Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 White Oak Church 1992 Zinfandel Small production (203 cs) from old vines next to St. Paul's Church, Alexander Valeey. Typical Alex V fruit, sweet nose of cherry preserves with a bit of tar. Supple aand harmonious on the palate. Approachable now; age a couple of years. Not the best from WO.(85)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Renwood 1992 Zinfandel Grandpere Big, Italianate style wine. Not overly tannic or rough; more earth and undergrowth than any other zin in the tasting. Deep, serious stuff, with a fine future. The type of Amador zin that will take a turn toward Barbaresco in 8-10 years. Good for its style; looks like the muscular country cousin compared to pretty Dry Creek bottlings, but has its admirers. (89)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Ridge 1992 Zinfandel Paso Rob What more could you ask from a zin? Rich, pure jammy fruit on nose and palate. A mix of raspberry and boysenberry preserves on the palate. Nothing of the earth, leather, or herbs. Fruit and sweet spice. The zin to serve a person who says he does not like zin. A Wine Spectator 90 that tastes like a 92-3. Maybe its listing in the WS Top 100 was repentance for awarding only a 90 earlier on. Terrific Stufff! (92)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Gary Farrell 1992 Zinfandel Though classified as Russian Riv, the Collins Vineyard lies just across the road from the Dry Creek demarcation. Clearly more Dry Creek in its supple, rich style with essence of wild raspberries and concentrated raspb-straw fruit to match. Walks the line between the extraacted genre and the more refined. Perfectly vinted by a master winemaker. (92-3)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Limerick Lane 1992 Zinfandel Wine from the Collins Vineyard. They sell fruit to Gary Farrell. Less extracted than the Farrell and more pretty and perfumed. Beautiful wine. Their most forward to date. Much like the Farrell with less tannin and more accessible fruit on the palate and the nose. (92) Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 River Run 1992 Zinfandel Not very widely known. Winemaker J.P. Palauski is doing fine things. This is a blend of 109 yo vines from San Benito Cty (Hollister), and two old vineyards from the Templeton area of San Luis Obispo. A very fine zin, with massive fruit; similar to Ridge, but with more acid backbone to carry this wine for years. Very well liked by all tasters. One that peaople wanted to return to in a couple of years. Worth searching out. A layered wine that will come together. (90-92)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Joseph Swan 1992 Zinfandel Stellwagen-100 yo vines Sonoma Valley fruit. Makes more pinot noir style wine. My nomination for sneaking into a Cal pinot tasting to make things interesting. Closed just now; panned by the Wine Spec (77) for having dill notes. Nobody found that; rather a wine that is closed and in need of bottle age. Not great zin, although Rod Berglund of Joe Swan has told me that he sticks by it as his favorite of the vintage. Not giveing much just now. (82)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 J Swan 1992 Zinfandel Frati Ranch-85 yo vines from coolest part of RRiver. Allowed to hang an extra two weeks in '92. High alcohol, rich, ripe, sweet, briary, fruit with a hint of tar and black pepper. Closest to black raspberries than anything. Will age well. Wine Sp 92; well deserved. (92-93)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 JSwan 1990 Zinfandel Frati Picked too soon; angular and tough; will age well, and may give way to some elegance. This vineyard is known for its ageablility. Could stand more fruit. It was this vintage that convinced Rod to let this vineyard hang a while longer to produce a wine now more in vogue in California. (84)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 JSwan 1990 Zinfandel Stellwagen Tied with the Ridge Pr for third place overall. An absolutely beautiful wine, with pinot noir spice, redolent of cinnamon and rose petals. Sonoma Valley zin at its elegant best. Great wine with veal/lamb and brown sauce. Long finish, lingering delicately on the palate. Lets hope the '92 will open up this way. Exquisite balance. (93-95)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Troon Vineyards 1990 Zinfandel This Oregon zin was brought to me personally by Dick Troon, who travelled 170 miles to do so. Thanks Dick. For those of you who don't know, his zin is one of the best kept secrets in the zin world. His 1985 ranks in my top five zins of all time, taking Sweepstakes at the Snowbird Competition against all comers. (He outranked 37 top Cal zins.) This '90 is a big wine that is more reminiscent of zin would taste llike if made in Bordeaux. Impeccable balance; bright berry fruit, high-toned, sleek, refined, gentlemanly. Built to last; should not tasted for another 5-8 years. The 1980 is just coming into its own. Will be a complex, complete wine with time. Overshadowed by the fullblown Cal wines, but intriguing for its restraint and promise. (88-91 with time)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Edmeades 1990 Zinfandel Ciapusci V One of th4e oldest v in Mendocino c9ounty. Big, rich wine with no late harvest character and moderate alcohol. More briary, much in the fashion of a Howell Mtn zin, or Mt. Veeder Nnapa.. Not as showy as others, but solidly built and perfectaly balanced. A wine to age. Will have its fans, expecially those liking more cab in their zin. (90)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Schuetz 1990 Oles Zinfandel--100 yo napa vines, (Korte Ranch) Very nice wine. Some dusty, leathery aspects to the nose with more of a cherry than berry aspect. Distinctive wine with good acid balance; age better than many '92's. A Bordeaux lovers zin. More earth tones and fruit. Very good for those who prefer this style. A winrery to watch. (89)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Joseph Swan 1984 Zinfandel Sweet, supple wine with ethereal nose of cedar and boysenberry. Holding very well; rich, resolved and ready. No sign of fading. Flavors more broad than in cooler years. Very fine. (89)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 Sterling 1970 Zinfandel Napa vines (old) which were torn out after this vintage. Somewhat past its prime. A nose of wild berries pencil lead. Some interesting flavors in what must have been 5 years ago an elegant old lady. 6 years ago it was beautiful and seemed to have a long plateau to ride. Perhaps a more advanced bottle. I have one more. Will try soon. (78)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 David Bruce 1968 Zinfandel Cask 10 Rated the #2 wine of the night. Superlatives all around the table. Glasses raised, paeans said, heads shaking for lack of descriptors. Elegant, long, expansive, complete, and stunning. Blind one would guess perhaps a Nuit St. Georges of some age. '68 has to be one of the great Cal Vintages. This has to be one of Davids best wines. However, he is doing just fine as of now, given the success with his zins and pinots. The bouquet in this wine is a melange of refined spiciness and smokey aromatics. (95)
Ray H. Carlson 73450,1275 David Bruce 1968 Zinfandel Cask 9 The difference betw 9 and 10, according to David, is that he used Nevers oak in 9 and Limousin oak in 10. It was Limousin hands down, as all but one taster had this wine first. Like the 9 only more so. It seemed even more spicy, expansive, and flavorful; as if the gloves had benn taken off 9; a complexity that you realize is only found in aged wine, regardless of how many nuances you can find in an interesting yuoug wine. Development in bottle yields something organoleptically that simply is not found in young wine. While one knows this intellectually and by memory, this kind of wine makes you think you are discovering this truism for the first time; so much so that you feel compelled to say it again with feeling. Great wine. Holding an unbelievably long and steady plateau. Could go another 5 years. (96)
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Dom Michel Voarick 1993 Corton Charlemagne Pale golden yellow. Apple flavor with honey aftertaste. 80/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch Latour A Pomerol 1989 Red Bordeaux Deep red-purple with long leg. Soft tannin with berries and honey. Good aftertaste. 88/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch Trotanoy 1984 Red Bordeaux Deep red with a hint of brick. Good flavor of dried sweet berries,though one dimensional. 87/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch L'Evangil 1983 Red Bordeaux Deep red wit garnet rim. Well structured, and good aftertaste. 89/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch La Conseillante 1981 Red Bordeaux Deep red with orange rim. Good flavor of plum, apricot, and berries. 90/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch Lafleur 1980 Red Bordeaux Medium brick red. Very fragrant and delicious with good aftertaste of berries and honey. 90/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch La Croix 1975 Red Bordeaux Deep brick red with orange rim. Good aftertaste of berries, honey and plum. May be past its prime. 90/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Marquis de Laguish 1989 Chassagne Montrachet Medium golden yellow with a flavor of flint. Good aftertaste.
