dlb@druxv.UUCP (Dave Bauer) (03/18/85)
I participated in a blind tasting of 6 Cabernet Sauvignons and similar wines
this past Thursday. The 6 bottles were bagged and marked A through F. About
sixteen people participated. Everyone was free to sample the wines in any
order. The identity of the wines was not known in advance. The six wines were:
1977 Chateau Giscours, Margaux ($13.98, on sale for $6.99)
1980 M. Marion California Cabernet Sauvignon ($3.99 two years ago, from cellar)
198? Chateau de Gazin Cotes de Bourg ($3.18)
1979 Chateau Gloria, St. Julien $12.49
1980 Beaulieu Vineyards "Rutherford" Cabernet Sauvignon ($7.89)
1980 Taltarni Cabernet Savignon, Australia, (3.99 sale)
Rankings for the group and for myself follow. 1-best, 6-worst
wine: Giscours Marion Gazin Gloria BV-Rutherford Taltarni
group rank: 4 3 5 6 1(tie) 1(tie)
my rank: 5(tie) 1(tie) 5(tie) 5(tie) 1(tie) 3
We do these tastings often, but it is not often that I find three wines that I
very much dislike (yes, I drink French wines often!). The Rutherford and Marion
are vastly different wines, but both had qualities that I enjoyed. My notes
from the tasting follow:
Giscours: seems fat and tired. Old fruit and barnyard odors dominate the
nose and mouth. The tannin is gone.
Marion: Straightforward fruit nose more reminiscent of a zinfandel. Rich
fruit with a spicy black pepper flavor component. Will stand up
to most foods. The group was polarized on this wine. 7 people
ranked it first, but four placed it last.
Gazin: Blue hues, deep colored edges. Closed nose with a simple grapiness.
An unpleasant metallic finish.
Gloria: Brick color. Unpleasant ripe barnyard nose. No complexity to
the taste. Disappointing.
BV-Rutherford: Clean, slightly sweet, dusty nose. Great fruitiness with a
pleasant acid balance. More delicate flavor than the other 5 wines.
Taltarni: Deep blue/maroon color. Fruity nose, a touch sweet smell. Upfront
grape, simple flavors. Good tannin remaining. Overall pleasant
but undistinguished.
--
dave bauer (303)538-4482 AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
ihnp4!druxv!dlb 11900 N. Pecos St., Room 30J28, Denver, CO 80234