Thursday was a hot one, and busy, I had to dash to catch my train to Grand Central. Matt Richman was in town, in between his move from NZ to Sonoma, a nd we gathered on the theme “Good Wine (mostly blind).” Din ner was at Rothmans steakhouse. We had the usual red- heavy assortment, and that led to the usual steakhouse appetizer angst. I just decided to forget about matching first course and had crab and endive salad, and then went w ith the lamb mixed grill (rib chops, leg medallions, sausage, and shank ris otto)- quite good.
While we were gathering, Bill sent around a bottle of 2006 Leflaive Les Folatieres” Puligny-Montrachet 1er, very tasty, full,rich, g ood acids for 06, slight (not unpleasant) cheesy note.A-
After that, all dry wines blind
White- served a bit warm, fairly full, there’s a waxy/wooly note th at makes me guess Chenin (others guessing Riesling), my second guess in Cha rd (I think Paul’s first guess) 2009 Kumeu River “Mate s Vineyard” Chardonnay B-
First blind red Mine. Sorry I didn/t have time to decant before going to city, really tight . Funny when you know and others don’t- opinions all over the place here- CdP or Shiraz? Hot or too lean? Once they got PN/Burg it takes a whi le for anyone to get Vosne GC. Gets much better with air, I saved for hour
+. Tight and ungiving at first, later some black cherry, sandalwood, earth. 1999 Potel Romanee-St. Vivant B+First real flight (Bill was easily guessing champ this flight) #1- I thought this older cracking up Bdx at first, Somewhat lifted nose, re d fruit and ashtray, got better with time, but others liked more than I did . 1982 Ceretto “Asij” Barbaresco B-
#2 More Piedmontish, and I thought much younger than #1 . Violets, tar, red fruits. I think I’m only person who preferred this for this flight 1982 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo B+/B
Second red Flight #1- Structured, full, some remaining tannin, great length. All in agreement re Bordeaux, and I think Paul gets vintage (I thought ‘96) - I got St Julien, then Poyferre after a couple of misses. Gets better and better with air, and my WOTN. 1990 Leoville-Poyferre. A-/A
#2- Ripe, a little hot, low acid, not my style, I guess ‘03 Right B ank but Paul is right with NZ Cab. 2008 Stonyridge Waiheke B-
Third Flight #1 Big, powerful, Ramon zeroes in on Northern Rhone. Good length, but just not exciting for me. 1995 Guigal “La Landonne”Cote Rotie B
#2 Bordeaux, ripe, lots of cassis, cigarbox, forest floor. I vote my #3 of night. 1982 Ducru-Beaucaillou. A-
Fourth Red Flight (Paul is pretty on target here) #1 Ripe midbodied Nebbiolo, fully mature, I’m guessing older than ‘93 from a good vintage, showing well 1993 Giacosa Barolo. B+
#2 Plush, fat, jammy. Paul gets this one. Not my style. 2003 Mordoree La Plume du la Pientre” Chateauneuf-du-Pape. B-
Fifth Red Flight #1Medium bodied, cherry fruit with lots of herb, could be longer. 2009 Schu bert Block B Pinot Noir. B-/B
#2 New World, mature, vanilla, dark fruits, 1994 Stags Leap “Fay Cabernet Sauvignon. B-
#3 Paul gets appellation, Ben gets vintage, Bill gets wine. Ripe, friendly, fleshy, but with some structure and gravitas. 1990 Pichon Baron A-
Last Blind Red Paul gets Hermitage. Dark fruit, peppery, spice and cedar, good acids. My #
2 of night. 1985 Chave Hermitage. A-/AWe finished with the 1989 Foreau (Clos Naudin) Vouvray Reserve. Rich, brigh t acids, flavors take a while to really show. Orange pith, honey, chalk, ve ry sweet but with the acids to match. I take the remaining ⅓ bottle to my local group on Friday and it’s even better.A-
Pretty strong lineup. We voted for WOTN, Poyferre in a stampede. Red Wine Votes (everyone has 6 pts to award- 3 for their fave, 2 for #2, 1 for #3)
1982 Poyferre 23 (my 1st) 1990 Pichon Baron 9 1982 Ceretto 6 1985 Chave 4 (my 2nd) 1995 LaLa 3 1982 Ducru 3 (my 3rd) 2003 CdP 2 1993 Giacosa 1 1982 Barolo 1Great to see Matt, Brian,and the old-time crew.
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 pa rty where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.