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From: dlb@druxv.UUCP (Dave Bauer)
Newsgroups: net.wines
Subject: 6 Cabernet Sauvignons - Blind Tasting Results
Message-ID: <1513@druxv.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 17-Mar-85 18:58:57 EST
Article-I.D.: druxv.1513
Posted: Sun Mar 17 18:58:57 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 18-Mar-85 08:01:02 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 42

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