Scotland's favourite son, Rabbie Burns, wrote in 1785 to a "wee, sleekit,
cow'rin, tim'rous beastie" that oft misquoted line "the best-laid schemes
o' mice an' men, gang aft agley"



I have no idea if was the effect of over 7,000 earthquakes / aftershocks
800km to the south in Christchurch (are you still planning a sojourn in NZ
next year Professor Lipton?)



Or maybe it was winter solstice gremlins.



But our monthly dinner of the Rangitoto Beefsteak & Burgundy club was far
from the orderly affair. Our group, comprises the "glitterati" of the
Auckland wine scene - winemakers, wine scribes, marketers and hanger-onners
(your truly is the token country member - yes, we remember!)



Usually, we visit an accommodating restaurant who designs a menu to support
wines from the club's cellar - this time, the cellar master was clearing out
a few bin ends from 2000-01.



As usual, all wines were served blind - with discussion encouraged at
various stages during the meal.



The aperitif totally baffled everyone - is this Riesling; maybe Pinot Gris -
not chardonnay - is that a hint of Gewürz spice?



Yes - and no! Marlborough winemaker John Forrest writes "In my winemaking
experience, I have found the whole is often greater than the sum of the
parts and "The White" is my expression of this belief. To achieve this, I
have chosen from my vineyards only those varieties which have won acclaim in
that region. From the warm, stony Gimblett Gravels in Hawkes Bay - Viognier;
from the limestone soils of North Otago - Pinot Gris; from Central Otago -
Pinot Gris and Riesling; and from Marlborough's patchwork of riverbed
soils - Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and
Gewürztraminer."



Odd ball - definitely, but this rather bizarre wine had great fruit
concentration and finesse. Apart from its novelty value, not something of
which I would be inclined to spend $50.



Nine reds had been selected and decanted (to be served in three flights of
3), and to assist us in our deliberations, we were provided with a list,
obviously in a random order.



First flight of three. #1 - I have never been the greatest fan of Daniel
Schuster (North Canterbury, NZ) but he does have a reputation from producing
decent Pinot Noir. Fruity, maybe a little herbal but a bit "simple" for my
liking.



#2 was no mystery to me (although, surprisingly others struggled) - 2000 Ch
Lynch Bages - beautiful nose; Pauillac perfection.



#3 was when the rot set in. To author and judge Michael Cooper and I this
one had all the elements of classic Rioja - and a very good one at that!



But no! We were told Australian Nebbiolo. (about now, we suspect that this
is not going to an ordinary night)



Next flight! #4 Another NZ Pinot Noir - complex; fine texture; ripe
tannins; wild cherry and spice - Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001 (at 10 years,
drinking beautifully)



#5 - Oops - hold on! #3 was not Nebbiolo - it was CVNE Imperial Reserva
Rioja 2001 (Of course it was!) And what's more, #5 is not Nebbiolo either.
Identified as a 1998 Penfolds Bin 389 - the wine was definitely Australian -
but not on the list!



Sorry guys, one of the bottles of Dom. Jean-Louis Chaves Hermitage 2001 is
corked, so we had to include a substitute.



#6 - another Bordeaux? No says mine host - a Chateau Neuf du Pape.



(Reader, please imagine John McEnroe styled exclamation "You can't be
f*****g serious!!!)



From this point, while the food served was quite excellent, there was no
point whatsoever relying on the cellar master/presenter to get anything
right. Decanters were shuffled and mis-numbered.



In no particular order, we also partook of Ch. Marguax Pavillon Rouge 2000;
Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Res. 2000; Primo Estate "Joseph" Nebbiolo 2002;
and a Cuvee du Vatican CNP 2001.



Did I say that only one bottle of the Hermitage was spoiled? Well, yes - and
the other was left forgotten until many had left - and it was really quite
superb (my WOTN closely followed by CastelGiocondo and the Lynch-Bages.)



So, what happened? Brain explosion? Who knows.



We are quite sure that we eventually correctly identified all the wines -
or did we?



I blame the aperitif - such a wine was bound to cause mayhem!



--



The Champagne Socialist

(Former peer, self-defrocked!)

The Champagne Socialist wrote:

> I have no idea if was the effect of over 7,000 earthquakes / aftershocks
> 800km to the south in Christchurch (are you still planning a sojourn in
> NZ next year Professor Lipton?)

The plan is still under discussion, mi-comrade (??). We're sorting out
the issues of prolonged international travel (car rental, etc.) but I'd
still place the odds at better than 50/50.


<SNIP horrific story>

Wow! No great fan of blind tastings am I, but surely this comedy of
errors takes it to a whole new level. Good wines in that tasting,
though. Glad to see that you're still enjoying the good life and hope
to throw back a bottle or two with you in in '12.

Mark Lipton

"Mark Lipton" wrote .............
>
>> I have no idea if was the effect of over 7,000 earthquakes / aftershocks
>> 800km to the south in Christchurch (are you still planning a sojourn in
>> NZ next year Professor Lipton?)
>
> The plan is still under discussion, mi-comrade (??). We're sorting out
> the issues of prolonged international travel (car rental, etc.) but I'd
> still place the odds at better than 50/50.
>

Mark, by co-incidence, a couple weeks ago, I received an email from our dear
friends, mine hosts at La Souvigne, advising that they are proposing a
return visit to these shores in Jan/Feb 2012.

If all goes well, a reunion could be on the cards, where more than a bottle
or two could well be in order.

AB

On Jul 3, 1:58*am, "The Champagne Socialist"
> wrote:
> "Mark Lipton" wrote .............
>
>
>
> >> I have no idea if was the effect of over 7,000 earthquakes / aftershocks
> >> 800km to the south in Christchurch (are you still planning a sojourn in
> >> NZ next year Professor Lipton?)
>
> > The plan is still under discussion, mi-comrade (??). *We're sorting out
> > the issues of prolonged international travel (car rental, etc.) but I'd
> > still place the odds at better than 50/50.
>
> Mark, by co-incidence, a couple weeks ago, I received an email from our dear
> friends, mine hosts at La Souvigne, advising that they are proposing a
> return visit to these shores in Jan/Feb 2012.
>
> If all goes well, a reunion could be on the cards, where more than a bottle
> or two could well be in order.
>
> AB

How is Ian?