In article
>,
DaleW > wrote:

> On Jul 1, 10:21*am, DaleW > wrote:
> > Cathleen hosted SOBER last night, and did a spectacular job even
> > though she and Steve both worked all day. The rain ended just as I
> > arrived, and we waited for everyone to arrive (it took a while, some
> > folks apparently have better GPS than others- me, I'm old school with
> > just a map).
> >
> > Cathleen had just come back from France, had brought some foie gras
> > which was served with toast and three bubblies:
> >
> > Blind Sparkling #1 :Round, soft acids, fruity, creamy, nice. John gets
> > BdB quickly. 2000 Domaine Carneros "La Reve" Blanc de Blanc * B/B+
> >
> > Blind Sparkling #2 : Much higher acids, bite and grip, light nutty
> > notes, brioche, complex, I like this. 1998 Gosset "Celebris" Brut
> > Champagne. A-
> >
> > Blind Sparkling #3 : Pale rose, the bottle shape leaves little to
> > guess about. Strawberries and cherries, French toast and mineral. Long
> > long finish. Delicate but with power. Great bubbly. 2000 Taittinger
> > Comtes de Champagne Brut Rose. A
> >
> > First sitdown course was crab cake with potato chips and tartar/
> > remoulade, with *two whites:
> >
> > Blind White #1 I think everyone was in white Burgundy immediately.
> > Exotic ripe nose with oak, quince, peaches,and hazelnut. Craig went to
> > Meursault immediately, John agreed, Cathleen confirmed. Not a lot of
> > rock/mineral, I am surpised at the year/vineyard, the combo I would
> > have expected to be zippier/more mineral. But I liked (maybe more than
> > group). *1993 Robert Ampeau "Les Perrieres" Meursault 1er. B+
> >
> > Blind White #2 Not as exotic, but clearly Burgundy. Nose is steely
> > clean, chalky, and without apparent oak, I thought maybe Chablis, but
> > softer/rounder on palate. Clean and with no oxidation. 1996 Jadot
> > Meursault. B
> >
> > Moved to reds, which were accompanied by roast duck, green beans,
> > potatoes:
> >
> > First flight. Most seemed clear Burgundy, though some guesses of
> > California for #2. #4 seemed ripest, and someone thought 1990, but
> > Cathleen reveal it was a horizontal of '93s:
> >
> > #1 - I thought this lovely and balanced, silky texture, red fruit with
> > coffee and earth, I liked more than group. 1993 Jacques Prieur Volnay-
> > Santenots 1er * A-
> >
> > #2 Round, soft, with a somewhat weird cherry cola note (which is why I
> > agreed when someone said maybe CA). Only wine of night *that seems to
> > devolve in glass. 1993 Louis Latour Volnay-Santenots 1er B-/C+
> >
> > #3 A bit tight at first, opens to fresh fruit, earth, some vanilla.
> > Still some tannins, needs time. Volnay-Santenots 1er B+
> >
> > #4 *Lush, ripe, though with some balancing acids. Not bad at all.
> > Never heard of producer. 1993 Glantenay Volnay-Santenots 1er B/B+
> >
> > Second red flight. Clearly Burgundy, and it wasn't long before someone
> > (Dan?) *realized it was a continuation of same horizontal.
> >
> > #5 *Red cherries, herbs/pot, medium bodied. 1993 Robert Ampeau *Volnay-
> > Santenots 1er B+
> >
> > #6 *Sulfury nose, big crushed berry fruit, sweet, a little empty. 1993
> > Mikulski Volnay-Santenots 1er B-
> >
> > #7 a touch of bretty stink, but within my tolerance. Solid midweight
> > Burgundy. 1993 Matrot Volnay-Santenots 1er
> >
> > More Volnay-Santenots (which of course is actually in Meursault) than
> > I've ever tasted at once!
> >
> > Third red flight. Some question of possibly Bdx or Rhone, but we got
> > back to Burgundy quickly, and it turned out to be more 1993s
> > (I'm using Cathleen's numbering)
> >
> > #1 Ripe, somewhat lifted nose. Bigger than most earlier reds, somewhat
> > herby, quite short compared to others. 1993 Clerget "Les Caillerets "
> > Volnay 1er * B-
> >
> > #2 *Good, nice length, some tannins. 1993 Bitouzet-Prieur *"Les
> > Caillerets" Volnay 1er *B+
> >
> > #3 Biggest red to date, some tannins, good acids, strong fruit core
> > but far from ready. 1993 d'Angerville *"Les Caillerets " Volnay 1er.
> > A-
> >
> > #4 *Ripe, tannic, a little stinky, a tad short but nice enough. 1993
> > Pousse d'Or "Les Caillerets " Volnay 1er *B
> >
> > Fourth red flight- ok, with the numbering it wasn't hard to guess this
> > was mostly a continuation of horizontal, though one wasn't Caillerets.
> >
> > #5 Sweet, ripe, lovely - more ready than most others. *I thought
> > delicious. *1993 Jean Boillot "Les Caillerets " Volnay 1er *A-
> >
> > #6 More sweet/sappy fruit, integrated oak, nice length. 1993 *Bouchard
> > "Les Caillerets Ancienne Cuvee Carnot *" Volnay 1er *B+
> >
> > #7 Actually seemed thin at first, but really put on weight in glass.
> > Black cherries, raspberry, high acidity and tannins, needs time. 1993
> > d'Angerville "Clos des Ducs " Volnay 1er *B+/A-
> >
> > Really fun and educational horizontal. Only maybe the Latour and
> > Boillot didn't seem to warrant more time, and the Latour and maybe the
> > Mikulski was only ones that was really weak, a pretty solid showing
> > from a range of producers. Hard to say 1993 is only good at top level
> > with this showing.
> >
> > With dessert, the 1976 Schloss Schonborn Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling
> > Beerenauslese (Rheingau). Deep dark color, lower acids, lots of
> > botrytis. Fully mature. A-/B+
> >
> > Fun night.
> >
> > 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.*
>
> #3 A bit tight at first, opens to fresh fruit, earth, some vanilla.
> Still some tannins, needs time. Volnay-Santenots 1er B+
>
> Oops, this one was Comtes Lafon

Thanks for the notes. How often does SOBER meet? You have great tastings.