Hosts:
David and Diane Gandara, Kathleen Gates
Location:
Gandara’s home, Napa, CA
Click Here for Wine Descriptions
The wines were acquired through different methods, so the prices (if available) are representative. The results are as follows:
#1 – 84 points, Mazzei Fonterutoli 2021 $87
#2 – 88 points, Reeve Libertine NV $47
#3 – 94 points, Rufino Modus 2021 $32
#4 – 98 points, Oreno 2021 $91
#5 – 103 points, Sassicaia 2021 $300
#6 – 111 points, Antorini Tignanello 2021 $140
#7 – 122 points, Avignonesi Grifi, 2021 $28
#8 – 128 points, Guidalberto 2021 $133
Individual Votes are shown below
On May 9 Diane and I, together with Kathleen Gates, will be hosting an 8-bottle blind tasting of 2021 Super Tuscan wines, the best vintage in recent history. For those who are unfamiliar, this wine designation originated in the early 1980’s, basically as a means of getting around restrictions on blends of the classic Tuscan red wine varietal Sangiovese. Today, they are considered at the highest level of Italian red wines, comparable in esteem to Brunello and Barolo, for example. They started as Sangiovese-dominant blends with cabernet sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals, but today, surprisingly to the non-cognoscenti, some contain no Sangiovese at all. Our tasting will include top of the line Super Tuscans representing both camps (Tignanello & Sassicaia). Super Tuscans are characterized by excellent structure and acidity, moderate tannins, and a long and silky finish. They age well. The goal will be to judge your favorite, but also to opine of whether that wine is Sangiovese-dominant or not. Additionally, we will include a “ringer” of a NAPA cabernet blend to “spice up” the experience? Should be great fun!
Please arrive any time after 5:30 pm. The tasting will be in a single bottle format, so limited to 22 tastes. Please RSVP to Diane with # of tastes and # of catered dinners. Let us know if there are any food restrictions. We will send final costs for the tasting and catered dinner, so that checks/Venmo can be prepared in advance.
Thanks and look forward to seeing you on May 9.
| Individual Votes | ||||||||
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Total Points | 84 | 88 | 98 | 94 | 103 | 111 | 122 | 128 |
| Your Name | Btl1 | Btl 2 | Btl 3 | Btl 4 | Btl5 | Btl 6 | Btl 7 | Btl 8 |
| Laura | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| Marco Polo | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Jim | 4 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Marie Coppola | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Chris Wood | 8 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Steve Shank | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Bette | 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| Richie Rich | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| Andre Solomon | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Phyllis Harding | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| Suzi Mills | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| Sue Beyer | 6 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| Diane K | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 8 |
| John Henry | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| David Gibson | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Diane D | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| Kathleen Gates | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Beth DeAtley | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| Marjorie | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Diane Gandara | 4 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| David Gandara | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| Steve Smith | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Melinda | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
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