In article
>,
DaleW > wrote:

> On Dec 4, 4:42*pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *DaleW > wrote:
> > > Last night SOBER met at my place. Betsy made a nice meal, and we had
> > > some cheeses from a new place in Bronxville. I set up my wine station
> > > on the washer and dryer so no one could spy the wines being served
> > > blind, the basement is at a nice holding temp of about 60 right now.
> >
> > > My notes are even more rudimentary than useful, instead of my usual
> > > stream of consciousness scribblings I was making notes when I went
> > > down for next flight.
> >
> > > As people arrived we had a non-blind wine, the 1997 Philipponnat "Clos
> > > des Goisses" Champagne Brut. I liked this quite a lot, although
> > > someone commented on the softness for Clos des Goisses. Citrus and
> > > green apple, a chalky/stony minerality. *This is pretty much a drink
> > > now, but a fun drink now! Wish I had gotten another one or two at
> > > Posner's closeout. *B+
> >
> > > On to the doubleblind (but not for me) wines
> >
> > > Flight 1 *(with a gingery seafood risotto)
> >
> > > 1989 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile" Riesling Vendange Tardive
> > > I got to give Gilman credit. His guesses in order were "Alsace",
> > > "Vendange Tardive", "Trimbach" and "1989" *Really lovely wine, maybe
> > > my WOTN, long, precise, focused. Good acidity, big on palate, citrus
> > > and a bit of petrol. A-/A
> >
> > > 1990 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile" Riesling Vendange Tardive
> > > Several thought this German. More apparent sweetness (though still
> > > basically dry), quite minerally, long. *Some people liked it much less
> > > than the 1989, but for me they were pretty close. I thought lovely. A-
> >
> > > We paused from our blind festivities to make a toast to the hostess,
> > > as today is Betsy's birthday, and the actual party isn't till next
> > > week. So I poured the 1959 Marques de Murrieta Ygay Gran Reserva.
> > > Perfect label so I assume recent release, the gunky cork is clearly
> > > original. Showing well and quite young, midbodied with a slightly
> > > lifted nose. Red fruits accented with spice and citrus zest. A-
> >
> > > Flight 2
> > > 1985 Phelps "Backus" Cabernet Sauvignon
> > > Craig quickly said both wines from same producer. John went Cal Cab.
> > > The Backus got general approval around table, solid black plum and
> > > currants, big dose of mint/eucalyptus, resolving tannins. A-/B+
> >
> > > 1987 Phelps "Eisele" Cabernet Sauvignon
> > > This provoked some debate, some feeling it was too woody. Certainly
> > > suffers from being served next to the Backus, riper wine that is maybe
> > > entering decline. But served by itself I would have been happy with
> > > it. B
> >
> > > Flight 3
> > > I served this just before the beef in Barolo (well, actually beef in
> > > Barbaresco) made it to the table, to keep from giving hint. Initial
> > > guesses from nose centered on Cabernet, and then Sangiovese. Once they
> > > were on Nebbiolo, they quickly got which was Barbaresco and which
> > > Barolo, and vintage. Beef was served with potatoes and crispy kale.
> >
> > > 1985 Prunotto "Rabaja" Barbaresco
> > > Nose is not very Nebbioloish, dark fruits, leather. On palate more
> > > apparent- redder fruits, tar (remember, not blind for me, so I'm
> > > looking for this), resolved tannins. B+
> >
> > > 1985 Marcarini "Brunate" Barolo
> > > A little VA, bigger, red and black fruits, good length, still some
> > > tannin. No hurry on this one. B+
> >
> > > Flight 4
> > > 1971 Renato Ratti "Marcenasco" Barolo
> > > My intention was to open to check for corkiness and let these slowly
> > > oxygenate. But when I went to open this just before guests arrived,
> > > cork was like sawdust. I decanted through a filter, and a rather foul
> > > smelling light color browning wine came out. The bottle had more
> > > sediment *that I have ever seen other than MAYBE a VP. Since a couple
> > > people couldn't make it, I had decided to skip flight 5, but added
> > > back in as I expected this to be undrinkable. But lo and behold, when
> > > I went down for the first flight, the color had deepened. And the foul
> > > smell had blown off. And by time it was served (about 3 hours after
> > > opening) it was a perfectly nice mature Barolo. Good acids, red and
> > > black cherries, wet moss, tar. The miracle bottle. F on opening, B+/A-
> > > later.
> >
> > > 1971 F. Rinaldi Barolo
> > > I didn't actually write anything down for this other than "some VA" ,
> > > I know I thought it a pleasant mature Barolo, but preferred the Ratti.
> > > B
> >
> > > Flight 5
> > > 1983 Drouhin "Clos des Mouches" Beaune
> > > I said it was a much maligned vintage, and 1983 Burgundy was quickly
> > > guessed. John went Pommard and then Beaune, and got the CdM. Craig
> > > said he got a little rot, to me I couldn't find it. A nice bowl of
> > > cherries with a bit of cedar and dirt. Great showing for the vintage. B
> > > +/A-
> >
> > > 1989 Drouhin Charmes-Chambertin
> > > This was servicable, but maybe my least favorite red of the night.
> > > Clearly Burgundy (even to those tasting blind), ripe, low acid, a bit
> > > short, with a slight horsey note. OK, but the 1er cru kicked the GC's
> > > butt. B-
> >
> > > Flight 6
> > > 1963 Warres Vintage Port
> > > Mark and I had each gotten this at a good price recently from Pops, so
> > > he wasn't allowed guesses. I think initial guesses were in 70s, but
> > > overall they got vintage quickly (producer, not so fast). Fig paste,
> > > spices, nice if not profound. B+
> >
> > > 1972 Mayacamas Late Harvest Zinfandel
> > > It was kinda funny because at first Mark thought this was the port,
> > > and had a "uh oh I own this?" look on his face. Several people thought
> > > it was port, but then Craig said late harvest Cali Cab. Pretty close!
> > > This is an interesting and kind of weird wine, a changing palette of
> > > herb notes- one minute oregano, then mint,. then green tobacco leaf,
> > > etc. All over a fruit base of raisins and ripe plums with some cocoa.
> > > B
> >
> > > I had shocked everyone by serving no Bordeaux! Fun night, most of the
> > > wines showed as well as I could have hoped, fun people to host.
> >
> > > 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.**
> >
> > Have you had the Marques de Murrieta for a long time. That is amazing
> > longevity for an inexpensive wine at the time but now over $600 per
> > bottle.
>
> No, got it this year! We got married in 2001, and I've been looking
> for bottles for this birthday since. I had managed to accumulate a few
> assorted comparatively low end 59s from various regions, but not the
> Ygay. I tasted and loved the '59 CVNE Vina Real, and mentioned it to
> Mark Golodetz, who said the Ygay was stunning value for under $200.
> But it was always more expensive when I saw, and I lost out on several
> auction lots. And then this fall I just stumbled on it for $199.
> Obvious recent release.
> I have 3 remaining 59s (a Loire, a Sauternes, and a St Julien) which
> will be opened Tues for her official party. So far so good, keeping
> fingers crossed.

That is indeed a great buy. Sounds like a great birthday celebration.