Really fun night at Berserkerfest last night. Great crowd, best duck I remember at PDH, fun wines. I didn't really take extensive notes, but did at least write down impressions of wines at my table.

NV Krug Champagne (magnum)
I thought this very good, though stylistically Krug isn't my fave. Full and powerful. B+

Donnhoff Neiderhauser Hermannshöhle Auslese (Mag)
I wrote down 2005, but see in email 2001, so wonder if I should have brought reading glasses to dinner. Certainly seemed more like an 2005, delicious rich fruit, great flavors, but with a soft pillowy feel- I could have used more acidity. B/B+

1990 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile " VT Riesling
This showed quite well, just a touch of sugar, long, minerally, complex. Maybe my WOTN -hate to choose my own but I'm really a Trimbach-slut. A-/A

2009 Adam Dhroner Hofberger Riesling Spatlese (mag)
Quite young obviously, but delicious and long. I liked more than some others. Plus (like the Donnhoff) Riesling magnums just look cool. B+

1999 Jaboulet "La Chapelle" Hermitage
I've seen a lot of variation in Jaboulet, but this was a very very good bottle of Hermitage. Not big, but with solid blackberry fruit, smoke, bacon, and olive. One of best reds of the night. B+/A-

1980 Terrance Gray Hermitage
reductive odors on opening, but this turned out to be a very nice fully mature Northern Rhone. Spice, soy, and a ton of grilled/smoky meat. I liked more than some others. B+

2002 Esmonin Ruchottes Chambertin (mag)
Full, that '02 ripeness, lush texture, needs time. B+/B

1988 Camus Chambertin (mag)
a bit bretty at first, that blew off, after that cherry fruit, earth, sandalwood, mushrooms. Good nose, but a bit thin on palate and without much depth. I kept telling people "judge as Gevrey, forget the Chambertin part." and they'd find it pleasing. B/B+

1982 Ducru Beaucailliou
normally a stunning wine, this seemed soft, characterless, and short. I was surmising '82 disease (storage issues related to too much trading) but some more sensitive noses voted for low-level TCA- i'll go with that. NR

2000 Pichon Baron
This certainly has one foot into modernista camp, but like the '96 straddles the line well. An impressive young wine, deep cassis fruit, serious tannin, enough acidity to keep from being ponderous. B with good potential..

1975 Johannisberger Klaus Beerenauslese
Most people thought it a red wine in decanter. Some didn't like, but I really enjoyed this. Caramel, cooked peaches, clover honey. Still quite sweet but not at all cloying. thanks Craig. B+

1993 Huet "Cuvee Constance" Vouvray
So, this doesn't really exist. Apparently Huet released a batch to English market, and then decided it didn't meet Constance standards, so since then it has been released as Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 1er Trie. But I got this oddity, and am pleased that I did -even sub-standard Constance is serious stuff. Ringing acids, deep flavors of citrus zest, honey, and toffee, not super sweet but really vibrant. A-

NV? Lallier Rose Champagne
I don't generally advise tasting pink bubbly at end of night (and following sweet wines) but actually did well. Frothy fun, all strawberries and cream with a tangy ferric mineral note on finish. I hope I'm right this was non-vintage, as I just bought NV from Zachys one day sale. B+/B

from other tables
1999 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" BdB
More my style, this bottle was lovely for me- powerful, but with elegance and lightness I didn't get from Krug. A-

1975 Giscours
Really classic claret, as Craig said "I think this would be likely to get nailed as Margaux blind." Berry fruit, perfumed, cigarbox.. A-/B+

1973 Gemello Cabernet Sauvignon
I liked this more than Craig and Kenny I think. Currants, cocoa, earth. A bit tannic but not over my limit. thanks Brad. B+/B

NV Taittinger (I assume La Francaise, from a big@$$ bottle)
Crisp, fresh, fun. B

1966 Warres
Plums, dates, figs- medium bodied and a pointe. thanks Jay (and for the Comtes and the Giscours). B+

Wines I tasted but didn't write down details or notes: There was a 71 Spatlese from another table I found totally maderized/DOA, others liked more. There was also a 96 Riesling from table by door where I got a sip of someone elses', but never saw myself and didn't note producer, but it was all electric- really rocked, one of my wines of the night. A 2005 Hospices de Beaune Corton (Roumier elevage) mag had structure and lots of fruit, but for me this just showed too much wood.

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.