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch La Fleur Petrus 1975 Red Bordeaux Deep red with a hint of orange. Long leg. Very sexy aroma of various dried berries. Velvet like taste. 92/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Vieux Ch Certan 1975 Red Bordeaux Deep red with brick. Still tannic. Tasteful. 91/
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch Petrus 1975 Red Bordeaux Deep red velvet. Afluent aroma of dried black berries, black currants, blue berries etc etc.Very well structured without any trace of decline. Still tannic. Surprisingly young wine. 96/
Jacob Shaya/ISRAEL 100274,2722 L. Jadot 1989 Chambolle - Les Amoureuses Imported from Beaune 12/94 for $62. Tonight, for no special reason, we opened one of the best 1er Crus: Jadot's 'Les Amoureuses' from his own holdings in Chambolle-Musigny. Another experiment with the young 1989 vintage. "Only" a 1er Cru, but almost twice as expensive as the Latour's Corton Grancey '89 (an officially Grand Cru) we had yesterday. We enjoyed this bottle for three hours, starting with 'leftovers' from yesterday's dinner, and then 'listening' to Mozart's "Dissonant Quartet" on Microsoft's multimedia CD-Rom (a perfect match!). COLOR: Dark, full and opaque brown-red, hardly paling towards the rim. NOSE: An intoxicating mixture of red-fruits, wood and the 'Bourgogne nose'. The tender terroir of Chambolle-Musigny emerge from the glass even with no swirling. TASTE: Ever evolving silky and delicate fruit, revealing layers and layers of different sensations in the mouth. Quite alcoholish with tannins not yet fully resolved. At first, the tannins were pretty felt. After about two hours the wine became pure silk with a touch of sweetness. LENGTH: Very long 'peacock tail' effect. Each swallow exploding into a multiple tinges around the tongue. BALANCE & TEXTURE: A full bodied yet delicate wine. Excellent balance, though still too young. Fruit, wood, acidity, alcohol and tannins all abound. Yet they should be given more time to totally integrate. OVERALL: A superb great (B) that no doubt will become an extraordinary wine in two-three years. MARK: 18
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Chateau Pichon-Lalande 1991 Red Bordeaux We were talking recently about the '91 Chateau Pichon- Lalande, so I took the opportunity last night to check on its progress. Doin' great! (March 4, 1995) 1991 Chateau Pichon-Lalande. Last night, I had dinner with friends and watched everyone go gaga over this mocha-chocolata-yaya! Went great with the grilled steaks, needless to say. It's still dark and young but the tannins ain't talking at all. The nose says molasses, cocoa and coffee, a blackcurrant or two joins in on the palate and the finish is good too. Maybe not as big-bodied as the 83 or 85 but who's complaining? This is one great $20 wine! I am down to my last few and thinking seriously of replenishing, even though the price has advanced now to $22.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 St. Francis 1992 Old Vines Zinfandel Opened this after the 91 P-L and folks weren't disappointed. I think it has maybe lost some of its baby-fat but the briars and raspberries are still big in the bouquet and great in the mouth. Thick, delicious, lip-smacking stuff. 15.2% alcohol but it's even less noticeable here than in the 92 Ridge Pagani. Now down to four. How long can I hold off!
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Matanzas Creek 1991 Merlot Poured it with my Merlot-loving friends over a delicious rotisserie grilled leg of lamb. Kind of like a baby Mouton. Deep ruby to purple in the glass with a big nose of black cherries, soy, cocoa and vanilla. Medium weight in the mouth. Lots of oak beautifully balanced by fruit on the palate. Please sir, I want some more! Don't buy this wine if you don't like oak - but this is one example of a CA merlot that has the stuffing to make beautiful music with the oak. Young still. May be mature by 2000.
Robert Rogness 71442,3453 Feudi di San Gregorio 1993 Fiano di Avelino, Campania One of the hottest new wineries in Italy, Feudi di San Gregorio is giving Mastrobaradino a serious run for the money in an area that has been dominated by one winery for decades (be on the lookout for their Taurasi next fall!). Fiano is an ancient variety noted for it's subtle pear and spice nose (the romans called it Vitus Apiana because it attracted bees!) and a long finish reminiscent of toasted hazelnuts, kind of a zestier version of the classic Meursault palate. This new release is the most successful yet and will pair well with scallops, shrimp, chicken or veal prepared with almonds or other nuts as well as making a perfect apertivo.
Robert Rogness 71442,3453 Arnaldo Caprai 1988 Sagrantino di Montefalco, Umbria Sagrantino has been variously described as "lusty, sacred, untamed, rustic, wild, devilish and unrestrained" and this one is no exception! Signore Caprai lets the natural low yields of this variety work for him to make an intensely spicy, aromatic and earthy wine yet with more fruit than most people will admit they like. We love this with Korean BBQ, meat stuffed sweet yellow bell peppers or just pizza. We hope to bring some of his legendry Sagrentino Apassito (made in the style of Amarone) to the US this year if we can convince him at VinItaly to make some American labels.
