Last Tuesday, my somewhat regular tasting group dined at Crabtree's Kittle House. The theme was 1985...bring whatever you would like...except 1985 women (although the request was made on multiple occasions throughout the evening).
First things first...the Kittle House is now an amazing food destination. The chef, Bradford, is on point.
He worked hard in preparation of this meal, and it showed.
For openers, we started with 1985 DP vs 1985 Krug, while some hors d'oeuvres came around. Even if King Angry cancelled just a few days previous, we can still drink bubbles. There was no real consensus on the bubbles, although I thoroughly enjoyed the Krug. It was definitely on the sweeter side of Champagne but worked well with the food. Tiny bubbles made it a good food wine. I think the DP may have benefitted from some more I loved it for the sweetness, Laurent disliked it for the very same reasons. The DP did benefit from some time in the glass, but who had time, when 1985 White Burgs are coming...
Another popular joke of the night was how much younger 1985 White Burgs show, than 1995 white Burgs...I just learned of this thing called Premox from Robert Parker (kidding).
First course was a Maine Lobster tail...with ricotta gnocchi. If not for 5 more courses, I may have asked for seconds. The wines were Raveneau Chablis Butteaux, Leroy Meursault Genevrieres, and 1985 Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet. Initially, it was an unfair competition, the Leflaive by 50 lengths. The Raveneau was true to form. Flinty, a bit honeyed, and very sound. The Leroy did not show well originally. It appeared a bit flabby, and out of balance. Did not care for the nose either. Most people had passed on to the reds, but a few of us were hanging onto the whites an hour later. The Leroy blossomed into a great btl of Meursault. Who would have thought to decant that wine? The Leflaive remained solid in the next hour as well. Very impressive flight.
Next up...Cali Cabs...with Crisp Sweetbreads. THe portion size of the sweetbreads should have landed me in the ER. 1985 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill vs BV Georges des Latour. A good example of provenance being important. I brought the BV, recent purchase. The DC was a purchase at time of release. BV was decent at first, then tailed off quickly. The Diamond Creek was delicious. If not for all of the Burg and BDX and Barolo to come, I might have stayed with this a while.
Red Burgs with a Squab and Fois Gras Terrine. Fascinating. Probably my least favorite food course, but just because everyone else was so damn good. The wines...Clos de Tart, Leroy Clos Vougeot, Leroy Charmes Chambertin, Jadot Bonnes Mares. Paul pointed out that this was the first vintage of Jadot BM using Clair Dau juice. I liked this flight...why wouldn't I, I love Burgs. The runaway winner for me was the Clos des Tart. The 1985 is no sham. Sensational stuff, and it improved in the glass. The BM was good initially, but faded in the glass, showing its age. The smell became a bit rubbery. Not disappointing, as it was good on the outset, but not a wine to age much longer. I did not care for the Charmes, but I did like the Leroy Clos Vougeot. This baby has a good life ahead of it, as it kept improving in all aspects. It never reached the Clos de Tart level, but it was good stuff. Jeff J, thanks for that Clos de Tart!
Our salute to Bordeaux featured a plethora of very average wines... with an 8 hour leg of lamb. 8 hours of cooking or living? I assume cooking. Haut Brion, La Mission HB, Leoville Las Cases, Pichon Lalande and Lynch Bages. The Leoville Las Cases had a richness and intensity that showed it as a world class wine. The Lynch Bages was also very tasty stuff. After that, some questionables for me...Haut Brion was well received by almost everyone. I was in the minority. This was the only wine that I could see improving with age. The LLC and Lynch will be good for a while as well, but the HB clearly needs time. The LMHB did nothing for me at all, and the Pichon Lalande did not seem to be a representative btl or the wine just stunk.
Piedmont up next, with an amazing food course...truffled tagliolini with a poached duck egg yolk, guanciale, and parmesan. My arteries are still clogged. Italian restaurants take note of this dish. We snuck in a btl of 1985 Emidio Pepe into this lineup, which appeared to have some VA issues. The Gaja Sori San Lorenzo was forgettable. Cedary and Herbacious, this wine was going nowhere fast. Scavino Bric del Fiasc was a very nice btl of Barolo. A good representation of Scavin0 and Barolo at 25 years old. THat wine would have done it, except Jeff J offered up something amazing once again...Giacosa Barbaresco San Stefan Riserva. 25 years old? age it 25 more, if you can resist it. An amazing btl, this was a clear fan favorite.
Dessert was brioche bread pudding, because we needed more starch in our diets. The wine was 1985 D'Yquem and it did not suck. Has any 25 year old Yquem ever been bad?
Special thanks to Peter J, who despesrately needs a kool nickname, for putting together another splendid evening!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Dominus Vertical, with Mr. Dominus, himself!
When you get the opportunity to sit with Christian Mouiex and taste 8 vintages of Dominus (or anything for that matter), one does not turn it down. The Bordeaux icon has been producing outstanding wines at the old Inglenook Estate (Napanook) since 1983. Despite 1991 and 1994 considered classic wines, put me in the camp that believes the wines from this famous vineyard are only getting better.
So, about 15 restauranteurs, retailers and sommeliers gathered in Manhattan yesterday morning, for the "pre release" party of 2007 Dominus with Christian. In addition to the 2007 tasting, MMD put a number of older vintages on display. I was actually the first guest to arrive, so I got to chat with Christian for a few moments. We talked mostly about 2009 Bordeaux. He, of course, was very excited. I think he has even started spending the millions he will make off of the most hyped vintage ever, as he was sporting a new tie! One of the wines in the lineup was the 1996. I had just tasted an amazing bottle of this wine a few weeks ago. I told Mr. Petrus how excited I was to try it again.
Once we all sat, we got right down to business. 1996 vs 1999 Dominus was in the glass (Actually all of the wines were poured, but this is what we were starting with). The 1996 had a slightly oxidative nose, nevertheless, it was very earthy, and the aromas were very profound. Nevertheless, the wine (which was double decanted two hours earlier) appeared to have become oxidized. It is 82% Cabernet.
The 1999 Dominus had a slightly muted nose. Tight, gripping and tannic, this wine has just never evolved into a special Dominus. The fruit is just not there. It is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon. Christian did not care for the 1999 at all, and he made a joke that it is the only Dominus that James Laube ever gave a high score to, which garnered a chuckle from the room.
Christian asked the room which wine they preferred, after he asked me to speak about the great btl of 1996 that I had drank recently. In terms of yesterday's offerings, I voted for the 1999. I was the only one. I guess restaurant people like to drink oxidized wine.
Next we move into the great 2001 vs. 2002 debate. 2001 vs. 2002 is a hotly debated topic for Napa Cabernet. The 2001 had a great bouquet. It is very structured. I found the wine a bit youngish. Christian thought that the wine was a little oxidized as well. I did disagree. 81% Cabernet. Nevertheless, the 2001 was no match for the OUTSTANDING 2002. It had the richness and balance of a great Napa Cab. 85% Cabernet in this one. This was the first Dominus that I felt had a bit a alcohol in the flavor profile, but I still loved it!
The 2002 won the vote/ Christian condeded that, at "birth," he preferred the 2001 to the 2002, while Robert Parker preferred the 2002 always. He said Parker must know his wines better than himself.
Next up is a 2004-2007 finish. 2003 was the last vintage that used Merlot in the blend. Christian does not feel that Merlot is the right grape varietal for Napa. Not to say that there is not great Merlot being produced, but he feels that some of the Merlot may not really be Merlot. Good stuff!
The 2004 Dominus would appear to be the weak link. 85% Cab and 7% Petit Verdot. Christian commented that Dominus should never go above 5% on PV. He blamed himself for producing just an average Dominus. Pleasant to drink now, but not in it for the long haul.
The biggest surprise of the tasting, for me, was the awesome 2005 Dominus. 92% Cabernet and 100% delicious, this was a very youthful wine. Great intensity, good richness, this large production Dominus is proof that you do not have to sacrifice quantity for quality. Seemless was a good descriptor here.
This runaway vote had the 2005 the winner.
It just kept getting better...2006 Dominus (91% Cabernet) is destined to be a classic Napa Cab, according to Christian, and I must concur. Christian says hit reminds him of 1986 Mouton. I cannot vouch for that, but I can say, without reservation, that the 2006 Dominus is a stunning example of what this property can produce.
Up next, the first tastes of 2007 in New York. This had a very closed down nose. In addition, it lacked the grip of the 2006. The tannins were much softer, making it easier to drink. A very intriguing wine, what really got me going on this one, was the lingering finish of wonderful cocoa like flavors in my mouth. This is pretty difficult to avoid drinking now, but I am sure it will improve over time. I am looking forward to tasting 2006 vs. 2007 in the future, but for now, I think I have to call it a tie. 2007 for drinking now and 2006 for the long haul, but I reserve the right to change my mind!
So, about 15 restauranteurs, retailers and sommeliers gathered in Manhattan yesterday morning, for the "pre release" party of 2007 Dominus with Christian. In addition to the 2007 tasting, MMD put a number of older vintages on display. I was actually the first guest to arrive, so I got to chat with Christian for a few moments. We talked mostly about 2009 Bordeaux. He, of course, was very excited. I think he has even started spending the millions he will make off of the most hyped vintage ever, as he was sporting a new tie! One of the wines in the lineup was the 1996. I had just tasted an amazing bottle of this wine a few weeks ago. I told Mr. Petrus how excited I was to try it again.
Once we all sat, we got right down to business. 1996 vs 1999 Dominus was in the glass (Actually all of the wines were poured, but this is what we were starting with). The 1996 had a slightly oxidative nose, nevertheless, it was very earthy, and the aromas were very profound. Nevertheless, the wine (which was double decanted two hours earlier) appeared to have become oxidized. It is 82% Cabernet.
The 1999 Dominus had a slightly muted nose. Tight, gripping and tannic, this wine has just never evolved into a special Dominus. The fruit is just not there. It is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon. Christian did not care for the 1999 at all, and he made a joke that it is the only Dominus that James Laube ever gave a high score to, which garnered a chuckle from the room.
Christian asked the room which wine they preferred, after he asked me to speak about the great btl of 1996 that I had drank recently. In terms of yesterday's offerings, I voted for the 1999. I was the only one. I guess restaurant people like to drink oxidized wine.
Next we move into the great 2001 vs. 2002 debate. 2001 vs. 2002 is a hotly debated topic for Napa Cabernet. The 2001 had a great bouquet. It is very structured. I found the wine a bit youngish. Christian thought that the wine was a little oxidized as well. I did disagree. 81% Cabernet. Nevertheless, the 2001 was no match for the OUTSTANDING 2002. It had the richness and balance of a great Napa Cab. 85% Cabernet in this one. This was the first Dominus that I felt had a bit a alcohol in the flavor profile, but I still loved it!
The 2002 won the vote/ Christian condeded that, at "birth," he preferred the 2001 to the 2002, while Robert Parker preferred the 2002 always. He said Parker must know his wines better than himself.
Next up is a 2004-2007 finish. 2003 was the last vintage that used Merlot in the blend. Christian does not feel that Merlot is the right grape varietal for Napa. Not to say that there is not great Merlot being produced, but he feels that some of the Merlot may not really be Merlot. Good stuff!
The 2004 Dominus would appear to be the weak link. 85% Cab and 7% Petit Verdot. Christian commented that Dominus should never go above 5% on PV. He blamed himself for producing just an average Dominus. Pleasant to drink now, but not in it for the long haul.
The biggest surprise of the tasting, for me, was the awesome 2005 Dominus. 92% Cabernet and 100% delicious, this was a very youthful wine. Great intensity, good richness, this large production Dominus is proof that you do not have to sacrifice quantity for quality. Seemless was a good descriptor here.
This runaway vote had the 2005 the winner.
It just kept getting better...2006 Dominus (91% Cabernet) is destined to be a classic Napa Cab, according to Christian, and I must concur. Christian says hit reminds him of 1986 Mouton. I cannot vouch for that, but I can say, without reservation, that the 2006 Dominus is a stunning example of what this property can produce.
Up next, the first tastes of 2007 in New York. This had a very closed down nose. In addition, it lacked the grip of the 2006. The tannins were much softer, making it easier to drink. A very intriguing wine, what really got me going on this one, was the lingering finish of wonderful cocoa like flavors in my mouth. This is pretty difficult to avoid drinking now, but I am sure it will improve over time. I am looking forward to tasting 2006 vs. 2007 in the future, but for now, I think I have to call it a tie. 2007 for drinking now and 2006 for the long haul, but I reserve the right to change my mind!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
2007 Domaine de la Romanee Conti-The Tasting!
This past Thursday, I had the opportunity to sit with some of NY's "Elite" in the wine trade. Aubert de Villaine was on hand to discuss and sample the 2007 lineup of DRC wines. 30 people gathered in a conference room at the Carlysle Hotel, in what has become an annual tradition in these parts. As I look around, I always feel out of place. For starters, this year, I was the only male not wearing a jacket. Many are wine directors/sommeliers off to work after, so they get dressed for work before work. I gave up a suit when I left the legal world almost 10 years ago. Never looked back, although my closet is still filled with suits that get worn once per year, max.
Okay, enough background, onto the wines...
Aubert discussed the difficulties and confusion with the 2007 harvest. An abnormally hot April/May was just the beginning of a strange road that led to harvest at the beginning of September. Much of the fruit was rotted, and subsequently discarded. One thing I always enjoy about this tasting is that Aubert is a straight shooter. He may try to sugarcoat like any vigneron, but at the end of the day, you know how good the wines are before you taste them. Nevertheless, we still get to taste...
So, I went through and smelled all of the wines before tasting them. Then I tasted them through once and jotted notes. I then did a second round of tasting and the "notes" are a compilation...Just for the record, I am pro flavor!
