Blind Tasting at home 7/7/7

On 7/14, I stacked the box with big reds. I removed the Pinot, the Cote du Rhone and the inexpensive Cabernet. I was left with a some heavy hitters.

1. Marquis Phillips 2003 Sarahs Blend
   
2. Marquis Phillips 2005 Shiraz 2005
   
3. Jip Jip Rocks 2005 Shiraz
   
4. Lehman's 2002 Cabernet
   
5. Jim Barry 2001 Cabernet (I just pulled this out of the wine fridge... I'm expecting wonderful things if this is selected)
   
6. Opolo 2005 Mountain Summit Zin
   
7. Montes 2003 Alpha Syrah
   
8. Columbia Crest 2002 Two Vines Shiraz
   
9. Melipal 2003 Malbec
   
10. Vina Robles 2005 R4 (Paso Robles blend of Syrah and more)
    

Sunday evening, 7/8/7, after multi hour road trip home, I got a mysterious glass. There was not much nose, but the palate had dark berry and a dark spiciness. Flavorful, but not especially rich. I was in a quandry.

On a Saturday afternoon 7/14, the wine had ripe plum and a bit of spiciness. Given the preponderance of Australian wines, it smelled alot like a Barossa. The color was a bit muted with a dark purple but not excessively thick, making me think it was an older wine. However the firt taste, changed my mind. Sweet, ripe and jammy with that sweet mineral edge I remember the Opolo tasting like from the SF Zin tasting several months ago. Subsequent sniffs were also consistent with a Zin. Sticking to my guns, I got it right on the first guess. A first two ways. I'll admit this was a weakened (and weekend) field, as the wines were mostly Shiraz and Cab. And the Opolo should stick out. Also, it's not as good as I remember it being. But still nice. Score: A.

Montes 2003 Alpha Syrah The box complexion had changed a bit to

1. Marquis Phillips 2003 Sarahs Blend
   
2. Marquis Phillips 2005 Shiraz 2005
   
3. Molly Dooker 2005 Merlot "Scooter"
   
4. Molly Dooker 2005 Shiraz Two Left Feet
   
5. Columbia Crest 2002 Two Vines Shiraz
   
6. Columbia Crest 2004 Grand Estates Merlot
   
7. Columbia Crest 2003 Grand Estates Merlot
   
8. Melipal 2003 Malbec
   
9. Vina Robles 2005 R4 (Paso Robles blend of Syrah and more)
   
10. Rosenblum 2004 Richard Sauret Zinfandel
    
11. Montes 2005 Alpha Syrah
    
12. Chateau Rauzan Despagne 2005 Bordeaux
    

The wine had a nose of dark fruit with earthy, farmyard, tobacco notes with spiciness. It didn't seem as rich and spicy as I remember the Montes, but it had that funk Chilean wines have. Montes? Nope, that hurt, as it was my best guess. What ensued was a bit of blind poking. R4? Nope. Now I was hurting. MP Sarah's Blend? Nope. Molly Dooker Left Feet? Nope. Finally I remember the Bordeax and guessed that. Yes. It had more fruit and spice initially than I expected but it fit the barnyard, tobacco notes. Damn I should have gotten this on the second guess. Score: C.

1. Marquis Phillips 2003 Sarahs Blend
   
2. Marquis Phillips 2005 Shiraz 2005
   
3. Molly Dooker 2005 Merlot "Scooter"
   
4. Molly Dooker 2005 Shiraz Two Left Feet
   
5. Columbia Crest 2002 Two Vines Shiraz
   
6. Columbia Crest 2004 Grand Estates Merlot
   
7. Melipal 2003 Malbec
   
8. Vina Robles 2005 R4 (Paso Robles blend of Syrah and more)
   
9. Rosenblum 2004 Richard Sauret Zinfandel
   
10. Montes 2005 Alpha Syrah
    
11. Bianchi 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
    
12. Buehler 2005 Zinfandel
    

It's a lovely Sat afternoon. Another round. At first there was a zin hint due to the ripeness but that has gone. A bit of tobacco and funk. Dark fruit with some spice. Medium intense. Short finishes with some heaviness and spice. I'm struggling from the start. Not funky enough to be Chilean. No ripe fruit for a zin. Too much funk for an Aussie. Malbecs aren't so heavy, I think. This could get ugly and it dies. Bianchi 2002 Cab from Chile? Nope. Malbec? Nope. Buehler? Nope. Scooter Merlot? Nope. Vino Robles R4? Nope. Columbia Crest 2002 Syrah? Nope. I've now guessed half the wines. Montes Alpha Syrah? Nope. Marquis Shiraz? Nope. Marquis Sarah's? Yes. Good thing I used the process of elimination rather than having a trained palate. Score: F.

As this game has continued, I can see that a play by play is wearing thin for even me. Some of this is due to blogger losing some of my edit, as I edited this post from multiple different laptops at home and at work. So much for the vaulted "autosave". In any case, I've been doing much better at guessing:

1. Marquis Phillips 2005 Shiraz 2005
   
2. Molly Dooker 2005 Shiraz Two Left Feet
   
3. Columbia Crest 2002 Two Vines Shiraz
   
4. Columbia Crest 2002 Grand Estates Merlot
   
5. Columbia Crest 2003 Grand Estates Merlot
   
6. Vina Robles 2005 R4 (Paso Robles blend of Syrah and more)
   
7. Montes 2005 Alpha Syrah
   
8. Montes 2005 Alpha Cabernet
   
9. Norton 2005 Malbec Reserve
   
10. Bianchi 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
    
11. Kangarilla 2005 Zinfandel
    

Melipal 2003 Malbec: got this in one. Unique Malbec flavor. Didn't care for this much and after 5 hours, it was terrible, fading fast. Score: A.

Molly Dooker 2005 Merlot "Scooter": got this in 2. It was not overly fruity and had some spice so I guessed the Columbia Crest 2002 Two Vines Shiraz at first. I ruled out the rest and the "Scooter" was correct. This was good guess if I may say so myself. Score: B+.

7/26(?): Rosenblum Richard Sauret 2004 Zin. Got it on the first try. Though, if I had missed, I'd have to myself an C- or lower, given it's unique huge ripe flavor. Score: B+.

7/30: Peter Lehmann Clancy 2004 (Syrah, Cab, Merlot). Took me 3 guesses, as I pounded on the Aussie Shirazes, until I got it. Marquis Philips, Mollydooker and finally Clancy. I'm glad I stuck to my guns. Score: B+.

7/31: Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon. Got it in 1. Thought it was the Montes Syrah from the nose at first but it was missing the spicy complexity of the Syrah. Score: A.