Robert Rogness 71442,3453 D'Angelo 1991 Canneto, Basilicata Called "one of the most interesting wines of the South" and lauded for its superior price/quality ratio by the Gambero Rosso (who awarded it 2 out of 3 glasses), this 100% Aglianico (the variety that Taurasi is made from) bottling is truly special. The grapes come from the oldest vines on the famed D'Angelo estate at Rionero in Vulture and are hand selected for quality then fermented slowly for 10 days before aging 15 months in small new oak barriques.The resulting wine has a deep ruby color, an intense perfume of dark cherries and plums with some burnt herbs and spice notes. Very full-bodied and amazingly silky and smooth for such a young wine, this one is a no brainer for lamb or venison dishes and definately qualifies as "un vino di meditazione" (enjoy with a good book and a fireplace!) as well. One of our "I only drink white" costomers was here when we were tasting this and our enthusiasm led her to taste it then buy three bottles!
Robert Rogness 71442,3453 de Forville Cortese 1993 Barbaresco Piemonte One of our favorite stratedgies for finding great wine for less money is to find people making famous styles of wine in non famous places. St. Veran or Macon-Clesse over Poulilly Fuisse for instance. This wine is made from Cortese (the variety responsible for Gavi di Gavi) grown at a famous Parbaresco estate. Since your average person doesn't know Cortese from Cincinatti, the demand has not driven the prices up (yet! this wine is imported by one of Parker's faves, Neal Rosenthal). De Forville makes the wine in a lusher style than most Gavi, with an incredibly silky texture. The nose is a delicious mix of ripe pear and green apples with the apple following through on the palate. There is no oak to confuse the issue here and are we ever glad, this is just plain delicious by itself or with sweet-flesh seafoods like scallops, lobster or prawns. Our #1 choice to convert Chard-o-holics to vini bianchi italiani!
Robert Rogness 71442,3453 Giacomo Conterno 1990 Barolo Cascina Francia, Piemonte This wine has an amazing sensory impact: rich notes of leather, tobacco, plums and black currants and even some menthol on the nose followed by a virtual explosion of related flavors on the palate. Several tasters at our most recent Il Forno-a-thon remarked that they would have to go and think about all the flavors before they commented on this wine!The influence os oak seems to have softened this wine by adding some softer tannins which shows you the strength of properly cultivated Nebbiolo. We first had this wine with the traditionl Easter dish of spit roast baby goat (capretta) and enjoy it here with Mongolian Venison BBQ (no sauce) and our favorite dish at Drago (LA's top Sicilian Ristorante) the rabbit with olives and muchroom polenta. We think this is one of the top five Baroli we have ever tasted and can only imagine what the Montfortino Riserva '90 will be like when it is released three years from now (when Conterno says Riserva, he means it! The 1987 will be released next month and it is a monster, also garnering tre bicchiere even in a difficult vintage)
Carl A. Philip 75447,2000 Jamet 1991 Cote-Rotie A friend and I just opened a bottle of Jamet's 1991 Cote-Rotie. The color was a clear black/purple. The bouquet consisted of what I thought to be berries and tobacco with a hint of smoke. The finish was beautiful, about 20-30 seconds, and the flavor was thick, the tannins light but present. We thought that it tasted slightly meaty with a thick consistency. It was delicious, maybe a little young, but certainly ready to drink.
Bruce Douglas 75140,1354 Villa MT Eden 1978 Reserve Cabernet. OFS. Almost black in color. Remember the conversation about "sweet"? Well forget whether it can happen outside of Burgandy. It's in the nose of this wine. You would swear that this is a Bordeaux from the nose. Tea, spice, cigar box...everything. In the mouth, a round full taste. No rough edges. The fruit has blended with the tannins to offer a deep taste that is classic Bordeaux. I swear that this would fool me every time. The "sweet" part is present in the mouth too. Along the sides of the tongue, just to remind you that this is something special. The finish goes on forever and there's just a hint of dust at the back of the throat that makes you believe that this wine will go on for awhile. I have no idea where this bottle came from, but the label has a hand written price of $25 on it. There are three left, and I believe that this is the first that we have opened. It's nice to be home.
Doug Powers 75717,2654 Ridge 1990 Zinfandel, Lytton Springs ... we tried the '90 Ridge Lytton Springs last night from magnum (actually CZ should have finished the remainder of our bottle tonight since I passed the leftovers, immediately corked and refrigerated by me last night into a smaller bottle, to him late this afternoon), and what really surprised me, besides how outstanding the wine still is, is that the '90 Ridge LS is at this point in it's life-cycle remarkably similar to the '90 LS LS (which we've had twice in the past month). The American oak is an obvious difference, but the fruit and general palate impression (mouthfeel) is awfully close (of course, as JPB would point out, my impressions were not double [or triple, or quadruple, etc.] blind)!! From Dennis M. Sienko 74767,70: Diane and I polished off the remains of your '90 Ridge LS magnum last night. WOW! That wine is simply incredible from magnum. I have not tried the wine side-by-side with the same wine from a 750, but recollect the 750 losing some fruit. In contrast, the wine from the magnum was full of that rich, focussed fruit that the wine from 750's had on release, but with more refinement and maturity.
Doug Powers 75717,2654 Zind-Humbrecht 1990 Pinot Blanc Interesting comment; last night I tried a '90 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Blanc, and it was so ripe, rich, round and full-bodied with great, intense spicy fruit and long, long finish. It reminded me once again why I love the Z-H wines so much and lament the serious upward trend in their pricing spiral. OTOH, after having this wine it again clarified for me why sometimes it's better to bite the bullet and just pay the extra dough; the numerous other Alsatian PBs I've tried in the past 2-3 years simply don't have this level of intensity!! Sorry, stepping off my soapbox (g)!
Robin Garr/Sysop/Ky 76702,764 Gundlach-Bundschu non-vintage Sonoma Valley Sonoma Red Wine $5.99. Very dark ruby in color, with a rich nose of spicy oak and cherry-berry fruit. Ripe, extracted red-fruit flavors, well balanced with lemony acidity and showing soft but significant tannins. Varietal content is not disclosed, but it's sort of like a Cabernet, sort of like a Zin; a tasty red table wine, capable of at least short-term aging. Good wine, very good value.
Robin Garr/A-Sys/KY 76702,764 Weingut Familie Zull 1993 Riede Seeleiten Gruner Veltliner (Austria) Kabinett Trocken $8.99. Clear, bright greenish-gold color. Pine and musky melon aroma notes, high in acidity, fresh and tart, with musky melon flavor lingering in a long finish. Dry and full-bodied, reminds me quite a bit of an Alsace Pinot Blanc. Good to very good wine, good value. Went very nicely indeed with a simple dish of snapping-fresh triggerfish steamed on a bed of watercress.
