Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
attendees: Don & Melissa, Eden & Scott, Jay, Jayson, Jeff, Lisa, Scott & Anne-Marie
Wines provided by Jayson (superhero labels) and Lisa (Harry Potter labels).
The first two wines are a set.
Hawkeye - "The variety starts with 'R'" -Victor; "Romorantin!" -Jay, ever hopeful (no). This is a young and fresh riesling, tangy and citrussy, a bit sweet but not overwhelmingly so. We identify it as German and probably a Kabinett but that's as far as we go. Emrich-Schönleber 2019 Monzinger Riesling Kabinett, 10%.
Capt. America - Rather dryer and reduced. Jay blithely asks, "Is Capt. America from Austria?" (no). Victor calls out notes of citrus pith and so we're back to Germany (yes). It is Emrich-Schönleber 2019 Monzinger Trocken "Mineral", 12.5%. The juice is from young vines in the grand cru vineyards.
The next three wines are all from the same year. Lisa takes notes of our guesses (because there will be a quiz later?).
Pumpkin Juice - "Pickle juice" -Anne-Marie, "Caraway" -Victor. And it's another wine from a grape that starts with 'R'. This one is easy, it's riesling and old riesling, at that. Jayson gets on a roll... "Austrian?", yes, "Nikolaihof?", yes. Lisa: "So, are you ready to put a nickel down on the year?" Hm. The acidity is still decent but this seems old to me so I guess 1988; most folks guess in the 90s. The wine is Nikolaihof Kremstal Riesling "Steiner Hund".
=> I kept some for Day 3: shot.
Polyjuice Potion - "Cooked apricots" -Jayson, "Graham crackers" -Jeff, "Gingerbread" -Melissa. Hm. The acidity is still fairly sharp, long in the mouth, and dry, dry, dry. Somehow we decide this is chenin from Savennieres but again it is Jayson who nails it as Joly Savennieres "Clos de la Coulée de Serrant".
=> Day 3: beautiful, has blossomed into full elegance and balance
Manticore Venom - "Antique banana!" -Melissa, "A little pound cake" -Jay. An old white-wine nose, the palate is full of face-powder and spice-cake (...not actually all that attractive). I'm thinking chenin and we get there in steps... French, Loire, Chenin, but despite our posh palates we do not guess that it is: Clos Rougeard Saumur Blanc "Breze"
=> Day 3: whoa, this has way, way opened up, unrecognizable from Thursday, another wine of great poise, the old "sunshine in a bottle" phrase is apt, wow
Lisa announces last call for guess of the year. I think we all stand pat except Jay, who flips to 1985. And... wah-wah... a year's supply of Rice-a-Roni and a goat for all of us, as no one guessed 1999.
We end with a few reds.
Thor - Nice nose but maybe a touch lactic? We chew this over for a while and, eventually, Jay ventures, "Syrah?" (yes). Well, that cues me because this kind of distracting funk only happens in, "St-Joseph?" (yes). Not one of the big players so we eventually yield: La Ferme des Sept Lunes (Jean Delobre and Jacques Maurice) 2016 St. Joseph "Premier Quartier".
=> Day 3: about as it was, maybe a tad too leathery for its own good now
Black Widow - The nose is also funky but not bad. People are not happy however, calling "seawater" and "battery acid" on the palate. Spoiled somehow and a shame: Noël Ramonet 2000 Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 1er "Boudriotte".
=> Day 3: no offense remains but the wine is mute, nearly tasteless
Hulk - Sure is. Hulk like tannin! Hulk like green pepper! Hulk come on with subtlety of freight train! But we know how this goes: "Old World?" (yes), "Bordeaux?" (yes), "Left Bank?" -Jay (yes), "1995?" -Jay (yes), "St-Estephe?" -Victor (yes), "Calon-Segur?" -Jay (we are terrible, non?). The wine is incredibly backward, no need to rush this, go out, raise some children then come back to it. Eventually, the nose gives up some black cherry and earth. Ch. Calon-Segur 1995 St. Estephe
=> Day 3: OK, it has unwound a bit, it is still austere, the alcohol sticks out a bit, there really isn't anything lush or even particularly pleasant about the wine; it is clean, pure, strong stuff so maybe it works well with food
--
One topic of import that we discussed during the call is whether to continue these sessions. After all, we're fully vaxxed, restrictions on gatherings are being lifted, and in-person is superior to online. But we will do at least one more, and, speaking for myself, I'm happy for them to continue. They are not superseding any jeebi and they allow folks to get together with only a minimum of logistics. It's not perfect, of course, but which one of you is?
OK, I take it back. We actually did discuss that aspect of it, too:
Jayson: "Zippy has delusions of grandeur."
