I hosted my first blind tastings over the weekend, Viognier and Cabernet Franc. A fan of the blind format, I was excited to put my palate to the test and hear the feedback from friends and family. A quick disclaimer, blind tastings are ADDICTIVE! From wine newbies to dedicated oenophiles, the format provides for great conversation, laughter, and lasting memories. The first tasting consisted of Viognier and included 4 wines:
- 2006 Mas Des Bressades Roussanne Viognier (France)
- 2008 Tiger Mountain Viognier (Georgia)
- 2007 Thumbprint Cellars Dry Creek Preston Vineyard Viognier (California)
- 2006 Horton Vineyards Tower Series Viognier (Virginia)
All bottles were opened and placed in brown bags, then sequentially numbered. Tasters were asked to complete a scorecard to record their notes around appearance, aroma, taste, country and/or state of origin, along with suggested retail. The group did surprisingly well with their assessments, with the majority selecting the correct origins. The Horton Viognier (see my earlier post) won the tasting by a slim margin over the Thumbprint Cellars. Score one for the other 46! Stay tuned for results from the Cabernet Franc tasting and the surprising winner!
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