Category Archives: Chateauneuf du Pape

French Blind Pairs

at Jaleo at Disney Springs

https://www.jaleo.com/location/jaleo-disney-springs/

November 2, 2019 at 6:00 pm

Wines served blind in pairs. Favorites: Haut Brion Blanc, ’64 Leroy, ’86 Mouton.

The Wines

2004Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Chardonnay 50
2010Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos  122
2001Château Haut-Brion Blanc Pessac-Léognan  612
2013Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Pure Roussanne  59
1949Maison Leroy Beaune 1er Cru 478
1964Maison Leroy Pommard 1er Cru Les Grands Épenots 551
1967Château Cheval Blanc St. Émilion Grand Cru 271
1969Château Cheval Blanc St. Émilion Grand Cru 362
1976Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan  357
1986Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac  905
2000Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères  104
2010Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes  164
4035

Upcoming Events

Syndicate?

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance$6741.75
Dues Payable (including Marc as a guest)+6000
Wines for this tasting-4035
Dinner-2367
Balance$6339.75

Odd Man Out

at Chef’s Table at the Edgewater Hotel

August 5, 2017 at 6pm

The group did very well at identifying the “odd man out” in each blind group of three, and in fact in sorting out each wine. Martin got all of them, and most people got nearly all of them. My favorite wines, which were more or less the groups’ favorites, too, were the Ex Voto, Scarecrow M. Etain, Spottswoode, and Lynch Bages, in that order. Surprisingly, the two Burgundies were the least interesting.

The Wines

1961 Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend $521.64
1961 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley $190.00
1961 Château Cos d’Estournel St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend $452.06
2014 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny Pinot Noir $152.56
2009 Domaine Thomas-Moillard Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts Pinot Noir $55.73
2010 Evan’s Ranch Pinot Noir Lone Oak Sta. Rita Hills 1.5L $95.12
2013 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon Monsieur Ètain Rutherford $169.51
2014 Saxum James Berry Vineyard Paso Robles Willow Creek District Red Rhone Blend $120.75
2012 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love McLaren Vale $70.31
2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend $128.09
2007 E. Guigal Ermitage Ex-Voto Hermitage Syrah $126.54
2007 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate St. Helena $235.31
$2,317.62

 

Acquisitions

Wines from Steve for this tasting $2,317.62

Upcoming Events

Syndicate Noveember 4

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance $2533
Dues Payable +5500
Purchases -2317.62
Dinner -2157.25
Balance 3558.13

Please bring your dues of $1000 per couple to the event.

2012-2 White Christmas

White Christmas

at Luma
June 9, 2012 at 6:00 pm
 
In honor of the summer, this was an all white tasting, something we haven’t done before. We’ll did the Burgs as a flight of 5, then the Bordeaux as a flight of 4. (This was Luma, so we had to recycle glasses.) Then, with dessert, we’ll did the Yquem as a flight of 3, and after dinner the Tesseron (saving a half bottle for a future event. The Tesseron is the only Cognac ever scored 100 pts by Parker.)Members did a great job of stepping up to the plate and bringing excellent reds for dinner.

1962 Corton Charlemagne, Patriarche White Burgundy 180
1971 Chassagne-Montrachet, A. Ramonet White Burgundy 180
1976 Chassagne Montrachet, Les Chenevottes, A. Lichine White Burgundy 180
1969 Chevalier-Montrachet, G. Deleger White Burgundy 180
1969 Puligny Montrachet, Clavoillon, Domaine Leflaive White Burgundy 180
6 8 1978 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 295
6 9 1983 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 295
2000 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 485
2001 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 375
9 24 1999 Ch d’Yquem Sauternes Bordeaux tenth 85
9 31 2000 Ch d’Yquem Sauternes Bordeaux tenth 213
9 26 2001 Ch d’Yquem Sauternes Bordeaux tenth 300
NV Tesseron XO Selection Lot 29 Cognac 320
3268

My wine notes:

Starters

2002 Freemark Abbey Gravel Bench Chardonnay, from Andy.
We all loved this very Burgundian California chard. Minerals, oak, gravel, butter with fruit and ash in the finish. 94 pts.

