Category Archives: California

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.

2011-2 It’s Vegas, Baby!

It’s Vegas, Baby!March 5-13 (or some portion thereof), 2011

Events and locations

March 6 at 7pm – Love at the Mirage followed by dinner at Robouchon (party of 8 – their limo will pick us up at Love)

March 7 at 7:30 pm – Tasting and dinner at the Chef’s Table at Pinot Brasserie

March 8 at 7:30 pm – Tasting and dinner at AquaKnox

March 9 at 7:30pm – Tasting and dinner at Delmonico’s

March 12 at 7pm – Ka at MGM Grand
The Wines

Burgundy: Real and Fake – Pinot Brasserie – March 7
This was more challenging than it might look, although the first flights were easy, and almost everyone had 100% until the last flight. The 73 Special Label Burgundy turned out to be the wine of the night. Who knows what’s in that!
pts $
5 24 1949 Charmes-Chambertin, Liger-Belair
Citrus, bug spray, flawed bottle		 75 317
2 26 1959 BV Beaumont Pinot Noir
Leather		 82 130
6 28 1958 Echezeaux Domaine de la Romanee Conti
Earth, leather, mint, dried cherries, coffee		 92 675
2 25 1958 BV Beaumont Pinot Noir
Like thin BVGDLTPR		 85 130
7 12 1961 Bonnes Mares – Drouhin-Laroze
Light color but intense nose and flavors, cherries		 93 550
2 27 1960 BV Burgundy
Earth, chocolate		 90 50
7 14 1967 Chambertin Clos de Beze P. Gelin
Cherries, wood smoke		 94 75
2 28 1967 BV Burgundy
Classic BVGDLTPR character, lucious fruit		 94 50
7 9 1971 Beaune Greves Vigne de l’Enfant Jesus Bouchard
Coffee		 95 75
2 30 1970 BV Beaumont Pinot Noir
Coffee – these wines were actually surprisingly similar		 95 75
5 17 1976 Clos de la Roche – Pierre Bouree Fils
Vanilla, not very Burgundian		 93 90
2 22 1973 BV Special Label Burgundy
Wood, was, york peppermint patties with dark chocolate		 96 50
2267
A Serious Case of BVGDLTPR – Aquaknox – March 8
1 8 1963 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Very light color with a classic old BV nose, sweet cedar on the palate, cream sherry finish, past its prime by a decade or two		 80 90
4 16 1964 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Redwood nose, restrained; still some fruit on the palate		 80 130
1 11 1966 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Sawdust nose, good fruit, a bit of tannin		 90 90
1 27 1968 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Sawdust and cherry nose, big and chewy, long; this has always been my favorite		 97 125
1 12 1969 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Very similar to the 68; menthol, youthful coffee, wood smoke, sweet balanced vanilla		 96 90
4 8 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Iron, minerals, wood, mint, sweet fruity tannins, medium finish		 94 150
2 9 1971 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
alcohol nose, decent fruit, acidic, hot short finish		 89 70
h6 25 1974 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
I got the dreggs of this tenth, so I can’t really rate it; caramel oxidized		 tenth 20
2 18 1975 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
plummy, mint, alcohol,red fruits, acidic finish		 86 110
1 15 1977 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Elegant fruit, vanilla, cherries, creamy finish		 92 90
1 17 1978 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Young, coffee, red fruits, sweet		 92 90
1 21 1979 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Wood, mint, very young drinking, vanilla		 94 90
1145
Blind Pairs – Delmonico’s – March 9
1988 Alain Thienot Grand Cuvee Brut 95
1997 Delamotte Blanc de Blanc 90
8 15 2000 Montrachet, G. Amiot
vanilla ice cream, nuts, melted butter, lemon, ash, chalk		 90 260
9 10 2000 Ch ‘Y’
figs, spices, anise, honey dipped pecans, creme brulee, pears, long buttery finish, one of the most amazing white wines I’ve ever tasted		 100 145
2 20 1968 BV Special Label Burgundy
classic BVGDLTPR oxidized character plus a touch of Pinot Noir, sawdust, mint, smoke, candy, dried cherries, powder		 96 50
5 18 1976 Clos de la Roche – Pierre Bouree Fils
Drinking much younger than the bottle from two days ago. bacon, asian spice, cherry		 93 90
4 17 1964 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
Drinking much younger than the bottle from yesterday, no oxidation, fruit, curry		 92 130
9 16 1955 Ch Cheval Blanc
smoke, cherry candy, leather, balanced tannins, jerky, black pepper, roast pork belly		 tenth
98		 320
2007 Mystery Wine #1 (Steve) Domaine Jean Poyer Chateauneuf du Pape
meat, mint, chocolate, kirsh, bacon, cherries, jerky		 93
2007 Mystery Wine #2 (Steve) Ramey Rodney Vineyard Syrah
vanilla, spice box, wood, meat		 95
3 15 2002 Dominus
huge alcohol, long fruit, wood, vanilla, wax		 97 99
3 13 1986 Ch Mouton Rothschild
sawdust, mint, meat, chocolate, tobacco, menthol, smoke, tannic, young		 99 700
9 25 1999 Ch d’Yquem
superb nose, but slightly astringent finish		 tenth
95		 85
9 29 2000 Ch d’Yquem
restrained nose, but balanced, golden raisins		 tenth
96		 213
2092

