Last night I attended Berserkerfest 2.5 at Peking Duck House in
midtown NYC. Thanks to Leo Frokic for instigating, Michel Abood for
organizing, and Brad Kane for organizing our table. A nice crowd, good
company and much generosity. Below are the wines I took at least
rudimentary notes on. I tasted a few others when walking around, but
didn't note. As it was, I turned down lots of pours, even though I was
taking a train I wanted to be able to walk to Grand Central.*

Crowded tables, but I really enjoyed the duck, and the other dishes
were ok if not great. I'll note that while all TNs are personal, I
think I disagreed with table more than usual, and tried to note.*I
think our official table theme was "91 and older, unless it's
younger"*

2005 Foreau Vouvray Demi-Sec
A tad drier than I expected, edging toward sec-tendre, crisp, lively,
I quite liked. I buy Foreau dessert wines, and occasionally bubbly,
but now will be in the market for off-dry. B+

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett #9
This wasn't really on my menu, but I had 20 minutes to spare after
train arrived and picked up 3 bottles that were waiting at Crush.
Might as well open one as an apertif. Crisp Mosel apples, sweet
peaches, good minerality. Probably closer to Spatlese weight. I liked
more than table, very happy to have these. A-/B+

1982 Moet and Chandon Dom Perignon Champagne*
Apples, that cheesy thing I get (and like) in older Champagne, coffee,
lemon. Good length, creamy, nice mousse holding on. Fully mature,
delicious. A-

1994 Karthauserhof "Eitelsbacher Karhauserhofberg " Riesling Spatlese
Trocken (magnum)
I'm generally suspicious of Mosel trocken, but enjoyed this. Petrol,
minerals, lemon. Good length. I still prefer my dry Riesling from
Alsace or Austria, but good. B

1985 Daniel Jarry Vouvray Demi-sec*
Tart, citric, some wax and wool. I shouldn't have had this as a stand
alone, needs food. B-/B ?

some blind wines
#1 - by time I try someone has already guessed Italy and it's been
confirmed. Big, tannic, fruit-driven. I'm thinking something like
modern Aglianico, but it's from the north- the*2006 Vajra "Kye"
Freisa.*I pretty much could guarantee if you gave me 25 guesses as to
variety I'd have never gone to Freisa. B/B-

#2 Herbal, vegetal, asparagus. From nose I'm hesitant to try. OK, on
palate just bad, not awful,green peppers and candied red fruit Chris
says "bad unripe Cab Franc". I can't think in terms of variety, just
as bad wine. It's the*2007 Silver Springs/Don GiovanniTri-Dition*(and
I think Chris is correct, 60% CF). C-/D+

#3- actually unveiled as I'm trying, so no guesses (but I think Chris
said inexpensive Pinot Grigio). The*2009 Silver Springs/Don Giovanni
Pinot Grigio*is pretty straighforward and acceptable, light pear
fruit, innocuous PG. B-

back to labels
1970 Murrieta "Ygay" Gran Reserva Especial
Bright cherry fruit, just slightly lifted nose, clove, dill. Long and
complex on a rather lithe frame. (I liked far more than neighbors). A-

1981 Lopez de Heredia "Tondonia" Gran Reserva (white)
Good acids, nutty, yellow fruit, brown sugar (though of course fully
dry). Revisited on train (I took home the final few ounces) it was
more herbal and vibrant, I liked at dinner, loved on train (of course
by then my palate was shot). At dinner I put down B+

2004 Jadot "Referts" Puligny-Montrachet 1er (magnum)
Bosc pear, honeycomb, light vanilla notes. Good acidity, classic
Puligny stones. (I like more than table) B+/A-

1988 Comte Armand "Clos des Epeneaux" Pommard 1er
Meaty, beaty, big, and bouncy. On the big (approaching massive) side
of Burgundy. Not a case of modern heavy extraction, just the
combination of producer, vineyard, and vintage. This is really young,
needs time. B+

1988 Jasmin Cote Rotie
I don't have much Jasmin experience, but liked this. Medium bodied,
pepper, flowers, red fruits. Good acidity. B/B+

1998 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape (mag)
Big, fresh, showing more Grenachey, but good acids as well as
tannins.Ripe but not overripe. Nice showing. B+ with potential*

1988 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
This was actually my clear favorite of the Beaucastel's, smoky, spicy,
with solid fruits and good structure. This was delicious and in no
danger of fading. Ties with the red Rioja as my WOTN. A-

1990 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Ripe, mature, some coffee and herbs over the fruit. I liked, but
thought the 1988 was more my style. I think I liked less than the
table, but still a B/B+

1991 Heitz "Martha's Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon
Red fruits, a bit weedy, not really long. This was the most
controversial flight at our table, with some liking this a lot. I
thought this was at best ok and not getting better. B-

1974 Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon
While I like 70s CalCab a lot, I'm always shocked when a wine from a
winery that I think of nowadays as middling/generic shows well at 36.
Mature, tannins fully resolved, soft acids, red fruits, maybe a bit
tired but still complex and interesting. B+*

