Category Archives: Wines

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.

2008-5 Odd Man Out

Odd Man Out

at Rocco’s Italian Grill

400 S Orlando Ave. (just north off of Fairbanks Ave.)
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 644-7770

December 6, 2008 at 6:00 pm

The ThemeIt should have been easy to figure out which wine was different in each of these blind flights… right? And indeed, the second flight was easy — and superb. But the first flight proved a challenge, especially when Andy added a Williamsburg Winery Seyval Blanc that turned out to be the best wine in the flight!An asterisk denotes the most popular wines.

5	23	2002	Corton-Charlemagne Remoissenet*	White Burgundy	80
9	13	1998	Ch Haut Brion Blanc	White Bordeaux	290
9	8	2000	Ch ‘Y’	White Bordeaux	145

6	13	1961	Ch Lynch Bages*	Red Bordeaux	478
3	11	1962	Ch Margaux	Red Bordeaux	225
7	13	1961	Musigny – Hudelot*	Red Burgundy	550

3	16	2002	Dominus*	Meritage	99
3	17	2002	Joseph Phelps Insignia*	Cabernet Sauvignon	199
3	14	2000	Philip Togni	Cabernet Sauvignon	80

6	22	1990	Hermitage La Chapelle Jaboulet*	Red Rhone	224
3	21	1997	Turley Zin Dogtown	Zinfandel	120
3	22	1998	Turley Zin Black-Sears	Zinfandel	120

					2610

Acquisitions

Because of the terrible economy, 18 pages of wine went unsold at the latest Morrell & Company auction. The wines were put up for sale at the reserve prices, and Ron was abl to steal these two for us:

1947	Volnay, H. Boillot	Red Burgundy	$150
1945	Ch. Latour	Red Bordeaux	$1035

Upcoming Events

March 14

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance	-1955
Dues Payable	5000
Purchases	-1185
Dinner	-2214
Balance	-354

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

2008-4 BYOW

BYOW

at Capital Grille

September 6, 2008 at 6:00 pm

The ThemeEach couple was requested to bring something mysterious. Good wines. Preferably really good wines. The wines should be related in some metaphysical sense, 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. Knock yourselves out!

Here are the wines that were brought, along with mys ratings:

1989	Clos St Denis Drouhin	Henline	92
1989	Mazies Chambertin Drouhin	Henline	94
2004	Alta Miris Cabernet Sauvignon	Robinson	97
2005	Conch Y Toro Del Melchior C.S.	Robinson	93
1978	Gall Cabernet Sauvignon	Alcorn	83
1978	Ch Mouton Rotshcild	Alcorn	92
1978	Chambolle Musigny Bouchard	Alcorn	88
1978	BV Georges de Latour PR CS	Alcorn	93
1991	Dominus	Siegel	94
2003	Troplong Mondot	Siegel	88
2001	Nossorio	Siegel	90

Acquisitions

None.

Upcoming Events

December 6th

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance	-1955
Dues Payable	0
Purchases	0
Dinner	Pay for your own
Balance	-1955

No dues for this event.

2008-3 Do It Yourself Blind Pairs

Do It Yourself Blind Pairs

at Capital Grille

July 26, 2008 at 6:00 pm

The Theme

And now for something completely different. Each couple is requested to bring a pair of bagged wines. Good wines. Preferably really good wines. The wines should be theoretically really different, but in practice hard to tell which is which. This could mean one really expensive and one really cheap, one old world and one new world, one old but vibrant and one young but complex, same producer but two very different years, same year but two very different producers, etc. Knock yourselves out.

The goal is to fool everyone, but there has to be some possibility to figure it out. We don’t want to have to tell which one is from Hungary and which one is from Turkmenistan.

We’ll start by trying to figure out what they are, completely blind. Then, once we tire of that, the provider will tell us what the two wines are and we’ll try to figure out which is which.

The Results

Thanks to everyone for all the great wines! It was quite an amazing group! A really fun event, with lots of surprises. Below is the list of wines, with my ratings:

Year	Wine	From	Score
2006	Evans Ranch Chardonnay	Henline	92
1985	Christian Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon	Henline	88
1985	Hop Kiln Petite Sirah	Henline	90
2003	Ch. Smith Haut Lafite	Robinson	88
2003	Keenan Meritage	Robinson	90
2003	Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon	Robinson	96
1966	Ch. Latour	Alcorn	93
1964	Fossi Chianti Classico	Alcorn	93
1965	BV George de la Tour CS	Alcorn	95
1978	Clos de la Roche George Lignier	Siegel	99
1986	Clos de la Roche Hubert Lignier	Siegel	87
2003	Smith Haut Lafite Blanc	Alcorn	98
2005	Mendel Unus (65% Malbec)	Robinson	90
1999	Cote Rotie Brune & Blonde Guigal	Siegel	90
2004	Merus Cabernet Sauvignon	Siegel	96
2004	Ch. Riussec Sauternes	Henline	94
1997	Dolce	Henline	89

