CWD: What did you drink last night (or whenever)?

[Jayson Cohen]

The von Schuberts made a beautiful classic 2021 Abtsberg Kabinett. The true Kabinett balance here, maybe the first time in a while they’ve managed that, is spot on—I can’t remember a more tense Grunhaus Kabi. A bit Sponti on opening, it took a lot of restraint to wait for the minty alpine notes and piquant stone fruit of days 2 and 3. I’ll need to bury some.

 

[Rahsaan]

Nice photo, spearing the cork!

 

[Jim Hanlon]

2005 Domaine des Billards St. Amour: This wine was mute. The experience was so strange. The color didn't look particularly old, and there were no old wine flavors. There wasn't hardly any palate presence or nose at all. I suppose the wine could be closed, but it didn't budge over two days. My best guess is that the fruit has left the building and, while other aspects of the wine are hanging on (and will for some time yet), it doesn't have anything delicious left to offer. I hope that's wrong. I have one more bottle and will wait a decade or so to see what happens. Anyone else ever encounter this with older Beaujolais?

 

[Pavel Tchichikov]

that is so odd. I love 2005 Billards, but it's been at least a couple of years. May have one bottle left as well. The 2009 was very nice in July.

 

[MLipton]

originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
2005 Domaine des Billards St. Amour: This wine was mute. The experience was so strange. The color didn't look particularly old, and there were no old wine flavors. There wasn't hardly any palate presence or nose at all. I suppose the wine could be closed, but it didn't budge over two days. My best guess is that the fruit has left the building and, while other aspects of the wine are hanging on (and will for some time yet), it doesn't have anything delicious left to offer. I hope that's wrong. I have one more bottle and will wait a decade or so to see what happens. Anyone else ever encounter this with older Beaujolais?

Jim, it might be a “fruit scalped” low-level TCA taint. It’s been shown that, at levels below the threshold of perception, TCA taint manifests as a muting of the fruit in the wine.

Mark Lipton

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
Anyone else ever encounter this with older Beaujolais?

Young CdR yes, older Beaujolais no.

I agree with Chem Boy that something is wrong with the bottle, this is not by-the-book aging.

 

[Jim Hanlon]

originally posted by MLipton:

originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
2005 Domaine des Billards St. Amour: This wine was mute. The experience was so strange. The color didn't look particularly old, and there were no old wine flavors. There wasn't hardly any palate presence or nose at all. I suppose the wine could be closed, but it didn't budge over two days. My best guess is that the fruit has left the building and, while other aspects of the wine are hanging on (and will for some time yet), it doesn't have anything delicious left to offer. I hope that's wrong. I have one more bottle and will wait a decade or so to see what happens. Anyone else ever encounter this with older Beaujolais?

Jim, it might be a “fruit scalped” low-level TCA taint. It’s been shown that, at levels below the threshold of perception, TCA taint manifests as a muting of the fruit in the wine.

Mark Lipton

Maybe, Mark. Comparatively, I'm pretty sensitive to TCA and didn't get any off flavors or aromas. But maybe this wine just hit that mark perfectly.

 

[Jim Hanlon]

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
that is so odd. I love 2005 Billards, but it's been at least a couple of years. May have one bottle left as well. The 2009 was very nice in July.

Good to hear. I have some 09 too and will open one in the next few months.

 

[Jayson Cohen]

For the sake of the search engine, I should list these at least. Fun night on Sunday:

2014 Schloss Lieser Sonneuhr Kabinett
2017 Falkenstein Euchariusberg Spätlese 14
2005 Huet Le Mont Demisec
2021 Tiberio Cerasuolo
2018 Schaefer Domprobst Spätlese 10
2013 Abtsberg Spätlese
2020 Keller Scheurebe Kabinett
2020 Schaefer Domprobst Kabinett
2012 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Spätlese (flawed )

 

[Jeff Grossman]

How was the 2020 Schaefer?

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

How was the Tiberio Cerasuolo? Does it scratch the Valentini itch?

 

[Jayson Cohen]

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
How was the Tiberio Cerasuolo? Does it scratch the Valentini itch?

I don’t have a Valentini itch. But it scratched my Tiberio itch, especially on Day 2.