NV Leroy Duval Champagne, from John.
Toasty, nice fruit, 89pts.

NV Ruinart Champagne, from Ron.
Toast, greeen peel, crisp finish, 90 pts.

White Burgundy

1962 Corton Charlemagne, Patriarche, $180.
Although the oldest wine in the flight, this beauty was light straw color and incredibly youthful. 50 years? More like 5! Lemon, ash, a woodsy nose unfortunately developed, probably from a bad cork, tart mineral and lemon finish, very fresh, 91pts.

1971 Chassagne-Montrachet, A. Ramonet, $180.
Amber color, bizarre tomato, bacon and apricot nose, acidic, creamy finish, and awkward wine, 88pts.

1976 Chassagne Montrachet, Les Chenevottes, A. Lichine, $180.
Lovely light straw color, clean vanilla nose, ash on the tongue, tasting very young, the group’s favorite, 92pts.

1969 Chevalier-Montrachet, G. Deleger, $180.
Quite amber, floral, alcohol, geranium, heavy and a bit clumsy, 86 pts.

1969 Puligny Montrachet, Clavoillon, Domaine Leflaive, $180
Astonishingly youthful, bright straw color, ash, minerals a hint of bug spray, clean on the palate with a good balance between acid and fruit, flinty finish, the group’s second favorite and my favorite, 94pts.

White Bordeaux

1978 Ch Haut Brion Blanc, $295.
Amber, closed, honey, weeds, bug spray, dust, intense lemon on the palate, rich caramel finish, improved with 30 minutes of air, 92+pts.

1983 Ch Haut Brion Blanc, $295.
Spicy, candy, oily, very balanced, good acid, vanilla finish, 95pts.

2000 Ch Haut Brion Blanc, $485.
Green, flinty, young, licorice, soft, creamy, lemon finish, 96 pts.

2001 Ch Haut Brion Blanc, $375.
Balanced, creamy, vanilla, apricot, vanilla ice cream, honey, the group’s favorite, 98pts.

Lighter Reds

1981 Drouhin Grands-Echezeaux, Ron
Black olives, cherry beer, peat, balanced, smokey, 95 pts.

2003 Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape, Ron
Meat, berries, dust, spice box, cherries, jam, vanilla, a great CDP, 98pts.

2000 Barbaresco, Marc de Grazia, Dick
Cherries, dried fruit, tar, tannic, 95pts.

1983 Hermitage La Chapelle, Jaboulet, Steve
Saddle leather, smoke, dried flowers, 95pts.

1993 Fess Parker Pinot Noir, commemorative Davie Crocket magnum, Andy
Smoke, sweet finish, a really nice pinot, 92pts.

Red Bordeaux

 1983 Ch Gruaud Larose, Ron
Classic Bordeaux nose, nice fruit balance, 92pts.

1986 Ch Gruaud Larose, Steve
Similar to the 1983, but with slightly more structure, 93pts.

1981 Ch. Palmer, John
Flawed bottle.

California Reds

 1981 BV Georges de la Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, John
Waxy, fading a bit, but with traditional GDLT notes. You can tell this was just on the cusp of the winery’s decline, 90pts.

1995 Heitz Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, Andy
A remarkable Bella Oaks, lots of coffee in the nose, and a sweet balanced finish, 93pts.

2004 Robert Young Cabernet Sauvignon, Andy
A pleasant wine with a simple sawdust finish, 88pts.

1997 Grace Vineyard 29, Ron
Extremely Bordeaux like, especially the nose, 94pts.

1991 Dominus, Ron
Still the greatest wine ever made in California! 99pts.

Sauternes

1999 Ch d’Yquem, tenth, $85.
The best match for the lemon verbena creme brulee, but the most out of balance of the three, 97pts.

