Nice new Chelsea wine store+bonus tasting notes

[Jay Miller]

While walking from my chiropractor to CWS I passed a new wine store - MCF Rare Wine - on 13th St. between 7th and 8th that was worth stopping into. A small but well chosen and interesting selection. It's not going to displace CSW in my affections but it's rare for me to walk into a new small wine store and see it filled with wines I'd be happy drinking. Picked up a bottle of 1995 Cazin Cuvee Renaissance.

Meanwhile, exhausted from the walk (which nixed any thoughts I'd had of continuing on to Grand Sichuan later) I shared a few bottles to recruit my strength.

2003 Wendouree Cabernet/Malbec - wow, what a waste of money. dull.

2007 Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Sauvignon Blanc - when was the last time you had a good value Sauvignon Blanc from California. Never? This is a very nice rendition of the variety that tastes distinct from either NZ or Sancerre. No oak, softer than the sharp NZ cats pee thing, leaning a bit more to spice than citrus. 19.99 retail.

2001 Knoll Gruner Veltliner Vinogotterdammerung - or something like that. Powerful complex nose with a strong botrytis elements. Impressive wine but maybe a bit too bludgeony for me.

2008 Rhys Family Farm Pinot Noir - I had mixed feelings about this wine, but then I'm often a bit iffy for younger wines that underwent whole cluster fermentation. Nice spice and complex fruit. I think this has the potential to be quite special in 10 years or so but it's definitely too young now. Still enjoyable though and I'm glad to have taken the chance to try one of the 2008 Rhys.

 

[Thor]

dull

Probably the first time that's ever been said about a Wendouree.

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by Thor:

dull

Probably the first time that's ever been said about a Wendouree.

Yeah, sure surprised me. I'm guessing shut down but i don't have enough experience to tell.

 

[Marc D]

I think it is pretty cool that you can walk into a store and buy a 1995 Cuvee Renaissance. Please post your impressions when you drink it. I'm out of the 1996, and would gladly pay the shipping if the '95 is anywhere close to that one.

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by Marc D:
I think it is pretty cool that you can walk into a store and buy a 1995 Cuvee Renaissance. Please post your impressions when you drink it. I'm out of the 1996, and would gladly pay the shipping if the '95 is anywhere close to that one.

click

 

[Jay Miller]

They said that there are three vintages available now, 1995, 2002 and one other than I forget.

I'll probably open the 1995 whenever my path next crosses Brad's and I'm not forced to open nothing but gamay.

 

[Salil Benegal]

Should have joined us at Grand Sich. Food was really, really good.

The 01 Donnhoffs were also quite lovely (particularly the Felsenberg and Brucke). I'm leaving my 02/03 Wendourees alone for a lot more time, btw. (But do have some 97s/99s we can open sooner...)

 

[Keith Levenberg]

Sorry to have missed you *twice*! But it was a nice surprise at CWS. The Rhys was gorgeous by the time I got there, reminded me of a Jadot Echezeaux I had recently and I never would have pegged it for Cali, even for Rhys. The Wendouree smelled funny.

 

[Unknown]

Brucke 01 Spatlese actually showing something?

Felsenberg 01..... Oberhauser or Schlossbockelheimer? There was an auction version of the former in 2001, I think.

 

[Salil Benegal]

Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Spatlese (the auction bottling, from Turmchen). Fucking great. Thanks Gene.

01 Brucke was pretty awesome as well - opened a couple of bottles of that in the last few months, and right now it's quite wonderful.

 

[Morgan Harris]

As of about 2-3 weeks ago, Union Square had a batch of the '96 at about $45 a bottle.

The '02 I had at Terroir early this fall fucking ruined me for most things.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

The 96 is fantastic. I've been holding off on 02, perhaps I should stare ruin in the eyes.

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
Sorry to have missed you *twice*! But it was a nice surprise at CWS. The Rhys was gorgeous by the time I got there, reminded me of a Jadot Echezeaux I had recently and I never would have pegged it for Cali, even for Rhys. The Wendouree smelled funny.

