Like any party where people bring a wine you will get the gamut of quality. This was no exception.
- 2020 Stéphane Usseglio Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Vin du Pape – En Memoire a Jean XXII – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Nice again. Sweet red currants, spice, floral, dried leaves, smoke and minerals. Very good value. (92 pts.) - 2020 Château de Fieuzal – France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Tight as just opened. Promising with gravel, oak, raspberries, menthol and spice. Medium finish. (91 pts.) - 2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
I am liking this young on a pop and pour. Wood, raspberries, mild dill, spice and pepper. Concentrated wine and age for another decade plus. (93 pts.) - 2021 Margherita Otto Langhe Nebbiolo – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Nice overall with dust, leather, earth, mint and flowers. Medium finish. (89 pts.) - 2020 Château Abelyce – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
A little hot, spice dark cherry and chestnuts. Medium finish. (86 pts.) - 2021 Ca’ del Baio Barbaresco Vallegrande – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Rustic and old world in nature with floral, leather, stone, raspberries, mild funk, some wood and spice. Medium plus finish. While young shows promise. (92 pts.) - 2020 Château Lascombes – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Pencil lead, blueberries, sour cherry, earth, minerals and cigar. Medium plus finish. Needs time. (93 pts.) - 2018 Gramercy Cellars Mourvèdre L’idiot du Village – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Ok wine with earth, celery, spice, bramble, red currants and minerals. See I had this 2 years ago and not improving so drink up. Just not a very interesting wine. (88 pts.) - 2019 Castellani St. Giorgio Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
What a weird wine smoke, earth, muted fruit. Not flawed just bad. Can’t believe these other notes that are much higher and a cheap wine to begin with. Easy pass. Not sure who brought this cheap one to a $30 plus tasting but happens all the time. (72 pts.) - 2022 Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
Up there for worst wine of the year. Cotton candy, burnt fruit and raisins. Finish is not pleasant. Good thing I was spitting wines all night but would be spitting this one anyway. Not sure how people can drink this and hopefully no critic gave this above an 80 or they should be investigated. (66 pts.) - 2014 Terredora di Paolo Taurasi Fatica Contadina – Italy, Campania, Taurasi DOCG
Funk, cherry, rose petals, spice, earth minerals and wood. Very complex wine overall and super interesting. One of the better wines at this tasting tonight. Medium plus finish. (92 pts.) - 2017 J.L. Chave Sélection St. Joseph Offerus – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
Light and not inspiring. Red currants, spice and earth. Short finish. (87 pts.) - 2018 Heir Apparent Proprietary Red Wine – USA, California, Napa Valley
Similar to last (91 pts.) - 2017 Theorize Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
Little thin with saw dust, light fruit and spice (87 pts.) - 2021 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Simple stuff and can’t believe people are over 90 on this wine as it is sweet and offers little in terms of acidity. Just a jam style Paso Cab which is the norm there. Still have not found one worth drinking. (78 pts.) - 2018 Beni di Batasiolo Dolcetto d’Alba – Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d’Alba
Simple and light. Some fruit but overall a mostly forgettable wine. Pass. (77 pts.) - 2022 BloodRoot Pinot Noir – USA, California
96 points someone gave this what a joke. Terrible with water, muted fruit and spices. Top ten worst if the year. This is not Pinot and when the appellation is California run. (60 pts.) - 2020 Chéreau-Carré Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie Chateau l’Oiseliniere de la Ramee – France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie
Not bad with some floral, light honey and spice. Medium finish and nice acidity. (85 pts.) - 2018 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Family Napa Valley – USA, California, Napa Valley
Tight and tannic. Red currants, spice and oak. Medium finish. Easy pass. (83 pts.) - 2020 Smoky Rose Cellars The Jar – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Strawberries and flowers. What a weird wine. Not sure why our larger local club has a few members of this club when there is a wealth of much better wines from Walla Walla. Can’t believe this cost in the $40s. (79 pts.) - 2019 Stags’ Leap Winery Petite Sirah – USA, California, Napa Valley
Not a fan with violets, earth, some fruit and dried flowers. Just a basic wine at best. (83 pts.) - 2021 Truett-Hurst Zinfandel Inconspicuous – USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
Drinkable overall with dried cherry, spice, floral and earth. Not an in your face fruit bomb. (84 pts.) - 2018 Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon Palermo – USA, California, Napa Valley
Better than the Quilt which is saying nothing. This is jam city with ripe fruit and some spice. When I was explaining to some new wine drinkers I said what sensation do you get when swishing this around on the side of your tongue and they said very little. A good lesson I taught them at the ripeness of these types of wines. Hard to believe any critic with a grain of salt of integrity doesn’t score these wines where I do. (80 pts.) - 2018 Château Rose Sainte-Croix – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Listrac-Médoc
Simple stuff and very boring overall with spice, earth and some fruit. Just a cheaply made Bordeaux wine. (80 pts.) - 2022 Cellier des Princes Châteauneuf-du-Pape – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This was good overall with Garigue, spice, raspberries, strawberries and earth. Medium finish and nice overall. (89 pts.) - 2016 Cellier des Princes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Les Escondudes – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I liked this with some sweet fruits, spices, floral, earth, spice and rustic edge. Very nice overall. (91 pts.)