Blind Creek Collective

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2007

Shay A
9.4

Monthly WTF wine group night. Our theme was American oak vs French oak. All wines tasted blind. We started off with two bottles of bubbly and finished with two non-themed reds.

My contribution for the evening. I’m posting my previous review of this wine below as it’s been consistent the few times I’ve had it over the last 12-18 months. Love these wines!

Youthful. Icredibly perfumed with typical sweet dill and coconut American oak on the nose. Gosh, I could smell this stuff all day. Aside from needing time away, it needs roughly an hour of decanting to hit stride. Tobacco, cherry tart, and great herbal nuances on the finish.
— 5 years ago

Jack ThompsonRyan GWill Adams
with Jack, Ryan and 4 others
Mark, Dr. and 39 others liked this
Eric

Eric Influencer Badge

Thanks @Shay A . That makes great sense.
Philip Ficarra

Philip Ficarra

The 2009 is Spectacular!!
Mark Flesher

Mark Flesher

Between this and the 05 Cimarossa Ponente, these were my wines of the night. Love these bottles from La Rioja Alta. Dark black fruit, hint of sweet fig, chocolate, tobacco, herbs, spiciness on the finish. Elegant on the back end, yet had just enough grip and jagged edges that it makes you keep coming back for more. Nice. I'd really like to buy cases of these and just put them away and forgot it existed for 25 more years or so. Fat chance.
9.5

Pétrus

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1964

Tasted blind. Deep dark and opaque. Red center with amber rims. Looks young. Very rich and luscious in the mouth. Black cherry, forest floor, tobacco leaf and a hint of old wood. Amazing impact out of the gate, but this declined in what it gave as the night went on whereas the 53 Lafite got better. — 6 years ago

Ken, Daniel and 9 others liked this
Ron R

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😮

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend

Delectable Wine
9.7

The 2014 d'Yquem has a complex bouquet with buttered toast, almond, honey and peach skin aromas. It opens with greater zeal than its peers, there is more immediacy here. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, a finely tuned and satisfying Sauternes with style and grace, evincing great tension and mineral drive towards the finish. Superb. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2018) — 6 years ago

Mario liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2002

Wow. This is young, and the nose is a bit of dark red berry suffusing a sea of resolving American Oak. The American oak is so pronounced that, had I tasted this blind, I might have taken it for Ridge... :) This has decades ahead, even if -only- a Riserva. Like La Rioja Alta 904, a fantastic value in old school Rioja... — 7 years ago

P, Eric and 12 others liked this

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Musigny Grand Cru Pinot Noir 1996

What a ride! Make sure to give this 2-hours and let the magic begin. Muscular cherry + brown spice garden + mouth feel let you know how important this site is... tasted blind next to DRC La Tache 93 - at gwen restaurant during the "best bottle" dinner hosted by wineLA - The only problem is everyone thought this might be the La Tache - unbelievable power and concentration — 7 years ago

jesus, Anthony and 5 others liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1997

Great breeding trumps a below-average vintage. Blind, the nose alone gives away the DNA of this phenomenal wine. This Merlot-dominated Cheval has a beautiful core of cocoa powder, prune and plums. Structure from sweet oak and cab franc skins come through on the finish. Excellent, but a world away from the 2000 that's a palate-reference for me. Don't wait on this one, this well-stored bottle felt past its apex. — 8 years ago

Velma, Jason and 20 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Gary Westby
9.9

Tasted blind... And guessed it was 2009 Leoville Las Cases! This is a powerhouse and more proof that vintage charts are made to be defied by over achievers. This is all potential... If you buy it, bury it deep in the cellar! — 9 years ago

Daniel, Bo and 13 others liked this

The Infinite Monkey Theorem

The Blind Watchmaker Red Blend

Surprisingly sweet a nice blend a little sweeter than what we are used to but a crowd pleaser for Mother's Day — 10 years ago

The Farm Collective

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

Nikolaus Schuhl
9.6

Fantastic bottle of wine. Over delivers in a huge way for the $$. Approachable fruit and tannin with nice lingering finish — 11 years ago

Colgin Cellars

IX Estate Napa Valley Red Blend 2006

Shay A
9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The third of four Colgin’s served blind. This and the fourth were my favorites and both were different. This was much brighter and had a sweet core. Very perfumed...potpourri, violets, black cherry, cocoa dusted dates. Starts light at the entry and gains density as it hits the mid palate and finish. Retains fruit from start to finish but it’s not a show stealer, simply accompanies everything else. Total balance. My guess was between Napa Cabernet or Syrah.
— 5 years ago

joe leatherwoodDan FitzgeraldMark Flesher
with joe, Dan and 3 others
Mark, "Odedi" and 36 others liked this
Mark Flesher

Mark Flesher

07 Cariad, 07 IX, 06 IX, and 05 Cariad all tasted blind together. Compared to all the others, my pour of this was GONE before the other three. And it wasn't even close. This is a stellar Napa Cabernet that went exceptionally well with a ribeye steak. BlackBerry, hint of truffle, chocolate, herbs, wildflowers, a little bit delicate but still full throttle and full-bodied from start to finish. Some people were guessing the entire lineup was Shiraz, and with this one and the 05 Cariad I could definitely understand that guess. In my opinion, best wine on the table, even versus the 1963 Berry Brothers & Rudd Grahams!
9.6

