TN: SOBER at Dan's with great Bordeaux, Burgs, and Riojas

Tuesday was a scorcher, but luckily Dan had good AC as he hosted SOBER at his home. He greeted us with smoked salmon and a nice cheese assortment, an d the

1989 Deutz Blanc de Blancs (from mag). Good, long, baked bread and ripe pea rs, toasty notes. B+

Onto blind wines: White Blind Flight Franco nailed Bordeaux immediately, took a while to get wines/vintages #1- Lemongrass, coconut, good length, I liked more than table. 1985 Laville Haut Brion B+ #2- Nose of wax, wood, & citrus; sweeter/riper than its flightmate, a bit s pirity on palate. B+ on nose, B- on palate 1983 Haut Brion Blanc B Nice wines, but not at current pricing.

Red Blind Flight #1 This took a while, no one immediately thought Burgundy on #1 #1- Some VA, black fruit, spice, tannic. I think people who know the wine t hought an unrepresentative showing. Once the VA calmed down I thought good wine, though not very like any GC Burg from good vintage I’ve had. 1993 D rouhin Romanee St Vivant B #2- Sweet fruit, sandalwood, sturdy. 1993 Bouchard “La Romanee” B+

Red Blind Flight #2 #1 Full, rich, ripe, herby, smoky, beautiful balance. 1987 Mugneret Ruchot tes-Chambertin A- #2 A bit leaner, but tasty. Black fruits, coffee, I’m shocked how delicio us this is once vintage is revealed. 1986 Mugneret Ruchottes-Chambertin B

+/A-

A really nice porcini ravioli in sage butter dish appeared about here.

Wanting to savor the Burgs, John asked for a Champagne intermezzo, Dan “M r. Champagne” obliged. Hmmm, slightly exotic fruit, some sweetness, fenne l, a little funky. John gets producer on first guess. NV Andre Beafort Gran d Cru Ambonnay (2008 disgorgement) B+

Red Blind Flight #3 Aha, Bordeaux. Takes a few guesses (and arguments over whether Graves is Le ft Bank) #1- Beautiful midbodied wine. Black fruits, cigarbox, leather, lovely balan ce. 1983 Domaine de Chevalier. A-

#2- advanced, a touch pruney, a nice elegant styled wine underneath. Not ne ar as good as a bottle earlier this year. 1983 Ausone B/B-

Osso buco, barley, green beans- yum!

Red Blind Flight #4 Another clear Bordeaux flight. #1- Someone got 70s Pauillac immediately, took a few guesses till John got wine. Elegant, sturdy, cedar & pencil lead. 1971 Les Forts de Latour B+/A- #2 Beautful, full, and elegant- wait, it’s not Pomerol? Smooth, velvety, lush yet still with structure. 1971 Magdelaine A/A-

Red Blind Flight #5 #1- Powerful full masculine style of mature Bordeaux. 1967 Latour B+ #2 I was SURE this was a classic 70s CalCab. Good acids, mint/eucalyptus, r ed fruits, medium bodied. 1968 La Rioja Alta “904” Rioja Riserva B+/A-

Red Blind Flight #6 #1 ripe, spice, coconut, herbs. 1982 CVNE “Vina Real Rioja Riserva B+

#2 Full, rich, black cherries and coffee, herby. 1976 CVNE “Imperial” R ioja Gran Riserva A-/B+

#3- bretty- horsesweat and bandaid- over dark fruits and herbs 1978 Ch., Be aucastel Chateauneuf du Pape B-

Great night with some great wines.

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.

