That Kick-Ass Tasting (Nov 7, 2009)

[Jeff Grossman]

Discovery Wines, in the East Village, held its 5th Anniversary party by inviting five favorite importers to show their stuff... and a whole bunch of happy winos/passersby to come slurp it up. (I spent a couple of happy hours!)

Quick notes:

Jenny and Francois Selections
Yup
Dom. Guillot-Broux 2007 Macon-Cruzille
Ch. Tire Pe Diem 2007 Bordeaux

Eh
Olivier Cousin 2008 Gamay
Les Chemins de Bassac 2007 Cotes de Thongues

Nope
Dom. Guillot-Broux 2008 Macon-Villages
Didier Monchovet 2008 Bourgogne Grande Ordinaire

The clear winner here is the Macon-Cruzille: good and juicy, straightforward gamay wine. The Bordeaux was OK, esp. at its price.

Skurnik Wines
Eh
Aubry NV Champagne, Jouy-les-Reims
Varnier-Fanniere NV Champagne Brut, Grand Cru

Nope
Tablas Creek 2008 "Cotes de Tablas" Blanc
HeHo le Rouge 2008 VdP de Loire Atlantique
Rainoldi 2008 Nebbiolo
Morgan 2007 "Cotes du Crowes" Syrah-Grenache

Good champagne, esp the Aubry.

Louis/Dressner Selections
Yup
Agnes et Rene Mosse NV "Moussamoussettes" VdT Rose
Thierry Puzelat 2008 "Touraine" Pinot Noir
Montesecondo 2006 Chianti Classico

Eh
Bera 2008 "Arcese"
Eric Texier 2007 Cotes du Rhone Villages "Rasteau"

I'd never had the Moussamoussettes before! That was fizzy fun. And I cannot go a moment longer without telling you about the fabulous pourer, Lee Campbell -- how does Joe persuade someone so charming, graceful, talented, and beautiful to schnook for him?

Rosenthal Wine Merchants
Yup
Sentinelle de Massiac 2008 Minervois
De Forville 2004 Barbaresco "Vigneto Loreto"

Eh
Mas Cal Demoura 2004 Coteaux du Languedoc "L'Infidele"
Villa St. Anna 2005 Rosso di Montepulciano
Ch. Soucherie 2008 Anjou Blanc

Nope
Ch. la Rame 2007 Bordeaux

The Minervois and the Barbaresco stood out (though it's gonna be a long time coming around).

Polaner Selections
Yup
Laplace 2006 Madiran

Eh
Les Vins Contes 2007 "Cherville de Fer"
Castano 2008 Monastrell
Roagna 2008 Dolcetto

Nope
Jean Manciat 2007 Macon Charnay
Calera 2007 Chardonnay, Mt. Harlan

Dunno
Elio Perrone NV Brachetto d'Acqui "Bigoro"

I didn't buy the Madiran but I should have. (Skipped the Perrone the first time around because it was sweet but never got back to it.)

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

Montesecondo 2006 Chianti Classico

And I cannot go a moment longer without telling you about the fabulous pourer, Lee Campbell -- how does Joe persuade someone so charming, graceful, talented, and beautiful to schnook for him?

Drugs? Chemo-brain? Kidnapping?

She is indeed a fine human being.

I REALLY like that Montesecondo.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by VLM:
I REALLY like that Montesecondo.

Agreed. I didn't buy it here because I'd already bought it at some previous Dressner event.

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

How many points for a 'yup'?

 

[JasonA]

I have been long delinquent in thanking Silvio Messana for being such a glorious host while visiting him this past summer. We were given a tour of the vineyard, the cave and his wine making operation topped off by a fabulous lunch for the four of us all prepared by Silvio, without help, by himself.

We tasted barrel samples in the cave and he served the Chianti Classico with lunch. At the conclusion of our visit Silvio offered us a generous discount for wines to purchase.

Apart from being such a fabulous host the thing that struck me the most about Silvio was his honesty, generosity and lack of pretention. He made us feel like old friends, old friends you wish you had more of. He also makes great wines. One worth looking out for is his Cabernet I was somewhat skeptical, he talked me into it and it was fantastic.

A lot has been written about visiting the winemaker and I know the above reads like a brochure in flight magazine located behind your seat back but it works for me. Apart from offering to put him up the next time he is in New York and buying more of his wine (15% off today at Astor) all I can say is thank you Silvio and thank you LDM for introducing us to such great people.