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1955

Tasted blind. Tawny color, translucent with amber rims. Notes of black cherry, cedar, some spice and a little barnyard floor. Sweet fruit in the mouth, with tannins fully resolved. Guessed 1955 Calon Segur. Perfect looking bottle, the cork revealed this bottle was reconditioned by the Chateau in 2000. — 5 years ago

Shay, Eric and 16 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1964

This was served blind & pretty easy to pick out with its sweet red fruits, redwood, cedar & curry notes that became more pronounced sitting in the glass. — 6 years ago

Shay, Conrad and 1 other liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1959

Tasted blind, from magnum. Old dark ruby color. Amber rims. Notes of black cherry, spice, earth and something like pencil lead. Ok in the mouth, refined, but lacking energy. With the meal this was enjoyable but was somewhat sleepy all night. Likely at peak and given the magnum format, it's time to drink up 750s. Guessed 62 Latour. — 6 years ago

Eric, Severn and 5 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1929

Tasted blind. Tawny brownish red color with amber rims. Huge bouquet in the nose of roses, berries, pencil lead, minerals and some dusty dirt. Light on its feet in the mouth. Round soft fruit. Better than the last bottle of this a few months ago. — 7 years ago

Keith and Matt liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1961

Contender for WOTN and absolutely stunning!!! Drank much younger and tasted blind the consensus around the table was that it was an 82. Such a special bottle — 8 years ago

Holli Short
with Holli
Cody, Holli and 13 others liked this
David L

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WOW!
Bill Bender

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The year of the home run! Looks like this bottle hit one too!
Cody Short

Cody Short Influencer Badge

An absolutely stunning wine from an epic vintage that stood out against some incredible competition. Can't wait to open the 61 Latour in a few years.

Russian River Brewing Company

Blind Pig IPA India Pale Ale

Hair of the Pig. First time at the Englander without having just come from a Raiders game. Bring on the crazy. — 9 years ago

Jim McCusker
with Jim
Jim, Carla and 9 others liked this
Jeffrey Long

Jeffrey Long

Spectacular finish!
Mark

Mark

Awful IPA, what are you talking about.

3 Blind Moose Cellars

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Second type of cab I've tried, very different flavor. I'm a fan of California Reds!
— 10 years ago

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Cathy Corison
9.5

Poured blind. Loved. In a pretty spot at 17 years old. — 11 years ago

Mo, Beau and 12 others liked this

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Shay A
9.2

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

The first of two GPLs from the evening. Lots of saddle leather mixed with ripe fruit on the nose. Underripe black-cherry on the palate with an herbal dominants finish. Drink now. Thanks
@Will Adams .
— 5 years ago

Andrew HeffleyJack ThompsonMichael Rariden
with Andrew, Jack and 6 others
Ryan, Joshua and 26 others liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 1977

3 decades served blind where most of the group guessed Pinot grape & thought it could be from Burgundy. Groups favorite was the 89. — 5 years ago

Keith, Ryan and 9 others liked this

Savor Collective

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Great citrusy light body. — 6 years ago

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1953

Tasted blind. Reddish tawny, translucent and old looking. Awesome nose. Notes of leather saddle, pencil lead, currants, cherry, soil, and some toasted hickory. All guessed 61 Bordeaux. This got better through the night and was at its best in the last glass. — 6 years ago

Ken, Daniel and 8 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1978

Tasted blind. Tawny color, lighter and a bit more transparent than the 82. Nice nose. Not as fruity. Notes of Dark cherry, wood, spice and dried brush. Medicinal. In the mouth it's well balanced. A bit dry tho. Needed air to show its best. — 6 years ago

Shay, Severn and 9 others liked this

Witchery Wine

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Greg Ballington
8.9

Fourth of the blind tasting for Father's Day weekend.

Deep and dark purplish ruby red. Dark fruits with a touch of acetone or whiskey on the nose. Some cigars and dark cocoa as well. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium bodied. A touch lighter than expected. Extracted dark fruits and bitter dark cocoa on the palate. A little unbalanced with a medium plus finish. This is still a baby and needs time to settle. Drink till 2029.
— 7 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Shawn, Daniel P. and 9 others liked this

Leeuwin Estate

Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2010

I love this wine. Especially with fresh Maine lobster. Blind: 1er cru Meursault or Chassagne Montrachet from a ripe vintage. — 8 years ago

Ira liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Typical Caymus extraction and flavors. Almost makes you think you're drinking some Syrah-infused Cab.
I "love to hate" this style but tasted blind I'll stick with my honest rating.
— 8 years ago

Roy and Mr.Pink liked this

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend

Absolutely fantastic for the price, I'd pay double what it costs in a blind test. — 9 years ago

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2004

Hazy and mature. A little volatile with 14% alc.. (Blind tasting of wines of of the world feb. 1) — 9 years ago

Écluse

Blind Dog Midnight Run Cuvée Red Blend

$15. Great everyday wine!! Available thru Ecluse. — 11 years ago

Marissa Myers

Marissa Myers

Enjoyed it with pizza on the second day
Marissa Myers

Marissa Myers

Michelle bought a case