Andy hosted SOBER last night, and put on a memorable evening. We arrived to be greeted with charcuterie and the 1979 Lanson Brut Champagne. From magnum this was showing quite fresh and crisp- bright acids, tight fine mousse, brioche and apple flavors, I wouldn't have guessed 30+ years if it had been blind. A-
We then moved to table, a lovely feast of soup, beef bourguignon, cheese, desserts, etc. Wines were served blind in three flights.
White Flight Seemed like white Burg, though several had doubts about #1 (and convinced me). #1) Fairly sweet and low acid, with very tropical flavors. When someone suggested it might not be white Burgundy, I thought maybe 2003 white Graves, but Andy said all Burgundy. Someone called it "banana bubble gum" which I didn;t get, though some sweet butterscotch notes came with time.; Not my favorite at all.
2002 Bouchard Corton Charlemagne. B-./C+#2) Balanced, minerally, good with excellent length. Some Meursault guesses but Cathleen got Corton-Charlemagne. My fave of flight.
2005 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne A-/B+#3)Big, herbal, mint and a little butterscotch, good but a little hot on backend. 2005 Henri Boillot Corton Charlemagne B
First Red Flight #4). Fresh, youngest seeming, this was called out as a Rhone ringer by some. Beautiful wine in any case. Some animal and earthy notes around a solid fruit core.
1971 Camille Giroud Bonnes Mares A-#5)I liked the nose on this one, a sandalwood meets ripe red fruit combo, but on palate it's a bit angular and disjointed. But in other company (of wines) I'd have liked more.
1971 Camille Giroud Charmes-Chambertin B#6) Edged #4 as my fave of flight. Big, full bodied, black cherry fruit with earth and forest floor aromas. Luckily I had brought extra glasses, this held well for the entire meal.
1971 Camille Giroud Chambertin. A-/A#7) Mushrooms, earth, red fruit, nice nose with palate only slightly marred by an astringent note.
1971 Camille Giroud Richebourg. B+Second Red Flight So the sweet/brown sugar notes marked this as old PN, my guesses are useless on anything this old, but I was impressed as John, Cathleen, and Craig got vintages. #8) Sweetness of fruit, a bit lifted, but tasty and complex.
1937 Hospices de Beaune (Camille Giroud) Volnay (I didn't get cuvee name) A- #9) I liked this, but can't even read the one word I wrote down, just my grade. Was paying too much attention to others. :( 1947 Camille Giroud Corton B/B+ #10) Animal, meat, dried herbs, still plenty of fruit, my WOTN by a hair 1947 Camille Giroud Richebourg. A/A- #11) Jammier than other wines, but I liked. 1949 Camille Giroud Musigny. B+/A-Last blind wine was a dessert wine with cheese and desserts, a powerful/thick wine but with good acids. Lots of botrytis, intense flavors of candied orange peel and apricot, with some vanilla. We pretty much assumed a great vintage of Yquem, but it was something rarer, the 1989 Coutet "Cuvee Madame" A-
Some delicious wines, all new to me, a night to remember. 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.