Jeebus in SF Monday, 12/8

[VLM]

originally posted by slaton:

Hey I didn't make it because I wasn't on the waiting-list but:

1994 Hiedler Grner Veltliner Reserve

Dead, unless you are kidding yourself.

1991 Gravner Ribolla Gialla

Also on life supprt, but different from Gravner these days.

1992 Egon Mller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett

Yum, and I didn't think a Kabinett from 1992 would still show well.

1989 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett

Actually, a bit disappointing, maybe storage?

1988 Von Schubert Maximin Grnhauser Abtsberg Riesling Sptlese

Just goes to show, Grnhauser in the 70s and 80s was BOMB. Precise and still has some more to show.

1996 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo

WAY too young is the siren call, but really, this wine is so marred with weird VA that it will never be great. We can only hope.

1998 Drouhin-Laroze Bonnes Mares

There's a reason I don't buy D-L.

1995 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er

Still needs to shed a bit of structure, and on any other nigth may have been WOTN, except for the next one.

2001 Palari Faro

I'm not particularly familar with this wine, but I was really impressed with the manner in which it showed both it's Sicilian mountainous terroir and kept some precision. A wine I will seek out in the future.

1998 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec

A really good showing for this wine. Really shows of its place. Would be a nice ringer in a 1er Burgundy line-up.

2005 Stphane Tissot Arbois Audace Poulsard Passerill Sur Paille

OK. Maybe Scott had gotten me high by now, but this wine was just weird. And I loved it. What fucking planet is this from?

Thanks to everyone for an awesome evening.

Nice to put faces to so many names.

 

[Arjun Mendiratta]

Kay, is that you?

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by MLipton:
none of you West Coasters have tortured Jay with some ber-spoofy Syrah Pinot Noir? I'd have thought my modest contribution to Rahsaan's going away shindig might've started a trend out there.

Traditions like that are better off nipped in the bud!

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by Scott Kraft:
It was Jay's remarkable Malkovich impression that made the evening for me!

Notes to come!

One of the first things I was told by several people at dinner tonight. There seems to be a growing consensus.

 

[Scott Kraft]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by slaton:

Hey I didn't make it because I wasn't on the waiting-list but:

1994 Hiedler Grner Veltliner Reserve

Dead, unless you are kidding yourself.

1991 Gravner Ribolla Gialla

Also on life supprt, but different from Gravner these days.

1992 Egon Mller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett

Yum, and I didn't think a Kabinett from 1992 would still show well.

1989 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett

Actually, a bit disappointing, maybe storage?

1988 Von Schubert Maximin Grnhauser Abtsberg Riesling Sptlese

Just goes to show, Grnhauser in the 70s and 80s was BOMB. Precise and still has some more to show.

1996 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo

WAY too young is the siren call, but really, this wine is so marred with weird VA that it will never be great. We can only hope.

1998 Drouhin-Laroze Bonnes Mares

There's a reason I don't buy D-L.

1995 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er

Still needs to shed a bit of structure, and on any other nigth may have been WOTN, except for the next one.

2001 Palari Faro

I'm not particularly familar with this wine, but I was really impressed with the manner in which it showed both it's Sicilian mountainous terroir and kept some precision. A wine I will seek out in the future.

1998 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec

A really good showing for this wine. Really shows of its place. Would be a nice ringer in a 1er Burgundy line-up.

2005 Stphane Tissot Arbois Audace Poulsard Passerill Sur Paille

OK. Maybe Scott had gotten me high by now, but this wine was just weird. And I loved it. What fucking planet is this from?

Thanks to everyone for an awesome evening.

Nice to put faces to so many names.

Typically, I think VLM and I were at entirely different dinners.

1994 Hiedler Grner Veltliner Reserve

These are far better young.

1991 Gravner Ribolla Gialla

Made me hanker for the 2001 Anfora!

1992 Egon Mller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett

Weird. I still think this was corked.