Acquisitions

Upcoming Events

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance 3335
Dues Payable 0
Purchases (shipping) 363
Dinner Pay for your own
Balance 2972

No dues for these events.

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.

2010-4 Holy Crap! It’s 1961!

Holy Crap! It’s 1961!at Bull and Bear

 
September 25, 2010 at 6:00 pmWow, some great wines. The 1961 Haut Brion was the unanimous first place winner, with most people scoring it 100 points. That’s the first time that’s happened. Second place, with nine votes was the 1966 Haut Brion. A great tasting; thanks to all for bringing some magnificent wines.
 

 

 

  

 

 
The WinesPullin’ out all the stop for this one.

Year Wine From Notes Score
Price
1962 Ch Pichon Baron WS slight browning, caramel, hazlenut, vanilla, improved as it sat for about 30 minutes 88
140
1962 Ch Margaux WS light garnet, spices, violets, youthful, femenin, died quickly 92
225
1966 Ch Pichon Lalande WS somewhat brown, iron, sweet 84
140
1966 Ch Montrose WS garnet, mint, stil tannic, a bit short 88
140
1966 Ch Haut Brion WS dark garnet, classic haut brion nose, tannic, youthful, floral 95
210
1961 Ch Lynch Bages WS garnet, swamp water at first, then floral 94
380
1961 Ch Lafite (tenth) WS light garnet, sawdust, mint, acidic, great condition for a tenth 89
600
1961 Ch Mouton Rothschild WS very dark garnet, very young, early pours were turpentine nosed, sawdust, chewy 91
1700
1961 Ch Haut Brion WS one of the greatest wines I’ve had, dark garnet, classic haut brion nose, chewy, young, spectacular, a unanimous first place 100
1950
5455
2006 Puligny-Montrachet, Les Referts, J.M. Boillot Alcorn butter, ash, fruit, caramel, long finish 96
2004 Evans Ranch Pinot Noir Lone Oak Henline cherry 93
2003 Ch. Carbonnieaux Siegel Citrus, floral 91
2005 Robert Young Chardonnay Crockett creamy, balanced 94
2006 Adobe Road Petite Sirah Alcorn jammy, chocolate, mint, spice, long 93
2008 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Robinson floral, spicy 92
2003 L’Aventure Optimus Robinson classic syrah blend 90
1984 Dominus Siegel tight, very Bordeaux like 93
1984 Ridge Montebello Siegel gravel, very Bordeaux like 96
1984 Robert Mondavi Reserve CS Siegel 1970 Ch. Lafit nose 90
2005 Adobe Road CS Henline Floral, sweet, vanilla 89

 

Acquisitions

Qty Year Wine
Price
4 1986 Ch Mouton Rothschild (100 pts)
699
2796

 

Upcoming Events

December 11 Wine Syndicate

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance -257
Dues Payable 5000
Purchases -2796
Dinner -1831
Balance 116

Please bring your dues of $1000 per couple.