1) 2007 Echezeaux: A slightly medicinal smell. Harsh in the mid palate. Decent finish, but not much fruit.
2) 2007 Grands Echezeaux: This is much richer. Nose shows a lot more berries. Still on the palate, a harsh taste. I think this wine has a great potential based upon the aromas, but, in the palate, it was just not there.
3) 2007 Romanee St. Vivant: A very bright color in my glass. The nose was muted. Very closed. Lots of structure in the wine. This appeared to be a favorite based on comments in the room. For me, it was one of the worst wines.
4) 2007 Richebourg: This had a very "DRC Richebourg" like aroma...earthy, mushrooms. Dense, "dark" color. I was into this nose. But the taste just did not follow. Decent wine, and maybe will get better.
5) 2007 La Tache: Very floral bouquet. Pretty wine. The most well rounded wine of the tasting. Needs time, but this clearly has the stuffing to be a great wine.
6) 2007 Romanee Conti: Initially, very muted nose. Then earthy, dirty nose. This is a very muscular, masculine wine. Very earthy, with a slight green streak, but very rich.
7) 2007 Montrachet: This wine is a baby. High acid and vastly different from what I remember in tasting 2004-2006 Montrachets. I suppose this is destined to be a classic, but I would not touch a btl for 10 years.
As a whole, this is the least impressive lineup of DRCs that I have tasted. Aubert said that the wines appear to be getting better, but he does not appear to high on these either. Nevertheless, what appears more depressing is how negatively he spoke of the 2008s, as the growing conditions were even worse in 2008 than they were in 2007. I am always honroed to get to attend these attendings. Unfortunately, I just cannot speak all that positively about these 2007s. These wines appear very young, and hopefully they will take on weight, fill out, and balance well, but I am not an expert with a crystal ball to say that that will happen.
Okay, enough background, onto the wines...
Aubert discussed the difficulties and confusion with the 2007 harvest. An abnormally hot April/May was just the beginning of a strange road that led to harvest at the beginning of September. Much of the fruit was rotted, and subsequently discarded. One thing I always enjoy about this tasting is that Aubert is a straight shooter. He may try to sugarcoat like any vigneron, but at the end of the day, you know how good the wines are before you taste them. Nevertheless, we still get to taste...
So, I went through and smelled all of the wines before tasting them. Then I tasted them through once and jotted notes. I then did a second round of tasting and the "notes" are a compilation...Just for the record, I am pro flavor!
1) 2007 Echezeaux: A slightly medicinal smell. Harsh in the mid palate. Decent finish, but not much fruit.
2) 2007 Grands Echezeaux: This is much richer. Nose shows a lot more berries. Still on the palate, a harsh taste. I think this wine has a great potential based upon the aromas, but, in the palate, it was just not there.
3) 2007 Romanee St. Vivant: A very bright color in my glass. The nose was muted. Very closed. Lots of structure in the wine. This appeared to be a favorite based on comments in the room. For me, it was one of the worst wines.
4) 2007 Richebourg: This had a very "DRC Richebourg" like aroma...earthy, mushrooms. Dense, "dark" color. I was into this nose. But the taste just did not follow. Decent wine, and maybe will get better.
5) 2007 La Tache: Very floral bouquet. Pretty wine. The most well rounded wine of the tasting. Needs time, but this clearly has the stuffing to be a great wine.
6) 2007 Romanee Conti: Initially, very muted nose. Then earthy, dirty nose. This is a very muscular, masculine wine. Very earthy, with a slight green streak, but very rich.
7) 2007 Montrachet: This wine is a baby. High acid and vastly different from what I remember in tasting 2004-2006 Montrachets. I suppose this is destined to be a classic, but I would not touch a btl for 10 years.
As a whole, this is the least impressive lineup of DRCs that I have tasted. Aubert said that the wines appear to be getting better, but he does not appear to high on these either. Nevertheless, what appears more depressing is how negatively he spoke of the 2008s, as the growing conditions were even worse in 2008 than they were in 2007. I am always honroed to get to attend these attendings. Unfortunately, I just cannot speak all that positively about these 2007s. These wines appear very young, and hopefully they will take on weight, fill out, and balance well, but I am not an expert with a crystal ball to say that that will happen.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Tasting Notes from Dinner Last Night!
Went back to one of my local faves last night, Crabtree's Kittle House.
It was "bargain" night for all of us. So we searched the wine list for the best wine for not a lot of money.
Here is what we came up with...
1997 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay-Clearly showing its age on the nose and color, but I enjoyed this wine. Not a rich, show offy wine, but had some fruit still there. Fun to drink. $58 on the list.
1998 Domaine de Mordoree Lirac Cuvee Reines des Bois-Tired and over the hill, this was just a very simple, monolithic wine. Good example of how many critics tasting windows are just flat out absurd. This wine should have been drunk upon release and not much after that. I am sure it was great at one time. On this evening, pass. Interestingly enough, Robert Parker says to drink this one from 2001-2015 and even takes a step further with..."It is one of those rare Liracs that will age for 10-15 years." I don't think so! $33 on the wine list.
1999 Ch St Cosme Gigondas-I am biased. I love this producer. This wine was drinking beautifully last night. Spice, Black Pepper, deep dark fruits...what a lovely wine...great pairing for the Oxtail. $48 on the list!
It was "bargain" night for all of us. So we searched the wine list for the best wine for not a lot of money.
Here is what we came up with...
1997 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay-Clearly showing its age on the nose and color, but I enjoyed this wine. Not a rich, show offy wine, but had some fruit still there. Fun to drink. $58 on the list.
1998 Domaine de Mordoree Lirac Cuvee Reines des Bois-Tired and over the hill, this was just a very simple, monolithic wine. Good example of how many critics tasting windows are just flat out absurd. This wine should have been drunk upon release and not much after that. I am sure it was great at one time. On this evening, pass. Interestingly enough, Robert Parker says to drink this one from 2001-2015 and even takes a step further with..."It is one of those rare Liracs that will age for 10-15 years." I don't think so! $33 on the wine list.
1999 Ch St Cosme Gigondas-I am biased. I love this producer. This wine was drinking beautifully last night. Spice, Black Pepper, deep dark fruits...what a lovely wine...great pairing for the Oxtail. $48 on the list!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday Night Meatloaf-Part ???
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a very special wine dinner featuring the winemakers and owners of some of the most prestigious estates in Burgundy. The dinner was at A Voce in the Time Warner Building (Columbus Circle for those non NYers reading).
First the food...With about 60 people in attendance, you could not ask for better food preparations. Whilst the water service was slow (did you note the use of 'whilst'?), everything else was great. 17 wines poured, a new glass for every wine, you do the math...Some highlights were the Funghi al Forno...these mushrooms were rockin. And the veal tenderloin to close out the meal was "tender" and then some. Great job in the kitchen!
Onto the alcohol, err, the wines...
First Course (served with Bay Scallops)
1) 2006 Christian Moreau Chablis Valmur: Our first btl was corked. Our second btl still had something wrong with it. I complained to Christian and he cried.
2) 2005 Ch de Chamirey Mercurey Blanc La Mission: This wine had a very strange nose and a very oily texture in the mouth. I am generally not a fan of Mercurey Blanc and this wine did nothing to convince me otherwise.
3) 2006 Ch Fuisse Pouilly Fuisse les Combettes: Wow, this wine was excellent. If anyone does not believe that the villages of Pouilly and Fuisse cannot make superb Chardonnay that can compete with the top villages, you need to drink more Ch Fuisse. Unfortunately, from a retailer standpoint, they are tough sells, but this wine was top notch.
Second Course (served with Fungi al Forno...Roasted trumpet royal mushrooms)
1) 2006 Ch Genot Boulanger Puligny Montrachet Les Mosroyes: This wine was hitting on all cylinders. A nice creamy texture. Showed very well.
2) 2006 Olivier Leflaive Chassgne Abbaye de Morgeot: This was nice. My notes say maybe too much oak, and a little obvious. By obvious, I meant "varietally correct." It was good, just did not wow me.
3) 2006 Ch de la Maltroye Chassagne Morgeot Vignes Blanches: I would love to try an older btl of this wine. The current releases are all excellent, but just too young. Painfully expensive as well
Third Course (Served with the largest piece of Pancetta I have ever seen on a plate)
1) Potel Aviron Moulin a Vent VV Cuvee Exceptionelle: Slightly maderized. Not my cup of tea...or wine!
2) 2006 Humbert Freres Gevrey Chambertin Poissenots: If memory serves, Geantet Pansiot is the only other producer of Poissenots these days. This is Humbert Freres finest wine. If you have never tried it, you need to. One of the stars of the night, this wine was a baby. Ripe, strawberry flavors with a great long finish. Well done!
3) 2005 Dominique Gallois Gevrey Chambertin Goulots: Gosh, I was hoping this was going to shine. For whatever reason, the wine came off as tired and very uninspired.
Fourth Course (served with Squab)
1) Ch de Chorey Beaune Teurons: Clearly out of the place in this flight, due to the style, this wine held its own. Funky, dirty and old school were some of my adjectives written down. I enjoyed this wine with the squab. Clearly a traditional producer (if you have never had anything from them) and quite good at it.
2) 2006 Jacques Prieur Corton Bressandes: In Burgundy circles, Prieur is known for its heavy dose of oak, and its heavy price...well this wine did not disappoint on either. A very masculine wine, this wine needs time, and then...who knows?
3) 2006 Alain Burguet Gevrey Chambertin Mes Favorites: Burguet takes his best parcels in Gevrey and produces this stuff each year. Before he sourced some Beze in 2004, this was the flagship wine, and to many, still is. The nose was very pretty, a nice flower bouquet. On the pallet, the wine was a little rough, however, based on my experience, I am not concerned about this wine. In a few years, this will be tasty, The stuffing was there.
4) 2006 Meo Camuzet Clos Vougeot: As usual, this wine was a beast. I am never sure where Meo's wines are headed, but I am always happy to sample them. This one will be quite nice...in 15 years.
Fifth Course (Veal Tenderloin)
1) 2006 Domaine des Perdrix NSG Aux Perdrix: Another one with pricing that could use adjusting, I found this wine to be a bit metallic.
2) 2006 Sylvain Cathiard NSG Murgers: I am really not sure that I have ever had a bad btl of wine from this producer. Big, rich and very "fleshy," this is an outstanding effort.
3) 2007 Lamarche Vosne Romanee Les Chaumes: Earlier in the day, I tasted about 6 Lamarche wines, and I thought the AC Vosne Romanee stood out. At dinner, this wine showed a bit too much sweetness for me. Nevertheless, this Domaine's quality is rising fast.
4) 2006 Rousseau Mazy Chambertin: Wowser! Just the right amount of sweetness, to go with the depth of fruit and tannins. Who knew this would show so well? I was happy to enjoy a second glass. Eric Rousseau announced that the Domaine purchased 0.40 hectares additionally in Chambertin for the 2009 vintage. Everyones allocation just doubled!
Thanks for reading!
First the food...With about 60 people in attendance, you could not ask for better food preparations. Whilst the water service was slow (did you note the use of 'whilst'?), everything else was great. 17 wines poured, a new glass for every wine, you do the math...Some highlights were the Funghi al Forno...these mushrooms were rockin. And the veal tenderloin to close out the meal was "tender" and then some. Great job in the kitchen!
Onto the alcohol, err, the wines...
First Course (served with Bay Scallops)
1) 2006 Christian Moreau Chablis Valmur: Our first btl was corked. Our second btl still had something wrong with it. I complained to Christian and he cried.
2) 2005 Ch de Chamirey Mercurey Blanc La Mission: This wine had a very strange nose and a very oily texture in the mouth. I am generally not a fan of Mercurey Blanc and this wine did nothing to convince me otherwise.
3) 2006 Ch Fuisse Pouilly Fuisse les Combettes: Wow, this wine was excellent. If anyone does not believe that the villages of Pouilly and Fuisse cannot make superb Chardonnay that can compete with the top villages, you need to drink more Ch Fuisse. Unfortunately, from a retailer standpoint, they are tough sells, but this wine was top notch.
Second Course (served with Fungi al Forno...Roasted trumpet royal mushrooms)
1) 2006 Ch Genot Boulanger Puligny Montrachet Les Mosroyes: This wine was hitting on all cylinders. A nice creamy texture. Showed very well.
2) 2006 Olivier Leflaive Chassgne Abbaye de Morgeot: This was nice. My notes say maybe too much oak, and a little obvious. By obvious, I meant "varietally correct." It was good, just did not wow me.
3) 2006 Ch de la Maltroye Chassagne Morgeot Vignes Blanches: I would love to try an older btl of this wine. The current releases are all excellent, but just too young. Painfully expensive as well
Third Course (Served with the largest piece of Pancetta I have ever seen on a plate)
1) Potel Aviron Moulin a Vent VV Cuvee Exceptionelle: Slightly maderized. Not my cup of tea...or wine!
2) 2006 Humbert Freres Gevrey Chambertin Poissenots: If memory serves, Geantet Pansiot is the only other producer of Poissenots these days. This is Humbert Freres finest wine. If you have never tried it, you need to. One of the stars of the night, this wine was a baby. Ripe, strawberry flavors with a great long finish. Well done!
3) 2005 Dominique Gallois Gevrey Chambertin Goulots: Gosh, I was hoping this was going to shine. For whatever reason, the wine came off as tired and very uninspired.
Fourth Course (served with Squab)
1) Ch de Chorey Beaune Teurons: Clearly out of the place in this flight, due to the style, this wine held its own. Funky, dirty and old school were some of my adjectives written down. I enjoyed this wine with the squab. Clearly a traditional producer (if you have never had anything from them) and quite good at it.
2) 2006 Jacques Prieur Corton Bressandes: In Burgundy circles, Prieur is known for its heavy dose of oak, and its heavy price...well this wine did not disappoint on either. A very masculine wine, this wine needs time, and then...who knows?
