TN: A Visit From Maureen (Oct 1, 2012)

J

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
attendees: Maureen, Brad, Josh, Beaver, Jeff

A small gathering at Il Corso. After various appetizers, we all shared a risotto al porcini, followed by traditional mid-weight Italian secondi (e.g., veal milanese, galetto off the grill, rabbit with polenta).

Willi Schaefer 1998 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese - 07 99, auction bottle; not just alive and well but rockin', floral, fresh, rich and putting on weight as it breathes; I don't think it's all that ripe but Brad thinks it's tropical; in any case, a great bottle

Coche-Dury 2009 Bourgogne "Chardonnay" - We declined to open it.

Muga 1973 Rioja GR "Casa Conde de Haro" - bottled exclusively for American Express, bottle #02021; at first it had a typical old Rioja nose: old wood, rocks, and dusty cherries, and pretty fragrant, but it soon showed corked; damn

Leclerc R 1985 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er "Combes Aux Moines" - the last bottle of this was rather dead but this one is alive: zippy, citrussy, some lingering red currant and pomegranate flavors, "Stinky!" -Maureen

Pavelot 2001 Savigny-les-Beaunes "La Dominode" - plenty of fine tannins, a whiff of fruitcake, a big masculine wine and really not ready yet; Brad thinks the oak is too much but he's the only one

Mugneret-Gibourg 2004 Echezeaux GC - no meanie-greenies; very rich (in the gras sense), good balance

Jacky Truchot 2001 Morey-St-Denis 1er "Les Blanchards" - robust and so pure, very pleasurable; "super-ripe strawberry" -Josh, "Stinky!" -Maureen

Baumard 2003 Quarts de Chaumes - 375; flabby, sweet, bleh

Delightful to see everyone!
 
And a few pix...

Brad working hard:
2012-10-01_brad.jpg
Josh:
2012-10-01_josh.jpg
 
originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
Whats the connection with Muga and American Express? They seem like odd bed partners.
Click to expand...

I'm not entirely sure. I sourced a few of these bottles from a private cellar in Spain and I haven't been able to find any information about it on the web. I assume that it was a special bottling made exclusively for American Express either for some member program, gifts, or something of that ilk. Jeff didn't mention that it's a Gran Reserva.
 
Brad, thanks for organizing and Josh, Jeff, and Beaver, thanks for coming.

Yeah, the truchot was a bit funky at first - but lovely nonetheless. The Leclerc smelled gawd-awful the whole time and to me was a good example of a wine made from good fruit in a dirty cellar - sorry, Jeff, nice of you to bring it but I wasn't a fan. I did like the Pavelot though and the MG very much, no surprise - and the Schaefer. Agree re the QdC.

Sorry nothing better in the way of notes - I actually had to go to work today and it was exhausting!
 
Thought I'd add my notes as our impressions were different on a few wines.

1998 Willi Schaefer- Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese Auction #7 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
While not revealing all that much on the nose, save for a bit of sulfur, this is one of the biggest wines I've had from Schaefer, whose wines I've usually found understated, though in a pleasant way. Big boned, youthful and lively with undeniable richness, the fruit is quite ripe and orange citrus and tropical dominated, though the acidity balances it out nicely. With air the fruit pulls back a little to let the mineral elements enjoy more of the spotlight. Lip smackingly delicious! A/A-.

2001 Domaine Pavelot (Jean-Marc et Hugues)- Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru La Dominode - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru
An enigma of a wine as it gives the impression of richness on the nose and palate with its ripe black cherry profile and seemingly lowish acidity, but texturally the wine is a little on the austere side. No doubt the wood, which I find a little too overdone here, has a role in that. Not sure there's enough fruit here to fully absorb it with more time to my liking. Pleasant enough, but it doesn't really hold my attention. B.

2004 Domaine Georges Mugneret/Mugneret-Gibourg- Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Quite a pleasant surprise as it shows no trace of green meanies. Rather, it's loaded with nicely crunchy cranberry and cherry fruit, spice, a touch of earth and hints of orange. Perhaps a touch high toned, there's a hint of richness to the wine, but is pretty streamlined and focused. It's still young, but it's not really cranky at this stage. Nice juiciness and cherry on the finish. Low A-.

2001 Domaine Truchot-Martin- Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Blanchards - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru
This is a beauty. An initial whiff of Brett blows off to show nicely perfumed strawberry, cherry and minerally earth aromas. Red fruited on the palate that has ripeness, yet purity, nuance and focus. The wine dances lightly across the palate but lingers allowing you to see all its delicate parts. Still showing a plenty of youth, it's thoroughly enjoyable now, though I'd be curious to see how it is with further development. Solid A-.

1985 Domaine Rene Leclerc- Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Combes aux Moines - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Jeff warned us that his last bottle wasn't so good, but this one showed nicely. Definitely smells like old Burgundy with its funky, earthy note, but there's some fruit lurking in there. Indeed, it does show a nice core of cherries and sweetened rhubarb that's expansive across the palate. That said, it's cloaked in a robe of mustiness and dirt. Certainly time to drink up, but I thought this held its own. B/B+.

1973 Bodegas Muga- Rioja Rioja Gran Reserva Conde de Haro - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Corked. NR (flawed)

2003 Domaine des Baumard- Quarts de Chaume - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume
From a half bottle. I'm not sure what was wrong with this wine, but something was amiss. It was ripe, but completely unbalanced, showing way too much alcohol. So much so that it was hard for me to detect much fruit or even sweetness. My first go with the '03 as I pretty much avoided buying any '03s from Europe as I'm just not a fan of what the torrid conditions did across the region, of course with a few exceptions here and there. I want to try another bottle before I make a judgment on it. NR.
 
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