On May 13, 9:31�am, DaleW > wrote:
> Michael hosted SOBER last night, a fine meal and an interesting array
> of wines. As usual, all served blind except the opening wine, the
> Camille Saves Carte d'Or Champagne Brut. I really love the Saves rose,
> but this is my first time trying this bottling. Hopefully, not the
> last. Truly delicious bubbly, fuller styled but with a wide streak of
> youthful acidity down the middle. Deep, yeasty, and long. A-
>
> First course was a "Seafood Panzanella Salad" with salmon, tuna,
> tomatoes,and bread. Three whites to accompany:
>
> Wine #1- apple fruit, buttery/creamy texture, nice core of fruit but
> just a bit flat. B/B-
>
> Wine #2 - by far biggest nose of the flight, somewhat exotic with
> tropical and apple fruit topped with a honied note. Pretty sure
> Chardonnay, reminds me of the Thevenet/Bongran wine . B+
>
> Wine #3- a bit more acidity than others, mute nose at first. Opens a
> bit with some apples and chalk. B
>
> 1- � � �2004 Fevre " Les Preuses" Chablis GC (not thrilled to own a bottle
> of this)
> 2- � � �2002 Raveneau "Butteaux" Chablis �GC
> 3- � � �2005 Carillon "Champs Martin" Mercurey 1er
>
> While I was in Burgundy, if pressed the Mercurey is the one I would
> have pegged for Chablis. OK, but nothing here I'd buy at normal
> pricing.
>
> Second course was a warm "Crimini Mushroom Salad with Mussels", which
> was more a soup, delicious with a hint of sherry. Three more whites:
>
> Wine # 4- clean, clear pear fruit, citrus zest, a bit lighter than
> other two, pleasant but not as deep. B
>
> Wine # 5- big, ripe, rich. Lovely opulent nose. Nice length. John
> opined Corton-Charlemagne, he got it. A-
>
> Wine # 6- this seemed a bit more advanced than others to me, just �a
> bit of �a nutty note. Ripe, minty, some debate over whether it might
> be mildly corked. Seems to get better/cleaner with some air. B+/B
>
> 4- � � �2002 Niellon " Clos St Jean" Chassagne Montrachet 1er
> 5- � � �2001 Bouchard Corton Charlemagne
> 6- � � �2002 Girardin Corton Charlemagne
>
> Third course was raviolo with a veal/walnut red sauce. We switched to
> reds:
>
> Wine # 7 - some toasty oak. coffee, fairly ripe black cherry fruit.
> Young, a bit outclassed by flightmates/ B/B+
>
> Wine # 8 - The first word I write is "Wow." Great nose, sandalwood and
> cherries, flowers and mushrooms, very complex. Fully mature, but not
> fading, a lovely lovely wine. A/A-
>
> Wine # 9- pretty tight at first, but opens beautifully. Still a bit
> wound up, but a lovely full-bodied Burg. Black cherries, forest floor,
> espresso. Fine and long. Might have passed #8 for my WOTN if we had a
> few more minutes! A-
>
> 7- � � �2002 Roumier MSD Clos de la Bussiere
> 8- � � �1985 Roumier MSD Clos de la Bussiere
> 9- � � �1990 Roumier Bonnes Mares
>
> Fourth course was cheese (Brie de Meaux, a fine Comte, Leyden, Old
> Chatham ewe bleu cheese), with 3 more reds:
>
> Wine # 10- lead pencil, a bit of animal, blackcurrants, full but
> elegant. Good acidity, resolved tannins. A-
>
> Wine # 11 - pretty dull and ponderous next to other 2, though I
> probably would have been ok with it on its own. A little VA, hint of
> brett, solid dark fruit, still a bit of tannin. B-
>
> Wine # 12- Sweet dark fruit, a light funky edge, cigarbox, minerally/
> rock finish. Very nice wine. A-/B+
>
> 10- � � �1979 Chateau Montrose
> 11- � � �1975 Chateau Montrose
> 12- � � �1966 Chateau Montrose
>
> Nice night with nice wines, nice food, nice people. Nice!
>
> 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.
> �

I would have loved to have been at that tasting. Many of my favorite
producers! Have you ever had a Montrose that didn't show a bit of
"animal"?