3) 2006 Alain Burguet Gevrey Chambertin Mes Favorites: Burguet takes his best parcels in Gevrey and produces this stuff each year. Before he sourced some Beze in 2004, this was the flagship wine, and to many, still is. The nose was very pretty, a nice flower bouquet. On the pallet, the wine was a little rough, however, based on my experience, I am not concerned about this wine. In a few years, this will be tasty, The stuffing was there.
4) 2006 Meo Camuzet Clos Vougeot: As usual, this wine was a beast. I am never sure where Meo's wines are headed, but I am always happy to sample them. This one will be quite nice...in 15 years.
Fifth Course (Veal Tenderloin)
1) 2006 Domaine des Perdrix NSG Aux Perdrix: Another one with pricing that could use adjusting, I found this wine to be a bit metallic.
2) 2006 Sylvain Cathiard NSG Murgers: I am really not sure that I have ever had a bad btl of wine from this producer. Big, rich and very "fleshy," this is an outstanding effort.
3) 2007 Lamarche Vosne Romanee Les Chaumes: Earlier in the day, I tasted about 6 Lamarche wines, and I thought the AC Vosne Romanee stood out. At dinner, this wine showed a bit too much sweetness for me. Nevertheless, this Domaine's quality is rising fast.
4) 2006 Rousseau Mazy Chambertin: Wowser! Just the right amount of sweetness, to go with the depth of fruit and tannins. Who knew this would show so well? I was happy to enjoy a second glass. Eric Rousseau announced that the Domaine purchased 0.40 hectares additionally in Chambertin for the 2009 vintage. Everyones allocation just doubled!
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Good meals in Indianapolis!
So, off I went to Indy this past weekend, to take in the beautiful sunshine that this small town had to offer. In addition, I went to see the Jets blow a golden opportunity to get Namath off of their back, but, alas, that did not happen.
On Saturday evening, we went over to 14 West. St. Elmo's is the popular tourist place in town, but 14 West is where the Colts fans dined.
The food at 14 West was very good. Some items (Fried Oysters, Lamb, Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles) were simply outstanding. I even told my buddy, Matt, that the truffles, at $4 for 3 of them, was probably the best value dessert I have ever had at a restaurant.
The food was so good and the service so delightful, that we decided to get our pregame tailgate in on Sunday at the very same place. Boring? Possibly, but the Burger was pretty killer. American Cheese, Bacon, Mushrooms, Lettuce Tomato, Mayo...on a bun soaked in clarified butter...what's not to love about that Burger?
If you are in Indy, I highly recommend a meal there.
Onto the wines...the theme of the weekend was Syrah from around the Globe...
1) 1993 Chapoutier Ermitage le Pavillon...This was the "Wild Card." Despite Robert Parker's drinking window on this of 1996-2046, I had my doubts. And for good reason. The wine, which was in pristine condition, was flat, and uninteresting. We barely touched it.
2) 2004 Kurtz Lunar Block Shiraz...Back in August 2009, I tasted this wine for the first time, and instantly fell in love. Well, on this night, we said our vows for each other all over again. A total production of like 60 cases, this is extremely rare...and extremely good. The same Eucalyptus notes that I picked up back in August were even more prevolent on this night. There has to be some Cabernet in there somewhere. This is just great food pairing wine, and very atypical for a struggling wine region. KUDOS!
3) 2005 Charles Smith Syrah Heart...I just do not get these wines. This wine was basically Port. We decanted it for over 2 hours...and it was still Port. Pours like Syrup, looks like Syrup, tastes lie Syrup...it must be Syrup. Totally overwhelming for the food, until dessert. It was a good match for the Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles.
For lunch the next day, just one btl (had to save room for beer at the stadium)
4) 2007 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Walla Walla...These wines have been picking up buzz for over a year now...I bought them after some people I really trust told me to, so on blind faith, I put them on the shelves. Well, I decided to see what all of the fuss was about. This wine is OUTSTANDING! We popped and poured at lunch, and just sucked it down. I could have put a straw in my wine glass, this was so silky smooth! Is this stuff for real at this price? I am going to need some more...going to pop a Cabernet this weekend, and press my luck. Well done, Greg Harrington!
On Saturday evening, we went over to 14 West. St. Elmo's is the popular tourist place in town, but 14 West is where the Colts fans dined.
The food at 14 West was very good. Some items (Fried Oysters, Lamb, Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles) were simply outstanding. I even told my buddy, Matt, that the truffles, at $4 for 3 of them, was probably the best value dessert I have ever had at a restaurant.
The food was so good and the service so delightful, that we decided to get our pregame tailgate in on Sunday at the very same place. Boring? Possibly, but the Burger was pretty killer. American Cheese, Bacon, Mushrooms, Lettuce Tomato, Mayo...on a bun soaked in clarified butter...what's not to love about that Burger?
If you are in Indy, I highly recommend a meal there.
Onto the wines...the theme of the weekend was Syrah from around the Globe...
1) 1993 Chapoutier Ermitage le Pavillon...This was the "Wild Card." Despite Robert Parker's drinking window on this of 1996-2046, I had my doubts. And for good reason. The wine, which was in pristine condition, was flat, and uninteresting. We barely touched it.
2) 2004 Kurtz Lunar Block Shiraz...Back in August 2009, I tasted this wine for the first time, and instantly fell in love. Well, on this night, we said our vows for each other all over again. A total production of like 60 cases, this is extremely rare...and extremely good. The same Eucalyptus notes that I picked up back in August were even more prevolent on this night. There has to be some Cabernet in there somewhere. This is just great food pairing wine, and very atypical for a struggling wine region. KUDOS!
3) 2005 Charles Smith Syrah Heart...I just do not get these wines. This wine was basically Port. We decanted it for over 2 hours...and it was still Port. Pours like Syrup, looks like Syrup, tastes lie Syrup...it must be Syrup. Totally overwhelming for the food, until dessert. It was a good match for the Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles.
For lunch the next day, just one btl (had to save room for beer at the stadium)
4) 2007 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Walla Walla...These wines have been picking up buzz for over a year now...I bought them after some people I really trust told me to, so on blind faith, I put them on the shelves. Well, I decided to see what all of the fuss was about. This wine is OUTSTANDING! We popped and poured at lunch, and just sucked it down. I could have put a straw in my wine glass, this was so silky smooth! Is this stuff for real at this price? I am going to need some more...going to pop a Cabernet this weekend, and press my luck. Well done, Greg Harrington!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Monday Night Meatloaf-Spanish Style!
This past Monday, in what is becoming a regular thing...10 of us got together at Mas, in downtown Manhattan, to taste very old Spanish Wines. How old is very old? The oldest was 1935 and the "newest" was 1989...pretty old for crappy Spanish wines that do not age, right?
First, a few comments on Mas. This was my third (or fourth?) time visiting. The food has never disappointed. The service on this night was awesome. 24 wines to be poured for 10 people is no easy task. These guys were great. We started with some Canapes, which included some delicious oysters and tuna tartare and ended with some awesome shrimp. 5 courses followed...sardine tart was not something that I would ever order, but was very flavorful. Sweetbreads were the highlight of the night for me. The cheese selection was great as well.
So, with people like KA and JK present, you need to have a Champagne flight, I guess. We started with an over the hill 1947 Charles Hiedsieck. 1990 Gosset Celebris was next. It was very good, but possibly a touch too sweet for me? 1990 DP was very uninspiring. Our lone white still wine was 1968 Lopez de Heridia Rioja Tondonia Blanco Gran Riserva. Wow, what an effort. It smelled like gerkins and green olives (take your pick, there are no wrong answers). Very oily in texture and not showing 40 years of age. Impressive.
Flight #1 (4 wines)
1) 1938 Marques de Riscal Rioja Reserva- I was not a fan of this one. In the end, it was flat and uninteresting.
2) 1942 Bodegas Riojanas Gran Reserva Rioja-Corked. Was not served.
3) Mystery #1-Slightly corked. A shame because it did not show its age. 1935 Riojanas Gran Reserva Rioja
4) Mystery #2-I mentioned Cabernet in the blend. Laurent mentioned that it was a lot of Cabernet. Based upon previous things I had read, I guessed 1950s Marques de Riscal. The wine was very lively, and sweet. Delicious stuff. 1945 Ch Cantemerle.
Flight #2 It can only get better...we hope
1) 1950 Cune Vina Real Gran Reserva-This was awesome. Very young nose with the hint of green olive again. Very youthful, my second favorite wine of the flight. 60 years old...very impressive
2) 1951 Cune Vina Real Gran Reserva-Maderized. Could not even taste it, as it smelled so bad to me. Others who did try it, said not to bother
3) 1952 Cune Vina Real Gran Reserva-Spicey and chocolatey. Pretty "dry" tannins. Reminded me of hot cocoa with marshmallows, served chilled. Good stuff.
4) 1954 Cune Imperial Gran Reserva-For me, this was a little closed up. Never really came out of its shell. Still a good wine. But I preferred the 1952.
5) 1962 Cune Vina Real Gran Reserva-WOTF...this was a GREAT wine. Rich and dense, this seems to have a lifetime ahead of it. I loved the 1950, but the 1962 was like the 1950 on steroids. Will it be like the 1950 in 12 years? It could be and that would be good, but it could be better!
Flight #3-Lopez de Heredia flight
How can you have an old Spanish wine tasting without a Lopez flight. Well, after the impressive Cune flight, we really got our hopes up...unfortunately for me.
1) 1961 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva-A touch maderized on the nose, but that seemed like it was part of its charm. This was a pretty juicy wine, given its age. Excellent wine for food. It worked.
2) 1970 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva-Lean and green would be my summarization. Not a fan.
3) 1976 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva-DQ'ed...I cannot recall why, but it was not poured.
4) Mystery #3-Love tasting blind...this was again Cab based, in my opinion (Laurent and I fought over who said it first, so I punched him out...I win). This was a real wild card...I had no real guess for this, other than the fact that I was not a huge fan. Tasted old. 1952 Ch Cantemerle.
Flight #4-Unico flight
How can you have an old Spanish wine dinner without Unico?
1) 1960 Vega Sicilia Unico-One of the btls I brought. Interesting story, my last of a few great btls of this stuff. Purchased "to go" at a famous Baltimore restaurant on the cheap, about 6 years ago, after a btl I consumed there whooped up on 1982 Latour. This wine was awesome. Spice, coffee...it was hard for me to embellish on this one, but everyone else loved it more than me...so there you go...happy to share it with such a passionate group. Of course, KA joked that I took credit for the good btl from Grapes The Wine Company, while I let Yaacov out to dry with a bad 1970 Lopez. I had to explain that this Unico was actually from my "vast" collection. Just as a point of interest, after having this btl in Baltimore, I looked up Robert Parker's TN...he scored it a 78 and said how it was old, tired, and bad. I emailed him and urged him to skip Charleston for once and head over to the other place for this (at the time, they had cases). He said that he would...looks like that never happened...his loss.
2) 1968 Vega Sicilia Unico-I really wanted to like this. But in the end, this wine was sandwiched between my two favorite red wines of the evening. This may need more time. It just lacked the "oomph" of the other two wines. Too lean. But that is inthe context of what surrounded it. I may have liked it more on its own.
3) 1970 Vega Sicilia Unico-This was heavenly. Sweet, dense, cocoa. I was into this wine. I wish I had more of it to enjoy. I can see the fascination with this wine, in this vintage. Killer stuff.
4) 1981 Vega Sicilia Unico-This was just way too young. It never came out of its shell while it sat in the glass. I suppose it could turn out great, but on this night, following the 1970, it was mediocre.
Flight #5 The Flight that should have gone before the Unico, aka "The Letdown" flight...
1) 1989 Pesquera Rioja Gran Reserva. JJ commented that he had recently had a great btl of this. This was good stuff, but hardly inspiring.
2) 1982 Pesquers Rioja Gran Reserva-I did not like this at all. It had this "smokey" kind of smell.
3) 1978 La Rioja Alta Vina de Ardanza-Sweet pickles. This wine was pretty flat and a little over the hill.
4) Mystery #4-Really tough to put my finger on the pulse of this wine. After all of this Tempranillo, I found myself there again. Just not liking the wine. It was clearly over the hill. 1980 Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reserva from Chile. Fascinating.
Take my notes on the last flight for whatever they are worth...not much...Nothing inspired me there to pay close attention. I was sucking drops of 1970 Unico out of the btl!
First, a few comments on Mas. This was my third (or fourth?) time visiting. The food has never disappointed. The service on this night was awesome. 24 wines to be poured for 10 people is no easy task. These guys were great. We started with some Canapes, which included some delicious oysters and tuna tartare and ended with some awesome shrimp. 5 courses followed...sardine tart was not something that I would ever order, but was very flavorful. Sweetbreads were the highlight of the night for me. The cheese selection was great as well.
So, with people like KA and JK present, you need to have a Champagne flight, I guess. We started with an over the hill 1947 Charles Hiedsieck. 1990 Gosset Celebris was next. It was very good, but possibly a touch too sweet for me? 1990 DP was very uninspiring. Our lone white still wine was 1968 Lopez de Heridia Rioja Tondonia Blanco Gran Riserva. Wow, what an effort. It smelled like gerkins and green olives (take your pick, there are no wrong answers). Very oily in texture and not showing 40 years of age. Impressive.
Flight #1 (4 wines)
1) 1938 Marques de Riscal Rioja Reserva- I was not a fan of this one. In the end, it was flat and uninteresting.
2) 1942 Bodegas Riojanas Gran Reserva Rioja-Corked. Was not served.