1989 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett

Or maybe this was corked?

1988 Von Schubert Maximin Grnhauser Abtsberg Riesling Sptlese

Wow! Kane would have asked where the sugar went. But I loved this.

1996 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo

Showed young but very promising. Glad I've got a bunch left. Really not much VA strangely. And beautiful rock hard cherry pit fruit. Yum.

1998 Drouhin-Laroze Bonnes Mares

Who keeps saying the 98 burgundies are open? Mediocre.

1995 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er

I'm divided on the "Drouhin style". It just lacks soul.

2001 Palari Faro

I was not as charmed as some by this. Still, it shows promise. How much?

1998 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec

Now I understand the 98 enthusiasm!

2005 Stphane Tissot Arbois Audace Poulsard Passerill Sur Paille

Meh. Kane would love it!

Thanks to Claude for putting this together yet not showing. Cold, my ass! I think you just couldn't stand the idea of dining with VLM and I don't blame you for that.

Steve, where are the photos?

Arjun ... well what can we say? The Krishna joke was phenomenal!

Adler ... stick to PR! You've got a gift! Screenwriting is a sucker's game!

Larry ... your daughter is a real trooper! How is it she can name 1er cru burgs double blind?!

Jack ... can you send me the log in info for that other board?!

Erin ... for a newbie you seem rather worldly!

Jay ... thanks for bringing us together in holiday spirits!

 

[Brad Kane]

What, you guys don't like dessert wines?

 

[Scott Kraft]

I can't speak for everyone, but I love dessert wines. But I'm not a fan of most dry grape wines.

 

[SteveTimko]

I thought the 1994 Hiedler Grner Veltliner Reserve was the second best white wine of the night. Of course, I brought it, so I might have some bias there. I set a glass aside and drank it when the pasta arrived. Like a riesling, some diesel on the nose. On the palate, a classical gruner veltliner flavor. Snap peas and some pleasant greenness, plus some citrus flavors and white pepper. Excellent balance and a good finish. I liked it. I toasted Sharon, who has problems finding her GruVe.

Of the eight wine geeks six preferred the Chambolle-Musigny over the Bonnes-Mares. Two of us, including me, preferred the Bonnes-Mares. Sure it was tight and needs probably at least another four years. But it was showing great balance and potential. I got a whiff of flowers on the nose along with darker red fruits. On the palate, tremendous earthiness with a brighter red fruit on the palate along with maybe some soy sauce. More masculine than feminine right now but I wonder if that will change with age. Silky.

The 1995 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er had a lot going for it but for me the huge flaw was that it was slightly out of balance with too much acid and that didn't go away through out the evening. Quite pure. Spices and licorice on the nose and a little bit of herbal tea. AGain good earthiness on the palate with more strawberry and brighter fruits than the Bonnes-Mares. Good finish. Just too much acid.

I think the wine of the night for me was the 2001 Palari Faro.
Quite aromatic but I'm having a hard time describing the smells. I'll say cherry, earth and licorice and leave it at that. Interesting structure. It's like clear and different flavors on the attack, mid palate and finish. I'll bright red fruits on the attack, maybe more plum and licorice on the mid palate followed by herbs and earthiness. Great finish. I need to explore this wine.

Slaton brought this wine but said the wine of the night for him was the 1996 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo. I think he was being modest. This wine seemed impenetrable to me and seems like it's needs at least another eight years in the bottle. It reminds me that I can't drink my lone Barolo, a 1996 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Riserva Vigna Big, any time soon.

The Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec is showing some good development. Complex nose of forest floors and also sage. On the palate, balanced with some spicy red fruit. Good finish. I liked it.

The 1991 Gravner Ribolla Gialla. Boy, talk about minerally. Real gravel juice. I didn't get a lot on the nose, maybe some honey. Nice minerals on the palate, along with with some white flowers.