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DaleW
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t his home. He greeted us with smoked salmon and a nice cheese assortment, and the

ears, toasty notes. B+

le Haut Brion B+

spirity on palate. B+ on nose, B- on palate 1983 Haut Brion Blanc B

thought an unrepresentative showing. Once the VA calmed down I thought goo d wine, though not very like any GC Burg from good vintage I’ve had. 1993 Drouhin Romanee St Vivant B

ottes-Chambertin

ious this is once vintage is revealed. 1986 Mugneret Ruchottes-Chambertin B+/A-

“Mr. Champagne” obliged. Hmmm, slightly exotic fruit, some sweetness, f ennel, a little funky. John gets producer on first guess. NV Andre Beafort Grand Cru Ambonnay (2008 disgorgement) B+

ance. 1983 Domaine de Chevalier. A-

near as good as a bottle earlier this year. 1983 Ausone B/B-

t wine. Elegant, sturdy, cedar & pencil lead. 1971 Les Forts de Latour B+/ A-

, lush yet still with structure. 1971 Magdelaine A/A-

red fruits, medium bodied. 1968 La Rioja Alta “904” Rioja Riserva B+/A

-

Rioja Gran Riserva

Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape B-

e, 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 objecti vity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Nice Notes, Thanks. What was the WOTN?

Reply to
Bi!!

at his home. He greeted us with smoked salmon and a nice cheese assortment , and the

pears, toasty notes. B+

ille Haut Brion B+

it spirity on palate. B+ on nose, B- on palate 1983 Haut Brion Blanc B

ne thought an unrepresentative showing. Once the VA calmed down I thought g ood wine, though not very like any GC Burg from good vintage I’ve had. 19

93 Drouhin Romanee St Vivant B

chottes-Chambertin

icious this is once vintage is revealed. 1986 Mugneret Ruchottes-Chamberti n B+/A-

“Mr. Champagne” obliged. Hmmm, slightly exotic fruit, some sweetness, f ennel, a little funky. John gets producer on first guess. NV Andre Beafort Grand Cru Ambonnay (2008 disgorgement) B+

s Left Bank)

alance. 1983 Domaine de Chevalier. A-

t near as good as a bottle earlier this year. 1983 Ausone B/B-

got wine. Elegant, sturdy, cedar & pencil lead. 1971 Les Forts de Latour B

+/A-

ty, lush yet still with structure. 1971 Magdelaine A/A-

s, red fruits, medium bodied. 1968 La Rioja Alta “904” Rioja Riserva B+ /A-

” Rioja Gran Riserva

, Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape B-

ine, 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 objec tivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

For me, the Magdelaine. This group doesn't vote, but know both Ruchottes had advocates.

Reply to
DaleW

R at his home. He greeted us with smoked salmon and a nice cheese assortme nt, and the

pe pears, toasty notes. B+

aville Haut Brion B+

bit spirity on palate. B+ on nose, B- on palate 1983 Haut Brion Blanc B

wine thought an unrepresentative showing. Once the VA calmed down I thought good wine, though not very like any GC Burg from good vintage I’ve had.

1993 Drouhin Romanee St Vivant B

Ruchottes-Chambertin

elicious this is once vintage is revealed. 1986 Mugneret Ruchottes-Chamber tin B+/A-

n “Mr. Champagne” obliged. Hmmm, slightly exotic fruit, some sweetness, fennel, a little funky. John gets producer on first guess. NV Andre Beafor t Grand Cru Ambonnay (2008 disgorgement) B+

is Left Bank)

balance. 1983 Domaine de Chevalier. A-

Not near as good as a bottle earlier this year. 1983 Ausone B/B-

n got wine. Elegant, sturdy, cedar & pencil lead. 1971 Les Forts de Latour B+/A-

vety, lush yet still with structure. 1971 Magdelaine A/A-

tus, red fruits, medium bodied. 1968 La Rioja Alta “904” Rioja Riserva B+/A-

l” Rioja Gran Riserva

h., Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape B-

wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink a t a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of obj ectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Thanks. Interesting, I never warmed up to Magdelaine as it always seemed to be missing something but I've nver had one as old as a 1971. The 1983 Ch evalier is a wine that I've had a few times and Chevalier (rouge) in genera l seemed to be hit or miss to me.

Reply to
Bi!!

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