Jay: "They're not delusions."
Wines provided by Jayson (superhero labels) and Lisa (Harry Potter labels).
Hawkeye - "The variety starts with 'R'" -Victor; "Romorantin!" -Jay, ever hopeful (no). This is a young and fresh riesling, tangy and citrussy, a bit sweet but not overwhelmingly so. We identify it as German and probably a Kabinett but that's as far as we go. Emrich-Schönleber 2019 Monzinger Riesling Kabinett, 10%.
Capt. America - Rather dryer and reduced. Jay blithely asks, "Is Capt. America from Austria?" (no). Victor calls out notes of citrus pith and so we're back to Germany (yes). It is Emrich-Schönleber 2019 Monzinger Trocken "Mineral", 12.5%. The juice is from young vines in the grand cru vineyards.
The next three wines are all from the same year. Lisa takes notes of our guesses (because there will be a quiz later?).
Pumpkin Juice - "Pickle juice" -Anne-Marie, "Caraway" -Victor. And it's another wine from a grape that starts with 'R'. This one is easy, it's riesling and old riesling, at that. Jayson gets on a roll... "Austrian?", yes, "Nikolaihof?", yes. Lisa: "So, are you ready to put a nickel down on the year?" Hm. The acidity is still decent but this seems old to me so I guess 1988; most folks guess in the 90s. The wine is Nikolaihof Kremstal Riesling "Steiner Hund".
=> I kept some for Day 3: shot.
Polyjuice Potion - "Cooked apricots" -Jayson, "Graham crackers" -Jeff, "Gingerbread" -Melissa. Hm. The acidity is still fairly sharp, long in the mouth, and dry, dry, dry. Somehow we decide this is chenin from Savennieres but again it is Jayson who nails it as Joly Savennieres "Clos de la Coulée de Serrant".
=> Day 3: beautiful, has blossomed into full elegance and balance
Manticore Venom - "Antique banana!" -Melissa, "A little pound cake" -Jay. An old white-wine nose, the palate is full of face-powder and spice-cake (...not actually all that attractive). I'm thinking chenin and we get there in steps... French, Loire, Chenin, but despite our posh palates we do not guess that it is: Clos Rougeard Saumur Blanc "Breze"
=> Day 3: whoa, this has way, way opened up, unrecognizable from Thursday, another wine of great poise, the old "sunshine in a bottle" phrase is apt, wow
Lisa announces last call for guess of the year. I think we all stand pat except Jay, who flips to 1985. And... wah-wah... a year's supply of Rice-a-Roni and a goat for all of us, as no one guessed 1999.
We end with a few reds.
Thor - Nice nose but maybe a touch lactic? We chew this over for a while and, eventually, Jay ventures, "Syrah?" (yes). Well, that cues me because this kind of distracting funk only happens in, "St-Joseph?" (yes). Not one of the big players so we eventually yield: La Ferme des Sept Lunes (Jean Delobre and Jacques Maurice) 2016 St. Joseph "Premier Quartier".
=> Day 3: about as it was, maybe a tad too leathery for its own good now
Black Widow - The nose is also funky but not bad. People are not happy however, calling "seawater" and "battery acid" on the palate. Spoiled somehow and a shame: Noël Ramonet 2000 Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 1er "Boudriotte".
=> Day 3: no offense remains but the wine is mute, nearly tasteless
Hulk - Sure is. Hulk like tannin! Hulk like green pepper! Hulk come on with subtlety of freight train! But we know how this goes: "Old World?" (yes), "Bordeaux?" (yes), "Left Bank?" -Jay (yes), "1995?" -Jay (yes), "St-Estephe?" -Victor (yes), "Calon-Segur?" -Jay (we are terrible, non?). The wine is incredibly backward, no need to rush this, go out, raise some children then come back to it. Eventually, the nose gives up some black cherry and earth. Ch. Calon-Segur 1995 St. Estephe
=> Day 3: OK, it has unwound a bit, it is still austere, the alcohol sticks out a bit, there really isn't anything lush or even particularly pleasant about the wine; it is clean, pure, strong stuff so maybe it works well with food
--
One topic of import that we discussed during the call is whether to continue these sessions. After all, we're fully vaxxed, restrictions on gatherings are being lifted, and in-person is superior to online. But we will do at least one more, and, speaking for myself, I'm happy for them to continue. They are not superseding any jeebi and they allow folks to get together with only a minimum of logistics. It's not perfect, of course, but which one of you is?
OK, I take it back. We actually did discuss that aspect of it, too:
Jayson: "Zippy has delusions of grandeur."
Jay: "They're not delusions."
