Some more wines

[Jay Miller]

Another dinner with Manuel, this time at Racines.

2012 Benoit Lahaye 'La Violaine' - steely, minerally, powerful, precise and complex. Over the course of the evening it turned more red fruited and a touch of brioche emerged. Manuel says he finds nutmeg that wants to be caraway. A-

2000 Thomas Labaille 'Cuvee Buster' - sadly a bit heat damaged

2010 Tibouren Clos Cibonne Provence Rose - An interesting wine, quite good and food friendly. B

2016 Stephane Magnien Chambolle Musigny VV - taut, lively, but ultimately not that interesting. I have yet to be convinced by the producer though that might be because I've only had very young examples. B-/B

2005 Clos Rougeard 'Poyeaux' - I was concerned it might be shut down but this was firing on all cylinders. Lovely, velvety, and it just got better and better in the glass. A

1975 Figeac - corked

1982 Latour a Pomerol - gorgeous, rich and plush. In its prime. Delicous now, it will be delicious in 20 years. A

1996 Pierre Bise Coteaux de Layon Beaulieu - The nose wafts from the glass in an extravagant melange of pit fruit. On the palate it is delicious though not quite as amazing. B+/A- palate, A+ nose

 

[Jeff Grossman]

I will post on the Sunday gathering later today.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by Jay Miller:

2016 Stephane Magnien Chambolle Musigny VV - taut, lively, but ultimately not that interesting. I have yet to be convinced by the producer though that might be because I've only had very young examples. B-/B

I've been recently drinking the 2016 Stephane Magnien MSD village wines and come to a somewhat similar conclusion. All the right pieces are there for me to like the wines in terms of style, clarity, freshness, etc. But they are not that interesting at the moment. Would love to taste some with more age and (unfortunately) I guess the only way is to store and wait.

originally posted by Jay Miller:

1996 Pierre Bise Coteaux de Layon Beaulieu - The nose wafts from the glass in an extravagant melange of pit fruit. On the palate it is delicious though not quite as amazing. B+/A- palate, A+ nose

Nice blast from the past.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2012 Benoit Lahaye 'La Violaine' - steely, minerally, powerful, precise and complex. Over the course of the evening it turned more red fruited and a touch of brioche emerged. Manuel says he finds nutmeg that wants to be caraway. A-

I've never glommed to this wine as much as I feel like I should. So many people whose palates I trust love this wine. [shrug]

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2010 Tibouren Clos Cibonne Provence Rose - An interesting wine, quite good and food friendly. B

I've only had older versions of this at walk-around tastings. Super interesting rosé, although I think I like them with only a bit of age.

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2005 Clos Rougeard 'Poyeaux' - I was concerned it might be shut down but this was firing on all cylinders. Lovely, velvety, and it just got better and better in the glass. A

Thanks for the update. I've been too cowardly to open one.

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2012 Benoit Lahaye 'La Violaine' - steely, minerally, powerful, precise and complex. Over the course of the evening it turned more red fruited and a touch of brioche emerged. Manuel says he finds nutmeg that wants to be caraway. A-

I've never glommed to this wine as much as I feel like I should. So many people whose palates I trust love this wine. [shrug]

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2010 Tibouren Clos Cibonne Provence Rose - An interesting wine, quite good and food friendly. B

I've only had older versions of this at walk-around tastings. Super interesting rosé, although I think I like them with only a bit of age.

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2005 Clos Rougeard 'Poyeaux' - I was concerned it might be shut down but this was firing on all cylinders. Lovely, velvety, and it just got better and better in the glass. A

Thanks for the update. I've been too cowardly to open one.

The Violaine seems very vintage transparent. The 2012 is a huge step above the rather weak 2011 and the best since the 2008. The 2009 was a bit heavy but not terribly so. I never had the 2010.

The only reason the 2005 Poyeaux got pulled was because it was in a case where I was pulling everything else. But I'm glad I did. That was a winebid purchase back in 2010 when I split a case with John Gilman at $55/bottle plus vig. Times have changed...

 

[Zachary Ross]

How was the food?

 

[Jayson Cohen]

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2012 Benoit Lahaye 'La Violaine' - steely, minerally, powerful, precise and complex. Over the course of the evening it turned more red fruited and a touch of brioche emerged. Manuel says he finds nutmeg that wants to be caraway. A-

I've never glommed to this wine as much as I feel like I should. So many people whose palates I trust love this wine. [shrug]

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2010 Tibouren Clos Cibonne Provence Rose - An interesting wine, quite good and food friendly. B

I've only had older versions of this at walk-around tastings. Super interesting rosé, although I think I like them with only a bit of age.

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2005 Clos Rougeard 'Poyeaux' - I was concerned it might be shut down but this was firing on all cylinders. Lovely, velvety, and it just got better and better in the glass. A

Thanks for the update. I've been too cowardly to open one.

The Violaine seems very vintage transparent. The 2012 is a huge step above the rather weak 2011 and the best since the 2008. The 2009 was a bit heavy but not terribly so. I never had the 2010.