Jadot? Echezeaux??

Huh. I also mistook it for Burgundy, but neither Jadot nor Echezeaux came to my mind. It had a delicacy and lightness that didn't lead me to Jadot.

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by Salil Benegal:
Should have joined us at Grand Sich. Food was really, really good.

I was just glad to make it home and lie down on the floor last night. Sorry to miss it but there was no way I could have made it to the dinner, let alone through it.

Re 1996 Renaissance - yes, that it drinking beautifully these days. Better than ever (and it was always pretty good). Looking forward to trying the 1995.

Keith - glad you had a chance to sample the wines. Did you try the Mayacamas?

 

[Keith Levenberg]

originally posted by SFJoe:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
Sorry to have missed you *twice*! But it was a nice surprise at CWS. The Rhys was gorgeous by the time I got there, reminded me of a Jadot Echezeaux I had recently and I never would have pegged it for Cali, even for Rhys. The Wendouree smelled funny.

Jadot? Echezeaux??

Huh. I also mistook it for Burgundy, but neither Jadot nor Echezeaux came to my mind. It had a delicacy and lightness that didn't lead me to Jadot.

Oh, there's delicate/light Jadot out there, but it's not an association that would have occurred to me in general, it just happened to remind me of this specific experience with this specific wine.

 

[Keith Levenberg]

originally posted by Jay Miller:
Keith - glad you had a chance to sample the wines. Did you try the Mayacamas?

Yeah, had a nice edge for sauvignon.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by Salil Benegal:
Should have joined us at Grand Sich. Food was really, really good.

I was just glad to make it home and lie down on the floor last night. Sorry to miss it but there was no way I could have made it to the dinner, let alone through it.

Re 1996 Renaissance - yes, that it drinking beautifully these days. Better than ever (and it was always pretty good). Looking forward to trying the 1995.

Keith - glad you had a chance to sample the wines. Did you try the Mayacamas?

How long was the Rhys open?

Thanks for the tip on 95 Renaissance.

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by Salil Benegal:
Should have joined us at Grand Sich. Food was really, really good.

I was just glad to make it home and lie down on the floor last night. Sorry to miss it but there was no way I could have made it to the dinner, let alone through it.

Re 1996 Renaissance - yes, that it drinking beautifully these days. Better than ever (and it was always pretty good). Looking forward to trying the 1995.

Keith - glad you had a chance to sample the wines. Did you try the Mayacamas?

How long was the Rhys open?

Thanks for the tip on 95 Renaissance.

I opened it at about 5:45? or so.

Keith - when did you drink it?

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by Salil Benegal:
Should have joined us at Grand Sich. Food was really, really good.

I was just glad to make it home and lie down on the floor last night. Sorry to miss it but there was no way I could have made it to the dinner, let alone through it.

Re 1996 Renaissance - yes, that it drinking beautifully these days. Better than ever (and it was always pretty good). Looking forward to trying the 1995.

Keith - glad you had a chance to sample the wines. Did you try the Mayacamas?

How long was the Rhys open?

Thanks for the tip on 95 Renaissance.

I opened it at about 5:45? or so.

Keith - when did you drink it?

Was it great right off the bat?

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by Salil Benegal:
Should have joined us at Grand Sich. Food was really, really good.

I was just glad to make it home and lie down on the floor last night. Sorry to miss it but there was no way I could have made it to the dinner, let alone through it.

Re 1996 Renaissance - yes, that it drinking beautifully these days. Better than ever (and it was always pretty good). Looking forward to trying the 1995.

Keith - glad you had a chance to sample the wines. Did you try the Mayacamas?

How long was the Rhys open?

Thanks for the tip on 95 Renaissance.

I opened it at about 5:45? or so.

Keith - when did you drink it?

Was it great right off the bat?

I never thought it was great. I thought it was good and definitely showed the potential to be great 10 years down the line. Joe liked it more than I did. From what Keith says it sounds like it continued to improve after I left for home to lie down on the floor for a while.

Take care of your backs boys and girls...