2010-3 Bring Your Own Flight

Bring Your Own Flight 

at Ocean Prime

directions
June 5, 2010 at 6:00 pm 
 
Bring Your Own FlightThis 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.

The wines:

Chaney 2007 Chester Gap Viognier (made by Berndt) 92
Chaney 2007 Chester Gap Merlot (made by Berndt) 89
Chaney 2007 Chester Gap Cabernet Franc (made by Berndt) 85
Hoffman 1997 Eola Hills Pinot Noir 88
Crockett 1998 Rex Hill Reserve Pinot Noir 90
Crockett 2006 Rex Hill Jacob Pinot Noir 85
Hoffman 1993 Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir 83
Henline 1993 Joseph Drouhin Clos Vougeot 93
Henline 1990 Louis Latour Montagny 88
Robinson 1970 Mirassou Cabernet Sauvignon 92
Robinson 1970 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon 91
Alcorn 1982 Ceretto Frochera Barolo 88
Alcorn 1982 Rodney Strong Alexander’s Crown Cabernet Sauvignon 93
Alcorn 1982 Chateau Bellegrave 92
Montoya 2004 Montestefano Barbaresco 92
Montoya 2003 Aldo Conterno Il Favot Barolo 97
Montoya 2004 Marcehsi di Grecy Camp Gros Martinenga Barbaresco 95
Siegel 1990 La Capelle Hermitage 95
Siegel 1994 Arrowood Syrah 96
Siegel 1982 Grange 99

Upcoming Events

September 25 Wine Syndicate
December 11 Wine Syndicate

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance -257
Dues Payable
Purchases
Dinner Pay for your own
Balance -257

 

No dues are due.

2010-1 Beringer Vertical

Beringer Vertical

 

at The Capital Grille
February 20, 2010 at 6:00 pm

 
The Wines

Since our last meeting featured a French horizontal, here’s something completely different: a California vertical. Group favorites were the ’90 and ’91.

Year Producer Wine Notes Score Price
1985 Beringer PR CS Initially the best wine, but faded fairly quickly. Wood, curry, chocolate, sweet finish, balanced. 93 75
1986 Beringer PR CS Iron, metallic, the weakest wine 87 75
1987 Beringer PR CS Iron, wood, tannic, fairly balanced 91 75
1989 Beringer PR CS Somewhat unbalanced 89 75
1990 Beringer PR CS Chewy, licorice, structured 94 75
1991 Beringer PR CS Thin, tannic, unbalanced 90 75
1993 Beringer PR CS Fruity, balanced, mint, bandaid 92 75
1996 Beringer PR CS Tight, tannic, wood, less fruit, good structure 91 75
1997 Beringer PR CS Smoke, vanilla, anise, sweet 94 75
1998 Beringer PR CS Sweet, earthy, chewy 95 75
1999 Beringer PR CS Coffee, herbs, tannic, anise 98 75
2001 Beringer PR CS Iron, off balance, vegetal 90 75
2003 Beringer PR CS Donated by our server, Jason
Intense vanilla, dough, anise, white mint chocolate, soft, balanced, held up the longest by far in the glass		 95
1998 Laville Haut Brion From Ron
Burnt marshmallows, Sugar Daddy candy, green buttered beans		 96
2000 G. Amiot Montrachet Burnt butter, slightly sweet, oxidized in scenet and appearance, short, disappointing 89 260
2007 Killer Bee Chardonnay From Linda
Honey, balanced, slightly sweet, ash		 90
2004 Evans Ranch Pinot Noir From John
Balanced, varietal, long vanialla finish		 94
2005 Fess Parker Syrah Smoke meat, deep fruit, long and structured 92
1980 Beringer CS From Dick
Chocolate, big, comparable to the PR		 92
2005 Amancio Rioja From Ron
Intense vanilla, high alcohol, coffee finish		 93
Compass Box Orangerie Scoth From Steve
Orange!		 90
Nonino Amaro From Steve
Bitter and sweet, herbaceous, citrus, long		 94
1948 Malvasia Madeira Citrus, complex, long, balanced nuts, sublime 99 260
1420

 

Acquisitions

The auction market is unfortunately becoming impossible again, but I’ve managed to snag a few wines, and found a few from cellar raiders. At the last auction I only got 1 of 20 lots, and I was bidding near and above the high estimates! Oddly, the lot I got (the BV) was one of my lowest bids.

