Thursday another dinner with Betsy's trio, I grilled some squid,
shrimp, and scallops, which Betsy turned into a delicious seafood
salad. I poured the 2002 Christian Moreau Chablis. Clean lemon and
white peach fruit, some distinct minerality (notes of chalk, flint, and
even limestone). Good acidity, clean finish. Good QPR at $12. B+/B

Friday I took Betsy to the airport early, after a long day stopped by
local shop and picked up couple of $20 -something red Burgs. That
night opened the first- the 2002 Domaine de Vougeraie "Terres de
Famille" Pinot Noir Bourgogne. I've met (and liked) the young
winemaker here. But this wine is too anonymously international to
excite me- ripe red approaching jammy fruit, a whiff of toasty oak,
etc. The fruit is attractive despite the jamminess, and there's a hint
of Burgundian earth. But for the same $21 I could get a RRV PN that's
truer to its place. B/B-

So today I spend the day working and at the house, doing some touch-up
paint, etc. With Bety gone, I decide to indulge in one of the culinary
passions she doesn't share with me, sausage. I grill some d'Artagnan
duck/armagnac sausages and squash, as well as make a salad. As I'm
grilling, I sip the Vougeraie- no improvement. But I open the dinner
wine, the 2002 Catherine and Claude Marechal Savigny-les-Beaune
Vieilles Vignes. Holy %^$&! Clean damp earth over beautiful raspberry
and black cherry fruit, light tannins and moderate acidity. There's
spice and more of that damp earth. I have a glass with dinner , consult
the drivometer ("let's see, about 3 oz. of the Bourgogne, 4 oz of the
Savigny, well over an hour and you weigh in at over 200- drive!") and
go to Rochambeau. Since previous day they've sold out. AAAGGGHH!. I go
home, check winesearcher but can't find, despair and write importer.
Then I remember "oh yeah, there's 5/6s of the bottle left." It's
gotten even better- sandalwood and earth over Bing cherry fruit, good
finish. For exceeding expectations this is a solid A, but an A- on
today's version of the Dale Inconsistent Scale.



Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency

DaleW wrote:

So today I spend the day working and at the house, doing some touch-up
paint, etc. With Bety gone, I decide to indulge in one of the culinary
passions she doesn't share with me, sausage. I grill some d'Artagnan
duck/armagnac sausages and squash, as well as make a salad. As I'm
grilling, I sip the Vougeraie- no improvement. But I open the dinner
wine, the 2002 Catherine and Claude Marechal Savigny-les-Beaune
Vieilles Vignes. Holy %^$&! Clean damp earth over beautiful raspberry
and black cherry fruit, light tannins and moderate acidity. There's
spice and more of that damp earth. I have a glass with dinner , consult
the drivometer ("let's see, about 3 oz. of the Bourgogne, 4 oz of the
Savigny, well over an hour and you weigh in at over 200- drive!") and
go to Rochambeau. Since previous day they've sold out. AAAGGGHH!. I go
home, check winesearcher but can't find, despair and write importer.
Then I remember "oh yeah, there's 5/6s of the bottle left." It's
gotten even better- sandalwood and earth over Bing cherry fruit, good
finish. For exceeding expectations this is a solid A, but an A- on
today's version of the Dale Inconsistent Scale.

Dale,
Supposedly Astor still has the '02 Cuvée Gravel for $19.99 and I've
heard (almost) equally good things about it. If you *do* get some
there, my commission won't be too steep ;-)

Mark Lipton

What is Astar?

In article M21Ae.152183$xm3.137152@attbi_s21,
Mark Lipton wrote:

DaleW wrote:

So today I spend the day working and at the house, doing some touch-up
paint, etc. With Bety gone, I decide to indulge in one of the culinary
passions she doesn't share with me, sausage. I grill some d'Artagnan
duck/armagnac sausages and squash, as well as make a salad. As I'm
grilling, I sip the Vougeraie- no improvement. But I open the dinner
wine, the 2002 Catherine and Claude Marechal Savigny-les-Beaune
Vieilles Vignes. Holy %^$&! Clean damp earth over beautiful raspberry
and black cherry fruit, light tannins and moderate acidity. There's
spice and more of that damp earth. I have a glass with dinner , consult
the drivometer ("let's see, about 3 oz. of the Bourgogne, 4 oz of the
Savigny, well over an hour and you weigh in at over 200- drive!") and
go to Rochambeau. Since previous day they've sold out. AAAGGGHH!. I go
home, check winesearcher but can't find, despair and write importer.
Then I remember "oh yeah, there's 5/6s of the bottle left." It's
gotten even better- sandalwood and earth over Bing cherry fruit, good
finish. For exceeding expectations this is a solid A, but an A- on
today's version of the Dale Inconsistent Scale.

Dale,
Supposedly Astor still has the '02 Cuvée Gravel for $19.99 and I've
heard (almost) equally good things about it. If you *do* get some
there, my commission won't be too steep ;-)

Mark Lipton

Mark's referring to Astor Wines in NYC. But their site doesn't show the
Gravel (Cuvee Gravel is the Marechal's fine Bourgogne). Chambers St
Wines does show the '02 Gravel (as well as the Savigny 1er Lavieres ).
I'll pick up some Gravel and maybe a bottle of the Savigny 1er, but
still looking for the VV village Savigny.