Andy hosted SOBER Tuesday. Anticipating an amazing tasting, Mark arranged f or his son to drive us to Greenwich. We were the first to arrive, and Andy had some Piedmont sausage and grana padano out , with 2 Champagnes
Selosse "Initial" (disgorged 7/12) Full, big, dry, sharp, not delicate but I like. B+
Selosse VO I neglected to note disgorgement. Some Champagne heads loved this, but to m e the combination of some oxidative notes and the extreme dryness (I think this is extra brut) took away some charm compared to the fresher Initial. B
After everyone arrived, we moved to dining room. Andy didn't go for fully b lind, announcing that the evening would be all 1995s, all but one from Burg undy.
We were served the first flight, decanters were numbers (numbers included t he Champagnes). We knew the vintage, everyone was surprised by an 0 for 3 p remox showing - lucky night.
Wine #3- most advanced, minty, hazelnut, mature but a pretty good showing w hen revealed as a village wine. 1995 d'Auvenay Auxey-Duresses blanc B
Wine # 4 - Dan got Meursault I think on first guess. Plush big, but not as lively as #5.
1995 Leroy Meursault Narvaux. B
Wine # 5 - full, lush, tropical but with a floral note. 1995 d'Auvenay " Fo latieres " Puligny Montrachet 1er B+/A-
the whites were accompanied by canapes (assorted mini tartes and pizza-like bites)
First red flight (w/terrine with pistachio served with salad) Wine # 6- really earthy nose, Mark declared mushrooms but pondered what kin d, settled on ceps. Midbodied, fresh, red fruits and earth tones. 1995 Doma ine Leroy "Boudots" Nuits St George 1er B+
Wine # 7 - Red fruits with a green edge, though to me more herby that veget al.
1995 Maison Leroy "Chaumes" Vosne-Romanee 1er B
Wine # 8- sandalwood, exotic , long, elegant. Think pretty much consensus f avorite. 1995 Domaine Leroy "Beaumont" Vosne-Romanee 1er A-
Wine # 9- great nose- both floral and gamey- and good fruit, but I thought a bit tough and drying on finish (some others disagreed). 1995 Domaine Lero y "Brulees" Vosne-Romanee 1er B+/B
Second Red Flight (with lamb chops, potato, asparagus). Dan called Gevrey e arly.
Wine # 10 -somehow I didn't write anything but a grade for this, but I like d it a lot and I recall if as complex and long. 1995 d'Auvenay Mazis-Chambe rtin A-/B+
Wine # 11 -sappy dark fruit, a bit shut-in compared to its companions. 1995 Bachelet Charmes-Chambertin VV B/B+
Wine # 12- lovely, black cherry fruit, complex blend of meat, citrus peel, and earth, beautiful balance. John gets the wine. 1995 Rousseau Chambertin A-
Wine # 13 - dark fruits, spice, a little tannic but delicious. After John g ets #12 is Rousseau Chambertin I think Mark immediately gets this as the Be ze. 1995 Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze B+/A-
Third Red Flight (with cheese) - someone (Dan or Craig) guessed Chambolle o ff bat.
Wine # 14 - Andy opened TWO bottles of this, both corked! 1995 Roumier Bonn es Mares Sob.
Wine # 15- Herby/stemmy, spicy, long, delicious. Apparently John got immedi ately but Andy shushed him while the rest of us flailed. 1995 Roumier Musig ny A-/B+
Wine # 16- Complex, coffee and cocoa over lovely fruit, big but elegant. 19
95 de Vogue Bonnes Mares A-
Wine # 17- big, good fruit but a little tough on finish, but gets a boost f rom an evolving nose with lots of earth and meat. 1995 de Vogue Musigny B+
Dessert wine (I passed on dessert, but folks loved an apple/cream concoctio n) Wine # 18 - I think Dan said "this must be Chapoutier" before decanter even made it around table. Honied, orange peel, but I think a touch soft on aci ds. Actually 2 375s combined in decanter. 1995 Chapoutier Vin de Paille B
Really fun night. Amazing selection of wines. Probably doubled my lifetime consumption of 1er Cru Lalou wines, and my first Roumier Musigny (a wine I figured I'd never try). I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Vogues. G reat night, big thanks to Andy, and thanks to Philip for driving.
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.