> > In article
> > ,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ?DaleW wrote:
> > > Monday Betsy was in the Verdi Requiem at Carnegie Hall , so I decided
> > > it was a good time to indulge in liver and onions (as she doesn't care
> > > for it). Wine was the 2006 Canneto Rosso di Montepulciano. I confess
> > > when I got this I actually thought I was buying a very well-priced
> > > Rosso di Montalcino, I didn't realize my mistake till putting it in
> > > the cellar. Well, as mistakes got this wasn't at all painful. Medium
> > > bodied with rich black cherry fruit, a little bit of chewy tannins, a
> > > sturdy Sangiovese that is satisfying if not quite exciting. B > >
> > > Tuesday we had a couple over in late celebration of their joint
> > > birthdays. Alex had told me he had never had a birthyear wine, so
> > > thought this was a good time to try a half of '61 Gloria (with some
> > > backup claret). Betsy made ? goat cheese/chive.mustard souffles as
> > > starter, followed by squab in a porcini marinade with mashed potatoes,
> > > an endive and watercress salad, and cheese. My only culinary
> > > contribution was butchering the squabs (these were plucked, but Betsy
> > > prefers not to do entrail/head removal) and slicing the bread. > >
> > > With the chevre souffles, the 2007 Domane de la Charmoise ?Sauvignon
> > > (Touraine). Lemon and gooseberry, fresh and crisp, nothing especially
> > > complex but a clean, correct, and comfortable Sauvignon Blanc. At $12
> > > I'll buy again. B
> >
> > > On to the reds, with the squab:
> > > 1961 Ch. Gloria (St Julien), 375 ml
> > > So I knew I was taking a chance buying a couple of half bottles. Great
> > > vintage, but 47 is really stretching it ?for a Cru Bourgeois in this
> > > format. I warned it might be a disappointment, and the fact the cork
> > > was basically sawdust made me pessimistic. But lo and behold, as it
> > > went through funnel into decanter the color was dark and pure. In the
> > > glass there was some bricking around the edges, but overall quite
> > > bright. Nice sweet cassis and black plum fruit, a bit of earth and
> > > tobacco, amazingly young. I can't say it was the most complex older
> > > claret I've run across, but it was quite enjoyable, and the real
> > > pleasure was watching Alex marvel at a wine as old as himself. Lasted
> > > well through the course. B+ for the wine, A for the exceeding > > > expectations.
> >
> > > 1970 Ch. de Pez (St Estephe)
> > > I've had this a few times, always ?a pretty dependable wine, if not
> > > exciting. Redder fruits, higher acids than the Gloria. Maybe a bit
> > > more happening on the secondary/tertiary ?level than the St Julien,
> > > there's lots of damp earth, as well as cigarbox and cigarsmoke. A bit
> > > sharp after some time in decanter. B/B+
> >
> > > 1990 Ch. Haut Brisson (St Emilion)
> > > Youngest red of the night, closest to the grave. Red plummy fruit, a
> > > hint of prune, some earth. Resolved tannins, some nice tobacco-y
> > > notes,but short for a '90. Drink up fast if you have. B/B-
> >
> > > Fun night with fun people.
> >
> > > Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
> > > wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
> > > drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
> > > promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency. > > > ?
> >
> > So has everyone on the list had a wine from their birth year? I have
> > never had a '47 Bordeaux but would love to if I could afford it.- Hide
> > quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> '47 Bdx is a real tough one, as they are horrendously expensive (and
> that's not even getting into the counterfeiting issues). I just saw
> the Chasse Spleen at Cellaraiders for $245, but that's really
> stretching it for a CB. Safest bet for a few hundred would probably be
> keeping eye open for a good Loire sticky, or a Barolo.
>
> I'm a '60, and I've had a few '60 Bdx, ranging from poor to not so
> great. I've had better luck with Port (not a great year, but some
> solid wines). I have one lone bottle of '60 BV GdlT I'm holding for my
> 50th. Betsy is a '59, but I don't have any reds for her next birthday
> (keeping my eyes out for Rioja, more affordable than '59 Bdx). I do
> have 3 sweet wines, though- a Moulin Touchais, a sweet Primitivo(!), > and a Sauternes.
>
> I think it's fun to drink one's birthyear wine, but I wouldn't trade a
> mortgage payment for it!
Thanks, just found a '47 Riserva Borgogno for $300 but I'm not familiar with that one. I still have two bottles of La Tache 1960 that I have been saving for, I don't know what. Just haven't had the nerve to pop them.