Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
attendees: Ignacio, Brad, Jay, Jeff, Jayson, Josie + Manual, Ross
Ah, Cafe Loup. Plus ca change....
Whites first
Dom de la Pepiere 2012 Muscadet "Clos des Briords" - a slightly low fill in this bottle so we'll drink rather than hold; steel and lemon and a late honey-bitter tang that is so great; long, fresh, full of acid, wow
Rhys 2010 Chardonnay, Horseshoe Vineyard - zingy, underripe peaches and green grapes, crisp, pure, elegant, outstanding
Clos Saron 2012 "Carte Blanche" - bottle 43 of 1472; the website says it's a blend of albarino, verdelho, and chardonnay; "it tastes like all of them and none of them" -Manuel; good acidity but there is something unpleasant in the nose (I call brimstone, Manuel just says funky)
Toro Albala 1950 Amontillado - made of PX; not sweet, mouth-filling, powerful, not very oxidative, an amazingly youthful bottle; oh yes, about the bottle: it is from a limited release so the makers went all-out: it has lead trim in the shape of grape leaves and bunches around the neck, a cordon in the colors of the flag of Spain, three kinds of wax stamps, and the label itself is a curl of wood with the label info burned into it
Ulysse Collin NV Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut "Les Pierrieres" - lot 09, disgorged 7/13/13; hard to taste after the intense amontillado but this is gorgeous, crisp, medium leesy
Reds next
Peter Michael 1999 "Les Pavots" - modern, clean, boring, not good but not bad until the finish, which is bitter, seems young for 15 years, not recommended
Renaissance 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon "Vin de Terroir" - wow, an actual cult wine! complex, good acidity, still lots of fine tannins, more roasted peach than black currants, "elegance but no presence" -Ignacio
Mayacamas 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon - vigorous, forthright cab sauv scents and flavors, still stern so if you have 'em, hold 'em
Sterling 1974 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve - a beauty, perfect balance, softly silty, tangy, intense, mature and outstanding, occasionally a whiff of spirits but who cares
Dunn 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain - another sturdy straight-up cab but not as severe as the Mayacamas is tonight, reminds me more of St-Estephe; I think I like the strength of this just a bit better than the sophistication of the Sterling
Ch. La Dominique 1989 St Emilion - served from tin foil, everyone was saying Right Bank (as Jay has already posted), this was very red-fruity, a bit soft, pretty even though
Clos Saron 2004 Syrah "Heart of Stone" - stinging, artificially big, does not taste like syrah to me, "makes the Peter Michael look good" -Manuel
One sweet wine to end
Pierre Bise 1995 Coteaux du Layon Rochefort "Les Rayelles" - Brad relates stories of the good old days when this lovely sweetie was available for a song at Garnet; it is sweet but not overpoweringly so, but it is so fragrant!: a little lychee, a little rose, a little botrytis (maybe?), excellent
What a great bunch of wines. Thank you to all the diners for bringing a splendid and interesting mix.
Ah, Cafe Loup. Plus ca change....
Whites first
Dom de la Pepiere 2012 Muscadet "Clos des Briords" - a slightly low fill in this bottle so we'll drink rather than hold; steel and lemon and a late honey-bitter tang that is so great; long, fresh, full of acid, wow
Rhys 2010 Chardonnay, Horseshoe Vineyard - zingy, underripe peaches and green grapes, crisp, pure, elegant, outstanding
Clos Saron 2012 "Carte Blanche" - bottle 43 of 1472; the website says it's a blend of albarino, verdelho, and chardonnay; "it tastes like all of them and none of them" -Manuel; good acidity but there is something unpleasant in the nose (I call brimstone, Manuel just says funky)
Toro Albala 1950 Amontillado - made of PX; not sweet, mouth-filling, powerful, not very oxidative, an amazingly youthful bottle; oh yes, about the bottle: it is from a limited release so the makers went all-out: it has lead trim in the shape of grape leaves and bunches around the neck, a cordon in the colors of the flag of Spain, three kinds of wax stamps, and the label itself is a curl of wood with the label info burned into it
Ulysse Collin NV Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut "Les Pierrieres" - lot 09, disgorged 7/13/13; hard to taste after the intense amontillado but this is gorgeous, crisp, medium leesy
Reds next
Peter Michael 1999 "Les Pavots" - modern, clean, boring, not good but not bad until the finish, which is bitter, seems young for 15 years, not recommended
Renaissance 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon "Vin de Terroir" - wow, an actual cult wine! complex, good acidity, still lots of fine tannins, more roasted peach than black currants, "elegance but no presence" -Ignacio
Mayacamas 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon - vigorous, forthright cab sauv scents and flavors, still stern so if you have 'em, hold 'em
Sterling 1974 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve - a beauty, perfect balance, softly silty, tangy, intense, mature and outstanding, occasionally a whiff of spirits but who cares
Dunn 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain - another sturdy straight-up cab but not as severe as the Mayacamas is tonight, reminds me more of St-Estephe; I think I like the strength of this just a bit better than the sophistication of the Sterling
Ch. La Dominique 1989 St Emilion - served from tin foil, everyone was saying Right Bank (as Jay has already posted), this was very red-fruity, a bit soft, pretty even though
Clos Saron 2004 Syrah "Heart of Stone" - stinging, artificially big, does not taste like syrah to me, "makes the Peter Michael look good" -Manuel
One sweet wine to end
Pierre Bise 1995 Coteaux du Layon Rochefort "Les Rayelles" - Brad relates stories of the good old days when this lovely sweetie was available for a song at Garnet; it is sweet but not overpoweringly so, but it is so fragrant!: a little lychee, a little rose, a little botrytis (maybe?), excellent
What a great bunch of wines. Thank you to all the diners for bringing a splendid and interesting mix.