Wine Tasting on October 19, 2007

Held at Uncle N's. The tasters are Piroca, Winepath, Uncle-N, and, special appearance of Carol and Julia. Six wines were tasted blind and the desert wine was also consumed with chocolate truffles and brownies. The wines appear as we tasted them.

1. Larkmead Napa Cab. Sauv 2003; Score=3
This was, at one time, our favorite, and we tasted different vintages including 2003 several times previously. No body (besides Uncle-N who submitted this) could not identify it. The best nose among the five with floral aroma and red cherry. The taste is pleasant with red fruits but mid palate is bit thin and tannin structure is weak.
*
2. Tait "Ball Buster" 2005 Austrian Shiraz; Score=3
Shiraz (82%), Cab Sauv (9%) and Merlot (9%)
Slight earthy nose. Hint of "sugarfied" fruits and some of us identified this as Australian Shiraz. Not as "over-the-top" as Molleydooker. Everybody liked this as a pleasant wine to drink.

3, Meadowlark Napa Cab Sauv 2005; Score=3-
The second label of Larkmead. Nose is rather closed with some red cherry coming through. Nice red cherry, raspberry tastes and firm tannins. Relatively short finish. Good everyday wine.
**
**
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4. Clio Jumila Spain 2004; score=4
Monastrell (70%), Cab Sauv (30%)
Best of the tasting. We had this several times but we (except Piroca who submitted this) could not identify it. Unanimously the best. Nice nose with vanilla, caramel and mineral-laced fruits. Piroca describes as "baby powder" smell from his childhood. Complex taste with lots of fruits and structured tannin,good mid plate of berries and chocolate. Long lasting finish. definitely new world wine from old world (Spain).

Shame that this can not be obtained (or very difficult). Looking forward for 2005.


5. Axios 2001 Cab Sauv; Score=3+
Mineral on the nose with appreciable "funk" reminiscent of Bordeaux with some vanilla coming through. Good tannin structure with some fruits but rather austere (not austere as Bordeaux, though). Everybody felt this is either Bordeaux or Bordeaux-style California Meritage. New Old world wine.*
***
6. Olivia Brion 2003 Napa Cab Sauv; Score=2
Aromatically challenged with slight "funk". Thin taste with very mild tannin. We were not impressed with this one, although it is easy to drink.


7. Ch La Fleur Des Pins Graves 2005 (dessert wine); Not scored Sauternes-style dessert wine from Graves. Very pleasant aromas of pear, cantaloupe, pineapple and citrus. Sweet but not overwhelming. We (at least some of us) were impressed especially for its price range as compared to comparable quality Sauternes.