For me, the best white wine was the 1988 Von Schubert Maximin Grnhauser Abtsberg. Floral and white fruits on the nose. On the palate, a core of acidity with tropical fruits like mango and pineapple and also some citrus fruits. Some brown sugar flavors. Still has years to go, but very focused. Balanced in that the acidity is offset by enough sweetness and fruitiness that it's not sour. Lots of depth and a great finish.

I just have one question about 1989 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett. Did anyone else note how rich it seemed? It seemed almost like an auslese.

I liked the 1992 Egon Mller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett, but I can't remember what I liked about it.

I don't remember much about Arjun's dessert wine. Maybe I was too drunk by then.

 

[Brad Kane]

Love the pics!

 

[slaton]

I was going to suggest that we start a new thread for notes/TNs from the dinner. Any objections?

 

[Chris Coad]

originally posted by slaton:
I was going to suggest that we start a new thread for notes/TNs from the dinner. Any objections?

There are still MORE notes to come from this night?

Jesus. You West Coasters need a good editor.

 

[Scott Kraft]

You missed the Craig's List ad?

 

[SteveTimko]

originally posted by slaton:
I was going to suggest that we start a new thread for notes/TNs from the dinner. Any objections?

Well, fine, but someone has to post more notes.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by SteveTimko:
Why no love for the gruner?I thought the 1994 Hiedler Grner Veltliner Reserve was the second best white wine of the night.

I found it a bit tired.

Two of us, including me, preferred the Bonnes-Mares.

Again, Drouhin-Laroze only seems to be well-liked in Reno and environs.

The 1995 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er had a lot going for it but for me the huge flaw was that it was slightly out of balance with too much acid

I think that Jay would agree that this is not possible, especially not in 1995.

I think the wine of the night for me was the 2001 Palari Faro.

Toatlly agree.

Slaton brought this wine but said the wine of the night for him was the 1996 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo.

Slaton's a douche. That wine is drowning in VA. It'll never workout int he long term.

It reminds me that I can't drink my lone Barolo, a 1996 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Riserva Vigna Big, any time soon.

Smart man. Another 10 years.

The Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec is showing some good development.

Agreed.

The 1991 Gravner Ribolla Gialla. Boy, talk about minerally. Real gravel juice. I didn't get a lot on the nose, maybe some honey. Nice minerals on the palate, along with with some white flowers.

Also agree, but I found it a bit more tired than you. I kinda wish Gravner still made wines like this.

For me, the best white wine was the 1988 Von Schubert Maximin Grnhauser Abtsberg.

Like, I said BOMB.

Looks like we were on more-or-less the same wavelength.

 

[slaton]

Whites

1991 Gravner Ribolla Gialla Riserva Venezia Giulia IGT
Relatively unexpressive nose, showing mostly some restrained wood. Seems fashioned in a middleweight, less aromatic style with good acid, and a bit of midpalate richness. Perhaps reminiscent of a white Burgundy from a leaner vintage, but the vaguely appley fruit and aromatics make this come across rather closed and muted. Hard to say what's going on with this bottle, but this just isn't very open or expressive tonight.

1994 Hiedler Grner Veltliner Reserve
Just had a bit of this but it was clean, citrusy and elegant, with just a smidgeon of diesel. Very young and relatively unevolved for a 14 year-old wine, with clean green fruits and (seems like) a dollop of RS. A very pleasing and refreshing style, if lacking in weight and length.

1992 Egon Mller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett
Strong notes of diesel, honey, yellow fruits, with gripping acid. Initially this came across as more developed and even a little diffuse, but seemed to grew more fresh and vibrant with time in the glass. Very good. I'd surely have paid more attention to this if the Grnhauser hadn't come along.

1989 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett
This was very musty and corky from the get-go. Despite some early talk of it turning out alright, sadly it did not.

1988 Von Schubert Maximin Grnhauser Abtsberg Riesling Sptlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Very young and pure, with suggestions of green apple, petrol and wet stone. This had a firm spine of acidity, a wonderful grippy texture, and a finish that went on and on. Lovely!