2001 Bouchard "Le Corton" Corton GC
A generous offer from another table, I was wishing for more Burgundy
but this didn't excite me. Red fruit, a little earth, correct but a
bit short and dull. B-

1970 Pichon Lalande
I brought this. I've seen a lot of variability in this, I thought this
was a good bottle but not as good as some. Nice cassis fruit, mature,
tobacco and leather. Good but not great length. A couple of people
liked more. B+

1996 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
I've had some recent mixed experience with the drier 96 Baumards, but
this is delicious. Honied, quince, apricots, long with good acidity. B
+/A-

1976 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
As much as I liked the 96, I think I was alone in preferring the 76.
Sure, maybe it was a bit tired, and maybe better 10 years ago. But
there's a complex core there - burnt orange, honey, citrus zest. I
thought it intriguing and delicious. A-

1989 Bourillon Dorleans "Tris de Noble Grains" Vouvray
Sweet, young, peaches, apricots, rich. There's nothing wrong with this
wine from a second/third tier producer except it tastes like it's from
a tsecond/third tier producer. B/B- (but I bet I would have graded
higher if it hadn't been next to the Baumards).

Fun night, thanks to everyone at my table (and generous people from
other tables).*

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 on Sat, 15 May 2010 08:41:14 -0700 (PDT):

> Crowded tables, but I really enjoyed the duck, and the other
> dishes were ok if not great. I'll note that while all TNs are
> personal, I think I disagreed with table more than usual, and
> tried to note. I think our official table theme was "91 and
> older, unless it's younger"
________________
2005 Foreau Vouvray Demi-Sec
A tad drier than I expected, edging toward sec-tendre, crisp, lively,
I quite liked. I buy Foreau dessert wines, and occasionally bubbly,
but now will be in the market for off-dry. B+

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett #9
1982 Moet and Chandon Dom Perignon Champagne
1994 Karthauserhof "Eitelsbacher Karhauserhofberg "
1985 Daniel Jarry Vouvray Demi-sec
some blind wines
#1,
#2,
#3
back to labels
1970 Murrieta "Ygay" Gran Reserva Especial
1981 Lopez de Heredia "Tondonia" Gran Reserva (white)
2004 Jadot "Referts" Puligny-Montrachet 1er (magnum)
1988 Comte Armand "Clos des Epeneaux" Pommard 1er
1988 Jasmin Cote Rotie
I1998 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape (mag).Ripe
1988 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
1990 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
1991 Heitz "Martha's Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon
1974 Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Bouchard "Le Corton" Corton GC
1970 Pichon Lalande
1996 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
1976 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
1989 Bourillon Dorleans "Tris de Noble Grains" Vouvray
____________________

Wow, quite a list! I'd have taken a taxi to the station after that!
perhaps I'd even have to be poured into the taxi.

> Fun night, thanks to everyone at my table (and generous people
> from other tables).



--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On May 15, 12:27*pm, "James Silverton" >
wrote:
> *DaleW *wrote *on Sat, 15 May 2010 08:41:14 -0700 (PDT):
>
> > Crowded tables, but I really enjoyed the duck, and the other
> > dishes were ok if not great. I'll note that while all TNs are
> > personal, I think I disagreed with table more than usual, and
> > tried to note. I think our official table theme was "91 and
> > older, unless it's younger"
>
> ________________
> 2005 Foreau Vouvray Demi-Sec
> A tad drier than I expected, edging toward sec-tendre, crisp, lively,
> I quite liked. I buy Foreau dessert wines, and occasionally bubbly,
> but now will be in the market for off-dry. B+
>
> 2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett #9
> 1982 Moet and Chandon Dom Perignon Champagne
> 1994 Karthauserhof "Eitelsbacher Karhauserhofberg "
> 1985 Daniel Jarry Vouvray Demi-sec
> some blind wines
> #1,
> #2,
> #3
> back to labels
> 1970 Murrieta "Ygay" Gran Reserva Especial
> 1981 Lopez de Heredia "Tondonia" Gran Reserva (white)
> 2004 Jadot "Referts" Puligny-Montrachet 1er (magnum)
> 1988 Comte Armand "Clos des Epeneaux" Pommard 1er
> 1988 Jasmin Cote Rotie
> I1998 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape (mag).Ripe
> 1988 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
> 1990 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
> 1991 Heitz "Martha's Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon
> 1974 Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon
> 2001 Bouchard "Le Corton" Corton GC
> 1970 Pichon Lalande
> 1996 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
> 1976 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
> 1989 Bourillon Dorleans "Tris de Noble Grains" Vouvray
> ____________________
>
> Wow, quite a list! I'd have taken a taxi to the station after that!
> perhaps I'd even have to be poured into the taxi.
>
> > Fun night, thanks to everyone at my table (and generous people
> > from other tables).
>
> --
>
> James Silverton
> Potomac, Maryland
>
> Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Well, I know I didn't list some wines I tasted (like the Taittinger
from the 12L bottle)

Let's just say I wasn't tempted to drive when I got to my village- I
took a cab home rather than walk 1.5 miles. But I wasn't totally
sloshed- I'm a big guy and I was taking small pours (and dumping,
though I didn't do much actual spitting).