3) Mystery #1-Slightly corked. A shame because it did not show its age. 1935 Riojanas Gran Reserva Rioja
4) Mystery #2-I mentioned Cabernet in the blend. Laurent mentioned that it was a lot of Cabernet. Based upon previous things I had read, I guessed 1950s Marques de Riscal. The wine was very lively, and sweet. Delicious stuff. 1945 Ch Cantemerle.
Flight #2 It can only get better...we hope
1) 1950 Cune Vina Real Gran Reserva-This was awesome. Very young nose with the hint of green olive again. Very youthful, my second favorite wine of the flight. 60 years old...very impressive
2) 1951 Cune Vina Real Gran Reserva-Maderized. Could not even taste it, as it smelled so bad to me. Others who did try it, said not to bother
3) 1952 Cune Vina Real Gran Reserva-Spicey and chocolatey. Pretty "dry" tannins. Reminded me of hot cocoa with marshmallows, served chilled. Good stuff.
4) 1954 Cune Imperial Gran Reserva-For me, this was a little closed up. Never really came out of its shell. Still a good wine. But I preferred the 1952.
5) 1962 Cune Vina Real Gran Reserva-WOTF...this was a GREAT wine. Rich and dense, this seems to have a lifetime ahead of it. I loved the 1950, but the 1962 was like the 1950 on steroids. Will it be like the 1950 in 12 years? It could be and that would be good, but it could be better!
Flight #3-Lopez de Heredia flight
How can you have an old Spanish wine tasting without a Lopez flight. Well, after the impressive Cune flight, we really got our hopes up...unfortunately for me.
1) 1961 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva-A touch maderized on the nose, but that seemed like it was part of its charm. This was a pretty juicy wine, given its age. Excellent wine for food. It worked.
2) 1970 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva-Lean and green would be my summarization. Not a fan.
3) 1976 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva-DQ'ed...I cannot recall why, but it was not poured.
4) Mystery #3-Love tasting blind...this was again Cab based, in my opinion (Laurent and I fought over who said it first, so I punched him out...I win). This was a real wild card...I had no real guess for this, other than the fact that I was not a huge fan. Tasted old. 1952 Ch Cantemerle.
Flight #4-Unico flight
How can you have an old Spanish wine dinner without Unico?
1) 1960 Vega Sicilia Unico-One of the btls I brought. Interesting story, my last of a few great btls of this stuff. Purchased "to go" at a famous Baltimore restaurant on the cheap, about 6 years ago, after a btl I consumed there whooped up on 1982 Latour. This wine was awesome. Spice, coffee...it was hard for me to embellish on this one, but everyone else loved it more than me...so there you go...happy to share it with such a passionate group. Of course, KA joked that I took credit for the good btl from Grapes The Wine Company, while I let Yaacov out to dry with a bad 1970 Lopez. I had to explain that this Unico was actually from my "vast" collection. Just as a point of interest, after having this btl in Baltimore, I looked up Robert Parker's TN...he scored it a 78 and said how it was old, tired, and bad. I emailed him and urged him to skip Charleston for once and head over to the other place for this (at the time, they had cases). He said that he would...looks like that never happened...his loss.
2) 1968 Vega Sicilia Unico-I really wanted to like this. But in the end, this wine was sandwiched between my two favorite red wines of the evening. This may need more time. It just lacked the "oomph" of the other two wines. Too lean. But that is inthe context of what surrounded it. I may have liked it more on its own.
3) 1970 Vega Sicilia Unico-This was heavenly. Sweet, dense, cocoa. I was into this wine. I wish I had more of it to enjoy. I can see the fascination with this wine, in this vintage. Killer stuff.
4) 1981 Vega Sicilia Unico-This was just way too young. It never came out of its shell while it sat in the glass. I suppose it could turn out great, but on this night, following the 1970, it was mediocre.
Flight #5 The Flight that should have gone before the Unico, aka "The Letdown" flight...
1) 1989 Pesquera Rioja Gran Reserva. JJ commented that he had recently had a great btl of this. This was good stuff, but hardly inspiring.
2) 1982 Pesquers Rioja Gran Reserva-I did not like this at all. It had this "smokey" kind of smell.
3) 1978 La Rioja Alta Vina de Ardanza-Sweet pickles. This wine was pretty flat and a little over the hill.
4) Mystery #4-Really tough to put my finger on the pulse of this wine. After all of this Tempranillo, I found myself there again. Just not liking the wine. It was clearly over the hill. 1980 Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reserva from Chile. Fascinating.
Take my notes on the last flight for whatever they are worth...not much...Nothing inspired me there to pay close attention. I was sucking drops of 1970 Unico out of the btl!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Dinner at the Kittle House!
Last Saturday night, I went to one of my favorite places, Crabtree's Kittle House, in Chappaqua. I have gone for years, mostly for the great wine list, but recently I find myself going for the awesome food as well. New Chef, Brad McDonald, who has worked at Per Se and Alain Ducasse, amongst other top restaurants, is producing some of the best dishes in New York. In addition, it is innovative and "cheap." Their 5 course tasting menu is $60! One of his best best dishes is the Gnudy, which he uses Mascarpone and Ricotta cheese for. The stuff is unreal.
On this Saturday evening, I had to control myself with the wine list, as I was drinking for 1, as my pregnant wife is only good for a sip or two.
I ordered two half btls...1996 Donnhoff Auslese Niederhauser Hermannshohle...This was an absolutely stunning wine. Not much more I can say on this, other than it is a shame that it was only a half btl. Clearly not something I would age too much longer, as I see no reason to. The acid has basically disappeared from this wine, and what you are left with is a fruity, delicious wine, that proved to be a great pair for a couple of the courses served.
The next half btl was 1991 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon. I was torn as to whether I should order this and then whether I should decant it. Well, I was wrong...not about ordering it, but about decanting it. Still a "baby" the best tastes of this wine were the last ones. Clearly in a funky stage, I thought the fruit was nearly gone from the wine, and I was left with a "dry" wine not for me. Then, at the end of the meal, the wine did a 180, and the wine actually too on weight, sweetness and fruit, and it was actually very good. In the end, a very impressive showing for this nearly 20 year old wine, especially out of half btl!
On this Saturday evening, I had to control myself with the wine list, as I was drinking for 1, as my pregnant wife is only good for a sip or two.
I ordered two half btls...1996 Donnhoff Auslese Niederhauser Hermannshohle...This was an absolutely stunning wine. Not much more I can say on this, other than it is a shame that it was only a half btl. Clearly not something I would age too much longer, as I see no reason to. The acid has basically disappeared from this wine, and what you are left with is a fruity, delicious wine, that proved to be a great pair for a couple of the courses served.
The next half btl was 1991 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon. I was torn as to whether I should order this and then whether I should decant it. Well, I was wrong...not about ordering it, but about decanting it. Still a "baby" the best tastes of this wine were the last ones. Clearly in a funky stage, I thought the fruit was nearly gone from the wine, and I was left with a "dry" wine not for me. Then, at the end of the meal, the wine did a 180, and the wine actually too on weight, sweetness and fruit, and it was actually very good. In the end, a very impressive showing for this nearly 20 year old wine, especially out of half btl!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Old Rhones-Another Monday Night Meatloaf Recipe!
Last night, 10 very passionate one wine drinkers got together for an evening of Old Rhones at Peter J.'s house. One got food poisoning, so that made it just 9 of us. Have no fear Keith, we still drank your Guigal after you left! Laurent brought no wine for a change, using the excuse that he is a poor Burgundy farmer.
Peter had a chef that did a tremendous job with the food. I am still trying to figure out the ravioli dish and how the egg got inside of it. Oh well, as little as I know about wine, I know less about food.
Onto the wines...
For starters, we did 2 bubblies...
1982 Salon-Man, this was a weird one. Upon first pour, this was oxidized. Only 5 minutes later, it was not. Smooth, sweet fruit, with little bubbles, this ended up being very tasty.
1996 Billecart Salmon Clos St. Hilaire- This is still much too young for me. Vibrant, and very crisp...I look forward to tasting this one down the line (Peter will have to open it though)!
Overall, the wines we had from the Rhone were excellent. Very few issues with one possible fake. As a whole, these wines stood the test of time!
First flight...
1) Blind...this was dark, rich, and minty, absolutely delicious...King Angry guessed 1970s Grange...the answer 1976 Penfolds Grange...(I am assuming Ray meant Penfolds, although he never did specify) ;)
2) Blind...for me this was a little watered down...finish was flat, I did not enjoy it...I guessed early '80s CDP...it was 1967 Mont Redon
3) Blind...I really enjoyed this wine...it had life, and a good spicey characteristic...very tasty stuff...I guessed early 90s Northern Rhone...it was 1971 Ch Fortia CDP...sign me up!
4) Not blind...1977 Chave Hermitage...one of my contributions...this had a very strange nose at first. Others liked it, I did not, after a few moments, it blew off. I actually went back to this wine hours later, and it was absolutely delicious!
Second Flight
1) 1983 Ch Beaucastel CDP...a good showing for the 1983 Beau on this night. It had good fruit...medium intensity...good pairing for the food.
2) 1989 Ch Beaucastel CDP...the 1983 overshadowed this one. Fortunately, it was not corked (as is the case with many 1989 Beaucastel CDPs).
3) 1989 Andre Brunel CDP Cuvee Centenaire...Not talked about much, but a few of us liked this wine and many others hated it (Ron complained of too much oak). It was clearly a pioneer of styles of new world CDP, but I thought it was very good, for many of the reasons that the "traditionalists" hated it.
Third Flight
1) 1989 Ch Rayas CDP...wow, this was a good wine. It would have been even better for me, if not for...
2) 1990 Ch Rayas CDP...this was absolutely stunning. Big, rich, layered with fruit, and a finish that went on and on. While some preferred the 1989 (which was really nice), this was one of my Wines of the Night!
3) 1989 Henri Bonneau CDP Cuvee Celestins...another wine with varying opinions. I found this wine to be harsh, and "too masculine." It was just not my style on this night. Especially after the silky smooth Rayas wines.
Fourth flight
1) 1989 Beaucastel CDP Hommage Jacques Perrin...I thought this flight was going to be historic, but I think the previous flight made it not so...nevertheless the 1989 Beaucastel Hommage was a very good wine, definitely softer than the 1990, which comes later. I can get into this wine.
2) 1990 Beaucastel CDP...a wine, that in the past, I have enjoyed immensely, and at one dinner, a couple of years back, showed nearly as well as the 1990 Hommage. On this night, though, this was a good wine, just not a great one.
3) 1990 Beaucastel CDP Hommage Jacques Perrin...darker in color than the 1989, this had less finesse and more muscle than the '89. I think this wine still has a long life ahead of it.
Fifth flight
1) 1989 Chave Hermitage...It was right about now when someone said, "victory for the 1989s tonight." Well, that is just opinion, but this was my WOTN (maybe a tie with 1990 Rayas)...another rich, intense wine that just had gobs and gobs of fruit coating my mouth. Man, I wish I had not just sold a mag of this last week!
2) 1989 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle...this was was a bit austere and rather unpleasant...which surprised me, because generally 89 La Chapelle is a very good wine.
3) 1990 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle...this is where it got interesting. I opened up most of the btls throughout the evening. This cork was gleaming white and clean...very strange, considering how moldy the 1989 was. The wine was more of a blueberry style (think high ratings from Jay Miller). No one really cared for the wine. The btl was etched with a number coding on the back. A rerelease from Jaboulet, perhaps? Could be, but clearly the cork was not original, and the bottle code left some doubt...and the wine sucked...makes you wonder...
4) 1989 Chapoutier Hermitage Pavillon...Another stunning btl of 1989 Chapoutier Pavillon for me. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of drinking a magnum of this stuff with everyone's hero, Robert Parker, and it was delic. A 750ml last night did not disappoint either. While I cannot stand his white wines, Chapoutier seems to have mastered certain reds.
Sixth Flight
1) 1990 Guigal Cote Cotie La Mouline...something was not correct with this btl...a shame, as it should have been amazing stuff...but it just never came together.
2) 1990 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque...What more can you say about this one but, WOW! In case, there was any doubt about the La Mouline being off, the La Turque confirmed it. This had everything going on...the funk, the fruit, the acidity, I loved this wine...I think I suffered from a little palate fatigue at the end of the meal, which caused me to not really appreciate what we had here!
Thank you to Peter for his generous hospitality, and everyone else who brought wine, except for Laurent, who, as usual, contributed nothing and compared everything to 1966 Drouhin Musigny!
Just kidding...Laurent!
Sixth Flight
1)
Peter had a chef that did a tremendous job with the food. I am still trying to figure out the ravioli dish and how the egg got inside of it. Oh well, as little as I know about wine, I know less about food.
Onto the wines...
For starters, we did 2 bubblies...
1982 Salon-Man, this was a weird one. Upon first pour, this was oxidized. Only 5 minutes later, it was not. Smooth, sweet fruit, with little bubbles, this ended up being very tasty.
1996 Billecart Salmon Clos St. Hilaire- This is still much too young for me. Vibrant, and very crisp...I look forward to tasting this one down the line (Peter will have to open it though)!
Overall, the wines we had from the Rhone were excellent. Very few issues with one possible fake. As a whole, these wines stood the test of time!
First flight...
1) Blind...this was dark, rich, and minty, absolutely delicious...King Angry guessed 1970s Grange...the answer 1976 Penfolds Grange...(I am assuming Ray meant Penfolds, although he never did specify) ;)
2) Blind...for me this was a little watered down...finish was flat, I did not enjoy it...I guessed early '80s CDP...it was 1967 Mont Redon
3) Blind...I really enjoyed this wine...it had life, and a good spicey characteristic...very tasty stuff...I guessed early 90s Northern Rhone...it was 1971 Ch Fortia CDP...sign me up!