Acquisitions

Recent declines in the stock market improved our luck at the auctions:

1985	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1986	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1987	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1987	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1989	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1990	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1991	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1993	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1996	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1997	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1998	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1999	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
2001	Berringer Private Reserve		75	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1624
1961	Bonnes Mares – Drouhin-Laroze		550	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1262
2001	Ch d’Yquem	tenth	300	CellaRaiders
2001	Ch d’Yquem	tenth	300	CellaRaiders
1959	Ch Lafite		1450	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1807
1961	Ch Lynch Bages		600	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1008
2003	Ch Montrose	magnum	600	CellaRaiders
1961	Ch Mouton Rothschild		1700	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1011
1985	Grand Echezeaux – DRC		900	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1111
1949	Mazis Chambertin – Seguin-Manuel		500	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 2048
1961	Musigny – Hudelot		550	Bonhams 6/08 Lot 1262
			$8425

There are several 100 point wines up there. I leave it to you to figure out which they are!

Upcoming Events

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance	3548
Dues Payable (less cost of dinner for 2)	4584
Purchases	-8425
Dinner (for 8)	-1662
Balance	-1955

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

2008-2 Down (under) and Dirty

Down (under) and Dirty

at Capital Grille

May 24, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Col	Row	Year	Wine	Cost
4	10	2001	Marquis Philips Integrity	260
4	11	2001	Marquis Philips Shiraz Nine	75
4	12	2002	Marquis Philips Shiraz Nine	65
4	16	1992	Penfold’s Bin 707	65
4	17	1993	Penfold’s Bin 707	65
4	18	1994	Penfold’s Bin 707	65
4	8	2002	Clarendon Old Vines Grenache “Clarendon’	50
4	9	1998	Clarendon Brook Shiraz	80
4	15	2002	Burge Family D&OK Shiraz	47
4	14	2002	Amon Ra	150

				922

There were some surprises at this event:

The 2002 Nine was much better than the more famous 2001 Nine. The Intergrity was integrated but not exciting,

The 1992 Bin 707 was vastly better than the other two Bin 707s.

All of the Claerndon wines were disappointing.

The best wine in the above list was the Amon Ra, which was the only one likely to age well.

Other standouts were a Mitolo Savitar Shiraz that Dick brought, and a 2003 Henry’s Drive Reserve Shiraz I brought which I thought was more complex than the Amon Ra, but perhaps not as structured.

Acquisitions

Given the outrageous auction prices of late, I’ve been looking at more recent wines I could aquire on sale.

2002	Dominus	Cabernet Sauvignon	99
2002	Dominus	Cabernet Sauvignon	99
2002	Joseph Phelps Insignia	Cabernet Sauvignon	199
2002	Joseph Phelps Insignia	Cabernet Sauvignon	199
2000	Philip Togni	Cabernet Sauvignon	80
2002	Corton-Charlemagne Remoissenet	White	80
2002	Clarendon Old Vines Grenache “Clarendon’	Grenache	50
1998	Clarendon Brook Shiraz	Shiraz	80
2002	Burge Family D&OK Shiraz	Shiraz	47
2002	Amon Ra	Shiraz	150
			1083

Upcoming Events

July 26

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance	1374
Dues Payable	5000
Purchases	-1083
Dinner	-1743
Balance	3548

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

2008-1 Guess the Theme

Guess the Theme

at Luma

February 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Col	Row	Year	Wine	Region	Cost

3	7	1918	Ch. Latour	Paullac	829
5	26	1937	Ch. Latour	Pauillac	500
h6	24	1937	Ch. Leoville Las Cases (tenth)	St Julien	90
5	23	1955	Ch. Lanessan	Haut-Medoc	90
6	11	1961	Ch. Lynch Bages	Pauillac	478
6	7	1975	Ch. La Mission Haut Brion (100 pt Parker)	Graves	1063
5	28	1981	Ch. Latour	Pauillac	80
6	9	1981	Ch. Leoville-Las Cases	St Julien	27
5	29	1993	Ch. Latour	Pauillac	100

					3257

Most popular wines were the 75 La Mission Haut Brion, 61 Lynch Bages, 81 Leioville Las Cases and 18 Latour, whihc was amazingly youthful. I rated those four wines 96-100 points.

