Really fun night at Berserkerfest last night. Great crowd, best duck I reme mber at PDH, fun wines. I didn't really take extensive notes, but did at le ast write down impressions of wines at my table.
NV Krug Champagne (magnum) I thought this very good, though stylistically Krug isn't my fave. Full and powerful. B+
Donnhoff Neiderhauser Hermannshöhle Auslese (Mag) I wrote down 2005, but see in email 2001, so wonder if I should have brough t reading glasses to dinner. Certainly seemed more like an 2005, delicious rich fruit, great flavors, but with a soft pillowy feel- I could have used more acidity. B/B+
1990 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile " VT Riesling This showed quite well, just a touch of sugar, long, minerally, complex. Ma ybe my WOTN -hate to choose my own but I'm really a Trimbach-slut. A-/A
2009 Adam Dhroner Hofberger Riesling Spatlese (mag) Quite young obviously, but delicious and long. I liked more than some other s. Plus (like the Donnhoff) Riesling magnums just look cool. B+
1999 Jaboulet "La Chapelle" Hermitage I've seen a lot of variation in Jaboulet, but this was a very very good bot tle of Hermitage. Not big, but with solid blackberry fruit, smoke, bacon, a nd olive. One of best reds of the night. B+/A-
1980 Terrance Gray Hermitage reductive odors on opening, but this turned out to be a very nice fully mat ure Northern Rhone. Spice, soy, and a ton of grilled/smoky meat. I liked mo re than some others. B+
2002 Esmonin Ruchottes Chambertin (mag) Full, that '02 ripeness, lush texture, needs time. B+/B
1988 Camus Chambertin (mag) a bit bretty at first, that blew off, after that cherry fruit, earth, sanda lwood, mushrooms. Good nose, but a bit thin on palate and without much dept h. I kept telling people "judge as Gevrey, forget the Chambertin part." and they'd find it pleasing. B/B+
1982 Ducru Beaucailliou normally a stunning wine, this seemed soft, characterless, and short. I was surmising '82 disease (storage issues related to too much trading) but som e more sensitive noses voted for low-level TCA- i'll go with that. NR
2000 Pichon Baron This certainly has one foot into modernista camp, but like the '96 straddle s the line well. An impressive young wine, deep cassis fruit, serious tanni n, enough acidity to keep from being ponderous. B with good potential..
1975 Johannisberger Klaus Beerenauslese Most people thought it a red wine in decanter. Some didn't like, but I real ly enjoyed this. Caramel, cooked peaches, clover honey. Still quite sweet b ut not at all cloying. thanks Craig. B+
1993 Huet "Cuvee Constance" Vouvray So, this doesn't really exist. Apparently Huet released a batch to English market, and then decided it didn't meet Constance standards, so since then it has been released as Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 1er Trie. But I got this odd ity, and am pleased that I did -even sub-standard Constance is serious stuf f. Ringing acids, deep flavors of citrus zest, honey, and toffee, not super sweet but really vibrant. A-
NV? Lallier Rose Champagne I don't generally advise tasting pink bubbly at end of night (and following sweet wines) but actually did well. Frothy fun, all strawberries and cream with a tangy ferric mineral note on finish. I hope I'm right this was non- vintage, as I just bought NV from Zachys one day sale. B+/B
from other tables
1999 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" BdB More my style, this bottle was lovely for me- powerful, but with elegance a nd lightness I didn't get from Krug. A-
1975 Giscours Really classic claret, as Craig said "I think this would be likely to get n ailed as Margaux blind." Berry fruit, perfumed, cigarbox.. A-/B+
1973 Gemello Cabernet Sauvignon I liked this more than Craig and Kenny I think. Currants, cocoa, earth. A b it tannic but not over my limit. thanks Brad. B+/B
NV Taittinger (I assume La Francaise, from a big@$$ bottle) Crisp, fresh, fun. B
1966 Warres Plums, dates, figs- medium bodied and a pointe. thanks Jay (and for the Com tes and the Giscours). B+
Wines I tasted but didn't write down details or notes: There was a 71 Spa tlese from another table I found totally maderized/DOA, others liked more. There was also a 96 Riesling from table by door where I got a sip of someon e elses', but never saw myself and didn't note producer, but it was all ele ctric- really rocked, one of my wines of the night. A 2005 Hospices de Beau ne Corton (Roumier elevage) mag had structure and lots of fruit, but for me this just showed too much wood.
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.