OK, so just let me start that probably from now on all NYC area offlines will be held in restaurants. No one would risk hosting and being Bentsened ("I'm been to a Bob Ross jeebus, Bob Ross is a friend of mine, and host, you're no Bob Ross"). Bob's hospitality and generosity were amazing. He offered up his incredible house (guest bedrooms, couches, and floors were all utilized), provided transport from airports and NYC, provided the majority of the wines (including at a dinner Fri for those that arrived early), gave away wines as the ultimate party favors, and was just a warm and genial host.
I'm not sure where to start. Jeff G came up by train to Dobbs Saturday, I picked him up and we headed over Tappan Zee to NJ. We arrived by 2, got the amazing house tour from Julia B, and then headed to the kitchen /deck area, where the festivities centered (though there was some treks to the cellar!). Great setting.
OK, food. We arrived to find nice spread of hummus, tapenade and the like (Howie?). Salil had 2 huge bowls of chicken marinading, plus I think four large sides (red bean curry, rice dishes, etc). I had pickled shrimp as well as hanger steak in a bulgogi marinade , squid , and Japanese eggplant to grill (plus a peanut sauce).Tom V brought some skewers with shrimp wrapped in sage and proscuitto, enough garlic bread for 100, Italian pastries. Eden brought baklava, Mark and Dianne great cheeses, Jeannette had made a cake. Oh and there were sauasage rolls, - I should just stop, I could go on all day.
Wines- I'm sure there were a dozen I tried and never noted, and another dozen I never got to. I wasn't taking notes, just occasionally writing down wines, and even more occasionally a few words. But here are my first thoughts:
My candidates for WOTN:
1997 Max. Grunhauser Abtsberg Auslese- wonderfully balanced, light but with power, drinking very very well
1989 La Conseillante- elegant, powerful, about perfection for my tastes in Pomerol, still young but oh so tasty
1947 Huet "Le Haut Lieu" Vouvray- typical darkl color, but fresh and lively, complex and deep, even if I thought it a quarter step behind the one other time I've tasted this wine.
Wines that did well in primaries, but didn't get WOTN nomination
1990 Pommery Cuvee Louise (mag)- full, bready, long, nutty edge to finsh.
2008 Chidaine "Bouchet" Vouvray- zippy, well balanced, good match with the pickled shrimp
2009 P. Cotat "Les Monts Damnes" Sancerre- ripe forward version, tensile and minerally under the fruit, doesn't convince the SB haters
1986 Gruaud-Larose- full, friendly, tannins there but not obtrusive, where's that platter of beef?
2001JJ Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese. Still young, but very very good, I'd not put at level of the 97 Grunhauser (yet)
Wines I really enjoyed
1982 Cos d'Estournel
2010 Comm. de Bargemone Rose- light, flavorful, fun.
2007 Hexamer Spatlese- a bit broad, but delicious
1978 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon- one of mine. I thought this a little less fresh than a bottle a couple years ago, with a little ashtray on finish, but still a nice bottle.
1998 Brovia Barolo
1973 Ch. Montelena (Sonoma-yes, Sonoma)- still holding well 3 different Hart Cellars (Howie Hart is an amateur winemaker) wines, all in the "I enjoyed a lot" category- a semi-dry Cayuga (by someone who understands term semi-dry), an interesting barrel sample of CF/ Merlot blend, with a nice leafy quality, and a Pinot Gris that was rather Alsatian in style
Wines with some interest
1995 Dal Forno Amarone- some loved, I found a bit overpowering, but certainly an experience
1990 Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles)- still holding on
1996 Hargrave Chardonnay Reserve (North Fork)- actually surprisingly lively, but I don't think my style young or old
1999 Guigal Hermitage
2007 Redde Sancerre
2008 Le Sartre (Pessac-L) -grassy, grassy, grassy. Divisive wine I'd say. '
1994 Rosenblum "Robert Story" Zinfandel
1995 Geantet-Pansiot Chambolle-Musigny 1er - very ripe, extracted, a bit of oak still out there, others liked more
Wines with little interest
2000 Despres "Cuvee Speciale" Fleurie- hard to recognize as Gamay, very ripe, I thought it was like a ripe CA PN, complete with a cherry coke edge, though others disagreed Barboursville Nebbiolo (everyone else seemed to like)
1993 Cline Zinfandel- I've liked a lot of Cline Zins before, but this is now a goopy mess
Get this out of my glass, please
1985 Inglenook Charbono
1986 Ducru-Beaucaillou- helllllllooooooo, TCA
As good as the wine and food were, people were better. As memorable a wine event as I've ever attended. I went with 4 bottles, came home this AM with 5 (thanks Bob, Howie, David).