Col Row Year Producer Wine Price
4 22 1959 Bouchard Aine & Fils Gevrey Chambertin 380
4 23 1937 Louis Latour Chambertin 390
4 24 1955 Louis Latour Chambertin 390
5 8 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 150
5 9 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 150
5 10 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 150
5 11 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 150
5 12 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 150
5 13 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 150
5 14 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 150
5 15 1970 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 150
5 26 1966 Doudet-Naudin Mazis-Chambertin 325
5 27 1955 Naudin Corton 325
5 28 1928 Barolet Pommard Epenots 475
5 29 1966 Doudet-Naudin Echezeaux 325
3810

 

 

Upcoming Events

April 17 Wine Syndicate
August 28 Wine Syndicate
December 11 Wine Syndicate

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance 1996
Dues Payable 5000
Purchases -3810
Dinner -1497
Balance 1689

Please bring your dues of $1000 per couple.

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

 

2009-4 Blind Pairs

Blind Pairs

 

at Luma
August 29, 2009 at 6:00 pm
The WinesThis time we return to a classic theme, with pairs of wines that might easily be confused when we taste them blind. Various members will add a ringer to each flight.

9 11 1998 Ch Haut Brion Blanc
290
9 9 2000 Ch ‘Y’
145
7 15 1967 Chambertin Clos de Beze P. Gelin
75
5 20 1969 Echezeaux Leroy
320
2 29 1970 BV Beaumont Pinot Noir
75
2 23 1973 BV Special Label Burgundy
50
3 9 1966 Ch Cos d’Estournel France St Estephe
200
3 10 1970 Ch Cos d’Estournel France St Estephe
100
4 20 1987 Berringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
75
2 24 1992 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
70
1400

Results:

The Chateau “Y” was significantly more popular than the Haut Brion Blanc. My Evans Ranch Las Brisas Chardonnay was obviously out of its league.

The Chambertin narrowly beat my ringer (a 1969 Mondavi Pinot Noir) that was very difficult to spot as new world in the flight.

Ron’s 1992 Williams Selyem Piniot Noir won the third flight, but all three of those wines were the best of the tasting.

Ron’s 1986 Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon won the fourth flight. The two Cos d’Estournels were extremely similar.

The Berringer won the third flight, narrowly beating Andy’s ringer, a 1991 Gainey Cabernet Sauvignon. Opinioin was very divided on the gainey, with people loving it or hating it. I loved it. The worst wine of the tasting by far was the 1992 BV GDLTPR, scoring only 1/2 point.

Thanks also to Dick for a couple of excellent dinner wines including a 2000 Cos D’Estournel, and John for a great Shiraz and a really neat dessert wine from Fess Parker, that fell somwhere between Shiraz and port.

Acquisitions

Surprisingly, there were some good deals to be found at this month’s Bonhams auction…

1961 Ch Lynch Bages France Pauillac 380
1966 Ch Pichon Lalande France Pauillac 130
1962 Ch Pichon Baron France Pauillac 130
1966 Ch Haut Brion France Graves 130
1966 Ch Montrose France St. Estephe 210
2000 Montrachet, G. Amiot 260
2000 Montrachet, G. Amiot 260
2000 Montrachet, G. Amiot 260
1834 Madeira, Malvasia 555
1875 Madeira, Malvasia 555
1901 Madeira, Malvasia 260
1948 Madeira, Malvasia 260
1885 Madeira, Verdelho 320
3710

I also put together an interesting horizontal from a cellar newly acquire by Cellaraiders…

1970 Les Forts de Latour 109
1970 Leoville Las Cases 85
1970 Lafite Rothschild 175
1970 La Mission Haut Brion 155
1970 Haut Brion 225
1970 Figeac 145
1970 Gruaud Larose 85
1970 Cheval Blanc 205
1970 Latour (tenth) 205
1970 Mouton Rothschild 285
1970 Palmer (tenth) 135
1970 Talbot 80
1889

Upcoming Events

December 5 Wine Syndicate

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance 2025
Dues Payable 5000
Purchases -5599
Dinner -2183
Balance -757

Please bring your dues of $1000 per couple.