 

[Jim Hanlon]

1978 Trotanoy: I don't drink much Bordeaux, maybe 3-6 bottles a year. Can't remember where or how I got this bottle. But it was very pleasant. Not much fruit left, but pleasant underlying herbal notes from the Cab Franc. Really nice mouthfeel. Dominant quality on the nose and palate was mushrooms. Not generic, old-wine mushrooms, but move vivid mushroom, liveliness. Initially in the Cremini or maybe Portobello side of things, then progressed more towards black truffle. Glad this crossed my path.

 

[Jim Hanlon]

2016 Pinon Vouvray: So this vintage was a quantity disaster for the winery. But the one wine they did make is quite beautiful and already drinking well. I was a little conflicted -- grateful and appreciative that they made this wonderful wine after a season of frustration or a little sad to be enjoying a vintage that was so hard for the vignerons. If you have any, consider opening now. It's at a beautiful transition point, with full fruit, but characteristic Chenin secondary notes starting to join in.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

originally posted by fatboy:

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
broadcasting to fatboy on all frequencies

[insert pic here]

nice backdrop ;)

i have a couple of older versions lined up for your arrival.

fb.

Speaking of a couple of older, drank the 2005 (14.0%) and the 2008 (13.0%) in the last two days. The 2008 was excellent, though still a bit closed. The 2005, also on the closed side, had some alcohol heat and was way too tannic for my taste. Loved what they wrote on the back labels, and the 2005 includes data like pH, total acidity, free SO2, etc. Pretty neat.

 

[Ken Schramm]

Both younger, but appealing and worth recognizing.

Jean-Michel Guillon Bourgogne with the help of Elie. This seems to be headed in a very positive direction. Compelling nose - ripe strawberries, Morello cherries, bountiful and magnetic. Not quite as lush on the palate, but wonderfully tart and fruity. Long finish. Surprisingly dark in color for a G-C sourced wine. Definitely happy with this.

I have also been pleased with many offerings from The Piedmont Guy, the Cascina Preziosa and Luigi Giordano bottlings in particular. Putnam turned me on to Weston Hoard. I'm impressed. He has mined some gems.

The '17 Vespolina has the stuffing to go a lot longer, but drinking well now, all the same. The grape and the treatment are engagingly expressive, especially in a vintage that might not have been ideal. Organic, 13.5%, large oak vats. Full throated, peppery, slightly rustic, dial on the aromatics set to "11." Dynamite with Chicken Pesto Genovese. Bought more.

 

[Salil Benegal]

Opened 2010 Chateau de la Bonneliere Touraine Ante Phylloxera Clos de Maulevrier last night. All I can say is holy crap. The texture, the aromatics, the depth on the palate - just everything came together into a true wow experience. I've liked this a lot in the past but this was thrilling and one of the best wines I've had this year.

 

[Jayson Cohen]

originally posted by Salil Benegal:
Opened 2010 Chateau de la Bonneliere Touraine Ante Phylloxera Clos de Maulevrier last night. All I can say is holy crap. The texture, the aromatics, the depth on the palate - just everything came together into a true wow experience. I've liked this a lot in the past but this was thrilling and one of the best wines I've had this year.

That sounds good!

 

[Jayson Cohen]

The Politburo held an emergency meeting in honor of the World Cup at the Dacha of the General Secretary, who offered a fine array of food and wine choices augmented by offerings from a fringe member of the Central Committee.

Unconfirmed reports indicate libations may have included fine bottles like 2019 Domaine de Montrieux Picrochole Pineau D’Aunis (like liquified pink grapefruit in the most fantastical way possible), 2004 Breton Chinon Le Picasses to die for, 2011 Dom. de Roally in fine mature form, 2008 Mugneret Gibourg showing a strange lactic-greenish topnote on the nose divorced from a mouth filled with delicious cool refreshing Frutti di Bosco, and 1985 La Lagune perfectly channeling its inner Pomerol.

Not to be accused of leaving his guests wanting, World Cup Brunch included a very fine Bruno Dangin Cremant de Bourgogne Cuvee Blanche Brut and overtime celebration with a reserve bottle of 1924 Huet Le Haut Lieu Moelleux that decided unilaterally that its time had come and indeed it has triumphantly.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

originally posted by Salil Benegal:
Opened 2010 Chateau de la Bonneliere Touraine Ante Phylloxera Clos de Maulevrier last night. All I can say is holy crap. The texture, the aromatics, the depth on the palate - just everything came together into a true wow experience. I've liked this a lot in the past but this was thrilling and one of the best wines I've had this year.

Had the 2012 recently, knowing next to nothing about it, and it was also special.