Tim hosted our SOBER group last night, and did a bang-up job with both
wine choices and food. He greeted us with some great gougeres and the
1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Millenaires Brut Champagne. Really
delicious, medium to full bodied, just a hint of yeast/bread, white
fruits and spice. There's a good minerally edge on the finish, worth
looking for. A-

We sat down to table, where there were some great cheeses (especially
the comte) as we went on to the blind wines

Flight 1 (with a delicious scallop and corn dish):
Both deep colored, somewhat sweet, someone suggested Sauternes,but not
that sweet. Some votes for Alsace, #1 seemed like a good bet for Zind
Humbrecht, but I went with Loire demi-sec for #2 (nope).

#1 - Golden with an orange tinge, a bit heavy, low acid, floral and
honey. Not my style. Once it is revealed as 2000 Zind Humbrecht "Clos
St. Urbain (Rangen de Thann)" Pinot Gris, I'm surprised - thought it
was 10+ older. C+

#2 - Wooly/waxy thing makes me think Vouvray, but John says it lacks
the chalky minerality. More acidity than flightmate, though only
moderate.
2000 Marcel Deiss "Altenberg de Bergheim"* Grand Vin. B


Flight 2
Pretty obviously Chardonnay, guesses centered on California for #1 and
dead Burgundy for #2
#1 - ripe, low acid, quite short. 2003 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne
B-/C+

#2 - poster child for PremOx. Browning apple peel nose, this is not
pleasant. 2002 Bouchard "Les Perrieres" Meursault (hope my remaining
'01 is holding better) D

Flight 3 (with mushrooms and grilled polenta)
Think group got Piedmont quickly. I thought number #1 was older, but
once he said same vintage I guessed 1988 or 1989

#1 - caramel, tar, a little hightoned. Great complex nose, palate a
bit flatter. 1989 Produttori del Barbaresco "Moccagatta" Barbaresco
Riserva
B+

#2 - just a little shitty note at first that blows off, red cherry and
raspberry fruit, a hint of oak, seems more modern than #1. 1989
Produttori del Barbaresco "Montestefano" Barbaresco Riserva. B/B+

(I think neither actually sees new oak)

Flight 4
we were off by a longshot on this one, I thought California!
#1 - most straightforward and enjoyable of the bunch, red and black
fruits, a bit short. 1995 Ch. de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape. B

#2 -Lowish acids, some wood tannins, ok. 2000 Ch. de Beaucastel
Chateauneuf-du-Pape. B-

#3 - weird candy/marshmallow nose, I really didn't care for this (Tim
said it was nice on decanting a couple hours before) 2005 Ch. de
Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape.. C

Flight 5 (with leg of lamb, roasted potatoes, spinach, and broiled
tomatoes)
OK, I blew this one. I was thinking Bordeaux, guess was 1998 Right
Bank, with #1 being more traditional and #2 more modern. Though when
John suggested #1 was SuperTuscan I could see it.

#1 Dark crushed berries, light espresso notes, touch of nice
herbiness. I quite enjoyed. 1999 Solaia. B+*

#2 At first I really liked the nose, a nice blend of leather, dark
fruits, and vanilla. After a while it seems a bit disjointed, but not
bad. On the palate the fruit is quite sweet. Not bad though. 1999 Cinq
Cepages. B

Flight 6
#1 Blueberry jam and oak, not my favorite descriptors but best of
flight nevertheless. Once John guessed French he quickly nailed it as
Chapoutier. 1999 Chapoutier "L’Ermite" Ermitage B-/C+

#2 Nose is rather muted at first, just a kind of candied
artificality, though some disagreed. I really didn't care much for
this, a coconut/oak combo that didn't appeal much. 1999 Greg Norman
Shiraz Reserve. C+

#3 - whacky nose of flowers, kirsch, cinnamon, rubber, and alcohol. On
palate, blueberries and oak, very heavy. I am not a fan of the 2002
Alban Reva Syrah, but am glad to have tried what is such a fave with
so many. C

Bonus blind bottle
Obviously port, and truly delicious. Toffee, macerated cherries,
plums, and candied orange peel. Develops quickly in glass, smooth
tannins, finish liked spiced raisin cake. WOTN for me . 1977 Taylor
Vintage Port. A

Fun night, Tim pushed our old school Old World centric group a bit
outside our comfort zone, a fun learning experience. Not buying any
new release Beaucastels without trying!

