Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
Mostly Jay and I, playing stockboy in our respective cages. Later, Ira and Ed arrived. Catering by Dickson's, Buon Italia, Lucy's Whey, and Amy's Bread.
Luigi Calissano 1966 Barolo Riserva Speciale - Getting the cork out was the first challenge. Tom T, the cellar master, went upstairs to retrieve the Ah So because the fight got ugly. Anyway, I succeeded in getting all the cork out, and while decanting, I also managed not to take any of the Piedmontese hillside of sludge at the bottom of the bottle. The wine was groggy at first and passed through sundry achy-breaky phases (tannic, tinny, musty) but, after 1.5 hours, started to really sing. Faded roses, violets, plummy fruit, well-balanced acidity and still gently tannic. I am glad to have two more of these, if this is how it goes!
Ch. Leoville-Barton 1979 St-Julien - Getting the cork out was the first challenge.... Sigh. Jay succeeded and, as with the other, the wine was cranky at first (too sour) but, after 1 hour, it started to snap its fingers and hum. The Giscours yesterday was more beautiful but this was no slouch, plenty of red fruit and earth and tobacco; just a little tannic.
Trimbach 2002 Riesling "Cuvee Frederic Emile" - Gentle texture, compared to the big reds, and acidity sturdy but not very high, this had pretty riesling fruit. Very easy to keep drinking this.
When I left, a Burgundy was sitting unopened on the table. (I forget if it was Fourrier or Roumier.)
Luigi Calissano 1966 Barolo Riserva Speciale - Getting the cork out was the first challenge. Tom T, the cellar master, went upstairs to retrieve the Ah So because the fight got ugly. Anyway, I succeeded in getting all the cork out, and while decanting, I also managed not to take any of the Piedmontese hillside of sludge at the bottom of the bottle. The wine was groggy at first and passed through sundry achy-breaky phases (tannic, tinny, musty) but, after 1.5 hours, started to really sing. Faded roses, violets, plummy fruit, well-balanced acidity and still gently tannic. I am glad to have two more of these, if this is how it goes!
Ch. Leoville-Barton 1979 St-Julien - Getting the cork out was the first challenge.... Sigh. Jay succeeded and, as with the other, the wine was cranky at first (too sour) but, after 1 hour, it started to snap its fingers and hum. The Giscours yesterday was more beautiful but this was no slouch, plenty of red fruit and earth and tobacco; just a little tannic.
Trimbach 2002 Riesling "Cuvee Frederic Emile" - Gentle texture, compared to the big reds, and acidity sturdy but not very high, this had pretty riesling fruit. Very easy to keep drinking this.
When I left, a Burgundy was sitting unopened on the table. (I forget if it was Fourrier or Roumier.)