TN: A few when Manuel was here

B

Brad Kane

Brad Kane
The Latin Liquidator was back in town a few weeks ago and so a bunch of the usuals got together to eat and drink. There were more wines at the dinner, but these were the only ones I felt like writing down.

Cheers,

Brad

1989 Huet- Vouvray Sec, Le Haut-Lieu
Piercing and fragrant aromas. Dougherty says you can smell the skins of the passerillage fruit. I get chalky mineral, quince, yellow fruit and a fresh mollusk/shellfish aroma. Clean, pure and quite rich and round for a Sec. Coad calls it a Sec plus. Amazing intensity and focus with a brilliant backbone. Beautiful and of course, young. Yet another magical offering from Huet in 89. A-.

1973 La Rioja Alta- Rioja Reserva, Via Ardanza
I havent met a 73 Rioja I havent liked and this is no exception. This bottle is just on the verge of being too old, but pulls up just short of that lip. Its completely harmonious and integrated with mature flavors and aromas of leather, cedar/worn wood, spice and tobacco with faint remnants of cherry fruit. Just a wonderfully silky texture, like a soft summer breeze. Drink up. A-.

1971 Latour- Pauillac (from magnum)
Tasted double blind. I originally guessed a 78 St. Julien as the aromatics were much more delicate and floral than Id expect from Pauillac, let alone Latour. Like the Vina Ardanza, this wine is completely integrated and clicking on all cylinders. Remarkably graceful and feminine for a Latour, while still showing its pedigree. Black fruit, earth and herb blissfully integrated in a way that only an aged Bordeaux can really deliver. Smooooth. A-.
 
That's all you drank when I was there? WTF? What happened to Mascarello, or Nieva, or so much other...

Just finished watching the VP debate. I'm still laughing my ass off. The McCain She-bot says "nucular". Ah, Amerika...

M.
 
Kane only takes notes on the big-money wines. For me, Andrew's racy Finger Lakes cabernet franc was the wine of the night.
 
originally posted by The Latin Liquidator:
Jeez, Bradley!
The McCain She-bot says "nucular".
Click to expand...

And "eye-rack".

Which Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc was it?

-Eden (I wonder how she'd do pronouncing "La Rioja Alta- Rioja Reserva, Via Ardanza"?)
 
Garage Scott-Clark Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc 2007. It came in an unlabeled bottle, so I'm not sure if there's a name for the wine. But it was awfully nice. Not that the Latour was any slouch, it was just very un-Latour like, and typicitie is a third of the score.
 
originally posted by Chris Coad:
Garage Scott-Clark Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc 2007. It came in an unlabeled bottle, so I'm not sure if there's a name for the wine. But it was awfully nice.
Click to expand...

It was indeed Andrew's finest and most minimalist offering. Can you even call it Garage Scott-Clark? Does he have a garage out there? Perhaps Silo Scott-Clark is more appropriate?
 
What's so complicated about wrapping a bag around a bottle?
Click to expand...

How is that double blind?

(I know the issue of blind vs. double blind has been talked about extensively on these sites, but was just wondering how elaborate the set up might have been)
 
originally posted by Chris Coad:
That's pretty much double blind, last time I checked.
Click to expand...

I always thought double blind was when neither the subject (in this case Brad) nor the investigator (in this case the person who offered Brad the Latour) knew the nature of the treatment (in this case the identity of the wine). The terminology is obviously from science, but when applied to wine I always thought it meant that nobody involved in the discussion knew what wine was being tasted.

From his (limited) notes it appeared that only the Latour was served blind, in which case whoever brought and served the Latour clearly knew its identity and Brad The Drinker was the only one blind. But I guess if other wines were also served blind that might qualify as 'double blind'.
 
Sorry, Thor, but Rahsaan's wrong. Double blind is when you know nothing about the wine. Single blind is when you know the wines to be tasted, but not which is which.

What you're apparently thinking of is a 'double-blind experiment,' like some kind of sciencey thing.
 
originally posted by Chris Coad:
Double blind is when you know nothing about the wine. Single blind is when you know the wines to be tasted, but not which is which.
Click to expand...

Yes, now I remember the wine-specific definition. I knew this had come up before.

Either way, sounds delicious.
 
I wasn't aware wine got to rewrite English. But I'm properly chastened. Varietal is, indeed, the spice of life.
 
So, even a wine double-blind tasting is still only a scientific single-blind experiment.

That makes communication much simpler. Thanks, everyone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top