Robin Garr/A-Sys/KY 76702,764 Louis Jadot 1993 Beaujolais-Villages $8.99. Clear cherry-red color. Fresh strawberry aroma, with crisp, juicy fruit flavor, well-balanced and refreshing. Traditional Beaujolais, and a very good rendition at that; particularly good served at "cellar temperature," popped into the fridge for about 45 minutes before dinner. Very good wine, good value. (A Kobrand import.)
Robin Garr/A-Sys/KY 76702,764 La Vieille Ferme "Le Mont" 1992 Cotes du Ventoux $5.99. Dark ruby-purple color, with black-cherry and caramel aroma notes. Soft tart-cherry and strawberry fruit flavor, with noticeable oak adding marked tannins. Fresh-fruit acidity lends balance in a good food wine. Good wine, good value. A Robert Haas Selections/Vineyard Brands import. From Jenise Stone/SL2/Alaska 74364,74: Coincidentally, we opened a LVF Ventoux yesterday, however a '90 vintage, and were we surprised. The last bottle we had about two months ago was fairly impressive, rich and leathery, showing a little barnyard, pretty darn good for a $6 wine. The bottle we opened yesterday tasted young and grapey, more like Hardly Burgundy but thinner--no leather, no barnyard. Hardly the kind of difference I would write off as bottle variation. Go figure!
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Ch Lynch Bages 1989 Red Bordeaux One of my all time favs. Cigar box nose, beautifully balanced taste, I can't stop from going back for more on this one. Brilliant. 97/100
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Ch Montelena 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon Upon opening, the wine was bitter with a hard tannic bite. Not at all like I had tasted at the winery year. After an hour or so it opened up to reveal a very nice wine with a softer undertone (still had those tannins though) 88/100
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Harrison 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Once again I find myself stupified!! How could this Tannic Monster become such a celebration of Raspberry??? A little thin on the aftertaste, but a wine whose IN YOUR FACE style has matured and no longer an assault on your tongue with Tannins and OAK!! I would recommend to anyone who tasted this one upon release try it now. I also suggest letting it age for a few more years. Hopefully the finish will come back! 90/100
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Calera 1992 Central Coast Chardonnay At Cellar temperature I found myself thinking that wines are not supposed to be this sweet!! Like drinking white grape juice. Not altogether unpleasant though 87/100 (I'm awfully tough on CalChards!!)
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Lyeth 1982 Meritage $19.95 Having found this scrumptious bottle quite by accident while at Hi Times with Joel Shiner, I recently dug up my second to last bottle hoping that the liquid magic, which was bottled up inside the last bottle I had, would still be there. No dissapointment here. Nose of Raspberries and cherries. Smooth on the tongue and throat. After taste of fruit, fruit and more fruit.....eat yer heart out Opus!!!! 95/100
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Domaine de la Gaffeliene 1982 St Emilion (Hi times) Upon opening, the nose was quite vegetal. So much in fact I was very put off. The Salesperson who helped me told me to give it an hour and I did. Very Herbacious, vegetal wine. Outer edge was clear with the center a brickish brown. The taste was superb. Perfectly in balance!! Fruit topped by soft supple tannins overwhelmed by fruit......the battle between the two lasted the better part of an hour as I sat at the wine bar and watched this beauty evolve into a mature and powerfully elegant experience!! 92/100
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Bernard Pradel 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mt Ranch (Hi Times while waiting for the Gaffeliene to 'breathe') 600 cases made. Sweet Cabernet fruit seeped out of this one with HUGE Bell Pepper tones. Slight hint of leather (oak??) Dark purple color. Nice wine, but not my style. 88/100
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Ridge 1986 California Zinfandel Litton Springs (80% Zin, 15% Carignane, 5% Grenache) -Cork is saturated with black sludge, Color is brown at the edges and the color of plums. Nose has gobs of fruit, with a slightly alcoholic scent. Hints of Eucalyptus (mint??). If the wine tastes 1/2 as good as it smells, I am in luck. First taste, five minutes after opening--elegant, smooth on the palate. YES VMS ,Zins can age. Not much of an aftertaste, but no bitter taste on the palate...not much fruit either. 30 minutes later.... not much of an improvement, but still a very classic elegant wine that is a joy to sip!!! 1 hour later... Tannins starting to creep back in, although not to any level of concern. The tannins seem to add a touch of complexity because the fruit is still ever so slightly detectable. 89/100
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 BV 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon, Private Reserve Brownish color, almost a brick red. Nose was a bit closed at first, but opened up a little later, nothing spectacular. Hard, Tannic, Bitter aftertaste. Not one of my favorite wines. 80/100
Mitchell Kleinman 73302,3515 Caymus 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Select. Purple color-almost jumping out of the glass! Nose of smoke, coffee, chocolate, mocha, and of course oak. Smooth taste with all of the pieces put together--no excessive tannins, plenty of ripe fruit. Very complex wine 98/100
Don Rice 73562,677 Beringer 1991 Napa Valley Zinfandel ($7.99). Med purple and medium bodied. Displayed very nice forward blackberry fruit up front, but the fruit faded fast with breathing and became a bit brambly/vegetal. Two days later it seems to have bounced back a bit! More balanced fruit and a richer texture. Go figure. I liked it.
Don Rice 73562,677 Ch. Lynch-Bages 1990 Red Bordeaux ($33). Black to deep purple. Nose thick with earthy organics and dark fruit. Taste is rich, tarry and tannic, with an herbal almost bitter something-or-other in there. Looooong finish with hints of coffee/bakers chocolate. This is extracted stuff! Next day: A bit mellower, with softer mouth-coating tannins. Still full of tarry concentrated fruit. No perceptible tartness. 1st bottle of a case. We're going to "track" the evolution of this wine (we hope!) for another decade at least. As we don't keep lots of pricey wine around, I'm really looking forward to this project!
Robert W. Gibson 76242,1176 various 1983 Red Bordeaux ... I have tasted several medium/high quality 1983 Bordeaux's recently and have found the fruit a bit thin relative to the tannins. I shared this on-line. Most repliers suggest that they will continue to loose fruit and that I should drink up. A minority suggest that it is a transition period and that they may emerge into an attractive old age. Tried a1983 Chevalier today. Same issue, but this one has lots of plum, licorice, and spice underneath. A very attractive wine and fine with food, but still more masked by tannins than the wonderful old Bordeaux's you refer to. I'll try the next bottle in six months or so and try to decide for myself what is happening.
