A lovely handful of wines for my 50th

B

BJ

BJ
Yesterday was the big day. A lovely time with Mme L, her cousin, and her daughter and son, the two greatest kids on the planet. Climbed Bandera, an old favorite of mine, and were treated by a peregrine falcon fly by in full power acceleration, going after something unseen by us, but certainly seen by the falcon.

Friday night we had dinner at Canlis. Believe it or not, as a local I had never eaten there, even though we only live a mile away. One star comfort food, but the ambience and service the tops, and a really great vibe. Gorgeous mid-century building, beautifully maintained, with a great clutch of NW mystic paintings. We had an 02 Lassalle Special Club, which was fully on, bell like and voluptuous and pure. Also, a 66 Gruaud in really good shape, very high fill for age and the cork surprisingly intact.

A few thoughts on the Gruaud. I carefully double decanted it before we left, and the wine stood up to that, but I'm not sure that was a good idea. I think in the future, I'll pull the cork myself, but wait for decanting right before serving. We had a very long dinner and I think it just allows you to experience the whole thing. Notes on the Gruaud itself - a dense old school Bordeaux, lead, graphite, plum, a touch of pine, a bit of ash emerging in the last glass, suggesting an imminent decline.

Last night after the hike, we got pizza from Verace, and enjoyed an 01 Janasse VV. It was one of the best CNPs I've ever had. Perfect amount of age, very full, a wonderful balance of Rhoney wildness, power, and smoothness. In my heart of hearts I prefer the Chaupin but this was really a terrific wine - certainly matched its reputation. A wine of ease.

Today, off to the natural wine event at Vif!
 
Hey hey, happy 50th! I've driven by Canlis a million times, and have never eaten there either. The Gruaud sounds wonderful.

Say hi to Shawn and Lauren and Mark for me, I wish I could be there. Please report back on the wines and the event if you have a chance.
 
Thanks everyone!

Just as an important reminder to everyone, the Rule of 15 is limited only to higher quality northern Rhones - I have a different protocol for southern Rhones. But then you knew that.
 
originally posted by BJ: A lovely handful of wines for my 50th A few thoughts on the Gruaud. I carefully double decanted it before we left, and the wine stood up to that, but I'm not sure that was a good idea. I think in the future, I'll pull the cork myself, but wait for decanting right before serving. We had a very long dinner and I think it just allows you to experience the whole thing.
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Brad, definitely my approach always with an older trophy.

Glad your celebration(s) went well!
 
Happy birthday.

Sounds like a lovely evening at Canlis. For all the times I've been to Seattle, I've never been. Maybe next time.

I had really good luck with the 1966s for my parents 50th anniversary this summer decanting and then returning to the bottle and stoppering. I tried to do the decant/recant as quickly and as gently as possible and stoppered the top as soon as I could.
 
Happy Birthday BJ! Miss you guys!
How'd Petite Soif go? Our popcorn made an appearance, but alas, we did not.
 
Happy Birthday. My rule of Southern Rhones includes not to drink Janasse, which is definitely on the riper side of my preferences. There is no doubt that it is the wine the winemaker wants and not one created in a lab by an oenologist, but that doesn't mean it is one I want.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Happy Birthday. My rule of Southern Rhones includes not to drink Janasse, which is definitely on the riper side of my preferences. There is no doubt that it is the wine the winemaker wants and not one created in a lab by an oenologist, but that doesn't mean it is one I want.
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You include the Vieilles Vignes in this I guess? I found the Janasse Chauvin close to undrinkable, but had at least one Janasse VV I liked very much (I think the 2000).

But then there is so much ripe wine from the southern Rhone (unless they have scaled back the last few years since I quit drinking them)...
 
originally posted by Carl Steefel:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Happy Birthday. My rule of Southern Rhones includes not to drink Janasse, which is definitely on the riper side of my preferences. There is no doubt that it is the wine the winemaker wants and not one created in a lab by an oenologist, but that doesn't mean it is one I want.
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You include the Vieilles Vignes in this I guess? I found the Janasse Chauvin close to undrinkable, but had at least one Janasse VV I liked very much (I think the 2000).

But then there is so much ripe wine from the southern Rhone (unless they have scaled back the last few years since I quit drinking them)...
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I do include the VV. I had the 01 VV at a blind tasting within the last year and guessed it to be a CA Rhone grenache or GSM with about 10 years on it. This may have been my weaknesses at blind tasting (and that is not false modesty), but when the wine was revealed and I retasted it, the ripeness still made me think CA.
 
Mordoree--another of my non-favorite CdPs and one I have also confused with a CA Rhone style wine (those are the only two so far--Cambie monstrosities have distinct objectionable qualities all their own).
 
originally posted by Brian C:
Happy Birthday BJ! Miss you guys!
How'd Petite Soif go? Our popcorn made an appearance, but alas, we did not.
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Dude, the popcorn was freakishly, Findhornesqueishly great.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Happy Birthday. My rule of Southern Rhones includes not to drink Janasse, which is definitely on the riper side of my preferences. There is no doubt that it is the wine the winemaker wants and not one created in a lab by an oenologist, but that doesn't mean it is one I want.
Click to expand...

Have you tried the Chaupin? You should.
 
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