Category Archives: France

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.

2008-1 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.

2007-3 Decades

 Decades

at The Capital Grille

 
July 14, 2007 at 6 pm

 
The theme of this event is “Eight Decades”
Col Row Year Wine Type
Cost
5 22 1922 Ch. Lanessan Haut-Medoc
130
5 9 1934 Ch. Pichon Baron Bordeaux
286
6 13 1945 Ch. Margaux Margaux
1700
5 24 1959 Ch. Lanessan Haut-Medoc
90
6 11 1966 Ch. Margaux Margaux
60
5 15 1976 Clos de la Roche – Pierre Bouree Fils Burgundy
90
7 30 1983 Echezeaux Cote de Nuits Mongeard-Mugneret Burgundy
45
7 25 1997 Clos Saint Denis Petel Burgundy
55
2,456

 

Acquisitions

 

Future Events

 

 

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance 2681.10
Dues Payable 5000.00
Purchases 0
Dinner -2000.00?
Balance 5681.10?

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

2007-2 Odd Man Out

 Odd Man Out

at Luma’s
April 14 , 2007 at 5:30 pm
Col Row Year Wine Type Price
1 13 1964 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 100
5 19 1964 Ch. Lafite Red 120
7 12 1964 Chambertin Clos de Beze Drouhin-Laroze Red 130
6 20 1989 Hermitage La Chapelle Jaboulet Red 273
7 29 1990 Echezeaux Clerget Red 90
7 21 1990 Charmes Chambertin Serafin Red 90
2 23 1991 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 70
4 14 1991 Penfold’s Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Syrah 40
4 15 1991 Penfold’s Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 65
3 14 1997 Pride Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 120
m2 21 2000 Turley Rattlesnake Petite Syrah 120
3 20 1996 Turley Zin Grist Zinfandel 120
1338

Top wines of the evening, in order:

Year Wine Notes Points
1998 Valendron St. Emilion
(brought by Ron)		 Coffee nose, tight, very French 99
1964 Chambertin Clos de Beze
Drouhin-Laroze		 Leather, minerals, smoke, fruit holding up well 96
1997 Pride Reserve Big, chewy, fruity, many of us mistook this for Petite Sirah 95

 

Acquisitions

1963 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1963 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1964 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1966 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1969 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1977 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1978 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1978 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1978 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1979 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1979 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1979 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1976 Clos de la Roche – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1976 Clos de la Roche – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1976 Clos de la Roche – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1976 Clos de la Roche – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1978 Nuit Saint-Georges – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1978 Nuit Saint-Georges – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1978 Nuit Saint-Georges – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1978 Nuit Saint-Georges – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1966 Morey-Saint-Denis – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1966 Morey-Saint-Denis – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy 90
1964 Charmes-Chambertin – Pierre Bouree Fils Red Burgundy magnum 180
1945 Ch. Margaux Red Margaux 1700
3860

 

Future Events

July 14

 

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance 3760.10
Dues Payable 5000.00
Purchases -3860.00
Dinner -2209.00
Balance 2681.10

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

2006-4 A Century of French Wine

 

A Century of French Wine

at Emeril’s
October 21, 2006
5:30 pm
 
 
A return to the private room at Emeril’s for a spectacular event that explores some of the great vintages of the past 100 years, with a wine from each of the last ten decades:

Year Wine Type Region Size Price
5 21 1916 Ch. Lanessan Red Haut-Medoc 150
5 7 1921 Ch. Cos d’Estournel Red Bordeaux 555
5 8 1934 Ch. Calon Segur Red Bordeaux 415
5 12 1945 Ch. Grand Larcis Ducasse Red St Emilion 260
7 7 1959 Richebourg Remoissenet Red Burgundy 425
5 11 1961 Ch. Gruaud Larose Red Bordeaux 320
m2 22 1971 Mazis Chambertin Rebourscau Red Burgundy magnum 160
6 17 1982 Ch. Palmer Red Margaux 75
5 16 1993 Ch. Haut Brion Red Pessac Leognan 100
9 27 2000 Ch. d’Yquem Sauternes Bordeaux tenth 213
2,673

 

Acquisitions

6 20 1989 Hermitage La Chapelle Jaboulet 273 Bonhams 7/06 Lot 2098
6 21 1989 Hermitage La Chapelle Jaboulet 224 Bonhams 7/06 Lot 2098
6 22 1990 Hermitage La Chapelle Jaboulet 224 Bonhams 7/06 Lot 2098
1949 Petrus 2800?