Peter Katz/Avon,CT 75017,2360 various 1992 Red Bordeaux Notes from a recent tasting of 92 Bordeaux (unblind) 3/1/95. Wine, Group Points Against, Group Rank. My Notes (My Score, My Rank) Cuvee Michel Rolland, Bordeaux, 57.0, 6. Typical Bdx nose. Smooth and accessible. Some simple berry flavors (the merlot content?) Prieur-Lichine, Margaux, 69.0, 7. I've never been a fan of this producer and although better than the previous wine, showing a bit Leoville-Barton, St.-Julien, 70.5, 8. This started well enough with tart, tannic and somewhat attractive initial flavors; the range Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estephe, 43.0 ,4. Mellow, deep, lush and full-bodied. Just a slight weedy component. When I returned to this Gazin, Pomerol, 40.0, 3. Very typically Pomerol. A fair amount of depth and richness and yet quite accessible for current drinking. Nice wine! (89,3/4) Pichon-Longueville Baron, 53.0, 5. I recently had the 89 (at the Boston Wine Expo) and this wine is absolutely consistent with that style. Both are backward and closed, but appear to have the components to make fin did not have the depth and body of the 89, its familial resemblance was evident. As with the 89, it was not particularly enjoyable Angelus, St.-Emilion, 33.0, 2, Big, brawny, and tough. A touch of weediness. This wine needs time but appears to have plenty of f Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, 30.5,1. Yet a higher level of richness, extraction and depth. Tannic, but the lushness of its fruit ma Overall this tasting was a pleasant surprise. My only prior experience with an off Bdx vintage was 1987 and these wines have it all over them. Unlike the 87s which seemed to fall into 2 groups: light and fruity, or bitter, the 92s seemed to have struck a balance between those extremes. Offering a nice mix of some richness and body and accessibility. A much more satisfying tasting experience offering a true taste of Bdx. I feel that my top three ranked wines: Haut Brion, Angelus, and Gazin are worth buying, the Cos possibly, and the Pichon Baron is difficult for me to assess. Tasting held 3/1/95 of 1992 Bordeaux (Unblind). Wine, Group Points Against, Group Rank. My Notes (My Score, My Rank). Cuvee Michel Rolland, Bordeaux, 57.0, 6. Typical Bdx nose. Smooth and accessible. Some simple berry flavors (the merlot content?) but short on fruit. For pleasant immediate consumption. (85,8) Prieur-Lichine, Margaux, 69.0, 7. I've never been a fan of this producer and although better than the previous wine, showing a bit more concentration, tannins and richness, it isn t particularly attractive. (86,7). Leoville-Barton, St.-Julien, 70.5, 8. This started well enough with tart, tannic and somewhat attractive initial flavors; the range of fruit, however, is a bit narrow. (88,5) Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estephe, 43.0 ,4. Mellow, deep, lush and full-bodied. Just a slight weedy component. When I returned to this wine later in the evening it had developed a bitterness, which is not reflected in my score. (89,3/4) Gazin, Pomerol, 40.0, 3. Very typically Pomerol. A fair amount of depth and richness and yet quite accessible for current drinking. Nice wine! (89,3/4) Pichon-Longueville Baron, 53.0, 5. I recently had the 89 (at the Boston Wine Expo)and this wine is absolutely consistent with that style. Both are backward and closed, but appear to have the components to make fine drinking with time. While this one did not have the depth and body of the 89, its familial resemblance was evident. As with the 89, it was not particularly enjoyable at this stage. (87,6) Angelus, St.-Emilion, 33.0, 2, Big, brawny, and tough. A touch of weediness. This wine needs time but appears to have plenty of fruit and extraction to come into balance. (90, 2) Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, 30.5,1. Yet a higher level of richness, extraction and depth. Tannic, but the lushness of its fruit make it somewhat more approachable. (91, 1) Overall this tasting was a pleasant surprise. My only prior experience with an off Bdx vintage was 1987 and these wines have it all over them. Unlike the 87s which seemed to fall into 2 groups: light and fruity, or bitter, the 92s seemed to have struck a balance between those extremes. Offering a nice mix of some richness and body and accessibility. A much more satisfying tasting experience offering a true taste of Bdx. I feel that my top three ranked wines: Haut Brion, Angelus, and Gazin are worth buying, the Cos possibly, and the Pichon Baron is difficult for me to assess.
Paul A. Minnillo 75753,2352 various 1970 Red Bordeaux Just came from a dynamite 1970 tasting. Tasted the following blind---opened for one hour. Latour Lafite Mouton Petrus Lynch Bages Ducru Mystery Results: Lynch was first place---I had it second behind Latour--the Latour was still quite tannic, full, showing beautifully.The surprise was Petrus---------5th! Ok but certainly not great.The over--all quality was impressive. The wines were in very good condition, could go another 5 years, or drink now.
Paul Nonkin 75201,1354 Dominus 1985 Meritage Tonight I had what California wines were meant to be. I opened my first bottle of Dominus '85 (there are 5 more in my cellar <BG>). It was gorgeous, still with an edge of tannin that promises yet more development--I'll wait. The fruit was mouth filling with notes of tobacco, mint and clay. Only Heitz '74, I feel, was a better California than this. At least in my experience. Has anyone tasted this recently? Love to hear your evaluation.
Jasper Russo / Marty's 74642,221 Terrabianca 1983/1985 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna della Croce I have just tasted a number of wines from Terrabianca, and all the wines are fabulous. Parker annointed the estate a few issues back and the wines I tasted were pretty consistent with his tasting notes. The find however was a selection of back vintages of Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna della Croce, especially 83 and 85. Wondeful wines, good fruit, multilayered complexity and ageing beautifully. The best example of mature Chianti I have found recently. The 1990 vintage selections are good also if a bit pricey.
Bob Spector/OKC 72773,1014 Trittenheimer Felsenkopf 1983 Spatlese, Milz-Laurentiushof A traditionally made semi-sweet spatlese. Bright yellow-gold with no flecks of amber. Nose of petrol and fruit. This Trittenheimer tastes like apples, peaches and played and the minerals play a secondary role. Very bright acidity gives the wine excellent balance. Good finish. It is a more delicate wine than many of the 83 Mosels. I think there is still room for improvement here unlike the Rheingaus which I think may have peaked.
Bob Spector/OKC 72773,1014 St. Chinian 1991 Mas Champart $8.99 Kermit Lynch Import Another bargain from the Languedoc. Garnet colored blend of syrah, grenache and some mourvedre. Nice spicy nose. Tastes of blackberries, licorice, spices and some mint. Medium weight. Medium finish. Good weekday wine with whatever is coming out of the refrig. The type of wine restaurants should use as their house wine and, unfortunately, rarely do.