4) Not blind...1977 Chave Hermitage...one of my contributions...this had a very strange nose at first. Others liked it, I did not, after a few moments, it blew off. I actually went back to this wine hours later, and it was absolutely delicious!
Second Flight
1) 1983 Ch Beaucastel CDP...a good showing for the 1983 Beau on this night. It had good fruit...medium intensity...good pairing for the food.
2) 1989 Ch Beaucastel CDP...the 1983 overshadowed this one. Fortunately, it was not corked (as is the case with many 1989 Beaucastel CDPs).
3) 1989 Andre Brunel CDP Cuvee Centenaire...Not talked about much, but a few of us liked this wine and many others hated it (Ron complained of too much oak). It was clearly a pioneer of styles of new world CDP, but I thought it was very good, for many of the reasons that the "traditionalists" hated it.
Third Flight
1) 1989 Ch Rayas CDP...wow, this was a good wine. It would have been even better for me, if not for...
2) 1990 Ch Rayas CDP...this was absolutely stunning. Big, rich, layered with fruit, and a finish that went on and on. While some preferred the 1989 (which was really nice), this was one of my Wines of the Night!
3) 1989 Henri Bonneau CDP Cuvee Celestins...another wine with varying opinions. I found this wine to be harsh, and "too masculine." It was just not my style on this night. Especially after the silky smooth Rayas wines.
Fourth flight
1) 1989 Beaucastel CDP Hommage Jacques Perrin...I thought this flight was going to be historic, but I think the previous flight made it not so...nevertheless the 1989 Beaucastel Hommage was a very good wine, definitely softer than the 1990, which comes later. I can get into this wine.
2) 1990 Beaucastel CDP...a wine, that in the past, I have enjoyed immensely, and at one dinner, a couple of years back, showed nearly as well as the 1990 Hommage. On this night, though, this was a good wine, just not a great one.
3) 1990 Beaucastel CDP Hommage Jacques Perrin...darker in color than the 1989, this had less finesse and more muscle than the '89. I think this wine still has a long life ahead of it.
Fifth flight
1) 1989 Chave Hermitage...It was right about now when someone said, "victory for the 1989s tonight." Well, that is just opinion, but this was my WOTN (maybe a tie with 1990 Rayas)...another rich, intense wine that just had gobs and gobs of fruit coating my mouth. Man, I wish I had not just sold a mag of this last week!
2) 1989 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle...this was was a bit austere and rather unpleasant...which surprised me, because generally 89 La Chapelle is a very good wine.
3) 1990 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle...this is where it got interesting. I opened up most of the btls throughout the evening. This cork was gleaming white and clean...very strange, considering how moldy the 1989 was. The wine was more of a blueberry style (think high ratings from Jay Miller). No one really cared for the wine. The btl was etched with a number coding on the back. A rerelease from Jaboulet, perhaps? Could be, but clearly the cork was not original, and the bottle code left some doubt...and the wine sucked...makes you wonder...
4) 1989 Chapoutier Hermitage Pavillon...Another stunning btl of 1989 Chapoutier Pavillon for me. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of drinking a magnum of this stuff with everyone's hero, Robert Parker, and it was delic. A 750ml last night did not disappoint either. While I cannot stand his white wines, Chapoutier seems to have mastered certain reds.
Sixth Flight
1) 1990 Guigal Cote Cotie La Mouline...something was not correct with this btl...a shame, as it should have been amazing stuff...but it just never came together.
2) 1990 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque...What more can you say about this one but, WOW! In case, there was any doubt about the La Mouline being off, the La Turque confirmed it. This had everything going on...the funk, the fruit, the acidity, I loved this wine...I think I suffered from a little palate fatigue at the end of the meal, which caused me to not really appreciate what we had here!
Thank you to Peter for his generous hospitality, and everyone else who brought wine, except for Laurent, who, as usual, contributed nothing and compared everything to 1966 Drouhin Musigny!
Just kidding...Laurent!
Sixth Flight
1)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Dinner at Veritas last night-A great CDP!
Had dinner at Veritas last night, where the food was excellent, service was great, and the wine is 25% off till the end of the year.
I ordered a btl of 2003 Aubert Chardonnay Quarry Vineyard. This was probably the worst btl of Aubert Chardonnay that I have ever had. Over oaked, and maybe too much sulfur or something, this was a very strange wine. Over two hours, the wine calmed down (we did decant it), but it never lived up to the billing.
A wine that did live up to its hype was 1998 Domaine de la Mordoree CDP Reine des Bois. This wine was off the charts. Even if I had never tasted it, the smell screamed amazing, but the palate was just as awesome. I wish I had a magnum, rather than just just a 750ml. Holy shit, I think I can still taste the wine today.
I ordered a btl of 2003 Aubert Chardonnay Quarry Vineyard. This was probably the worst btl of Aubert Chardonnay that I have ever had. Over oaked, and maybe too much sulfur or something, this was a very strange wine. Over two hours, the wine calmed down (we did decant it), but it never lived up to the billing.
A wine that did live up to its hype was 1998 Domaine de la Mordoree CDP Reine des Bois. This wine was off the charts. Even if I had never tasted it, the smell screamed amazing, but the palate was just as awesome. I wish I had a magnum, rather than just just a 750ml. Holy shit, I think I can still taste the wine today.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Dinner in Newport, RI-The best $30, three course meal ever?
Went up to Newport, RI for one night this past weekend. It was restaurant week, so I had low expectations. I made a reservation at Spark for Saturday evening. It came highly recommended amongst internet chatter.
I called for a rezzie. The answering machine (where you can leave a message) asks you to call the owner's cell phone, where you leave another message. Shortly thereafter, I got a phone call back. I got a reservation, but they told me it was restaurant week. Simply put, restaurant week in New York SUCKS. Restaurants participate with a half assed menu, as a way to get unsuspecting souls in the door. Once there, the menu is limited, and none of the "good" stuff is offered. So, naturally, I asked if the regular menu would be offered. She told me no, but that I could look up the menu for restaurant week online.
This is the menu that I stared at...
http://www.gonewportrestaurantweek.com/PDFs/Restaurants/52.pdf
Wow, it almost wanted me to pay $60 and order twice as many things!
One cool thing about Spark is that it is BYO. They charge $2.50 per person for the luxury of doing so. While the man next to us brought a pint of Dewar's, I opted to bring a half btl of 2003 Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin. In addition, Spark, as per their website, tells its future patrons, that they can order a btl of vino from Vicker's Wines, a Newport staple, and have it delivered, just in case you forget to bring something. Well, I knew Vicker's has a decent selection of older stuff, so I figured I would try out this "delivery method." I called Vicker's at 7 pm, told them to deliver a btl of 1995 Guigal Ch D'Ampuis ($74.95 price) for my 8 pm reservation. Well, my btl was at the restaurant waiting for me when I arrived at 8 pm.
The Rousseau was an easy "suck down" wine. Simple, yet delicious, I might have been able to finish off a magnum on my own. The fruit was still all there, this was an outstanding btl of "inexpensive" 2003 red Burgundy.
The Guigal was, as you would expect it, funky. Near pristine condition, I tasted it and opted not to decant it. I think that was the right decision. As, by the end of the meal (2 hours) the wine was not as good as it was during the middle of the meal. Still, a great effort. It went perfect with my Cassoulet.
They brought out some bread to start. It was warm focaccia. An interesting choice. Not crazy about it, but the honey butter that went with it was awesome.
For a starter, wifee did the Pea soup. They insisted it was just a touch of cream. It looked more like a milk shake upon arrival. She liked it. I am not a pea soup fan, so I defer to the experts.
Our server recommended the Sweetbreads over the Frog's Legs to start. Who am I to argue? Possibly the "flakiest" sweetbreads I have tasted, it came with Kalamatta Olives, Roasted tomatoes (that were to die for) and capers. It all just worked. A high recommendation from me.
My wife did the filet steak and I did the Cassoulet for dinner. The steak came with their own version of Cowboy ketchup. They added chipotle and bbq sauce to the ketchup. The best part of her dish was the green beans. Very fresh, just crisp enough, with salt, pepper, olive oil and garlic. The steak was very good as well.
My cassoulet was good as well, if you go for good Cassoulet.
For dessert, we nibbled on the Chocolate Peanut Butter Spring Rolls and the Warm Tart of Apples. The Spring Rolls were very rich. The tart utilized cheddar and bacon in it. Not sure that that worked for us, but we had no room for dessert anyways.
Our bill, before tip, was $70!!! Astonishing, for first class food! Kudos to Spark!
I called for a rezzie. The answering machine (where you can leave a message) asks you to call the owner's cell phone, where you leave another message. Shortly thereafter, I got a phone call back. I got a reservation, but they told me it was restaurant week. Simply put, restaurant week in New York SUCKS. Restaurants participate with a half assed menu, as a way to get unsuspecting souls in the door. Once there, the menu is limited, and none of the "good" stuff is offered. So, naturally, I asked if the regular menu would be offered. She told me no, but that I could look up the menu for restaurant week online.
This is the menu that I stared at...
http://www.gonewportrestaurantweek.com/PDFs/Restaurants/52.pdf
Wow, it almost wanted me to pay $60 and order twice as many things!
One cool thing about Spark is that it is BYO. They charge $2.50 per person for the luxury of doing so. While the man next to us brought a pint of Dewar's, I opted to bring a half btl of 2003 Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin. In addition, Spark, as per their website, tells its future patrons, that they can order a btl of vino from Vicker's Wines, a Newport staple, and have it delivered, just in case you forget to bring something. Well, I knew Vicker's has a decent selection of older stuff, so I figured I would try out this "delivery method." I called Vicker's at 7 pm, told them to deliver a btl of 1995 Guigal Ch D'Ampuis ($74.95 price) for my 8 pm reservation. Well, my btl was at the restaurant waiting for me when I arrived at 8 pm.
The Rousseau was an easy "suck down" wine. Simple, yet delicious, I might have been able to finish off a magnum on my own. The fruit was still all there, this was an outstanding btl of "inexpensive" 2003 red Burgundy.
The Guigal was, as you would expect it, funky. Near pristine condition, I tasted it and opted not to decant it. I think that was the right decision. As, by the end of the meal (2 hours) the wine was not as good as it was during the middle of the meal. Still, a great effort. It went perfect with my Cassoulet.
They brought out some bread to start. It was warm focaccia. An interesting choice. Not crazy about it, but the honey butter that went with it was awesome.
For a starter, wifee did the Pea soup. They insisted it was just a touch of cream. It looked more like a milk shake upon arrival. She liked it. I am not a pea soup fan, so I defer to the experts.
Our server recommended the Sweetbreads over the Frog's Legs to start. Who am I to argue? Possibly the "flakiest" sweetbreads I have tasted, it came with Kalamatta Olives, Roasted tomatoes (that were to die for) and capers. It all just worked. A high recommendation from me.
My wife did the filet steak and I did the Cassoulet for dinner. The steak came with their own version of Cowboy ketchup. They added chipotle and bbq sauce to the ketchup. The best part of her dish was the green beans. Very fresh, just crisp enough, with salt, pepper, olive oil and garlic. The steak was very good as well.
My cassoulet was good as well, if you go for good Cassoulet.
For dessert, we nibbled on the Chocolate Peanut Butter Spring Rolls and the Warm Tart of Apples. The Spring Rolls were very rich. The tart utilized cheddar and bacon in it. Not sure that that worked for us, but we had no room for dessert anyways.
Our bill, before tip, was $70!!! Astonishing, for first class food! Kudos to Spark!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Monday Night Meatloaf, Part II!
This past Monday evening, 7 "Burgheads" found their way to Apiary, Scott Bryan's new haunt on the Lower East Side of Manhattan (well, just south of Union Square to be exact). A few notes on the restaurant. The food is excellent. My second time there, and the pork chop is off the hook. This time, I started with scallops and we all did a half portion of risotto. All excellent. Mondays offer free corkage. We all paid $80, which seemed to include a very healthy gratuity. Negatives on this night was the service. Glassware was hard to come by, and water service was slow. Still, I would go back to the restaurant. I would almost prefer to pay corkage on another evening, as long as a dozen wines are not being opened.
Onto the wines...
1) 1990 Henriot Cuvee Enchanteleurs (Magnum): KA must find it difficult to go without bubbles, so he brought this one. I liked it a lot. Very crisp and extremely youthful, I would like to see this evolve for another decade...or two.
2) 2000 Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc: This was served blind and compliments of David. I find this wine painfully young. Lots of acid. Needed more air time.
3) 2002 Leflaive Batard Montrachet: Not a good sign when your WOTN comes so early, but this wine was outstanding! I cannot really say much more than, WOW! Bill, you da man! Or, as Robert Kenney once said of Jay S. Miller, "You're my boy, blue!"
4) Louis Jadot Chassagne Montrachet Abbaye Morgeot: Others said this was too young. I am not a buyer. I am generally a fan of Jadot wines, but this wine is a pass for me. The fruit was just out of balance with the acid. Never came around.
5) 1988 Ponsot Clos St Denis: Thank you, David. This wine was very good. Probably the best nose of the evening. I would not age it any longer, as my best sips were my first sips. Still, quite impressive given the vintage.
6) 1990 Jacky Truchot Charmes Chambertin: Someone referred to this as "cheesy." I wanted to like this wine, but although it got better as the night carried on, it was just never all that enjoyable. KA brought it, as he really wants to become a wine geek. Looks like he will have to wait to be inducted into that hall of fame. I think he hated more than anyone at the table.
7) 1990 Louis Jadot Ruchottes Chambertin: Ian brought a winner as well. This was quite a nice wine. When I heard the price it is selling for, I may not be a buyer, but still a nice drink.
8) 1996 Louis Remy Chambertin: The wine was flat and ininteresting. Lifeless would give it too much credit. If you own this, sorry.
