October 2026 Blind Tasting Notes

Oct. 1, 2026 blind tasting notes – no specific theme.

2012 Blue Mountain R.D. Blanc de Blancs - from 100% chardonnay, fine mousse- tasty and holding up well.

1990 Ch. De Beaucastel CNduP – pale colour, delicate nose, good stuffing, getting into tertiary territory now but still very enjoyable.

2005 Mas Doix Priorat Salanques – very dark with a plummy nose, very good fruit levels, good length and a long smooth finish. Very good.

2005 Ch. Meyney – still very dark colour, sweet nose with a herbal hint, tannins kicking in at the end;

2015 Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino – fairly dark elegant wine with a sweet nose with a hint of pine;

2022 Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Sin Azufre – we don’t see many Patagonian wines at these events. It was showing some development and a medium colour and had some vanilla notes – an elegant wine.

2010 Idlewild Nebbiolo – a Piemonte varietal from Mendocino! Pale colour, showing like a pinot, delicate nose

2001 Hacienda Monasterio Ribera del Duero Reserva – very dark wine with some oak and cherry hints, excellent length, very good - my last bottle.

2017 Orofino Vineyards Old Vines Riesling – very dry with a hint of citrus, and a lengthy finish from this BC wine.

[Jenise]

Bill, your Blue Mountain BdB was exceptional. Not just 'holding up well' but behaving like an immortal. Definitely doesn't show it's age.

Bob #3's Beaucastel was divine. Very elegant, and yes tertiary but in all the best ways--my first guess was a 60's Bordeaux.

Sue's Mas Doix Priorat was hard to pin down. The guesses went California, No America, So Hemisphere, Spain, in that order. Intriguing nose of black plum and star anise. Bob #2's Meyney was an interesting follow-up. '05 Bordeaux was immediately identifiable but after that we flopped around a bit, due in part to the jammy fruit and lack of poopy qualities typically associated with Ste. Estephe.

With a leek, mushroom and miso pasta:

John's Brunello was interesting, that pine resin note you mention definitely diverted us away from Italy. My Chacra had an interesting sweet black currant note, and the Idlewild (2019, not 2010) definitely had no nebbiolo typicity. Both showed better at home when I opened them and would have been better off not-decanted. But kudos to both for 12 and 13 percent abv's respectively. Oh well.

Your RdD was a brooding masterpiece, darkest wine of the day and youthful. If you have more of these--no rush!

With the cheese plate:

John's Orofino OV riesling blew me away. Much as I know and appreciate Orofino's rieslings, I believe I've only had the single vineyards and this drier OV one was a wonderful surprise. Loved the elements of fresh sage and lime--we have to get us some of this!