Bob Spector/OKC 72773,1014 Domaine du Grand Devers 1989 Cote d'Rhone, "Enclave du Papes" The 1989 wines from this domaine have developed sensationally. I picked up a mixed case at close out in Dallas last weekend to supplement the meagre three bottles I had previously been able to find. Nicely shipped and stored. The cork had only a little light red at the bottom. (Or else it was stored standing up---but I really don't think so!) The Enclave du Papes is made of the usual CdR characters: grenache, syrah---a little mourvedre, cinsault etc. Dark garnet. The nose comes right at you with old leather, spices and berries. Extremely rich heavy wine. The berries resolve themselves into blackberries and the spices become peanuts, licorice and other good things. Long, slightly tannic finish. This wine is going to last a lot longer than the two-three years predicted for it by RP three years ago. Regular price $9.95; Close-out at $7.95. Heck of'a deal.
Bob Spector/OKC 72773,1014 Domaine du Grand Devers 1989 Cote d'Rhone Syrah The syrah is even more of a bargin. I reported on it last October and it does not seem to have changed appreciablly since then. The wine is dark garnet with purple highlights. A huge nose of spices, hickory, leather and, clearly, black olives. A great mouthfeel--- it's almost chewy. Tastes of more herbs, black fruit that is sometimes sweet, hickory, pepper, some bacon fat. Long spicey, peppery finish. If I didn't know better I would say it was from the Cote Rotie. Who says Syrah doesn't do well in the southern Rhone?? (other than Fonsalette, of course) Interesting---I've only seen the 89s from this estate. Anybody ever seen the 88s or 90s??
SHARON S. HOWARD 76021,3117 Ch. Lynch Bages 1979-1990 Red Bordeaux Last night we enjoyed a vertical of 10 vintages of Ch. Lynch Bages--1979, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90. On the theory that the 1980 would be weakest and least enjoyable we began there, and it was better than expected but not in the class with the rest--it did set up the others well however. The 1990 was very accessible and could be enjoyed now. The 1985 lived up to much of the hype, but my favorite was still the 1982 (which we also drank from time it was released with enjoyment) The 1981 and 1983 were both very nice with a nudge toward thinking the 83 was better. The surprize was how wonderfully the 1988 developed in the glass. A delightful lineup which began with Roederer's NV and ended with the 1986 Rieussec. Salut.
Jaime Raskulinecz 73124,503 Preston Vineyards 1992 "Faux" I like this wine upon first opening. Took it right out of the cellar, so the temp was probably at about 55. Medium body, spicy and plum flavors. Very youthful tasting, long finish. It seemed to fade a bit after warming and spending time in the open bottle. Not a lot. After an overnight in the bottle it seemed to lose a lot. Is this a wine that should be drunk chilled? Can that explain some of what I experienced? I've since received an offer to purchase this wine for $80/case! Great buy if I can trust that it will last for a bit in the cellar. This fading thing worries me.
Randy Buckner 75447,2547 Ridge 1992 Zinfandel, Lytton Springs I really panned the 1992 Ridge Lytton Springs. I felt that it was way too hot. It had wonderful fruit but I could not get past the overwhelming alcohol. It was not nearly as nice as the 90/91.
Randy Buckner 75447,2547 Ridge 1992 Zinfandel, Geyserville Tonight I tried the 92 Geyservile. While it is not as good as their 90/91, it is IMHO a much better wine than the Lytton. It has very nice blackberry fruit, moderate tannins, a moderately long aftertaste and is well balanced. Missing is that hint of briar or pepper that I so like. I do not like rating scales, so I will not rate the wine. I will buy my usual case - I let the Lytton stay on the shelf.
Randy Buckner 75447,2547 Duckhorn 1993 Sauvignon I tasted this upon release and was a little disappointed but figured it would come around. Opened a second bottle tonight and I was much more impressed, with good fruit, vanilla, little to no herbaceousness, and a moderate aftertaste. Would go nice with a Fettucini Alfredo, scallops or Orange Roughy.
Randy Buckner 75447,2547 Matanzas Creek 1992 Merlot Guess I am in left field by myself on this one but I had to try the 92 Matanzas Creek Merlot after all of the hype and I was somewhat disappointed. Good wine but I would rather have a Newton or Arrowood myself.
Tom Hemenway 75117,2002 Ridge 1992 Zinfandel, Lytton Springs Estate I just tried the '92 Ridge Lytton Springs Estate and was even less impressed with it than the regular bottling. It had a very wierd fruit flavor that was not at all in harmony with the other flavors. It was harsh and hard, not at all smooth or supple. It's definitely a pass - especially at $20 a bottle.
Stephen Haynes 71666,424 Ch. Nairac 1975 Sauternes/Barsac Golden hued. Slight burnt almonds and honey on bouquet; otherwise quite closed in. Rich, viscous, honeyed, meloney taste. Classic Sauternes for age 20. Crisp acidity has wine in near-perfect balance. Not as unctuous as Sauternes can sometimes be, but very pleasant overall. Still has years of maturity to go. Acidity remains in finish, complementing flavors that stay on and on in mouth. This was a triumph for this little-known winery.
Stephen Haynes 71666,424 Ch. Trotanoy 1978 Red Bordeaux Restaurant Nora, Washington, DC. Pub-Club dinner (an eating and drinking society to which I belong). I carried two bottles to DC Tuesday morning, taking them to Nora's that evening to be stored in anticipation of dinner Wednesday. Notes are skimpy. This is a mature Bordeaux, but these two bottles are in much better shape than the one consumed in February (and reported here at that time). All tannins have resolved, and what is left is soft merlot of very good quality. Definitely mature, definitely to be consumed sooner rather than later, but not over the hill.
Stephen Haynes 71666,424 Ch. Trotanoy 1979 Red Bordeaux Restaurant Nora, Washington, DC. Pub-Club dinner (see note posted earlier). I carried two bottles to DC Tuesday morning, taking them to Nora's that evening to be stored in anticipation of dinner Wednesday. Notes are skimpy. Still young. Dark purplish with no obvious aging at edges. Tannic, but with ample fruit and acidity. Will still develop. A fairly big Pomerol. Will reach peak in 3-5 years.
Stephen Haynes 71666,424 Bondue 1990 Mercurey 1er Cru Restaurant Nora, Washington, DC. Pub-Club dinner (see note posted earlier). Purchased off restaurant's wine list. Skimpy notes. Nice value at ~$38. Really very nice Burgundy, and probably inexpensive at retail. A forward, varietal bouquet that lingered a long time after wine was poured. Mature taste, with considerable fruit of typical pinot noir character. A fine wine.