9) 1996 Robert Arnoux Romanee St. Vivant: It was not talked about much, but I quite liked this wine. Pretty juicy on the palate. It showed pretty well.
10) 1995 Louis Jadot Clos Vougeot: No shock that Leo brought Jadot. Does he own anything else? As the night went on, this wine got better and better and better. I decided the order and put this towards the back of the pack, as I thought it might need time. Good wine, in a difficult vintage.
11) 1996 Dujac Bonnes Mares. My contribution, dbl decanted by a member of my staff. Upon opening at arrival at the restaurant, I announced (shamefully) that the wine was corked. A couple of the others disagreed. So we poured it out. We poured it a couple of hours later and KA said it was corked. Doh!
12) I could not go without contributing a red wine, so I ordered a 2001 Gaja Sperss, and got it decanted as quickly as possible. I really enjoyed this wine. Clearly not an "elegant" Nebbiolo, but it sure was tasty. Most at the table really liked it and I was "saved."
Good food, good wine, and a fun group of people (except for Leo). Looking forward to the next dinner!
Onto the wines...
1) 1990 Henriot Cuvee Enchanteleurs (Magnum): KA must find it difficult to go without bubbles, so he brought this one. I liked it a lot. Very crisp and extremely youthful, I would like to see this evolve for another decade...or two.
2) 2000 Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc: This was served blind and compliments of David. I find this wine painfully young. Lots of acid. Needed more air time.
3) 2002 Leflaive Batard Montrachet: Not a good sign when your WOTN comes so early, but this wine was outstanding! I cannot really say much more than, WOW! Bill, you da man! Or, as Robert Kenney once said of Jay S. Miller, "You're my boy, blue!"
4) Louis Jadot Chassagne Montrachet Abbaye Morgeot: Others said this was too young. I am not a buyer. I am generally a fan of Jadot wines, but this wine is a pass for me. The fruit was just out of balance with the acid. Never came around.
5) 1988 Ponsot Clos St Denis: Thank you, David. This wine was very good. Probably the best nose of the evening. I would not age it any longer, as my best sips were my first sips. Still, quite impressive given the vintage.
6) 1990 Jacky Truchot Charmes Chambertin: Someone referred to this as "cheesy." I wanted to like this wine, but although it got better as the night carried on, it was just never all that enjoyable. KA brought it, as he really wants to become a wine geek. Looks like he will have to wait to be inducted into that hall of fame. I think he hated more than anyone at the table.
7) 1990 Louis Jadot Ruchottes Chambertin: Ian brought a winner as well. This was quite a nice wine. When I heard the price it is selling for, I may not be a buyer, but still a nice drink.
8) 1996 Louis Remy Chambertin: The wine was flat and ininteresting. Lifeless would give it too much credit. If you own this, sorry.
9) 1996 Robert Arnoux Romanee St. Vivant: It was not talked about much, but I quite liked this wine. Pretty juicy on the palate. It showed pretty well.
10) 1995 Louis Jadot Clos Vougeot: No shock that Leo brought Jadot. Does he own anything else? As the night went on, this wine got better and better and better. I decided the order and put this towards the back of the pack, as I thought it might need time. Good wine, in a difficult vintage.
11) 1996 Dujac Bonnes Mares. My contribution, dbl decanted by a member of my staff. Upon opening at arrival at the restaurant, I announced (shamefully) that the wine was corked. A couple of the others disagreed. So we poured it out. We poured it a couple of hours later and KA said it was corked. Doh!
12) I could not go without contributing a red wine, so I ordered a 2001 Gaja Sperss, and got it decanted as quickly as possible. I really enjoyed this wine. Clearly not an "elegant" Nebbiolo, but it sure was tasty. Most at the table really liked it and I was "saved."
Good food, good wine, and a fun group of people (except for Leo). Looking forward to the next dinner!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday night "MEATLOAF" (Musigny, Montrachet and Petrus)
Dinner with a client last night took me to La Panetiere in Rye. La Panetiere is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. The mansion is beautiful. The service is impeccable and the food is terrific. Last night was no exception. I was glad to see some other diners on a Monday evening, as well. Good sign for the economy. It should be noted that La Panetiere no longer requires men to wear jackets, as it used to.
Food wise, we both started with the escargot, which was topped with some toasted crushed nuts. Previous to that, the amuse was fish soup. Not a favorite for me A method I had never seen before, but it was delicious. After the snails, the restaurant brought us a terrine of Foie Gras (made up for the fish soup, for me). I never turn down Foie Gras. one of the things that makes La Panetiere's Foie Gras so tasty is the toasted brioche bread served with it.
For an entree, I did the veal cheeks and sweetbread. Yes, heading for the heart attack (I had no idea we were getting foie gras). The mushrooms that accompanied my entree were delightful.
We finished with cheese (with the Petrus) and the equivalent of a baked apple for dessert. I think they gave us a pound of cheese per person...
Onto the wines...
2006 Domaine Baron Thenard Montrachet: I double decanted this about 90 minutes before the meal. Should have done it earlier. Thenard is an estate in Givry that has been around for a couple hundred years, typically selling off their fruit annually. The Montrachet goes to Remoissenet, historically. 2006 is the first vintage that they have produced enough, on their own, to be imported into the United States. This wine was really singing, after about 30 minutes in the glass. The acidity mellowed out, and honey/fruit flavors exploded. My client commented how easy to drink it was, and meant it as a positive. We had no problem polishing off the bottle.
1964 Faiveley Musigny: This is a bottle of wine that I have been eyeing for quite a bit on La Panetiere's wine list. And when you are having dinner with a great client, it seems like as good a time as any, to pop one. The first btl brought over had a slightly lower fill than I would have liked, so they ended up bringing up another btl that looked much better. The btl was opened and sat, recorked, as we finished off the Montrachet. Then, the first glasses were poured and the aromas poured out of the glass. Wow, you knew this going to be good. We actually took the cork out of the btl for a bit, to let the wine breathe a little more, as we both agreed, the wine could open up even more. This wine was a pleasure to drink. Soft and silky, this wine danced around your mouth. Fairly rich, and intense (considering the vintage). Truth be told, I let the last glass of this sit in my glass and did fade and become austere as the fruit dried out. The bottle had been open for an hour at that point. If we had dinner for 4, we would have never seen the wine fizzle out, as it all would have been consumed quicker. Nevertheless, an outstanding effort, and happy to have had the opportunity to drink it.
1990 Ch Petrus: My client was insistent on ordering something after the Faiveley. I said it was very unnecessary. He looked over the list and talked about 1926 Ausone or 1929 Cos. I excused myself to the bathroom, for a brief moment. Upon my return, he had opted for 1990 Petrus. He said he could not resist. Who was I to argue? This wine was a baby. My client mentioned that it was almost California Cabernet like in style. That could be, but for 20 year old wine, the youthfulness really shocked me. 1992 Grange last week was youthful but very drinkable. 1990 Petrus, in my opinion, needs to sit down for another decade. We decanted the btl and sat with it for an hour. It just never really opened up. You could tell that the fruit was there and the nose was getting more enjoyable, but this was like killing a baby, only the baby was 19 years old. Who would have thought?
Food wise, we both started with the escargot, which was topped with some toasted crushed nuts. Previous to that, the amuse was fish soup. Not a favorite for me A method I had never seen before, but it was delicious. After the snails, the restaurant brought us a terrine of Foie Gras (made up for the fish soup, for me). I never turn down Foie Gras. one of the things that makes La Panetiere's Foie Gras so tasty is the toasted brioche bread served with it.
For an entree, I did the veal cheeks and sweetbread. Yes, heading for the heart attack (I had no idea we were getting foie gras). The mushrooms that accompanied my entree were delightful.
We finished with cheese (with the Petrus) and the equivalent of a baked apple for dessert. I think they gave us a pound of cheese per person...
Onto the wines...
2006 Domaine Baron Thenard Montrachet: I double decanted this about 90 minutes before the meal. Should have done it earlier. Thenard is an estate in Givry that has been around for a couple hundred years, typically selling off their fruit annually. The Montrachet goes to Remoissenet, historically. 2006 is the first vintage that they have produced enough, on their own, to be imported into the United States. This wine was really singing, after about 30 minutes in the glass. The acidity mellowed out, and honey/fruit flavors exploded. My client commented how easy to drink it was, and meant it as a positive. We had no problem polishing off the bottle.
1964 Faiveley Musigny: This is a bottle of wine that I have been eyeing for quite a bit on La Panetiere's wine list. And when you are having dinner with a great client, it seems like as good a time as any, to pop one. The first btl brought over had a slightly lower fill than I would have liked, so they ended up bringing up another btl that looked much better. The btl was opened and sat, recorked, as we finished off the Montrachet. Then, the first glasses were poured and the aromas poured out of the glass. Wow, you knew this going to be good. We actually took the cork out of the btl for a bit, to let the wine breathe a little more, as we both agreed, the wine could open up even more. This wine was a pleasure to drink. Soft and silky, this wine danced around your mouth. Fairly rich, and intense (considering the vintage). Truth be told, I let the last glass of this sit in my glass and did fade and become austere as the fruit dried out. The bottle had been open for an hour at that point. If we had dinner for 4, we would have never seen the wine fizzle out, as it all would have been consumed quicker. Nevertheless, an outstanding effort, and happy to have had the opportunity to drink it.
1990 Ch Petrus: My client was insistent on ordering something after the Faiveley. I said it was very unnecessary. He looked over the list and talked about 1926 Ausone or 1929 Cos. I excused myself to the bathroom, for a brief moment. Upon my return, he had opted for 1990 Petrus. He said he could not resist. Who was I to argue? This wine was a baby. My client mentioned that it was almost California Cabernet like in style. That could be, but for 20 year old wine, the youthfulness really shocked me. 1992 Grange last week was youthful but very drinkable. 1990 Petrus, in my opinion, needs to sit down for another decade. We decanted the btl and sat with it for an hour. It just never really opened up. You could tell that the fruit was there and the nose was getting more enjoyable, but this was like killing a baby, only the baby was 19 years old. Who would have thought?
Friday, October 23, 2009
Your Wine Spectator Wine Experience Cheat Sheet
I went to the zoo, also known at the Wine Spectator Wine Experience last night. Truthfully, it was not too bad. I recommend going to the 5th floor first, followed by the 6th floor. The 5th floor got much warmer later in the evening as it got more crowded, so do the opposite of the herd. I started on the 6th floor, and ended up missing a few gems on the 5th Floor, like 2003 Lafite (which I heard did not show well), and 2006 Sassicaia. I think Opus went quickly as well.
I skipped most of the white wines, all of Champagne and all dessert wines. It is just too much to do in one night. I did get a nasty look from a woman as I spit some wine into a spit bucket. Then she turned to her husband, or pimp, or her "Steve Phillips" (not sure who he was) and said, "Look, that man just spit his wine!"
For ease, I will tell you that, as usual, the lineup was star studded. I tried to talk very little to people, in order to cover as much ground as possible. Since I hate most people, it worked pretty well.
3 categories for you...1) Must tastes (wines I loved) 2) Indifferent (wines that did not suck) 3) Avoids (wines that sucked)...obviously my opinions only, and if you would like more in depth analysis, I can try to provide it, if you contact me...
Must Tastes
2007 Achaval Ferrer Bella Vista
2007 Alto Moncayo
2007 Vieux Telegraphe
2006 Bouchard Beaune Greves Vigne l'Enfant
2006 Canon la Gaffeliere
2005 Carter Merlot Truchard Vyd
2004 Casanova di Neri Brunello Cerretalto
2006 Chryseia
2005 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia
2005 DeLille Cabernet Grand Ciel
2006 Dominus
2006 Felsina Fontalloro
2005 Ch LaFleur Petrus
2006 Fontodi Flaccianello
2006 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Beckstoffer To Kalon
2005 Cliff Lede Poetry
2006 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Coopersmith
2006 Peter Michael Les Pavots
2000 Ch Montrose
2005 Torre Muga
2004 La Nerthe CDP Cuvee Cadettes
2006 Ornellaia
2004 Pacenti Brunello
2007 L'ermita
2006 Petrolo Galatrona
2003 Pride Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (book says 2005, but I think it was 2003)
2006 Quintessa
2004 Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne
2006 Schrader Cabernet Old Sparky (out of magnum)
2004 Sierra Cantabria El Bosque
2005 Torbreck Run Rig
2006 Two Hands Ares
2004 Vall Llach
2005 Vietti Barolo Lazzarito
Indifferent
2007 AP Vin Pinot Noir Rosellas
2006 Almaviva
2006 Castello di Ama Chianti Bellavista
2006 Angelus
2006 Guado al Tasso
2007 Beaucastel CDP
2005 Bond Vecina
2005 Pio Cesare Barolo
2005 Clarendon Hills Syrah Hickinbotham
2003 Ch Clerc Milon
2006 Craggy Range Sophia
2004 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill
2006 Drouhin Chassagne Marquis de Laguiche
2006 Ducru Beaucaillou
2005 Elderton Command
2007 Faiveley Latricieres Chambertin
2006 Foley Claret
2006 Fonterutoli Siepi
2006 Fournier Alfa Crux
2004 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino
2006 Gagliole
2005 Harlan Estate
2004 Heitz Martha's
2006 Louis Jadot Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle
2005 Ch Lagrange
2000 Ch Leoville Barton
2007 Loring Pinot Noir Aubaine
2005 Ch Lynch Bages
2004 Masseto
2003 La Mission Haut Brion
2006 Mondavi Cab Reserve
2006 La Mondotte
2004 Ch Pontet Canet
2006 Saffredi
2006 Ramey Cabernet Annum
2005 Shafer Cabernet Hillside Select
2006 Snowden Cabernet Reserve
2006 Tardieu Laurent CDP Speciale
2007 Testamatta
2007 Vision Pinot Noir Coster Vyd
Avoids
2004 Altesino Brunello Montosoli
2006 David Arthur Elevation 1147
2005 Chapoutier Hermitage Sizeranne
2003 Ch Mouton Rothschild
1995 Ch Latour
2006 Dominio del Plata Nosotros
2005 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon
2003 Ch Haut Brion
2006 Mugnier NSG Clos de la Marechale (book says 2007, but I know I tasted 2006)
2004 Gaja Sperss
2006 Termanthia
2006 Penfolds RWT
2006 Ch Pichon Lalande
1989 Ridge Monte Bello
2004 Rosemount Balmoral Syrah
2006 Staglin Cabernet
2006 Tua Rita Guisto di Notri
2004 Valdicava Brunello
2006 Ch Vieux Ch Certan
2004 Yalumba Signature Cab Shiraz
94 wines on the list, by my count, so have a ball!