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:

Thanks for the fascinating notes, Dale. This doesn't sound like it was
one of your favorite SOBER tastings, though


> #2 - Wooly/waxy thing makes me think Vouvray, but John says it lacks
> the chalky minerality. More acidity than flightmate, though only
> moderate.
> 2000 Marcel Deiss "Altenberg de Bergheim" Grand Vin. B

So, this is a blend of grapes. Any idea what's in it? Is it a typical
Gentil sort of blend do you think?


> Flight 4
> we were off by a longshot on this one, I thought California!
> #1 - most straightforward and enjoyable of the bunch, red and black
> fruits, a bit short. 1995 Ch. de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape. B
>
> #2 -Lowish acids, some wood tannins, ok. 2000 Ch. de Beaucastel
> Chateauneuf-du-Pape. B-
>
> #3 - weird candy/marshmallow nose, I really didn't care for this (Tim
> said it was nice on decanting a couple hours before) 2005 Ch. de
> Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape.. C

Ouch! I know that you're not a Grenache fan, but I recall that you
usually like Beaucastel. I have all three of these, so I'll remember
not to serve any to you ;-) Clearly the '05 is not in a good place
right now (no great surprise) but the other two are probably showing the
characteristics of their vintages, as '00 was a hot, low acid year and
'95 has proved to be more variable than the initial prognostications.
From CT notes, it sounds like this is still partially closed down, though.

> #3 - whacky nose of flowers, kirsch, cinnamon, rubber, and alcohol. On
> palate, blueberries and oak, very heavy. I am not a fan of the 2002
> Alban Reva Syrah, but am glad to have tried what is such a fave with
> so many. C

I've not had many Alban Syrahs, and those that I have had have mostly
been young and WAY too oaky for me. However, I had an aged Reva in
Toledo last year (the '96). It was a fascinating example of aged Syrah
and not out of place in a lineup of older Cornas (and keep in mind that
I'm an extreme quercophobe when it comes to Syrah), so perhaps given
enough time the oak integrates. It was FL Jim Cowan however who stated
that John Alban is a good farmer but a lousy winemaker, so take that FWIW.

Again, thanks for the fascinating notes!
Mark Lipton

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.cwdjr.net

On May 29, 11:52*am, Mark Lipton > wrote:
>
> Thanks for the fascinating notes, Dale. *This doesn't sound like it was
> one of your favorite SOBER tastings, though
>
It was great, I had no trouble spitting (was driving)

> > 2000 Marcel *Deiss "Altenberg de Bergheim" *Grand Vin. B
>
> So, this is a blend of grapes. *Any idea what's in it? *Is it a typical
> Gentil sort of blend do you think?
>
Apparently label say "all the traditional grapes" so not sure if that
is restricted to the "noble" ones like Gentil is , or if includes
Chasselas, Pinot Blanc, etc

> Ouch! *I know that you're not a Grenache fan, but I recall that you
> usually like Beaucastel. *I have all three of these, so I'll remember
> not to serve any to you ;-) *Clearly the '05 is not in a good place
> right now (no great surprise) but the other two are probably showing the
> characteristics of their vintages, as '00 *was a hot, low acid year and
> '95 has proved to be more variable than the initial prognostications.
> From CT notes, it sounds like this is still partially closed down, though..

I actually liked my last bottle of the 95 a bit better than this back
in winter.
>
> I've not had many Alban Syrahs, and those that I have had have mostly
> been young and WAY too oaky for me. *However, I had an aged Reva in
> Toledo last year (the '96). *It was a fascinating example of aged Syrah
> and not out of place in a lineup of older Cornas (and keep in mind that
> I'm an extreme quercophobe when it comes to Syrah), so perhaps given
> enough time the oak integrates. *It was FL Jim Cowan however who stated
> that John Alban is a good farmer but a lousy winemaker, so take that FWIW..
>
Good line.

On May 29, 12:10*pm, DaleW > wrote:
> On May 29, 11:52*am, Mark Lipton > wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the fascinating notes, Dale. *This doesn't sound like it was
> > one of your favorite SOBER tastings, though
>
> It was great, I had no trouble spitting (was driving)

I realized that sounds a little snotty. I seriously thought it was a
great tasting, Tim has a great cellar (in the sense of broadness-
physically it's cool too, I'm jealous of the little delivery door/
storage area) and could have easily just served 12-15 wines likely to
please group. But he went outside the box (for our group) with things
like Alban, Chapoutier, ZH, Solaia, and Cinq Cepages. Fun and
enjoyable tasting,