2000 Ch d’Yquem, tenth, $213.
Smooth and balanced, softer than the 1999, 98pts.

2001 Ch d’Yquem, tenth, $300.
Definitely the best of the three, the most complex and intense botrytis aromas, but is one or two points worth the premium? 99pts.

Cognac

(1929) Tesseron XO Selection Lot 29, $320.
Complex floral, figs, fennel, candy, vanilla, mint, balanced with a long caramel finish. The only Cognac ever rated 100pts by Robert Parker. 98pts.

 

Upcoming Events

September 29 Syndicate at Bull and Bear
November 17 Syndicate

Acquisitions

2000 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 485
2000 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 485
2001 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 375
2001 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 375
2001 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 375
2001 Ch Haut Brion Blanc White Graves 375
2470

 

 

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance -5706
Dues Payable 5000
Purchases -2470
Dinner -1670
Balance -4856

 

Please bring your dues of $1000 per couple to the event.

2011-3 The Price Is Right

The Price Is Rightat Capital Grille
June 4, 2011 at 6:00 pm
It’s time for a somewhat more challenging event.
Your assignment is:

  • Match the wine to the correct price (or feel stupid)
  • Figure out the type of wine, year or producer (for kudos)
  • Identify the wine exactly (for a prize)

So how did we do?

We failed.

Meeting at The Capital Grille, we poured six pairs of wine, completely blind except for knowing the wines’ prices, but not which price went with which wine. The results were eye opening. Here are the six flights, and how things turned out:

1988 Haut Brion Blanc ($490) vs. 2006 Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay ($50)

The group unanimously preferred the Ramey (ash, oak butter, opulent, 95 pts), and thought it was the better wine! After a couple of hours the Haut Brion became a lot more interesting (waxy, candy, minerals, gigs, nuts, vanilla, honey, 90 pts), but my scoring was unchanged. No one caught the almost 20 year spread between the wines, and everyone thought the Ramey was a white Burgundy.

1973 BV Special Label “Burgundy” ($75) vs. 1983 DRC Echezeaux ($680)

This was the only flight where the group was evenly split as far as popularity. Most identified the true Echezeaux (mint, delicate, 93 pts), and Debbie named the BV Special Label (redwood, sweet, 92 pts). Good job Debbie!

1979 Opus One ($357) vs. 1979 Inglenook Petite Sirah ($30)

The group unanimously preferred the Inglenook (paint thinner, wood, figs, 89 pts). This was the first vintage of Opus (mint, vanilla, pencil shavings, 87 pts), and it was the worst wine of the tasting.

2007 Jean Royer Chateauneuf Prestige ($40) vs. 1989 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle ($230)

The group almost unanimously preferred the Hermitage (meat, smoke, bacon fat, mint, 90 pts) which was correctly identified by Ron. Good job Ron! The Chateauneuf was odd (candy, berries, fruit wrap, jam, smoke, 88 pts).

1986 Chateau Mouton Rothschild ($900) vs. 1991 Dominus ($220)

The group unanimously preferred the Dominus (green pepper, gravel, lead pencil, mint, 97 pts) and thought it was old world and the more expensive wine! The Mouton (coffee, smoke, tar, green peppers, rubber, bacon, smoke, 95 pts) was a Parker 100 point wine that everyone thought was new world!

1963 Graham Port ($300) vs. 1992 Guenoc “Port” ($20)

A solid majority identified the real port (soft, delicate, complex, red-wine nose, 92 pts). The Guenoc (woody, 90 pts) was a fine product but was overshadowed by a great vintage of the real thing.

The Bottom Line

Out of six flights, we were unanimously wrong half the time, identifying the cheaper wine as the more expensive! Spend those dollars wisely, folks!

 

Upcoming Events

August 20 Wine Syndicate

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance 2972
Dues Payable 5000
Purchases -813
Dinner -1600
Balance 5559

 

Please bring your dues of $1000 per couple to the event.