Stephen Haynes 71666,424 Matanzas Creek 1993 Sauvignon Blanc Restaurant Nora, Washington, DC. Pub-Club dinner (see note posted earlier). Purchased off restaurant's wine list. Skimpy notes. Nice value at ~$34. Bouquet was closed in, but was more of the openly fruity style than grassy. Crisp on the palate, with slight spritzig, and again more fruit evident than a steely quality. A nice starter for the evening.
Michael Gat (OR) 75016,662 Storybook Mountain 1990 Napa Valley Zinfandel ($14.99): Medium ruby color in the glass. Nose is a bit earthy, with overtones of ripe fruit. Very pleasant, fruity and ripe on the palate. First impression is that this is what a good zinfandel should be. Flavor is of fairly intense blackberries, with obvious oakiness and nice, but not overwhelming tannins. Finish is medium and shows the tannins and wood more than the berries. Good wine.
Michael Gat (OR) 75016,662 Storybook Mountain 1990 Napa Valley Estate Reserve Zinfandel ($26.99): Medium-dark ruby color, a bit darker than the non-reserve. Nose is also similar to the regular release. It is also very similar in taste, but somewhat more intense with more tannins and acid evident. Blackberries and oak abound. Finish is fairly tannic. Also a good wine. I think the Reserve is ever so slightly better for aging, but tend to think neither one of these will be a great ager. The regular release is a wonderful wine for right now. The reserve will probably do great with more flavorful foods, and will be better in a year or two. I'll be keeping half a case of each, just for the fun of checking up.
Rob Schneider/MA 71321,301 Clape 1992 Vin des Amis Drank another '92 Clape Vin des Amis over the weekend (partly out of juice glasses -- shades of Cafe Fanny <g>). A nice bottle of syrah and alot more fun than most CdR for the same $. I wonder why Kermit doesn't bring in that wine?
Rob Schneider/MA 71321,301 M. Ecard 1990 Savigny-les-Beaune "Les Peuillets." Also drank another '90 M. Ecard Savigny-les-Beaune "Les Peuillets." We have a small stash of this wine at work. Most of the bottles apparently were frozen somewhere in transit, on a dock, whatever, so they're not something we can put out on a rack and sell without too much explanation, which no one would believe anyway. Because the price is so low and the wine is SO good, I've probably consumed half-a-dozen of these Savigny "winecicles" in the last 8-9 months. The wine is deeply colored, has an intense nose of ripe red and black fruit with lots of Savigny earthy pungency, is full in mouth, and has a moderate length, berries-spice-and-earth finish. I wouldn't gamble that the "icewines" will last as long as their non-frozen brethren, but the stuff tastes so good now that I really don't care. I'd love to hear anyone else's experience with frozen bottles.
Rob Schneider/MA 71321,301 Drouhin 1993 various Burgundy The '93 red burgundies are trickling into the local market. We went to a fairly extensive Drouhin tasting the other day. There were some very good wines, most notably (to my palate) the Beaune "Clos des Mouches," the village Vosne-Romanee and the Chambolle-Musigny "1er Cru." If they don't drop their fruit in a hurry, ala the '88s, these will be very pretty wines in just a few years time. The prices are creeping back up, but they're still not completely out of hand. Then again, if I could afford these wines, I could afford Chave. If I could afford Chave, I'd drink Chave. . . . <g>
Dave Sit/NYC 71360,2142 Newton 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon $24 Very dark, almost black with purplish edges. Intense cassis and new oak dominate the nose, with minor spicy notes. This is a "big" wine, with powerful and ripe black currant fruit, heavy dose of vanillin oak (some might think the oak is too overt), excellent acidity and noticeable tannin at the finish. The tannins are soft, making the wine quite drinkable now, although it is clear that it is still at an infant stage of development. The wine reminds me of a good Chateau Montelena cabernet, but with better potential for developing more complexity in the long run. An impressive wine that needs a few more years of patience. It would be interesting to taste this wine in ten or fifteen years to see how it has developed. (92+)
Dave Sit/NYC 71360,2142 Edmunds St. John 1990 Zinfandel One bad zin deserves another, at least a bad bottle. I opened a bottle of the '90 Edmunds St. John zinfandel last night, and it was disgusting -- full of foul aromas, brett, animal, volatile acidity etc... I don't know what happened to this bottle, but another one tasted a couple of years ago was fine, even though Mt. Veeder zins are not my stylistic preference.
Alex Strohoffer 70571,1635 Grgrich Hills 1991 Chardonnay One of the few Chardonays I have liked (I prefer Sauvignon Blancs). It was very smooth and refreshing, with good body and balance. Definite herbaceous and fruit aromas and flavors. It was nice alone as an aperitif and had enough acid and flavor to cleanse the palate while dining. At the table before dinner we sucked down (you can take the man away from college, but you can't take the beer away from man) two bottles of J Champagne. It was a clear yellow, clean and crisp, with hints of almond. It was a just the slightest bit sweet for my tastes, but following the Grgrich may have been the cause of that.
Alex Strohoffer 70571,1635 Steele 1993 Carneros Pinot Noir (375ml) The color was a clear red with a hint of brick. The nose was of fresh cherry and a touch of vanilla. The flavor was very fresh, fruity, almost effervescent. The balance was very good. The body was medium. I was told after the fact that the Steele wine maker also worked for Kendall Jackson in days gone by and loves to "filters the heck out of all his stuff." This may account for the body. In any case, it was a good wine.
Alex Strohoffer 70571,1635 Taylor Fladgate 1977 Vintage Port The color was deep, dark and inviting. The blackberry dominated nose was only a hint of the eruption to follow. The intensity of the fruit was phenomenal. It was especially so because the wine was so well balanced. This wine was great, though my bottle could have used a few more years to smooth out the last of the tannins.
Alex Strohoffer 70571,1635 Hardy's 1991 Captain's Selection Shiraz 90%/Cabernet Sauvignon 10% A nice, easy-to-drink, simple wine with no pretensions. The color is red with just a hint of brick. The nose is dominated by the Cabernet, with strong vanilla scents. The flavor is straight forward and balanced, with enough acidity for serving with food. The finish is relatively short, pleasantly dry.
Alex Strohoffer 70571,1635 Paul Masson nv Grande Amber Brandy Bananas! This brandy's nose is dominated by bananas. It also has hints of mellon and vanilla. In fact, the entire brandy is dominated by bananas. It tastes like brandy steeped with banana cream pie. It is not bad, just very different.
Alex Strohoffer 70571,1635 Napa Ridge 1993 Pinot Noir Color: Very pretty clear garnet Nose: Strong cinnamon scent, with sour cherry and vanilla notes Taste: The first taste is definitely that of cinnamon, then of berries. It has a good bite to it too. Body: Medium body. Finish: Short and dry. Opinion: A very good simple wine for the money. A very good value/every day drinker!
