Flight Three:

Wine #1 earned my first "Just Beautiful!" Abundant jammy fruit, vanilla, and from the excited tasters on the far end I overheard descriptions of brown sugar and maple syrup. Larry Meehan exclaimed "I'm shocked that this has SO much, pleasure city!!". There did not appear to be anyone who was not smitten with this wine, and it was a clear favorite before the race even began. 1998 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz. My 1st place of the flight, and 1st place amongst 7 of the 8 participating in the ranking for an easy group consensus of #1.

Wine #2 was a much different wine. I immediately noted a caramelly/Band-Aid aroma and while much softer and rounder than wine #1, still very jammy in a much sweeter way. Additional complexities of herbs and cedar made this stand out as being something not Syrah. I loved it, but it is clearly dwarfed by the monsters around it. 1989 Chateau Gazin. Not in my top 3, but 3rd place amongst the group.

Wine #3 is strikingly similar to #2. Again, the Band-Aid aroma and sweeter, softer and rounder than most of the others. More of the cedar/herb nuances and while not quite as plush as the previous wine, more elegant and refined. 1994 Chateau Petrus. My #3 of the flight, but it didn't make the group's top 3.

Wine #4 started off as somewhat strange and uncharacteristic of any of the previous wines. Descriptions of forest floor came from the Sharpes, which Brian Colfac further refined as fresh cut grass. I knew I'd be odd-man out again, as I was finding this wines significant charms in its uniqueness. 1990 Sean Thackrey Taurus, a California mourvedre. My 2nd place wine of the flight, group consensus found me alone in my admiration, with this missing the cut.

Wine #5 exhibited some sweet but dusty cassis, but very Rhonish with a strong barnyard and leather nose. Mel Hill described this as a late harvest Grenache with a dose of chocolate, and labeled it a "Womans wine". Enthusiasm was mixed, with a couple of fans, but most finding it off-putting. I thought it had its moments, and gave it an honorable mention, while the group left it in the proverbial dust. A freakish blend of '95 Jaboulet Cornas and '95 Paloma Syrah concocted by the Thrill Seeking Larry Meehan. It should be noted that Larry didn't find it to be in his top 3, and I assumed that further experimentation in this black art would be abandoned.

Top three wines of the evening