2011-1 Bring Your Own Flight

Bring Your Own Flight 

at Bull and Bear at the Waldorf

 
February 5, 2011 at 6:00 pm 
Bring Your Own FlightThis was a pseduo Syndicate event, with wines provided by the attendees:

Ron & Bev
John & Debbie
Steve & Linda
Andres & Paula
Andy
Martin

Each couple was requested to bring two or three wines in bags for a mystery flight. As it turned out, they brought more! And what a great collection of wines they were:

1 2006 Tablas Creek White Andy Creamy, nutty chalk, vitamin soap (Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne blend) 82
2 2007 Williamsburg Seyval Blanc Andy Clearly Seyval 86
3 1998 Alexis Seyval Blanc Andy Caramel, oily 84
4 1992 Haut Brion Blanc Steve Lemon, candle wax, tangerine rind 95
5 1992 Aubert Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay Steve Smoke, oak, ash, minerals 98
6 2009 Evans Ranch Chardonnay Steve Floral, pears 92
7 2009 Conundrum Martin spritzy, lanolin, cat box, cream, lichee, very sweet finish 90
8 1947 Chambolle-Musigny premier cru Steve Bacon, mushroom, iron, citrus 95
9 1993 Rex Hill Pinot Noir Andy Coffee, iron, meat, bacon, sweet 90
10 1995 Gevrey-Chambertin Dujac Andy Iron, polish, old pinot 88
11 2006 Foxen Sea Smoke Vineyard Pinot Noir Andy Big, ripe sweet 88
12 2008 K Syrah Northridge Vineyard Andres Vanilla, sweet cherries, cinammon 94
13 1997 Hermitage Les Bessards Delas Freres Andres Smoke, bacon, tart, seemed like Burgundy 91
14 2004 Syrah, South Africa Andres Lacquer, floral, geraniums 92
15 1985 Streblow Cabernet Sauvignon John Mint, vanilla, merlot 92
16 1985 Ritchie Creek Cabernet Sauvignon John Pencil lead 94
17 1985 Hop Kiln Primitivo John Mint, bacon asparagus, 25% Petite Sirah, shocking! 98
18 1992 Foppiano Sonoma Petite Sirah Martin Coffee, caramel, mint 90
19 1991 Conrad Petite Sirah Martin Corked, big vanilla 92
20 1988 Stags Leap Petite Sirah Martin Coffee, green pepper, black pepper, big, long 98
21 1992 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Ron Burgundian, Rose petals, floral 92
22 2000 Ch, Rayas Rhone Ron Burgundian, vanilla, anise 95
23 1999 Clos de la Roche, Laurent Ron Young, smoke, big, bacon 96
24 1997 Martinelli Chardonnay Ron waxy, caramel, oxidized 86
25 1976 Ch. Montelena Ron Incredibly youthful 93
26 1976 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Ron tired and a bit sour 91
27 1976 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Ron fading, drink up 89
28 1986 Lafaurie Peyraguey Sauternes Ron medium amber, raisins, good acid 90

Also, chef outdid himself. Highlights for me were the Hamachi Salad, where every ingredient was an explosion of flavor; the corn and truffle soup, incredibly rich and creamy; the generous serving of huge scallops; the spinach that came with the duck; the very bacony mac & cheese; a great bone-in filet, so flavorful; all the passed desserts. Come to think of it, basically everything was my favorite!

Thanks for the wonderful wines, everyone!

Upcoming Events

March 7-9 Wine Syndicate Goes to Vegas!

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance 3335
Dues Payable 0
Purchases 0
Dinner Pay for your own
Balance 3335

 

No dues are due.

2009-5 BYOF (Bring Your Own Flight)

BYOF
(Bring Your Own Flight)  

at Capital Grille
September 26, 2009 at 6:00 pm 
 
The ThemeThis is sort of a pseduo Syndicate event, with wines provided by the attendees.