2009-3 Decades

Decades 

at Luma
June 20, 2009 at 6:00 pm 
The WinesSome great wines from eight different decades!

m2 23 1924 Ch Grand St Lambert France Pauillac magnum
244
5 22 1949 Charmes-Chambertin, Liger-Belair Red Burgundy
317
6 8 1955 Ch Petrus France Pomerol
1540
6 12 1961 Ch Lynch Bages France Pauillac
478
2 14 1974 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
110
6 25 1983 Romanee St. Vivant Domaine de la Romanee Conti Red Burgundy
300
3 20 1993 La Romanee – Bouchard, Pere et Fils Red Burgundy
190
3 18 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
199
3378

A wonderful flight of wines, with most scoring in the high 90s. The Petrus was the exceptioin, and was deemed to be a fake. The 100 point Lynch Bages was eclipses by the amazingly preserved ’24 magnum of a cru bourgeois, and all the burgs. The favorite wine was the ’83 Romanee St. Vivant, followed by the ’74 BV GDLTPR. After the formal tasting it was fun to try the ’05 Gainey Limited selection Syrah next to the ’05 Evans Ranch Syrah; same area, winery and winemaker, different wines. The former was vanilla and fruit, the latter more elegant and complex. A similar contrast existed between Martin’s ’06 Blue Eyed Boy Syrah and Ron’s ’02 Pax Syrah. John’s ’05 Adobe Road Cabernet was an amazing wine, and Dick’s ’96 Mercurey was an ashy, elegant white burg.

Acquisitions

none

Upcoming Events

August 29 Wine Syndicate
December 5 Wine Syndicate

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance -1445
Dues Payable 5000
Purchases 0
Dinner -1530
Balance 2025

Please bring your dues of $1000 per couple.

2009-1 Young and Old

 Young and Old

at Capital Grille
March 14, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Young and old vintages of the same wine. How do they age?(Of course, young is a relative term! My scores are in blue, group favorites are starred.)

98 1978 Ch Haut Brion Blanc*
295
96 1998 Ch Haut Brion Blanc
290
94 1998 Laville-Haut Brion Blanc
(provided by Ron)
92 1969 Echezeaux Leroy*
320
95 1996 Echezeaux Bocquenet
90
93 1937 Ch Margaux*
240
92 1962 Ch Margaux
225
89 2004 Pavillon Rouge
(Ch Margaux 2nd wine)
(provided by Linda)
79 1963 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
90
89 1964 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve*
(provided by Dick)
87 1978 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve
90
100 1834 Madeira Malvasia Barbieto*
505
2145

 

Acquisitions

1993 La Romanee – Bouchard, Pere et Fils
190
1993 La Romanee – Bouchard, Pere et Fils
190
1993 La Romanee – Bouchard, Pere et Fils
190
1993 La Romanee – Bouchard, Pere et Fils
190
1964 Clos Vougeot – R. Engel
250
1966 Bonnes Mares – Comte de Vogue
490
1945 Chateau Latour
985
1947 Volnay, H. Boillot
151
1949 Charmes-Chambertin, Liger-Belair
317
1949 Charmes-Chambertin, Liger-Belair
317
1949 Charmes-Chambertin, Liger-Belair
317
3587

We really got a deal on that Bonnes Mares, which is worth twice that.

Upcoming Events

May 9 Bring your own Flight
June 20 Next regular Syndicate

 

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance -354
Dues Payable 5000
Purchases -3587
Dinner -1894
Balance -835

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