A small group got together last night for a tasting of Meritage/Bdx blends from a around the globe. Some wines turned out to be mostly single grape, but at least the grapes were all on theme.
A fun evening, despite the noise. The day before Arv the organizer discovered that Le Quinze was having a Beaujolais Nouveau release party. We arrived to find a horde of Beaujolais-slurping singles mingling to the beat of an assortment of mostly 80s music. We passed on spending $24 to try a bottle of Mommessin BN, but did have to deal with the evening's prix fixe menu. The rabbit loins with prunes were a nice starter, my main course of braised lamb shoulder was pretty tasteless.
Nice group of 6 at our table, though I heard little of what Arv and Matt had to say at other end. We had all brought our wines wrapped, the wines were revealed at the end. I thought about changing my notes to make myself look smarter, but Jay, Hanes and Lars were close enough to have heard my comments, so I'll stick with what was written in my book :)
1) Soft acidity, heavy red plum fruit, I'm thinking CA Merlot? So-so. And it's the 2001 Bookwalter Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington). B- Strike one for Dale
2) A little better. Clean ripe (almost overripe) red fruit, a bit hot. No guess as I knew it was mine. 1997 Girard Red (Napa) B
3) Things are looking up. Fresh and bright. Opens up with some air. Black cherry fruit, I'd guess Sangiovese if I didn't know the theme. 2001 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. B/B+
4) Ah, this is more like it. Earth and smoke on the nose, balanced acidity and fine tannins. Good dark fruit. I'm guessing this is a Bordeaux. Nope, the (I missed the vintage)De Toren Fusion 5 (South Africa). My favorite of night. A-
5) . This isn't a Bordeaux. Oak and ripe/overripe Cabernet is what I get. 2001 D'Arenberg Galvo Garage. B/B-
6) Clearly an old bottle. Leather, forest floor, and black tea. Still some decent red fruit. I want to guess (very) mature Bordeaux, except there's a menthol note that seems New World. Fades a bit in the glass, but a nice gerontic claret, and it turns out to be the 1955 Lafon-Rochet (St. Estèphe ). My 3rd favorite, B+/A-
7) Ripe black fruit, short finish. Others like more than me. I think New World Cabernet Sauvignon. And it's the (vintage to be named later) Vergelen (South Africa) B
8) Tight at first, opens to a very floral nose. Not nearly as heavy and ponderous as some of the preceding wines, with a lovely bright acidity. Hey hey, the 2002 Clos Roche Blanche Cabernet Franc (Loire) A- (my 2nd favorite of evening)
9) Sweet sweet fruit, fair dose of oak. I find heavy next to preceding wines, some others like better than I do. 2001 Caro (Argentina) B/B-
10) I like better than others (maybe because it was one of mine -though this was blind I recognized my wrapping, and have had before). Not showing as well as couple years ago. 1995 BV Tapestry B+
11) Most controversial wine of night- I still think it's corked. It's strange, because the must is more on the palate than the nose. I can't get past that- oak, herbs, and must is all I get. 1999 Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon (South Africa)C+
Comments: My guesses weren't too impressive this night. With the exception of the last bottle, no real dogs. Surprising number of S. African wines, the De Toren being a real winner. The Wynns was better than I would have predicted. Fun night, thanks all.
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. Dale
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