Each couple was requested to bring two or three wines for a mystery flight. Good wines. Preferably really good wines. The wines should be related in some sense — year, vintner, grape, whatever — and should cause us to look brilliant or stupid, depending upon the quality of our guesses. In the end, the most important thing is that we end up really impressed by your good taste.

Attendees: Ron, Bev, Susan, Bruce, Gary, Trish, Dick, Priscilla, Martin, Steve, Linda

Thanks to everyone for the great wines! It was a fabulous event. Here are my ratings of the wines:

Year Wine Provider Rating
1964 Santenay – Clavalier Steve 93
1964 Ch. Leoville Las Cases Steve 91
1964 BVGDLTPR (tenth) Steve 87
2005 Fleur Cardinale St. Emilion Dick 92
2005 L’Ecole No. 41 Apogee – Washington State Dick 88
1971 Freemark Abbey CS Martin 88
1975 Christian Brothers CS Martin 95
1978 Gallo CS Martin 91
2000 Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf du Pape Gary 93
2005 Aquilon Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha Gary 99
2003 Ch. La Gonerie St. Emilion Bruce 93
1999 Togni CS Bruce 91
1999 Ch. Valandraud St. Emilion Bruce 90
2003 Cuvee de mon Areul Chateauneuf du Pape Ron 94
2003 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Ron 95
2003 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape Ron 96
1982 Meursault Louis Jadot Steve 99
2002 Mont de Milieu Chablis Premiere Cru Billaud-Simon Gary 93
2003 Chassagne Montrachet Michel Colin-Deleger & Fils Les Chaumees Ron 95
1998 Barbaresco Dick 86
1976 Corton Clos du Roi Martin 93
2006 Sine Qua Non Raven Grenache No. 1 Ron 94

 

Acquisitions

none.

Upcoming Events

December 5 Wine Syndicate at The Bull & Bear at The Waldorf Astoria
February 20 Wine Syndicate

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance -757
Dues Payable none
Purchases 0
Dinner buy your own
Balance -757

 

2005-5 Pillage the List

Pillage the Listat Bern’s Steakhouse

Tampa
November 12, 2005

 

Notes from our November 12th dinner at Bern’s.

The theme of this event was Pillage the List. All wines had good color and clarity.

 

1953 $385 93 pts Bonnes Mare Ponnelle
Musty periodically. Good fruit, complex finish.
1961 * 90 Clos Vougeot Faively
classic burgundy nose, losing its fruit.
1964 275 95 Echezeaux Faively
complex dried roses nose, tight tannic, caramel finish.
1952 * 97 Clos de la Roche Morey St. Denis Pierre Ponnelle
tar, earthy, mineral nose, still good fruit, slightly sweet,
chocolate finish.
1955 254 92 Ch. Pichon Longueville Baron
dusty nose, bell and black peppers in the mouth.
1955 330 94 Ch. Pape Clement
graves soapy, mineral tobacco, candle wax nose, tight,
smokey finish.
1973 * 92 Ingelnook Cask C-14
bleu cheese, anise, mint nose, balanced, closed.
1964 65 96 Gatinerra
mint, sugar, long, complex.
1961 128 92 Hermitage Reserve (Debost)
smoke, tobacco, mint, tight.
1978 95 94 Chateaneuf Du Pape (Clos Des Papes)
sweet exotic berries, berry finish.
1962 799 90 Ch. la Mission Haut Brion (Magnum)
Graves nose, corked, soft, disappointing.
1953 * 96 Chambertin Pierre Ponnelle
cedar, roses, sweet chambertin classic finish.
1977 * 90 Barbosa Cojita Port
A sound, balanced port, similar to a tawny,
with slight wood nuances.

* Bern’s kindly did not charge us for the starred wines.

Coming Events

January 14

Auction Action

None.

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance

3000
Dues Payable

5000
Auction Purchases

0
Dinner & Wines -3867.22
Balance 4132.78