DC does it

[Cristian Dezso]

Good dinner at Dino's with lots of wine. Some of it rather forgettable (a 2008 Pinot Noir from I dunno where, I guess California), some of it odd (2005 Belliviere Rouge Gorge that made me cough for almost a minute, but that reminded some of tequila shots, others of good old college years when they were, um, ...), some of it new (thank you Cole for the Oltrepo Pavese, a pinot noir and barbera (?) blend that I liked a lot).

There was a 2000 Bruno Clair Gevrey Chambertin that was OK, a 2002 white burgundy (Rully from Girardin?) that was all boiled chestnuts, and 1989 and 2002 Luneau Papin L d'Ors both mineral and a little bitter, with the 1989 showing some sweet touches on the nose. Maybe they would have showed better with appropriate food.

The wines that I enjoyed most were the: (i) 2000 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Vignolo, a fairly, but not overly tannic youngster, with typical menthol and medicinal flavors and a solid dose of tar/cement; and (ii) the 1977 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte, the first vintage of this wine, that was the essence of tertiary notes - twigs, matches and cherry - and an acidic backbone that rendered it nowhere close to falling apart - very VERY impressive indeed.

All in all, a great night in DC, as always, and good to meet some new folks.

 

[Yule Kim]

My wines of the night were the '89 L d'Or, very full and rich with great acidity (I hear Muscadet can age and now I believe the hype), the Sylvaner Spatlese [forgot which producer and vintage], and the Le Pergole Torte.

The Oltrepo Pavese was also very good and the Barolo was very nice.

The 2000 Bruno Clair Gevrey Chambertin was a premier cru "Clos du Fonteny" which I read had rather youngish vines (some planted late 70s, a lot from the late 80s), so I was a little worried it would be dilute, but I think it did pretty well, especially in such august company.

And the Rouge Gorge - fulfilled my hipster quota for the month. I probably liked it the most out of everyone at the table, and even then, I probably wouldn't rush to the store to get another one. The "smokiness" was very interesting (and reminiscent of college dorm rooms).

There was also a Corsican wine (forgot which producer or vintage) that had some crazy acidity. I found it a little challenging, but everyone else seemed to love it. I think I needed some food with it.

Thanks everyone for a wonderful night!

 

[Thor]

But...none of these are Trimbach or Truchot!

 

[Jonathan Loesberg]

originally posted by Thor:
But...none of these are Trimbach or Truchot!

The theme of the dinner was getting out of ruts. I didn't bring a Southern Rhone, Craig and Beth brought a Pinot Noir, Bob brought a wine technically from France (well, from Corsica). He also brought the weird Rouge Gorge which raised some interpretive issues. The wine clearly came from no known rut. Bob, however, has a long record of bringing the weirdest wines to any given tasting so his bringing the Rouge Gorge may have amounted to staying in a rut, in an odd way.

 

[Nicolas Mestre]

I didn't receive an invitation.

DC douche baggery!

 

[Thor]

Bob brought a wine technically from France (well, from Corsica)

I don't think Bob has fully committed to rut-getting-out-of if he can only go as far as Corsica. Hell, you can practically see Italy from there.

 

[Cole Kendall]

The Oltrepo wine was la P..Nera from Olmo Antico and is not yet imported into the US but if someone knows a willing importer I can provide contact info etc.

It was good to see everyone last night; should the second volcano cloud persist I may be available next week and we could even invite M. Mestre.

Cole

 

[Nicolas Mestre]

Oh don't worry about me.

I'm sure I can find another gun-rally-protesting-the-Obama-presidency-on-public land kind of event instead.

If I cross over the border I'd have to conceal my guns wouldn't I?

 

[Rahsaan]

Nice to hear competing views of the 89 L d'Or. Should be a nice wine if the bottle is sound. But I agree with Cristian that it probably doesn't match well with every dish.

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

You must be referring to the recent Post story about the group of whackos who're planning to come to a demonstration on the mall in a month or two wearing loaded pistols and bandoleers of bullets. Assuming Nathan'll be there, let's do an offline apropos.

 

[Doug Padgett]

originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
You must be referring to the recent Post story about the group of whackos who're planning to come to a demonstration on the mall in a month or two wearing loaded pistols and bandoleers of bullets. Assuming Nathan'll be there, let's do an offline apropos.

It was yesterday. Armed whackos were at Gravelly Point. Unarmed came to the mall somewhere, I believe.
The demonstrations apparently featured speeches and representation from a variety of armed interest groups--LGBT, standard midwestern militias, and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership. Surely they'd make room for winegeeks at the next one.

 

[maureen]

originally posted by Thor:
But...none of these are Trimbach or Truchot!

yeah, I missed it because the holistic vet who came to see my cat at 5:30 didn't get the hell out of my house until 9:20!

but I had a wacky orange wine on ice for this dinner.

 

[Thor]

I don't even know where to begin, Maureen.

 

[Bob Semon]

I suspect maureen is a closet tea party-er. At the gym on Sunday, I saw part of a news story (on one of the big TV screens) about pet acupuncture. The news channel was

... wait for it ...

Fox News.

The Corsican wine was 2006 Antoine Arena Patrimonio Rouge. Some have accused Nielluccio of being a sub-variety of Sangiovese. Now I like some Sangiovese wines, the 77 pergole Torte was extraordinary, but, all in all, it is the second most overrated wine grape variety on the planet.

The Rouge Gorge (2005) presented an interesting aromatic blend of Mexican redbud, circa 1978, and rutting earthworms. The very definition of a hipster wine.

And the whole Gravelly Point thing was very scary. A bunch of riled up rednecks with firearms directly under the northern approach to r----- r----- National Airport??? Who issued THAT permit?

Oh. The Silvaner was the 1993 Hans Wirsching Julius-Echter-Berg Spatlese Trocken. A proud Chambers Street acquisition. Harrumph!

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Bob Semon:
The Rouge Gorge (2005) presented an interesting aromatic blend of Mexican redbud, circa 1978, and rutting earthworms. The very definition of a hipster wine.

Oh, you wicked tempter!

 

[Thor]

Mexican redbud

The old name for Augusta National's 16th hole, no?

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

originally posted by Bob Semon:
... rutting earthworms ...

If this descriptor appears in Allan Meadow's notes now, we'll know he's lurking.

D.C. will have to start installing old wild-west saloons soon, with designated 'quick-draw' areas where gun-bearing members of opposing demonstration groups can argue their positions with greatest persuasive effect. Groups of innocent bystanders can be recruited on a voluntary basis to provide the odd unintended casualty for added color (so to speak).

 

[Marc D]

So you didn't like the Arena red wine?
The last Nielluccio I tried was from Yves Lecchia and it was really good.

 

[Bob Semon]

originally posted by Marc D:
So you didn't like the Arena red wine?
The last Nielluccio I tried was from Yves Lecchia and it was really good.

I think the Arena was perfectly drinkable, but nothing special. The professor snagged the leftovers and might be able to give a day two report.

 

[Jonathan Loesberg]

The Arena held up on day two and was nice with broiled steak. But as Bob said, nothing special. Nice dark fruit, some brightness, no goop or spoof that I could perceive. My socks remained on my feet.