The only reason the 2005 Poyeaux got pulled was because it was in a case where I was pulling everything else. But I'm glad I did. That was a winebid purchase back in 2010 when I split a case with John Gilman at $55/bottle plus vig. Times have changed...

So excited my 2 x 2012 Violaine arrived yesterday! Along with ‘10 Voillot Champans.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
So excited my 2 x 2012 Violaine arrived yesterday!

I'd be terrified to buy this wine on the secondary or otherwise grey market. I'm hoping my local distributor gets a few bottles so that I can give it another go.

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
So excited my 2 x 2012 Violaine arrived yesterday!

I'd be terrified to buy this wine on the secondary or otherwise grey market. I'm hoping my local distributor gets a few bottles so that I can give it another go.

Both my bottles came from Benchmark (and I ordered another two) so they are a safe bet.

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by Zachary Ross:
How was the food?

The hiramasa appetizer was very good as was the trout main course, though the greens that accompanied it were too vinegary to be wine friendly. The chickpeas were a bit too spicy to be wine friendly. The lentils were a good wine dish and the leeks were tasty.

Potatoes were so so. Not sure why artichokes are on the menu, I suppose there’s probably enough gruner on the list to have it make sense.

We avoided the chicken based on a large number of disrecommendations.

I’ve been told the filet mignon is very good though the spicing makes it a bit wine unfriendly but I can neither confirm nor deny.

Cheese course was good.

 

[Zachary Ross]

Thank you.

 

[Brian C]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jay Miller:
2005 Clos Rougeard 'Poyeaux' - I was concerned it might be shut down but this was firing on all cylinders. Lovely, velvety, and it just got better and better in the glass. A

Thanks for the update. I've been too cowardly to open one.

Sigh. Mild regrets as I just sold my stash of these. With a limited wine budget, hard to justify keeping when I can get almost a case of Croix Boissée for the per bottle price of the Rougeard. Surprised to hear its open for business. I've still never hit Rougeard in a sweet spot.

 

[slaton]

originally posted by Brian C:
With a limited wine budget, hard to justify keeping when I can get almost a case of Croix Boissée for the per bottle price of the Rougeard.

We're all either in the same boat or have at least thought about it.

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by slaton:

originally posted by Brian C:
With a limited wine budget, hard to justify keeping when I can get almost a case of Croix Boissée for the per bottle price of the Rougeard.

We're all either in the same boat or have at least thought about it.

I've certainly thought about it.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by slaton:

originally posted by Brian C:
With a limited wine budget, hard to justify keeping when I can get almost a case of Croix Boissée for the per bottle price of the Rougeard.

We're all either in the same boat or have at least thought about it.

I've certainly thought about it.

Yeah, but I've yet to pull the trigger. Maybe soon though.

I'll tell you what isn't bringing in money: Rhys. I just took a bath on Rhys, unloaded 5 cases of the fanciest ones (so I'm down to a few bottles here and there). On average, hammer price was 28% off my purchase price, so even with vig, the buyers paid 16% less than I did for me to perfectly store the bottles for years. After seller's premium, I recuperated only 59% of my money. Oh well, at least I have that space back.

 

[Keith Levenberg]

Fate decided I should keep my Rougeards many years ago when a bottle of Breton broke and drenched my '01 and '02 Bourg labels. Unmarketable now, so I gotta drink them.

 

[Tristan Welles]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Jay Miller:

originally posted by slaton:

originally posted by Brian C:
With a limited wine budget, hard to justify keeping when I can get almost a case of Croix Boissée for the per bottle price of the Rougeard.

We're all either in the same boat or have at least thought about it.

I've certainly thought about it.

Yeah, but I've yet to pull the trigger. Maybe soon though.

I'll tell you what isn't bringing in money: Rhys. I just took a bath on Rhys, unloaded 5 cases of the fanciest ones (so I'm down to a few bottles here and there). On average, hammer price was 28% off my purchase price, so even with vig, the buyers paid 16% less than I did for me to perfectly store the bottles for years. After seller's premium, I recuperated only 59% of my money. Oh well, at least I have that space back.

I would have lost a lot of money getting against you owning 5 cases of Rhys!

 

[Tristan Welles]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
Fate decided I should keep my Rougeards many years ago when a bottle of Breton broke and drenched my '01 and '02 Bourg labels. Unmarketable now, so I gotta drink them.

I sold off my small stash of 01 La Tache and have regretted it ever since, so now I hold on to Rougeard. I won't miss them after drinking, but would after selling.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Tristan Welles:
I would have lost a lot of money getting against you owning 5 cases of Rhys!

You can fool some of the monkeys all of the time....

 

[Michael Lewis]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
Fate decided I should keep my Rougeards many years ago when a bottle of Breton broke and drenched my '01 and '02 Bourg labels. Unmarketable now, so I gotta drink them.

I know the feeling! I have several bottles of 2010 Clos des Lambrays that have labels splattered with a broken bottle of 2007 Gonon Vieilles Vignes.