TN: Blind Leo (Aug. 21, 2012)

Why does the Fourrier suck so? Hoping my notes will be better than yours when I break into my tiny stash in several years.
 
It says in the original post that Dave Culang was at this dinner and even brought some wines. Does that mean he might actually post something for once?
 
originally posted by MarkS:
Why does the Fourrier suck so? Hoping my notes will be better than yours when I break into my tiny stash in several years.
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? The Clos Solon was a beautiful wine after the C02 blew off.
 
originally posted by Jay Miller:I dread the day 2008 Burgundies start shutting down en masse. I'm enjoying them so much right now.
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I drank Dublere's MSD Blanchards and Faiveley's GC Craippilot recently and they were both beautiful and not shut down. The Dublere was the lightest colored burgundy I've seen in ages and fragrant as hell - reminded me of Truchot's MSDs of years ago.

And if you don't own Fourrier's Cherbaudes, get it.
 
originally posted by maureen:
originally posted by Jay Miller:I dread the day 2008 Burgundies start shutting down en masse. I'm enjoying them so much right now.
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I drank Dublere's MSD Blanchards and Faiveley's GC Craippilot recently and they were both beautiful and not shut down. The Dublere was the lightest colored burgundy I've seen in ages and fragrant as hell - reminded me of Truchot's MSDs of years ago.

And if you don't own Fourrier's Cherbaudes, get it.
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I do own it. After La Paulee it was at the top of my to-buy list.

I don't know if I've ever had a Dublere but that is high praise indeed.
 
I really liked the Fourrier after it had been open an hour or so. I've enjoyed all the 08s I've tried from them though, and can only echo the praise for the Cherbaudes.

The Kruger-Rumpf was pleasant but not particularly interesting. I've found their wines in the last few years much more interesting (their Pittersberg GG is also quite nice, though not particularly exciting - they seem to be much more consistent with their Kabinett and Spatlese.)

The Catoir halbtrocken was stellar. One of the most compelling Rieslings I've had in a long time. Those '98s are really something.
 
The '08 Fourrier GC VV was fiercely acidic and lean both times I had it, but this was well over a year ago. The '09 on the other hand was one of the few '09s I loved shortly after release. Some village wines from this vintage are really growing on me though, e.g. Gouges recently.

I've mixed, if positive experience with the '02 Foreau reserve brut, with one bottle youthful and outstanding, and the other developed and nearly flat, if still quite fine as a rendition of Vouvray sec. I find the Huet fizz to be a bit more unique and special in this vintage, but I'm happy to drink both.

Was the Rhys FF from 2007 (Jeff's note) or 2009 (Jay's note)? I tasted the '09 at the winter 2011 pickup and found it quite attractive, and far less rustic/monolithic than earlier vintages. I'd stopped buying Rhys after '06 vintage, but following this tasting I climbed back on the bus.

I've enjoyed the Keller Von der Fels in several vintages but have only tasted the GGs here and there and in 1 oz quantities, with judgement reserved.
 
originally posted by slaton:
The '08 Fourrier GC VV was fiercely acidic and lean both times I had it, but this was well over a year ago. The '09 on the other hand was one of the few '09s I loved shortly after release. Some village wines from this vintage are really growing on me though, e.g. Gouges recently.

I've mixed, if positive experience with the '02 Foreau reserve brut, with one bottle youthful and outstanding, and the other developed and nearly flat, if still quite fine as a rendition of Vouvray sec. I find the Huet fizz to be a bit more unique and special in this vintage, but I'm happy to drink both.

Was the Rhys FF from 2007 (Jeff's note) or 2009 (Jay's note)? I tasted the '09 at the winter 2011 pickup and found it quite attractive, and far less rustic/monolithic than earlier vintages. I'd stopped buying Rhys after '06 vintage, but following this tasting I climbed back on the bus.

I've enjoyed the Keller Von der Fels in several vintages but have only tasted the GGs here and there and in 1 oz quantities, with judgement reserved.
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Unless I pulled the wrong bottle and didn't notice (always a possibility but I don't think the 2007 was anywhere accessible) the Rhys was the 2009. The FF had been one of my least favorite bottlings (good but not worth the price) until the 2008 vintage when it really seemed to start coming into its own. Both 2008 and 2009 were excellent wines. My real problem with Rhys as the prices continue to climb is whether to keep buying them or just switch those wine dollars to Mt. Eden for my Santa Cruz pinot noir fix.

I thought the 2002 Foreau we had back in July was gorgeous, a bit better than this bottle though this one approached it towards the end of the evening.
 
There was a price bump starting with the 2009s. The vineyard designates start at $59 for the Family Farm and top out at $79 for the Skyline and the two occasional Alpine selections (Hillside, Swan Terrace). Not sure about Horseshoe as I don't think the 2009 has been offered yet. There was also a SCM designated pinot noir in 2009 for $45.
 
The Rhys Horseshoe is part of the Fall release this year:

2009 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir ($69)
2009 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Chardonnay ($69)
2009 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Syrah ($59)
2010 Rhys San Mateo County Pinot Noir ($45)

These are the Spring prices:

Spring 2013 Release (tentative lineup)

2010 Rhys Family Farm Pinot Noir ($59)
2010 Rhys Bearwallow Vineyard Pinot Noir ($59)
2010 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay ($69)
2010 Rhys Skyline Vineyard Pinot Noir ($99)
2009 Rhys Skyline Vineyard Syrah ($59)

Skyline Pinot (which many people consider their best wine) is certainly getting up there.
 
originally posted by slaton:
Wow! $99 for Skyline? coff
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The demand will be there. I'll even consider buying my one bottle allocation just because I know a bunch of people who don't get it who would like to try it. Not worth it just for myself.
 
Poor old California. Costs of production are so high.

Particularly when your vineyards are in fancy suburban neighborhoods of major cities.

"Scarsdale Chardonnay"
"Saddle River PN"
"Falls Church Savagnin"
 
originally posted by Jay Miller:
I'll even consider buying my one bottle allocation just because I know a bunch of people who don't get it who would like to try it.
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That would be me.

Always grateful to try.
 
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