Some producers had their wine on ice, which turned out to be a very good idea!
I skipped most of the white wines, all of Champagne and all dessert wines. It is just too much to do in one night. I did get a nasty look from a woman as I spit some wine into a spit bucket. Then she turned to her husband, or pimp, or her "Steve Phillips" (not sure who he was) and said, "Look, that man just spit his wine!"
For ease, I will tell you that, as usual, the lineup was star studded. I tried to talk very little to people, in order to cover as much ground as possible. Since I hate most people, it worked pretty well.
3 categories for you...1) Must tastes (wines I loved) 2) Indifferent (wines that did not suck) 3) Avoids (wines that sucked)...obviously my opinions only, and if you would like more in depth analysis, I can try to provide it, if you contact me...
Must Tastes
2007 Achaval Ferrer Bella Vista
2007 Alto Moncayo
2007 Vieux Telegraphe
2006 Bouchard Beaune Greves Vigne l'Enfant
2006 Canon la Gaffeliere
2005 Carter Merlot Truchard Vyd
2004 Casanova di Neri Brunello Cerretalto
2006 Chryseia
2005 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia
2005 DeLille Cabernet Grand Ciel
2006 Dominus
2006 Felsina Fontalloro
2005 Ch LaFleur Petrus
2006 Fontodi Flaccianello
2006 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Beckstoffer To Kalon
2005 Cliff Lede Poetry
2006 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Coopersmith
2006 Peter Michael Les Pavots
2000 Ch Montrose
2005 Torre Muga
2004 La Nerthe CDP Cuvee Cadettes
2006 Ornellaia
2004 Pacenti Brunello
2007 L'ermita
2006 Petrolo Galatrona
2003 Pride Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (book says 2005, but I think it was 2003)
2006 Quintessa
2004 Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne
2006 Schrader Cabernet Old Sparky (out of magnum)
2004 Sierra Cantabria El Bosque
2005 Torbreck Run Rig
2006 Two Hands Ares
2004 Vall Llach
2005 Vietti Barolo Lazzarito
Indifferent
2007 AP Vin Pinot Noir Rosellas
2006 Almaviva
2006 Castello di Ama Chianti Bellavista
2006 Angelus
2006 Guado al Tasso
2007 Beaucastel CDP
2005 Bond Vecina
2005 Pio Cesare Barolo
2005 Clarendon Hills Syrah Hickinbotham
2003 Ch Clerc Milon
2006 Craggy Range Sophia
2004 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill
2006 Drouhin Chassagne Marquis de Laguiche
2006 Ducru Beaucaillou
2005 Elderton Command
2007 Faiveley Latricieres Chambertin
2006 Foley Claret
2006 Fonterutoli Siepi
2006 Fournier Alfa Crux
2004 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino
2006 Gagliole
2005 Harlan Estate
2004 Heitz Martha's
2006 Louis Jadot Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle
2005 Ch Lagrange
2000 Ch Leoville Barton
2007 Loring Pinot Noir Aubaine
2005 Ch Lynch Bages
2004 Masseto
2003 La Mission Haut Brion
2006 Mondavi Cab Reserve
2006 La Mondotte
2004 Ch Pontet Canet
2006 Saffredi
2006 Ramey Cabernet Annum
2005 Shafer Cabernet Hillside Select
2006 Snowden Cabernet Reserve
2006 Tardieu Laurent CDP Speciale
2007 Testamatta
2007 Vision Pinot Noir Coster Vyd
Avoids
2004 Altesino Brunello Montosoli
2006 David Arthur Elevation 1147
2005 Chapoutier Hermitage Sizeranne
2003 Ch Mouton Rothschild
1995 Ch Latour
2006 Dominio del Plata Nosotros
2005 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon
2003 Ch Haut Brion
2006 Mugnier NSG Clos de la Marechale (book says 2007, but I know I tasted 2006)
2004 Gaja Sperss
2006 Termanthia
2006 Penfolds RWT
2006 Ch Pichon Lalande
1989 Ridge Monte Bello
2004 Rosemount Balmoral Syrah
2006 Staglin Cabernet
2006 Tua Rita Guisto di Notri
2004 Valdicava Brunello
2006 Ch Vieux Ch Certan
2004 Yalumba Signature Cab Shiraz
94 wines on the list, by my count, so have a ball!
Some producers had their wine on ice, which turned out to be a very good idea!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Eating and Drinking in Miami!
I always say, "It is a tough job, but somebody has to do with it." It is with that credo, that I embarked on my trip to Miami, last week. I enjoy planning trips around New York Jets away games, and nothing beats a Monday night Jets/Dolphins game, except when the Jets lose, which they did, in thrilling, last second fashion. But, as a Jet fan, we have come to expect such devastation!
Onto the meals...
First lunch was Monday...went to a local Italian trattoria that my client frequents. I brought just one wine to this one.
2006 Domaine Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Pure: One of the new stars emerging in CDP, this old vine, 100% Grenache is made by Julien Barroche, a truly gifted young man. This wine was a baby, but absolutely stunning. Big, bruising and powerful, I may not touch another bottle for a few years. Nevertheless, I did enjoy it.
For Tuesday's lunch, I was at the Ritz in Coconut Grove. This time, the client was insistent on bringing the juice, and how could I argue. The guys loves old Alsatian stuff.
1989 Trimbach Riesling Cuvee Emile VT: 20 years old and you would have never guessed. Cuvee Emile is a bargain in the marketplace. Still a little acid to maintain the freshness and balance out the sweetness, but I could drink this everyday of my life.
Tuesday's dinner was at Chop's Lobster Bar in Boca Raton. Your kinda typical BIG steakhouse, the food was excellent. Seafood was fresh, steaks were very good and their 'signature' side was mashed corn. Never had it before, but it was delicious. I would love to get the recipe.
1998 Schramsberg J Schram Rose: This was really good. Close your eyes, and this is a delicious food pairing wine, beyond your typical bubbly pairings. This was soft and full bodied. The richness is what I really enjoyed. Not sure about aging potential, but very tasty now.
1996 Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Hengst: I was supposed to bring this to lunch, but my wine case had not arrived at the hotel yet, so I pushed it back for dinner. A fun wine. Olivier is a great winemaker. The table seemed to enjoy this more than me, which always makes me happy, as customers will buy it. Nevertheless, I did like it. Not something I would hold pass another 18 months, but a great pair for the oysters, clams and shrimp we enjoyed.
1996 Chave Hermitage: I was not sure what to expect of this wine, but, as usual Jean Louis delivered. Good QPR? Maybe not. But for an "off"vintage, this wine showed very well. Still lots of fruit, cherry flavors, and probably good for another few years.
2005 Roy Estate Red: I hate to say it, but this wine put the Chave to shame, for me. Shirley and Charles Roy hired Philippe Melka to make their wine, and they picked a winner. These wines get better and better every year. It has no yet achieved cult status to many (although they have a huge fan in Robert Parker), and that is a shame, as these wines are absolutely stunning Cabernet blends from Napa. I would put it up against others two and three times the price. Go out and get some of this stuff!
Lunch on Wednesday was in Downtown Miami at Fratelli Lyon. While the food was pretty good, the service was absolutely atrocious. I felt like they were understaffed. In addition, the A/C was barely on. Nothing worse than seeing your waiter sweating up a storm over your food.
2007 Forman Chardonnay: I prefer Rick's Chardonnay over his Cabernet, in recent releases. This wine was absolutely delicious. A touch oak and acid leads me to believe this one is good for a few years, but I popped and poured, and it was that good. Rich, ripe, Chardonnay grape. This btl was finished off in a hurry.
1995 Petrolo Galatrona: I though this was an off btl, so I corked it. One of my clients thought it was okay, so she took it home with her.
1998 Fontodi Flaccianello: Fratelli Lyon had a pretty cool wine list and this looked very appealing (@ $120) so I ordered it. Decanted and stunning. Fontodi makes very long lived wines. This will go another 10 years, I suspect. Rich, deep, sweet fruit, this seemed to be in a perfect drinking window. While I think it will hold for another decade, with a quick decant, no reason to.
Dinner on Wednesday night was back in Miami, at Michael's Genuine. A funky menu that has 4 levels of food sizes...small, medium, large and xl. 5 of us for dinner, we all order 2 things on our own (I did 2 mediums) and we were told to get one XL, a whole roasted chicken that takes an hour to cook. My prawns were excellent, as was my pork belly. Chicken was good, although you had to make sure to get a little au jus with it, as it was a little dry for me. Not too dry, but just a little. The brussel sprouts and potato sides were great as well. Service was excellent. I highly recommend this joint.
And the wines...
1996 Henriot: The irony is that I am pretty sure that I enjoyed the Schramsberg more the previous evening. This was good, and painfully young to be consumed. Very crisp and clean, I would like to revisit this in 5 years.
2004 Christian Moreau Chablis Vaudesir: This showed very well. Not my favorite vineyard from Moreau (Clos des Hospices and Valmur are generally off the hook), this wine was still pretty darn tasty.
2003 Vatican Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Sixtine: Upon release, this was my favorite 2003 CDP, and I was curious to revisit it. The wine was good, still lots of fruit, I think it had lost a little of that stuffing that I remember it having.
2001 La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Banale: This consumed the table for me. Tough to go back to the CDP, with this in my glass. Wow, what delicious aromas. Decanted for about an hour, and this wine was delicious.
2002 Donnhoff Riesling Auslese Neiderhauser Hermanshuhle: It is really hard to find flaws in wines such as this. No wonder the critics give them all great scores. This one was outstanding. The nice thing was that it really was not a dessert wine, per se, so it was a nice compliment to dessert. A half btl for 5 adults was just what the doctor ordered!
And the wines...
1996 Henriot: The irony is that I am pretty sure that I enjoyed the Schramsberg more the previous evening. This was good, and painfully young to be consumed. Very crisp and clean, I would like to revisit this in 5 years.
2004 Christian Moreau Chablis Vaudesir: This showed very well. Not my favorite vineyard from Moreau (Clos des Hospices and Valmur are generally off the hook), this wine was still pretty darn tasty.
2003 Vatican Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Sixtine: Upon release, this was my favorite 2003 CDP, and I was curious to revisit it. The wine was good, still lots of fruit, I think it had lost a little of that stuffing that I remember it having.
2001 La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Banale: This consumed the table for me. Tough to go back to the CDP, with this in my glass. Wow, what delicious aromas. Decanted for about an hour, and this wine was delicious.
2002 Donnhoff Riesling Auslese Neiderhauser Hermanshuhle: It is really hard to find flaws in wines such as this. No wonder the critics give them all great scores. This one was outstanding. The nice thing was that it really was not a dessert wine, per se, so it was a nice compliment to dessert. A half btl for 5 adults was just what the doctor ordered!
SLONYC 2-Aussie Shiraz
SLONYC 1 was California Syrah, SLONYC 2 featured Australian Shiraz...SLONYC 3....who knows...
Dinner at Zoe last night featuring 8 wine enthusiasts (Brent had to bail).
Zoe provides great service for wine dinners. The steak I ordered was excellent and very flavorful. The scallops were like jelly, and needed to be seared more to enjoy. A shame. Cheryl, sitting next to me felt the same way. My vanilla panna cotta for dessert happened to be excellent.
Pobega did a great job driving the bus on this one, as usual. We were just missing a white wine starter and/or dessert wine. I should have contributed. Oh well...onto the wines that we did taste...
#1 1992 Penfold's Grange...Mike donated well. This garnered 5 first place votes and appeared on everyone's ballot. I am not sure how much, if any Cabernet, was in 1992 Grange, but it tasted a lot like one. This smooth, clean, and very youthful, given its age. Penfold's seems to have mastered the recipe on this one, and I loved it!
#2 2003 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M...This was sweet and jammy. More than a mouthfeel, and not really for me.
#3 2000 Elderton Command...I think I was the dissenter on this wine, as I did enjoy it, at least more than the Mitolo. Even going to back to it at the end of the night, I liked it. Very minty nose, but the finish had a slight metallic edge initially. It did eventually blow off.
Blind wine: 2003 Cayuse Syrah en Cerise...I guessed 2003 Sonoma Syrah, so I was not too far off, I think. Like most Cayuse that I try, I did not care for this wine. Cherry syrup on the nose, a little lean on the finish...I do not think anyone really enjoyed this. Even Pobega poo pooed it.
#4 2002 Shirvington Shiraz...In a word...AWFUL...completely undrinkable crap...I cannot wait to see Parker retry this 99 pointer at the 10 year mark. What a joke!
#5 2002 De Lille Syrah Doyenne...wrong btl pulled from a cellar resulted in this wine at the tasting. Not nearly as good as 2001 Doyenne at SLONYC 1. A bit too much alcohol and quite uninteresting.
#6 2003 Ox Shiraz...my contribution...what an awesome wine. Dbl decanted 3 hours before serving, should have done it for 6 hours. A baby at the table, this wine had everything going for it. A touch of alcohol initially, that blows off with time. Definitely competed with the Grange, for me, for first place.
