Results...

Here are the results of the Blind Hallowine Tasting in Austin. In order from favorite to least...Cheers - Ali

White - Only White wine of the night, everyone LOVED.

2006 Pellegrini Family “Olivet Lane” Chardonnay: Winemaker’s Notes: The 2006 Olivet Lane Estate Chardonnay has classic Burgundian notes of mineral, flint and wet stones evolving into hints of toasted bread crust. The mouth is rich and full-bodied with firm acidity, and the lingering finish is long and seamless. Retail $24

Blind Reds

1. 2004 Pellegrini Family Cloverdale Ranch Merlot. Nobody guessed this was primarily Merlot - the nose seduced everyone. This is a blend of (76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet) 2 grape varietals. This bottle delivers notes of toasty oak and cedar from the oak barrel aging, along with concentrated fruit flavors of strawberry, red cherry, and raspberry. This traditional blend and style shines from Bordueax, California, Chile, and Washington State. Retail $25

2. 2006 Pellegrini Family Olivet Lane Pinot Noir, Russian River region, Sonoma, California. The Pinot Lovers sounded loudly that this was a phenonminal bottle. The Merlot lovers didn't care for this grape, but the Pinot Noir lovers went back for 2nd and 3rd glasses of this throughout the night. This grape is known for its elegance. This wine exhibits unmistakable characteristics typified by brilliant color, silky texture, delicate mouthfeel, and upfront flavors of framboise, cherries and spice. Burgundy, Oregon, California, New Zealand are leading the way in production of this fine wine. Retail $38

3. 2005 Bodegas Mustiguillo “Mestizaje”: This was the surprise hit of the night, nobody heard of the Bobal grape, the price was the most pleasing to all. Composed of 70% Bobal with the balance equal parts Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit comes from vines planted on chalk and limestone at high altitude. Purple in color, the wine offers aromas of pain grille, damp earth, vanilla, black cherry, and black currant. Thick and chewy on the palate, the wine has excellent depth and concentration leading to a tannic finish. You will only find this main varietal in the heart of Spain. Retail $15

4. 2005 Davis Family Vineyards “Barn D’Or”. Made by Guy Davis, a rising star in the wine world, this is a blend of Sonoma Cabernet and his Russian River estate Syrah. These varietals are traditionally found in Bordeaux, France, Australia, California and Washington State. This blend shows the nice structure and aromas of “first varietal” up front, and then the more you drink it, the plump, fruit-packed “ second varietal” flavors come welling up from underneath. The firm grip and structure makes it a perfect match to hearty foods and juicy red meats. Retail $25

5. 2007 Mendel Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina. A wine with “Altitude”. The grape was sourced from a 45-acre parcel of 80-year-old vines at an average elevation of 3300 ft. above sea level and aged for 12 months in French oak. Purple-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, and black cherry. Medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of savory fruit, cinnamon and allspice notes, excellent depth and concentration, and a fruit-filled finish. Retail $27