Reds

1996 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
Aromas of raw beef and sour cherry emerge from the glass, with floral notes adding a feminine touch. Despite vlm's prognostications, VA was not a part of the equation. Charmingly lightweight on the palate, with joyful purity and structure. Very tight still of course, but it unfurls enough in the glass at this juncture to give tremendous pleasure - a bit like the coiled spring analogy favored in Champagne, although I find the definition here already compelling. Amazing, but certainly most of the joys are ahead with this one.

1998 Drouhin-Laroze Bonnes Mares
Lovely spicy ripe red fruit aromas with some iron and savory nettle notes. Developing but still young on the palate, with generous fruit and grippy acids. I found the wood signature here to be fairly conspicuous but not offensive. No shortage of tannin, but quite nice to drink now. Tasty, though certainly not as focused or pure as the Drouhin alongside.

1995 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Clean, powdery tart red fruit nose showing just a touch of development. Earthy sweet-tart red fruits in the mouth, with great purity and lovely penetrating acidity. Elegant, beautiful wine that is still young but drinking wonderfully now.

2001 Palari Faro Rosso
The nose here is still marked with a whisper of toasty oak, but this integrated very well with just a little time in the glass. This is just popping tonight, with sweet cherry, chalk, dried savory herbs and good freshness. Lovely midpalate weight, with impressive length. Held its own against the other reds on the table.

1998 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec
Soft, slightly horsey nose, with some decayed sous bois and mushroom aromas. Not as fresh aromatically as the Drouhin CM, but just lovely on the palate, with fresh sweet red fruits, dried savory nettles, and mineral. Great power and midpalate depth, with melting tannins. Among the best Oregon pinots I've tasted; hard to imagine this isn't at or near peak.

Sweet

2005 Stphane Tissot Arbois Audace Poulsard passerill sur paille
I was contentedly reclining with small pours of the '95 Drouhin CM 1er, '96 Bartolo Mascarello and '01 Palari Faro, and thus scarcely had a taste of this. The nose had scary levels of VA and was not a strong point for me, but the wine was quite juicy and pleasing in the mouth, in a Russ Bevan yummy sort of way.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by slaton: 1994 Hiedler Grner Veltliner Reserve
...Very young and relatively unevolved for a 14 year-old wine...lacking in weight and length..

Perhaps a basic wine like this is not going to evolve into much?

 

[slaton]

originally posted by Rahsaan:
Perhaps a basic wine like this is not going to evolve into much?

Could be. But I'm not up on the story behind this wine. And given the combination of vintage and the reserve designation, I'd assumed it was a special cuvee deemed worthy of the extended aging, and not a "basic" wine.

 

[SteveTimko]

originally posted by slaton:

originally posted by Rahsaan:
Perhaps a basic wine like this is not going to evolve into much?

Could be. But I'm not up on the story behind this wine. And given the combination of vintage and the reserve designation, I'd assumed it was a special cuvee deemed worthy of the extended aging, and not a "basic" wine.

Jesus fucking Christ. Hello? is any one reading my notes? This was a great wine.
Nathan, if you're going to the Bay Area, I don't suppose I can talk you into dropping $55 at K&L to try this wine? This wine got ran over like a Wal-Mart employee on Black Friday in the rush to try all the other wines. And it's tough to go back to a dry wine after drinking off-dry wines.
The wine opened up nicely after a half hour to 45 minutes. It's got a few years to go. It's a Therry Thiese import, I believe, if anyone can check out a bottle anywhere else.

 

[Scott Kraft]

It's finally started to happen: the California cabal is getting rough!

 

[Jay Miller]

In the spirit of the evening:

An infinite number of mathematicians walk into a bar. The first one orders a beer, the second orders half a beer the third asks for a quarter of a beer. Before the next one can speak, the bartender says "You're all idiots," and pours two beers.