My turn to host SOBER, and we had a lot of fun. We had meats, cheeses, salm on, etc. out as people arrived, and a couple of non-blind bubblies.
1999 Beaufort Champagne Brut Millesime This was somewhat funky, and a tad advanced. I'm generally a Beaufort fan, this left me a bit cold. Nothing flawed, just lacking in charm.. B-2005 Vazart-Coquart Blanc de Blancs Special Club Champagne This I liked more, fresh and bright, crisp. B+
Once we alerted a forgetful member who had blanked on date, we got started on the main events.
First blind red flight These were all opened an hour to hour& half earlier, then decanted to serve . Initial guess was Italian, Andy got Cali and era, but no one identified g rape in second wine.
1971 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon - good acids, straightforward, lot of euca lyptus, holding well.. B+1971 Sterling Pinot Noir- complex, earthy, big and ripe, very NOT pinotish but good. B+
Second blind red flight Guesses started in Italy again (those acids)
1969 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon- bright acids, red fruits, cedar, a little light on finish, a bit of ashtray. Good but fading. B/B+1970 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon- my favorites of the Sterlings this night , full, tangy, long, with lots of green herbs over a solid fruit base. I th ink others leaned towards the '71 , A-
1974 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon - this bottle has a bit of a musty note, we debated if lightly corked, I thought so at first but the most TCA sensit ive of us didn't (and I couldn't smell in Cathleen's glass). Mark knows win e well and thinks an off bottle. I liked ok in end. BBlind White Flight (served with cauliflower with pea pesto, pea shoots, and feta crema) Opened and decanted before serving, This was supposed to be the 2 Jadots, b ut color darkened so quickly on Corton I thought I'd go with a backup. Cathleen quickly called #3 California, and consensus on white Burgundy on o ther two.
1988 Jadot Corton-Charlemagne -Very dark color, but surprisingly not really oxidized. Quite sweet, light, very non-Corton. More like a lighter Montagn y or Rully. Strange showing. B-/C+1988 Jadot Batard-Montrachet- this is more like it. Young (someone guessed
2004), complex, complete. Rich with balancing acids, hazelnut, yellow fruit s. A-1996 Peter Michael "Indigene" Chardonnay= Cathleen said Cali Chard immedi ately, then Dan guessed Peter Michael on first try- nothing but net from 40 feet! Big, some oak, but with a nice rocky edge. B+
Third blind red flight Opened and decanted before serving. Orginally first two, I was hurrying to get this flight out and didn't taste, both declared flawed, opened a backu p
1988 Fontodi Flaccianello Della Pieve- declared madeirized, I didn't take a pour, but sampled later. There was a caramelly note there, but not overwhe lming, just advanced. Black cherry, smoke, nuts. A tired bottle, but I woul dn't have called flawed. Unsure if it's my palate or if air somehow helped rather than hurt. B-1988 Castello Di Ama "Vigneto Bellavista" Chianti Classico-corked, vilely.
1988 Felsina "Rancia" Chianti Classico Riserva Guesses centered on Brunello. Mark says this tastes of apple, I'm not sure what apples he eats. Black plum and cherry, saddle leather, flowers. B+/BFourth blind red flight, with oxtails braised in Barbaresco with polenta an d broccoli Double-decanted in early afternoon
1964 Rinaldi Barbaresco Pretty, light, floral, overshadowed by the Marcarini but a classy older lad y. B+/B1967 Marcarini Brunate Barolo Deep, full, perfumed, gets better and better in glass, nice showing. A-
Fifth blind red flight Double-decanted about 5 PM
1970 Beychevelle Elegant, lighter styled classic claret. Dark fruit, mushrooms, forest floor . B+1982 Certan de May Black plums, coffee, anise, cigarbox. Young but showing complexity. Lovely wine with long future. A-
Great group, fun evening.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency