Blind Spot

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.
— 6 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

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... — 8 years ago

P, Eric and 12 others liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 1996

Grand finale of a blind tasting of 12 1996 Burgs. This was easily the "youngest" tasting of the group. I actually did not rate this first. That's how good four of the wines were. This has got an easy twenty more years of life. Elegant and rich. — 9 years ago

Steve liked this

Russian River Brewing Company

Blind Pig IPA India Pale Ale

Given that I could easily drink 50 of these, there's really no need for so-called "session IPAs." — 10 years ago

Dave Martin
with Dave
Jeffrey, Chris and 1 other liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Great wine, impeccable balance and in a good spot. No sign of age but my preference is to drink them younger, 15 years is fine but I would not hold for 25 — 10 years ago

John, David and 3 others liked this
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

A great bottle!
Mike Davila

Mike Davila

Our anniversary, plus sentimental value behind purchase of the bottle.
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Happy Anniversary. Enjoy!

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2004

Matt Austin
9.1

My father-in-law bought a case of this on release and we have had one each year since. In the past this has always been very tight and structured. This year the tannins have nearly fully resolved and the wine is very fruit forward. I'm not sure that it's for the better, but this is still very enjoyable with a steak. I think in three or four years this may be in its sweet spot. — 11 years ago

Steve and Scott liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1950

Wilfred Wong
9.8

Almost 60 years, both the wine and me when I drank it in Paris, with very good friends. I felt great and the wine tasted really super. Served blind, I called it a very well aged Pauillac. I thought it was a younger wine.😏 #bordeaux #paris #pauillac #pichonbaron — 12 years ago

Serena, Tom and 8 others liked this
Renee Bourassa

Renee Bourassa Influencer Badge

Brilliant!

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1985

Still in a great spot, maybe slightly broad (not quite flabby), still some cherry fruit along with plenty of tobacco. — 13 years ago

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. — 7 years ago

Keith, Ryan and 9 others liked this

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. — 7 years ago

Shay, Eric and 16 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1996

Somm David T
9.6

On the nose, sweet & sour fruits with a touch of barnyard and fresh red flowers.

The body is medium to full. The fruits are gloriously ripe & slightly candied liqueured. Blackberries, dark plum, dark cherries, strawberries & strawberries. Touch of pyrazines. Ground powdery limestone, leather, soft graphite, dry herbs, dry stems, used leather, cedar, fresh tobacco, cigar ash, cherry cola, black turned earth with bright red florals. Great acidity and a well balanced finish that lasts minutes. It’s in a great spot and will continue to improve for another 8-10 years.
— 8 years ago

Ira, Jason and 29 others liked this

Laughing Stock Vineyards

Blind Trust Red Blend 2015

Had at Lake Louise 2nd night. 2015 year. — 8 years ago

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2004

Another star of the show. Rated by some as their WOTN. Even if tasted blind, this would shine. — 9 years ago

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

At a good spot- blueberries a bit of "porcini dust." Nice acid structure- tannins at the finish but not disjointed. Better as the night progressed. Sad to see the last sip in my glass — 10 years ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

1999. Slightly underwhelming. Nice stuff, earth and meat on the nose, relatively light body, bit of a smoky finish, but not that long. If blind I would have had this as something more humble. — 10 years ago

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

In a great spot right now. Just enough maturity for me. Fresh, fruity with a bit of licorice. — 10 years ago

David Bernahl
with David
Alex and Anthony liked this
Alex Lallos

Alex Lallos Influencer Badge

01 and 02 bv gdl are both drinking great! Nice....

3 Blind Moose Cellars

California Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2005

Would be great in a blind Bordeaux tasting — 12 years ago

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1976

Fragile and perfumed, distinctly Burgundian in character, although nose is classic Bordeaux. Blind tasted, my guess was Margaux. — 13 years ago

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

GPL is probably the best Pauillac you can get for the money & at £60 paid this top vintage is still improving lovely in a great spot already 😉

📍Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2009

🏵 95 points

🍇 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot & 2% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Opaque blackened deep ruby

👃 Minerals, gravel & broken pencil through soft smoked oak infused blackberry w/ damson plum, red liquorice, soggy earth, mocha, herbs, black tea, purple flower & blackcurrant - get that lot up your nose & snort like a little piggy wiggy 🐷 😍

👄 Med smooth silky body of black berry & currant in crushed rock mineral w/ a plummy mocha raspberry liquorice follow through

🎯 Long blackberry driven dark fruit creamy plump kiss bathed in choc mocha, liquorice & red cherry peekaboo
— 7 years ago

Chris, Severn and 31 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine amazed me, I’ve had it before and it’s never shown this well, maybe just hitting it’s stride? Beautiful perfumed floral nose ( never thought I would say that about a Dunn), exquisite balance, the fruit is slightly sweet, the tannins are fully integrated and refined, with just the right amount of acid in the finish. I would never guess mountain fruit or let alone Dunn if tasted blind. Can’t wait to try it again in a couple of years. — 7 years ago

John, Eric and 33 others liked this
Billy L.

Billy L.

@Mike Davila -Great Vintage for Napa! Dunn normally takes bottle age to show it’s stuff with mellowed tannins. Kudos on waiting! Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1991

Earthy with coffee undertones. A bit of cooked meat. Tasted blind and guessed 2003 Angelus. Simply beautiful — 8 years ago

Eric, Eric and 15 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. — 9 years ago

Keith and Matt liked this

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Heitz has still got it baby, 1998 Napa cab standing up nicely at 18 years old. The color is only just showing signs of age. The nose is full of mint and lamb. In a strange spot since its not especially lush or fruity and yet hasn't fully developed the tertiary notes you would expect. But has the bones to go longer still. — 9 years ago

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. — 10 years ago

Velma, Jason and 20 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Craig Haserot
9.2

Open ready to go and in a nice spot. — 10 years ago

Jim liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2011

Cyrus Hazzard
9.6

Blind out of 750ml. Super light on his feet obviously super Young, great botrytis spice. I guess it was farques, so no too far off. — 11 years ago

Greg GoodrichBrian Bonacci
with Greg and Brian
Brian and Cinnamon liked this
Brian Bonacci

Brian Bonacci

I love how d'Yquem styles their wine to the vintage, and the 2011 is no exception. A great example of a bright, expressive d'Yquem with lemon curd and honey.
9.6

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Cathy Corison
9.5

Poured blind. Loved. In a pretty spot at 17 years old. — 12 years ago

Mo, Beau and 12 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1999

99 las cases. In an amazing spot right now. I love these ripe Bordeaux with age. All the usual scents- cedar, lead pencil, Leather, tobacco. Awesome stuff. Great drinker right now. — 13 years ago