On Oct 23, 9:28*pm, DaleW > wrote:
> Really fun night at Berserkerfest last night. Great crowd, best duck I remember at PDH, fun wines. I didn't really take extensive notes, but did at least write down impressions of wines at my table.
>
> NV Krug Champagne (magnum)
> I thought this very good, though stylistically Krug isn't my fave. Full and powerful. B+
>
> Donnhoff Neiderhauser Hermannshöhle *Auslese (Mag)
> I wrote down 2005, but see in email 2001, so wonder if I should have brought reading glasses to dinner. Certainly seemed more like an 2005, delicious rich fruit, great flavors, but with a soft pillowy feel- I could have used more acidity. B/B+
>
> 1990 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile " VT Riesling
> This showed quite well, just a touch of sugar, long, minerally, complex. Maybe my WOTN -hate to choose my own but I'm really a Trimbach-slut. A-/A
>
> 2009 Adam Dhroner Hofberger Riesling Spatlese (mag)
> Quite young obviously, but delicious and long. I liked more than some others. Plus (like the Donnhoff) Riesling magnums just look cool. B+
>
> 1999 Jaboulet "La Chapelle" Hermitage
> I've seen a lot of variation in Jaboulet, but this was a very very good bottle of Hermitage. Not big, but with solid blackberry fruit, smoke, bacon, and olive. One of best reds of the night. B+/A-
>
> 1980 Terrance Gray Hermitage
> reductive odors on opening, but this turned out to be a very nice fully mature Northern Rhone. Spice, soy, and a ton of grilled/smoky meat. I liked more than some others. B+
>
> 2002 Esmonin Ruchottes Chambertin *(mag)
> Full, that '02 ripeness, lush texture, needs time. B+/B
>
> 1988 Camus Chambertin (mag)
> a bit bretty at first, that blew off, after that cherry fruit, earth, sandalwood, mushrooms. Good nose, but a bit thin on palate and without much depth. I kept telling people "judge as Gevrey, forget the Chambertin part." and they'd find it pleasing. *B/B+
>
> 1982 Ducru Beaucailliou
> normally a stunning wine, this seemed soft, characterless, and short. I was surmising '82 disease (storage issues related to too much trading) but some more sensitive noses voted for low-level TCA- i'll go with that. NR
>
> 2000 Pichon Baron
> This certainly has one foot into modernista camp, but like the '96 straddles the line well. An impressive young wine, deep cassis fruit, serious tannin, enough acidity to keep from being ponderous. B with good potential..
>
> 1975 Johannisberger Klaus Beerenauslese
> Most people thought it a red wine in decanter. Some didn't like, but I really enjoyed this. Caramel, cooked peaches, clover honey. Still quite sweet but not at all cloying. thanks Craig. B+
>
> 1993 Huet "Cuvee Constance" Vouvray
> So, this doesn't really exist. Apparently Huet released a batch to English market, and then decided it didn't meet Constance standards, so since then it has been released as Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 1er Trie. But I got *this oddity, and am pleased that I did -even sub-standard Constance is serious stuff. Ringing acids, deep flavors of citrus zest, honey, and toffee, not super sweet but really vibrant. A-
>
> NV? Lallier Rose Champagne
> I don't generally advise tasting pink bubbly at end of night (and following sweet wines) but actually did well. Frothy fun, all strawberries and cream with a tangy ferric mineral note on finish. I hope I'm right this was non-vintage, as I just bought NV from Zachys one day sale. B+/B
>
> from other tables
> 1999 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" BdB
> More my style, this bottle was lovely for me- powerful, but with elegance and lightness I didn't get from Krug. A-
>
> 1975 Giscours
> Really classic claret, as Craig said "I think this would be likely to get nailed as Margaux blind." Berry fruit, perfumed, cigarbox.. A-/B+
>
> 1973 Gemello Cabernet Sauvignon
> I liked this more than Craig and Kenny I think. Currants, cocoa, earth. A bit tannic but not over my limit. *thanks Brad. B+/B
>
> NV Taittinger *(I assume La Francaise, from a big@$$ bottle)
> Crisp, fresh, fun. B
>
> 1966 Warres
> Plums, dates, figs- medium bodied and a pointe. thanks Jay (and for the Comtes *and the Giscours). B+
>
> Wines I tasted but didn't write down details or notes: There was *a 71 *Spatlese from another table I found totally maderized/DOA, others liked more. There was also a 96 Riesling from table by door where I got a sip of someone elses', but never saw myself and didn't note producer, but it was all electric- really rocked, one of my wines of the night. A 2005 Hospices de Beaune Corton (Roumier elevage) mag had structure and lots of fruit, but for me this just showed too much wood.
>
> 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.

Really great wines...and it's ok to be a Trimbach slut...I am too.
Too bad about the '82 I opened a '96 last night that was a disaster.

On 10/23/11 9:28 PM, DaleW wrote:
> Really fun night at Berserkerfest last night. Great crowd, best duck
> I remember at PDH, fun wines. I didn't really take extensive notes,
> but did at least write down impressions of wines at my table.

Nice group of wines, Dale, and it sounds like the Huet was a big hit.
Out of curiosity: any photos of you wearing one of those silly viking helms?

Mark Lipton

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