Well love seeing where a group votes on the quality in their opinion and not the price. 2006 Arcadian Hommage a Max had a first, second or third place vote from everyone I believe. The Opus wine was blind and some later were influenced by that as I thought it was a nice $80 base bottling.
Here are the results of the event.
CellarTracker! Tom & Bruna’s Fall Wine Party
Riesling & Pinots
3 Oregon Pinots. The Serene is in decline and lacks fruit, the Bergstrom drink up and Antica Terra is excellent even if not classic Oregon Pinot in style.
- 2020 Long Shadows Wineries Riesling Poet’s Leap – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Past peak. Pear, apple, spice and floral. Short finish. (86 points)
- 2018 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Ceras – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Big style with funk, stones, rose petals, spices, dust, scorched earth and dark currants. Unique for sure and long finish. For sure not your typical Oregon Pinot but when I rate I rate on the quality of the wine even if not varietal correct for the region. Everyone loved this wine. (94 pts.)
- 2014 Bergström Pinot Noir Silice – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains
A bit thin but still tasty. Celery, spices, rose petals, cranberries and cinnamon. Medium finish. (90 pts.)
- 2011 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Grace Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
Well average is going down. Thin earth, floral, dried fruits and spices. (88 pts.)
Europe
All 91 points or higher. Certan was my wine of the night but received very few top 3 votes.
- 2010 Vieux Château Certan – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Great again with coffee beans, gravel, cigar, cherry, plum, spices and earth. Long finish. (95 pts.)
- 2004 Viñedos y Bodegas Pablo Cariñena Gran Viu Finca Santiaga – Spain, Aragón, Cariñena
Nice overall with wood, spice, dried cherries and floral notes. Picks up clove on the medium finish. (91 pts.) - 2012 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Not as good as last bottle but solid. Floral, spices, garrique, pepper, raspberries and earth. Medium plus finish. (94 pts.) - 2009 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes – France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Solid again with honey, ripe peaches, stone, orange marmalade, spices and flowers. Nice offering. (92 pts.)
California
Only the Williamson didn’t show well here. Hommage a Max tied for second favorite wine.
- 2015 Dakota Shy Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas – USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga
Very nice showing and cherry, plum, spices, floral, dust and dark chocolate. Medium plus finish. (93 pts.)
- 2019 Three Revelers Winery Cabernet Sauvignon C1 Block Stagecoach Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley
Good overall with cherry, plum, men, spices, floral and earth. Medium finish. Solid. (93 pts.)
- 2016 Williamson Wines Ravish Melange – USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Little hot with cherry, spices, dust and dried flowers. (87 pts.) - 2006 Arcadian Syrah Hommage à Max – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
Funk, gravel, spices, black pepper, cherry, plum and dust. Medium plus. Beautiful wine. (94 pts.)
- 2016 Opus One – USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted blind and thought $80 base bottling Napa. A bit hot with spices, cherry, earth, dust, floral and wood. Medium finish. Ok wine but way too expensive. (93 pts.)
- 2014 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline – USA, California, Napa Valley
Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Wow is this in a good place with blueberries, Cassis, smoke, menthol, wood, spices, dark chocolate and dried flowers. Medium plus finish. Wonderful offering. 94 points (94 pts.)
Without a list and a lineup really showed how voting was almost impossible. Most maybe voting on what they had last or remembered.
My top 3:
Certain
Arcadian
Hourglass