Acquisitions

We got lucky again in November, snagging Haut Brion from the two greatest vintages of the century at bargain prices…

1988	Chateau Haut Brion Blanc	White	Graves	295
1983	Chateau Haut Brion Blanc	White	Graves	295
1978	Chateau Haut Brion Blanc	White	Graves	295
1978	Chateau Haut Brion Blanc	White	Graves	295
1961	Chateau Haut Brion	Red	Graves	1,950
				3,130

Upcoming Events

May 17

September 6

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance	1389
Dues Payable	5000
Purchases	-3130
Dinner	-1895
Balance	1374

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

2007-5 Burgundy in the Sixties

Burgundy in the Sixties

at Capital Grille

December 1, 2007 at 5:30 pm

Col	Row	Year	Wine	Cost

m1	19	1964	Charmes-Chambertin, Pierre Bouree Fils (magnum)	180
7	26	1964	Corton Bressandes, Chandon de Briailles	130
8	12	1964	Hospice de Beaune, Corton Cuvee Dr. Peste, Remoissenet	130
5	14	1966	Morey-Saint-Denis, Pierre Bouree Fils	90
8	19	1966	Pommard, Dom de Madame Bernard de Courcel	50
8	20	1966	Pommard les Charponniers, Dom Parent	50
7	8	1966	Vosne Romanee Les Beaumonts, Remoissenet	400
7	13	1967	Chambertin Clos de Beze, P. Gelin	75
5	19	1969	Echezeaux, Leroy	320
				1425

Acquisitions

Future Events

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance	-2111
Dues Payable	5000
Purchases
Dinner	-1500
Balance	1389

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

2007-4 Fabulous Forties

Fabulous Forties

at The Capital Grill

September 22, 2007 at 6 pm

The theme of this event is “Fabulous Forties”

Col	Row	Year	Wine	Type	Cost

		1945	Latricieres Chambertin	Burgundy	478
		1943	Clos Vougeot	Burgundy	325
		1947	Ch Leoville Poyferre	St Julien	428

		1945	Ch La Mission Haut Brion	Graves	1530
		1947	Ch. Petrus	Pomerol	1235
		1949	Ch Margaux	Margaux	887

The wines were tasted blind in two flights, the first flight containing the Burgundies and the Leoville Poyferre. Most of the group correctly identified all three of these wines. Quite a number also correctly identified all three wines inthe second flight. This is the first time I have given three wines in a tasting perfect scores: The La Mission, Petrus and Margaux. The group’s favorite wine was the Margaux, followed by the Petrus.

Acquisitions

We got lucky. Bonhams & Butterfields scheduled their auction on Friday rather than Saturday, and it was the Friday in July that the stock market plunged. As a result, we stole most of the lots we bid on. Some are at one fourth retail or less.

1924	Ch Grand St Lambert	Red	France	Pauillac	magnum	244	7/07 Lot 4004
1975	Ch La Mission Haut Brion	Red	France	Graves		1063	7/07 Lot 4126
1918	Ch Latour	Red	France	Paullac		829	7/07 Lot 4152
1947	Ch Leoville Poyferre	Red	France	St Julien		428	7/07 Lot 4176
1949	Ch Margaux	Red	France	Margaux		887	7/07 Lot 4184
1962	Ch Margaux	Red	France	Margaux		225	7/07 Lot 4191
1962	Ch Margaux	Red	France	Margaux		225	7/07 Lot 4191
1962	Ch Margaux	Red	France	Margaux		225	7/07 Lot 4191
1955	Ch Petrus	Red	France	Pomerol		1540	7/07 Lot 4227
1966	Ch Cos d’Estournel	Red	France	St Estephe		200	7/07 Lot 4243
1970	Ch Cos d’Estournel	Red	France	St Estephe		100	7/07 Lot 4243
1945	Latricieres Chambertin	Red	France	Burgundy		478	7/07 Lot 4269
1969	Echezeaux	Red	France	Burgundy		320	7/07 Lot 4271
1969	Echezeaux	Red	France	Burgundy		320	7/07 Lot 4271
1969	Echezeaux	Red	France	Burgundy		320	7/07 Lot 4271
1969	Echezeaux	Red	France	Burgundy		320	7/07 Lot 4271
1978	Chambolle Musigny	Red	France	Burgundy		140	7/07 Lot 4275
1978	Chambolle Musigny	Red	France	Burgundy		140	7/07 Lot 4275
1978	Chambolle Musigny	Red	France	Burgundy		140	7/07 Lot 4275
1978	Chambolle Musigny	Red	France	Burgundy		140	7/07 Lot 4275
1945	Ch La Mission Haut Brion	Red	France	Graves		1530	7/07 Lot 4319
1943	Clos Vougeot	Red	France	Burgundy		325	7/07 Lot 4473B
1961	Ch Lynch Bages	Red	France	Pauillac		478	7/07 Lot 4489
1961	Ch Lynch Bages	Red	France	Pauillac		478	7/07 Lot 4489
1961	Ch Lynch Bages	Red	France	Pauillac		478	7/07 Lot 4489

Future Events

December 1

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance	5981
Dues Payable	5000
Purchases	-11573
Dinner	-1519
Balance	-2111

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