On May 17, 8:55 am, "DALE WILLIAMS" >
wrote:
> (apologies if this is a repost, looks like Google Groups is down)
> Last night was our monthly SOBER (Several Oenophiles Being Extremely
> Rambunctious) meeting, and I looked forward to it with great anticipation.
> These evenings are always great,but when John Gilman (View from the Cellar)
> hosts there is an extra guarantee of great wines. This night didn't
> disappoint, and I toughened up my grading scale to allow for differentiation
> of a bunch of excellent wines.
>
> I was running slightly late, after picking up Drew we were the last to
> arrive. There was an apertif wine on the table:
>
> 1983 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese GoldkapselToo bad we had limited
> time with this beauty. Crystalline pear fruit with a little apricot and
> green apple,. honey and ginger, great length. Great definition, delicious.
> A-
>
> John had a nice spread of cheeses out: aged manchego, delice de Bourgogne,
> St Marcellin, Morbier, Boucheron, and Epoisses. The main wines were in 5
> flights, served blind (from decanters, so no bottle hints).
>
> Flight 1
> #1 Burst of cherries and flowers on the nose, palate of kirsch and flowers.
> A hint of the exotic- sandalwood and spice. Strong acids, moderate tannins.
> I like a lot. A-
>
> #2 Nose is very tight. Ripe red cherries, some forest floor, but more seems
> to be in waiting than actually out and open. A revisit about an hour later
> is more expressive, with espresso and a little herby hint(I put B/B+ as we
> were in flight, need for an upgrade later, A-/B+)
>
> Group quickly settled on Cotes de Nuits, but no one got producer (I think
> Dan did get Clos St Jacques as vineyard for #1) without some hints from
> John. Group preference was for #1 believe.
>
> #1 1996 Armand Rousseau "Clos St. Jacques" Gevrey-Chambertin 1er
> #2 1998 Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze
>
> Next up was a flight of whites, served with a delicious dish of shrimp in a
> garlic-tarragon- fennelseed sauce with avocados.
>
> Flight 2
> #1 Rather inexpressive at first, but opened quickly. I got this rather
> distinctive peppermint note, but no one else did. Lemony citrus with a
> little pear, good acidity, refreshing, but I thought it paled next to its
> flightmate. B+/B
>
> #2 Wow, what a nose. A blast of toasted hazelnuts and a little herb. Palate
> is pretty impressive too- countrystyle apple butter and peach flavors, long
> finish that just won't quit, full yet elegant. A/A-
>
> No doubts as to white Burgundy here, Dan and Jacques impressively
> immediately proclaimed number 2 to be a Coche-Dury (though one likes and one
> doesn't). Probably biggest divide of the night for favorites.
>
> #1 2002 Comtes Lafon "Gouttes d'Or" Meursault 1er
> #2 1999 Coche-Dury " Enseignères" Puligny-Montrachet
>
> Flight 3
> #1 Some oak, sweet red fruit, tar. A little black olive and herb. Some find
> it too oaky, I like a lot. There's a creaminess to the texture that appeals.
> B+/A-
>
> #2 Structured. Good fruit, tar, smoke, but a little hard around the edges.
> Others like more than I. B
>
> The biggest miss of the night. With the tar we immediately all went to
> Piedmont, with the opinions basically #1 modern Barolo and #2 older
> traditional Barbaresco. Once John said not Nebbiolo the group made its way
> to Northern Rhone.
>
> #1 1988 Guigal "Brune et Blonde" Cote-Rotie
> #2 1980 Gentaz " Cote Brune" Cote-Rotie
>
> About this time the main course arrived, delicious roast pork with
> vegetables.
>
> Flight 4
> #1 red fruit, roasted meat aromas, minerally finish. Very tasty. A-/B+
>
> #2 blacker fruit, beefy, a bit tannic. I guess '88 Burg. B+
>
> I'm very surprised when vintage on #2 is revealed, as my limited experience
> with '85s have been forward softer wines.
>
> #1 1988 Jacky Truchot Clos de la Roche
> #2 1985 Robert Chevillon "Vaucrains" Nuits-St.-Georges 1er
>
> Flight 5
> #1 cassis, smoke, mushroom. Some tannins remaining. Gets leathery with more
> air. B+
>
> #2 Red fruit, tobacco, a little brambly. Good depth, gravelly earth notes,
> tasty. B+/A-
>
> Guesses were initially all Bordeaux, with lots of guesses for #2 as Graves
> (Haut-Brion, LMHB, DDC). Off by an ocean and a continent for #2, but Mark
> picks #1 as Montrose.
>
> #1 1970 Ch. Montrose (St. Estephe)
> #2 1970 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon(Napa)
> An excellent night of wine, food, and company. Thanks John and everyone.
>
> 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
>
> -- .

Wow, what a great line-up. Thanks for the notes.