 

Future Events

January 13 – next tasting – Andy’s birthday!

 

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance 1097.10
Dues Payable 5000.00
Purchases -3522.00
Dinner -2000.00
Balance 575.10

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

2006-3 The 70’s WS Style

The 70’s WS Style

at Luma’s

August 5, 2006
 

 
Put on your disco outfit and get ready for:

at 5:30 pm on Saturday, August 5, 2006 at Luma on Park.

Luma outdid themselves on the food. That grouper on risotto was amazing, and the steak so flavorful. But the Madeira is what I’ll always remember! 100 points!

Year Wine Type Region Size Price Score
1978 Chambolle Musigny, A. Rodet Red Burgundy 70 0
1979 Chambertin Clos de Beze Red Burgundy 25 88
1979 Morey Saint Denis Les Sorbets Red Burgundy 25 86
1970 Ch. Haut Brion Red Pessac Leognan 90 87
1970 Ch. Lafite Red Pauillac 90 90
1970 Ch. Mouton Rothschild Red Bordeaux 320 87
1975 Ch. Haut Brion Red Pessac Leognan 100 94
1975 Ch. Mouton Rothschild Red Pauillac 100 92
1975 Ch. Margaux Red Margaux Alcorn 70
1978 Ch. Leoville Las Cases Red St Julien 65 95
1978 Ch. Montrose Red St Estephe 30 91
1970 BV Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 100 96
1974 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa tenth 20 98
1975 BV Georges de La Tour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 40 93
1834 Madeira Malvasia Barbieto Madeira Madeira 505 100
1,580
Gainey Evans Ranch Chardonnay Henline 92
Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay Robinson 92
2003 Michel Colin-Deleger & Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Siegel 96
1970 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon Robinson 81
1977 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon Alcorn 83
1990 Dominus Siegel 92
1990 Ch. Angelus St. Emilion Siegel 94
1987 Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon Crocket 89

 

 

Acquisitions

10 5 1947 Ch. Petrus Red Bordeaux 1235

This wine was hand carried from France by my friend Henry.

 

Future Events

October 21 – next tasting

 

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance -762.90
Dues Payable 5000.00
Purchases -1235.00
Dinner -1905.00
Balance 1097.10

 

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

2006-2 Comparative Shopping

Comparative Shoppingat Luma’sSaturday, April 15, 2006
Our next event will be at 5:30 pm on Saturday, April 15, 2006 at Luma on Park.The theme of this event is Comparative Shopping:

My Points Notes
2000 Ch. ‘Y’ de Yquem White Bordeaux 98 The clear winner of the flight with 9 out of 10 votes 145
1998 Ch. Haut Brion Blanc White Bordeaux 96 290
1983 Nuits St. Georges (Henline) Red Burgundy 87
1983 Echezeaux Cote de Nuits Mongeard-Mugneret Red Burgundy 93 45
1983 Echezeaux Domaine de la Romanee Conti Red Burgundy 91 The vote was almost evenly split between the two Echezeauxs 300
1961 Ch. Pape Clement (very low shoulder) (Alcorn) Red Bordeaux 83 The favorite, but clearly oxidized (although I voted for it!)
1961 Ch. Montrose Red Bordeaux 92 320
1962 Ch. Latour Red Pauillac 90 150
1991 Heits Martha’s Vineyard (Robinson) Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90
1991 Dominus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 98 The favorite, barely beating Martha’s. Dunn got no votes. I think this is the best wine ever from California. 120
1984 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 92 55
2003 Henry’s Drive Private Reserve Shiraz (Alcorn) Red Australia 100 My favorite wine of the night. We didn’t vote on this flight.
2003 Miltolo G.A.M. Shiraz (Henline) Red Australia 94
2002 Torbrek Shiraz (Siegel) Red Australia 92
1,723
1999 Ch. d’Yquem Sauternes Bordeaux 92 tenth 85
2000 Ch. d’Yquem Sauternes Bordeaux 98 tenth. Yes, this wine probably is worth 2.5 times the price of the 1999 213
1,723

 

Acquisitions

4 2000 Chateau ‘Y’ de Yquem 145 580
6 1999 d’Yquem, Sauternes (375ml) 85 510
6 2000 d’Yquem, Sauternes (375ml) 213 1278
4 1998 Ch. Haut Brion Blanc 290 1160
3528

 

Treasurer’s Report

Previous Balance

$2.10
Dues Payable 5000.00
Purchases -3528.00
Dinner -2237.00
Balance -762.90

 

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