrieta Castillo Y Gay 2010 - medium/full body, pure cherries with rosemary and herbal notes. A nice cigar-like note on the finish. opened up considerably over the course of the evening to reveal more plushness. my 1st place by the end of the night.
Domaine de la Grange de Peres 2015 -
at opening, tasted much like an unspectacular barolo, light body, strawberry notes, high acid. needed time out of the bottle to open up. Still consensus 3rd place but had a very pleasant minerality that was actually the preferred complement to our roasted chicken and leek dinner.
