dlb@druxv.UUCP (Dave Bauer) (01/10/86)
I recently participated in a blind tasting of 7 wines from the top of the Wine Spectator quarterly review that they just published -- 3 chardonnays and 4 cabernets. All were served blind. Prices listed are actual purchase prices in Boulder Colorado, less tax. Notes: Chardonnay - 84 Innisfree Napa Valley Chard, $6.99 my rank 2nd, group rank tied 2nd (88/100 from Wine Spectator) 84 DeLoach Russian River Valley Chard, $12.71, my rank 1st, group rank 1st (90/100 from Wine Spectator) 83 Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches, $9.95, my rank 3rd, group rank tied 2nd (95/100 from Wine Spectator) All were good. The De Loach had a nice wood/butter/acid balance that everone liked. The Innisfree was fruitier, the Sonoma-Cutrer a bit oakier, and people chose between them based on personal bias toward a particular style. Cabernets - 82 Johnson Turnbull Napa Valley, $14.14, my rank 4th, group rank 4th (probably too young, 1 dimensional, grapy, a touch mint and chalk, dark color 86/100 from Wine Spectator) 82 Innisfree Napa Valley, $7.36, my rank 1st, group rank tied 1st (nice blue-black color, a hint of veggie, complex flavors, excellent! - 80/100 from Wine Spectator) 82 Pine Ridge Rutherford Cuvee, $12.77, my rank 3rd, group rank 3rd (garnet, cherries and green pepper nose, herbal, comparable to BV Rutherford - 86/100 from Wine Spectator) 82 Sequoia Grove Napa/Alexander valley, $12.22, my rank 2nd, group rank tied 1st (lighter bodied, some cherries, good tannins, elegant - 83/100 from Wine Spectator) All 7 wines are good. The Innisfree cabernet, at $7.36 less a case discount, is a steal. I've added some to my cellar. Enjoy! -- dave bauer (303)538-4482 AT&T's Information Systems, Denver ihnp4!druxv!dlb 11900 N. Pecos St., Room 30J28, Denver, CO 80234
elf@utcsri.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) (01/11/86)
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All of the cabernets tasted were 1982's. This would seem to me somewhat
premature for normal drinking. Is this true, or do California Cabernets
require less ageing than their European counterparts?
--
Eugene Fiume
{decvax|allegra}!utcsri!elf