Michael Laflin 75024,551 Ca'del Solo 1993 Malvasia Bianca (unblind): Right after I opened this wine I left the kitchen. Upon my return shortly thereafter, I was struck by a strange perfune filling the room. It turned out that it originated from the wine I had recently opened. This wine had a very effusive nose of tropical fruits that I would compare most closely with Mango. In the mouth it delivered rich fruit with a nice acid backbone. The wine was off-dry, which did not detract from its pleasure delivery. My wife's response, as she left for an engagement, was that I had better save some for her return. I consider that an affirmation also.
Jon Lawry/GA Hobo 73352,1373 Inglenook 1985 Reunion The new job offer was formalized this past Friday, so I celebrated by buying this fabulous wine. It is symbolic not only in the fact that it is another of the 1985 wines my wife and I are slurping in honor of our tenth anniversary, but also in that this new job would be a reunion with Charlotte, NC where my wife and I met. Okay, enough schmalz; let's get on with the tasting. We went to our favorite cheap French restaurant and Philippe was overjoyed at my bringing in a nice wine that he would get to taste. The cook came in at one point and announced to Philippe that they were out of pork. I said that neither my wife nor I were interested in having the pork that evening, but they confided in us that the pork was for a special dish THEY were going to have after hours. Priorities are priorities; I like this place. We opened the wine to breathe. The aroma was pure delight, in fact, more powerful than the first tastes. I found the wine extremely balanced and velvety. It showed fruit, which I found reserved, but Philippe thought more forward and pronounced like a St. Estephe wine. The finish was short and light. I had a moderately strong pepper steak, to which the wine stood up quite well. I think there was much more in this wine than I was able to appreciate. Sure wish some of you could've had it with me. But I sure enjoyed trying. And the symbols this wine represent are probably bigger in my mind than the taste.
Bob Champion 75112,355 Buehler 1980 Napa Valley Zinfandel Dug a 1980 Buehler Napa Valley Zinfandel out of my cellar last night and, to my surprise, it was great! Am curious what experience people have had with the cellar life of Zins. I have a number of old ones in my cellar and thought for sure that this one would be over the hill.
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Pommery nv Brut Royale 1) Hors D'Oeuvres served with Pommery Brut Royale NV--Fairly undistinguished but nevertheless enjoyable sparkler. Nice bubbles and yeastiness, some creaminess, good fruit that's slightly perfumed, more soft than acidic.
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Baron Briare 1988 Sauvignon de Sauvignon 2) Broiled Striped Bass with Braised Fennel served with Baron Briare Sauvignon de Sauvignon '88--Medium yellow with faint green tint. Very grassy bouquet, restrained fruit. More grip on palate, buttery undertone, tasty citrus fruit tones, still very grassy. This Loire Valley was quite good and certainly true to its varietal.
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Domaine Rene Manuel Laboure Roi 1990 Clos de la Barrone Meursault 3) Breast of Pheasant on Angel Hair Pasta served with Domaine Rene Manuel Laboure Roi Clos de la Barrone Meursault '90--Medium yellow with rusty tone. Toasty bouquet, nice tartness, very pungent. Deep and complex on palate, very evident terroir, nice richness, toasty fruit, superb acid. Rene Manuel, prior to his death, was a very reliable producer from the old school and this wine continues his terrific track record.
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Ch La Dominique 1985 St. Emilion 4) Mesquite Grilled Medallion of Wild Boar in Plum Sauce served with: a) Ch La Dominique St. Emilion '85--Medium red color. Paper in bouquet, some cherry, light oak. Tar, some harshness and astringency, petroleum/tar, elements just don't come together well, not a good wine; and
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Guigal 1983 Cote Rotie Cotes Brune et Blonde --Medium red color. Spicy Rhone nose, full bouguet. Chewy on palate, spice, still active tannins, big and powerful, dark berry fruit with clove (?) tone, complex. Outstanding!
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Antonin Rodet Cuvee Madelaine-Collignon Hospice de Beaune 1986 Mazis-Chambertin 5) Roasted Loin of Wild lamb with Barley and Fresh Spring Vegetables (including lightly mashed cauliflower that was memorable) served with Antonin Rodet Cuvee Madelaine-Collignon Hospice de Beaune Mazis-Chambertin '86--Medium red, slight edge fade. Dry fruit, muted bouquet, spice. A tad hot on palate, could have more richness and plumpness, thin fruit, tobacco, slight earthiness. Very similar wine in quality, texture, etc. to La Tache '86 as they both show the difficulties with the '86 vintage. Still enjoyable to drink!
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Bouchard Domaine de Ch de Beaune 1985 Beaune 1er Cru Feurons 6) Selected French Cheeses and Fresh Fruit with Crusty Bread served with Bouchard Domaine de Ch de Beaune Beaune 1er Cru Feurons '85--Medium red. Full, voluptuous, spice, rich fruit, impressive bouquet. Dynamic, big, vibrant fruit, still some tannins, very faint earthiness, nice majesty. This _cannot_ be an example of the controversy that the '85s are coming up short as this Burgundy was splendid.
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Ch Rayne-Vigneau 1980 Sauternes 7) Lemon Charlotte with Fresh Raspberries served with Ch Rayne-Vigneau Sauternes '80--Medium golden yellow. Reserved, nondescript bouquet. Medium weight, slight tartness/citrus. Not an impressive wine, perhaps having suffered some damage as there have been other '80 Sauternes that showed much better than this one.
Stella Chin 71333,3657 Pape Clement 1961 Red Bordeaux I recently had an opportunity to taste the 1961 Pape Clement (Graves, Bordeaux, France), the oldest wine I have ever tasted (previously 1982)...and this is only because I had asked Greg, the sommelier at Square One restaurant (San Francisco, USA) whether he had any 1959 or 1961 bordeaux that was not on the official wine list (which btw was a good list). He offered this wine for $90 which seemed a bargain (I'm not familiar with Pape Clement or its value - however it should be noted that the label was missing but the cork proved it was authentic)...so the wine was chosen for this reason and also out of curiosity. The wine was decanted, you won't believe the sediments left in the bottle! This full bodied wine had a very fragrant nose, it was pleasantly unique unlike any other wine I've tasted, and it attracted my attention at first sip. Very nice, and unlike the bouquet from younger wines. This must be what everyone refers to as "bottle bouquet" in an aged wine. "Sweet plums" passed through my mind during my first sip. Yummy! Lush. Seductive. Old leather. Smoky. Good finish. Moderate legs. Mature, however possibly beginning to decline.