#7 2004 Dead Arm Shiraz...3 of us enjoyed this wine, the rest of thr group, not so much, it would appear. Jay Miller says to cellar this for 20 years. This wine tasted very good last night. 20 years will not do it any favors. It was very big and structured, but with gobs of fruit. Good pairing for my steak.
#8 2004 Amon Ra Shiraz...Initially I hated this wine, but over time, it got much better. Once the alcohol calmed, it became a decent wine. Miller says this will hold for 10 more years, but the 2006 should be held for 30 more years...interesting.
#9 2006 Mollydooker Velvet Glove...clearly the worst QPR in the group. I found this wine all over the place and completely out of balance. Lots of cough syrup in my mouth. Miller says hold it for 30 moe years. Maybe it will come together at that time, but at $200/btl, I am not finding out on my dime.
There seemed to be some divide in the group. Those that really enjoyed the Grange/Ox and those that enjoyed some other wines.
The Shirvington and Mollydooker, two Sparky Marquis wines, showed a particular style that is very polarizing. While I did not really enjoy the MD 20/20, if it becomes anything like the Shirvington 2002 in 5 years, I will not be surprised. These wines are not for the shy folk.
Interestingly enough, when I got home, my wife said I wreaked of alcohol and noted that it was the first time in 9 years, that she had every thought I wreaked of alcohol after going to a wine dinner. I told her that these were Aussie Shiraz, high octane stuff, and that explained it...maybe...
The voting was pretty straight forward, we awarded 4 points for first place, 2 points for second place, 1 point for third place. Number of first place votes in parentheses...
#1 1992 Grange 25 points (5)
#2 2003 Mitolo GAM 3 points
#3 2000 Elderton Command 0 points
#4 2002 Shirvington Shiraz 2 points
#5 2002 De Lille Doyenne 0 points
#6 2003 Ox Shiraz 10 points
#7 2004 Dead Arm 7 points (1)
#8 2004 Amon Ra 5 points (1)
#9 2006 Mollydooker Velvet Glove 4 points (1)
Dinner at Zoe last night featuring 8 wine enthusiasts (Brent had to bail).
Zoe provides great service for wine dinners. The steak I ordered was excellent and very flavorful. The scallops were like jelly, and needed to be seared more to enjoy. A shame. Cheryl, sitting next to me felt the same way. My vanilla panna cotta for dessert happened to be excellent.
Pobega did a great job driving the bus on this one, as usual. We were just missing a white wine starter and/or dessert wine. I should have contributed. Oh well...onto the wines that we did taste...
#1 1992 Penfold's Grange...Mike donated well. This garnered 5 first place votes and appeared on everyone's ballot. I am not sure how much, if any Cabernet, was in 1992 Grange, but it tasted a lot like one. This smooth, clean, and very youthful, given its age. Penfold's seems to have mastered the recipe on this one, and I loved it!
#2 2003 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M...This was sweet and jammy. More than a mouthfeel, and not really for me.
#3 2000 Elderton Command...I think I was the dissenter on this wine, as I did enjoy it, at least more than the Mitolo. Even going to back to it at the end of the night, I liked it. Very minty nose, but the finish had a slight metallic edge initially. It did eventually blow off.
Blind wine: 2003 Cayuse Syrah en Cerise...I guessed 2003 Sonoma Syrah, so I was not too far off, I think. Like most Cayuse that I try, I did not care for this wine. Cherry syrup on the nose, a little lean on the finish...I do not think anyone really enjoyed this. Even Pobega poo pooed it.
#4 2002 Shirvington Shiraz...In a word...AWFUL...completely undrinkable crap...I cannot wait to see Parker retry this 99 pointer at the 10 year mark. What a joke!
#5 2002 De Lille Syrah Doyenne...wrong btl pulled from a cellar resulted in this wine at the tasting. Not nearly as good as 2001 Doyenne at SLONYC 1. A bit too much alcohol and quite uninteresting.
#6 2003 Ox Shiraz...my contribution...what an awesome wine. Dbl decanted 3 hours before serving, should have done it for 6 hours. A baby at the table, this wine had everything going for it. A touch of alcohol initially, that blows off with time. Definitely competed with the Grange, for me, for first place.
#7 2004 Dead Arm Shiraz...3 of us enjoyed this wine, the rest of thr group, not so much, it would appear. Jay Miller says to cellar this for 20 years. This wine tasted very good last night. 20 years will not do it any favors. It was very big and structured, but with gobs of fruit. Good pairing for my steak.
#8 2004 Amon Ra Shiraz...Initially I hated this wine, but over time, it got much better. Once the alcohol calmed, it became a decent wine. Miller says this will hold for 10 more years, but the 2006 should be held for 30 more years...interesting.
#9 2006 Mollydooker Velvet Glove...clearly the worst QPR in the group. I found this wine all over the place and completely out of balance. Lots of cough syrup in my mouth. Miller says hold it for 30 moe years. Maybe it will come together at that time, but at $200/btl, I am not finding out on my dime.
There seemed to be some divide in the group. Those that really enjoyed the Grange/Ox and those that enjoyed some other wines.
The Shirvington and Mollydooker, two Sparky Marquis wines, showed a particular style that is very polarizing. While I did not really enjoy the MD 20/20, if it becomes anything like the Shirvington 2002 in 5 years, I will not be surprised. These wines are not for the shy folk.
Interestingly enough, when I got home, my wife said I wreaked of alcohol and noted that it was the first time in 9 years, that she had every thought I wreaked of alcohol after going to a wine dinner. I told her that these were Aussie Shiraz, high octane stuff, and that explained it...maybe...
The voting was pretty straight forward, we awarded 4 points for first place, 2 points for second place, 1 point for third place. Number of first place votes in parentheses...
#1 1992 Grange 25 points (5)
#2 2003 Mitolo GAM 3 points
#3 2000 Elderton Command 0 points
#4 2002 Shirvington Shiraz 2 points
#5 2002 De Lille Doyenne 0 points
#6 2003 Ox Shiraz 10 points
#7 2004 Dead Arm 7 points (1)
#8 2004 Amon Ra 5 points (1)
#9 2006 Mollydooker Velvet Glove 4 points (1)
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Partnership with Children Charity Event!
On Wednesday evening, for the third consecutive year, Grapes coordinated all of the wines for Partnership with Children's annual "Taste of the Good Life" gala!
Here is a video of the event...
http://www.stylemusictv.com/video/video.html?data=xml/data_1.xml&flvID=145
We encourage all of you to think about attending this event next fall!
Here is a video of the event...
http://www.stylemusictv.com/video/video.html?data=xml/data_1.xml&flvID=145
We encourage all of you to think about attending this event next fall!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Dinner at Anthos last night!
I have been to Anthos about 4 times now. Very consistent. Steep $35 corkage per btl, but service is excellent and food is very good. Oysters tonight were off the hook, and I am not an oyster kinda guy. Onto the wines...all were served BLIND...except the 2002 Taittinger Comte de Champagne Rose, that was absolutely beautiful...
1) Very Austrian Gruner like qualities. A very tasty wine. Lost a little flavor but beautiful bouquet...2000 Prager Riesling Klaus.
2) This wine screamed SB. Most kept thinking NZ. I picked up a little more body and some oak, so I guessed California SB...a nice wine. Many loved it. 2007 Jonata SB.
3) 99 Chave Hermitage Blanc...maderized.
4) Howard thought Chardonnay. Almost got me thinking that, but this wine had an oily texture and a rich acid that screamed Northern Rhone Roussanne. I stuck with that guess. At first, I was not in the love with the finish on this. Had some bite, but that quickly blew off. Over the course of the evening, this wine grew and grew and grew. WOW! 2001 SQN Rien Va Plus Roussanne.
5) Howard was having a tough night and said CDP. I put my nose in the glass, and said Burgundy. I had a feeling this was a wine I brought, so I stopped guessing. Absolutely delicious. 2002 Lucien LeMoine Clos de la Roche.
6) This was a little shutdown, or so I thought. I pegged it as Grenache. I kept expecting more. In the end, I guessed 2000 CDP...turned out to be 2000 Clos du Caillou CDP Cuvee Quartz. Very disappointing!
7) Possibly corked, but clearly not correct. I was guessing a decent amount of Cab Franc from Bordeaux. Hard to guess as wine was flawed...1985 Lafite
8) Another wine I was not in love with. A few dissenters, but most agreed something was a miss here. I thought old Napa Cabernet (guessed 20 years old) . Turned out to be a magnum of 1989 Aldo Conterno Barolo Granbussia Riserva.
9) Unintersting dessert wine. I guessed 1998 or 99 Climens, turned out to be 2002.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
SQN, and Lemoine were delicious. Prager was interesting. Jonata was a nice wine.
1) Very Austrian Gruner like qualities. A very tasty wine. Lost a little flavor but beautiful bouquet...2000 Prager Riesling Klaus.
2) This wine screamed SB. Most kept thinking NZ. I picked up a little more body and some oak, so I guessed California SB...a nice wine. Many loved it. 2007 Jonata SB.
3) 99 Chave Hermitage Blanc...maderized.
4) Howard thought Chardonnay. Almost got me thinking that, but this wine had an oily texture and a rich acid that screamed Northern Rhone Roussanne. I stuck with that guess. At first, I was not in the love with the finish on this. Had some bite, but that quickly blew off. Over the course of the evening, this wine grew and grew and grew. WOW! 2001 SQN Rien Va Plus Roussanne.
5) Howard was having a tough night and said CDP. I put my nose in the glass, and said Burgundy. I had a feeling this was a wine I brought, so I stopped guessing. Absolutely delicious. 2002 Lucien LeMoine Clos de la Roche.
6) This was a little shutdown, or so I thought. I pegged it as Grenache. I kept expecting more. In the end, I guessed 2000 CDP...turned out to be 2000 Clos du Caillou CDP Cuvee Quartz. Very disappointing!
7) Possibly corked, but clearly not correct. I was guessing a decent amount of Cab Franc from Bordeaux. Hard to guess as wine was flawed...1985 Lafite
8) Another wine I was not in love with. A few dissenters, but most agreed something was a miss here. I thought old Napa Cabernet (guessed 20 years old) . Turned out to be a magnum of 1989 Aldo Conterno Barolo Granbussia Riserva.
9) Unintersting dessert wine. I guessed 1998 or 99 Climens, turned out to be 2002.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
SQN, and Lemoine were delicious. Prager was interesting. Jonata was a nice wine.
Tasting corked wine with suppliers!
A few weeks ago, there were many wholesale/trade tastings in NY. I try to taste as much as I can, but I cannot help but get frustrated when they pour me a flawed wine. Usually, they are just corked. I try to point them out, but often times the person pouring is a volunteer. It is more embarassing when it is an actual winemaker or importer.
Then, this week, I had an appt with a well known Napa winery at the store. They brought in 4 wines. Each was about 60% full, as they had been to appts throughout the day.
Wine #4 was corked. They tasted it in the morning (they claimed) to make sure it was correct. Then they visited other retailers, who did not say a word.
Our industry is a joke.
Any thoughts?
Then, this week, I had an appt with a well known Napa winery at the store. They brought in 4 wines. Each was about 60% full, as they had been to appts throughout the day.
Wine #4 was corked. They tasted it in the morning (they claimed) to make sure it was correct. Then they visited other retailers, who did not say a word.
Our industry is a joke.
Any thoughts?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Dinner at Apiary!
So, I jumped the gun and went to Apiary on Saturday evening with friends. The place was packed. Good wine list, but I opted to pay corkage. They had a smoked salmon appetizer special that came with some caviar and a poached egg that was awesome (more like breakfast food, but happy to eat breakfast all of the time). The pork chop was bigger than me head. One of my friends had the Rabbit Papardelle. Not sure I have ever had Rabbit so tender. And, for a bargain appy, wifee had the Mushroom Soup for $8, that was very tasty...onto the wines...
2002 Bernard Morey Chassagne Montrachet Morgeots- Man, I am not sure this ever tasted better. Talk about a "suck down" Chardonnay...this was absolutely delicious. I think I paid about 50 shekels and worth every penny. Such lively fruit integrated into the oak, wow!
1999 Alban Pandora- After the AWFUL btl of 2005 Alban Reva at SLONYC #1 with Pobega, I had to pull my last 99 Pandora from my "extensive" cellar. I fell in love with the 1999 Albans back in the day, which led me to buy up subsequent vintages for the store. We decanted this for about 45 minutes. The nose was open for business and absolutely stunning. I think the bouquet could be smelled across the room. The wine, in the front and mid palate, was terrific. Delicious, sweet, candied fruit, it was a good pair for the pork (everything pairs well with pork;)). But something was amiss on the finish. It just dropped off a cliff. While the wine was certainly delicious, it left me wanting more. Maybe drank a couple of years too late? Still a good effort.
2002 Bernard Morey Chassagne Montrachet Morgeots- Man, I am not sure this ever tasted better. Talk about a "suck down" Chardonnay...this was absolutely delicious. I think I paid about 50 shekels and worth every penny. Such lively fruit integrated into the oak, wow!
1999 Alban Pandora- After the AWFUL btl of 2005 Alban Reva at SLONYC #1 with Pobega, I had to pull my last 99 Pandora from my "extensive" cellar. I fell in love with the 1999 Albans back in the day, which led me to buy up subsequent vintages for the store. We decanted this for about 45 minutes. The nose was open for business and absolutely stunning. I think the bouquet could be smelled across the room. The wine, in the front and mid palate, was terrific. Delicious, sweet, candied fruit, it was a good pair for the pork (everything pairs well with pork;)). But something was amiss on the finish. It just dropped off a cliff. While the wine was certainly delicious, it left me wanting more. Maybe drank a couple of years too late? Still a good effort.
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