blind tastings
I have been hosting blind tastings and posting the results for over 20 years. Usually based on a theme, such as a specific appellation or category of wine, these are normally done behind paper bags to ensure a lack of price or label bias. Each taster brings a bottle of his or her choice to the gathering, based on the given criteria.
All bottles are bagged and labeled with a number, then poured randomly. Each wine is poured into a separate glass of the same shape and size. Tasters are asked to vote for their top four bottles, and scores for all tasters are added up for our results.
Despite recent controversy surrounding Brunello di Montalcino, the appellation remains the most highly regarded in all of Tuscany,...
The theme for this month’s wine tasting was the “tasting of the 95s”. No, not the vintage 1995, but the score...
This month, our tasting was an effort to see how well Australian wines blended from multiple grapes stacked up to more conventional...
Nearly two years ago, we tasted Washington Merlots. This month, we tested wines from the same state, but switched to Cabernet...
With the decline of the dollar against the Euro, it’s becoming more difficult to find bargain wines from across the Atlantic. ...
It’s often said that in California, Cabernet is King. While Cabernet Sauvignon currently gets the most attention in the...
When most people think of a New Zealand wine, they will automatically think Sauvignon Blanc. And with good reason — they...
Crafted from red grapes, rosé wines are made by giving just enough skin contact with their juice to impart a light red color.
They...
For our June wine tasting, David chose the white wines of the Rhône Valley in France.
While the Rhône is more often recognized...
The May wine tasting was a departure from our regular format, consisting of a cross-section of wines from the island of Sicily. ...
In November of 2005, we tasted Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons. For April, we turned our palates to Merlots from the same appellation.
Once...
Originating from a cross of Syrah and Peloursin grapevines, Petite Sirah is anything but small in flavor. Also known as Durif,...
This month’s tasting marked the 3rd year that David has been hosting these gatherings, and he chose the Spanish appellation...
David feels that wines are meant for consumption. He feels that wines should not be held in a cellar just for impressing people...
Easily, the most important grape in Oregon viticulture is Pinot Noir. Largely grown in the cool Willamette Valley and surrounding...
Sure, Australia makes a great deal of amazing Shiraz, but one shouldn’t miss out on the many delicious Cabernets the continent...
Perhaps the most well known appellation in all of Tuscany is that of Chianti. And while there are many appellations that can...
One of the gems of the northern Rhone Valley of France is the appellation of Côte-Rôtie. Meaning “roasted slope,”...
Among the many appellations in the Loire Valley, the one most famous for its whites is Sancerre. The mention of Sancerre brings...
Being David’s most beloved category of wine, he was no doubt extremely excited about this month’s tasting. The results...
In the same format at his monthly tastings, David attended (and partially set up) a tasting of 6 Spanish red wines. Hosted by...
Rather than focusing on one type of wine from a South Africa, the May tasting was a cross-section of the country’s various...
The state of Washington produces outstanding Cabernets and Syrahs these days; however it first made its name in Merlot. While...
Ten years ago, one could write very few superlatives about wines from Chile. They were mostly inexpensive, lacking in substance,...