Wine of the week

Chateau du Pape Sauternes 1949 label says "Contigu Yquem"

OK, we had a special party sunday, I don't drink prewar wine every day...

Cheers

Mike

Mike, was this even close to being ready to drink? I did score some of this at Kermit's retail shop in Berkeley, but I'd not expected to open any for another 5 years or so...

Mark Lipton

Mark Lipton

Other than the classic Lafran Veyrolle, that feels rough in its youth and then smooths marvelloously after 8-10 years, and of course Ch. Pradeaux that needs so much aging that nobody has ever tasted one old enough to be drinkable, I now find that the great Bandols like Tempier, Tour du Bon, Terrebrune are getting more and more pleasant when young (and still have aging potential, not like all those Parker-doped 90's Bordeaux that are already fading...).

We tasted all that stuff at the restaurant at Domaine de Terrebrune (but we brought the non-Terrebrune bottles).

BTW this year should be very good for those who waited and harvested their mourvedre in late september (instead of crying "global warming" and picking dehydrated grapes in august, fooled by the refractometer and not checking out the actual phenolic maturity, like so many do now, probably in a hurry to get it over with and get a nearly start on hunting season...).

Cheers Mark !

Mike

Crotch Pheasant "82" - nectar.

This week huh? Well, lets start on Monday with white and move on to red.

Caymus (though that name no longer appears on the bottle) Conundrum 2003, Sauvignon Bland, Chardonnay, Muscat Canelli, Sémillon and Viognier

Chalone Chardonnay, Chalone Vineyard, Monterey, 2000

Acacia Chardonnay, Carneros, 2002

Acacia Pinot Noir, Beckstoffer Vineyard, 2001

Cline Cellars, Oakley, Vin Rouge, 2000, Carignane, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Alicante Bouschet

J Bookwalter, Lot 14, Columbia Valley, WA, NV, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Franc

Dang, all domestic, and mostly CA/US

Hunt

"Linger" wrote in news:dj67tg$jpb$1 @newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk:

I had a delightful Tommasi (or is it one m and 2 s's) Raphael Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2003, not much structure but a very pleasant fruity wine that went well with a varied meal (veal and seafood hard to match)

Another cheap but delightful wine was a 2001 Burgundy from a producer (IIRC) Merlin.

Tom S

At a Rutland Wine Society tasting by the York Chancellery of the Jurade de St. Emilion

Belle Assise Coureau 2001 AoC St.Emilion Ch. Bernateau 1998 Grand Cru St.Emilion Ch. Chante Alouettes 1995 Grand Cru St.Emilion Ch. Grace Dieu Les Menuts 1995 Grand Cru St.Emilion Ch. Cadet Piola 1994 Grand Cru Classé St.Emilion Ch. Fonplégade 1997 Grand Cru Classé St.Emilion Ch. Fonplégade 1998 Grand Cru Classé St.Emilion Ch, Berliquet 1996 Grand Cru Classé St.Emilion

The 1994 and 1997 both surprised many by their quality - is it now true that there is no such thing as a bad year - just a ”winemaker‘s year,• that is to say a year which demands technical expertise to produce good wine and overcome what would once have damned the whole vintage?

The 1998‘s were both showing what a great year this was for the Jurisdiction, both having along way to go and many years in which to do it. I have long thought 1998 to be at least as good a year as

Tim Hartley

Vila Maria Sauvignon blanc Ive just bought this at COSTCO UK works out about £5.67 per bottle I think its fabulous value I see they are selling the 2005 now look forward to trying this tonight.

Golly, I feel poor compared to the other folks. Rex Rooster chardonay, about $6, & Pavillion merlot, and Schug merlot, both around $15 (the Schug is normally $20 but it was on sale). All CA. Just got some of the Winebow Italian wines per Parker's 8/29/05 The Wine Advocate today and look forward to those- most under $20, and scores in the high 80s.

Hello; Sunday Rinaldi Barbera d' Alba 2003, a small gem, we´ve stocked up. Wednesday ... well, we had this course in the Tastevin Society ... First flight whites

Just an ordinary week in Helsingborg

Cheerrs

Nils Gustaf

Denton Pinot Noir 1998 - a New Zealand Pinot from the Nelson region. Enjoyable although a bit heavy handed on the oak. Fruit starting to fade.

Charles Heidsieck Mis En Cave 1997 Champagne - absolutely delicious. Lived up to it's reputation.

Siobhan

"1983 Bourgogne Irancy killed with an oak cudgel "

Nils Gustaf,

Oaky or not, I'd expect a '83 Bourgogne (I didn't even know the Irancy area made whites) to have died of natural causes! Who was producer?

I've had that '82 Lanessan, very good for the level. Was the Fourchaume a particular vintage, or a generic 1er?

Thanks!

"Siobhan Leachman" wrote ..........

Now that is really smart bubbles.

New World at Vic Park, Auckland had it on special a few months back for $59.95 (NZ!) - that made it the best value champagne available.

I think I might have set some sort of record - I purchased a bottle of the '05 at Tesco (Rugby, UK) for about £5.00 about three weeks ago, then another here in New Zealand for $NZ13 a couple nights ago.

At anything around the prices quoted (or the US price Mark L posted) this has got to be the best value NZ SB available in the world - and it really stacks up in the taste department too!!!

Sorry Dale, I have tried to identify the producer from the photos I took but the light was insufficient. But, yes, it is unusual for Irancy to produce a white - perhaps they have changed everything around, I think that in the early 80s white was all the vogue, right? Cheers Nils Gustaf

Had the 2002 Hyde Park Chardonnay from Ramey at a tasting then tried it at home with a poached salmon dinner. Excellent match, spicy, vanilla and pear nose with a lot of fruit on the palate, long lingering finish that left a fruit impression even on the lips. Overall, an A-, but the price makes it a poor QPR at $49/bottle. Would like to try an older one to see how these hold up. I have 3 of the 2003 but none older. This is my splurge Chardonnay right now. Was drinking Kalin but drank all of them up even the 1990. Currently, they are selling 1994 and 1990 Chardonnays. The 1990 shows no sign of fading but the 1994 are less concentrated and are quite open at first but lose fruit in the glass so I won't get any more till they go to a newer bottling.

"I think I might have set some sort of record - I purchased a bottle of the '05 at Tesco (Rugby, UK) for about £5.00 about three weeks ago, then another here in New Zealand for $NZ13 a couple nights ago."

At anything around the prices quoted (or the US price Mark L posted) this has got to be the best value NZ SB available in the world - and it really stacks up in the taste department too!!!

I dont think anyones going to be able to repeat that soon!! I believe the following are worth looking at if your still in NZ VALLI ESTATE, CENTRAL OTAGO (GRANT TAYLOR) DRY RIVER ESTATE, MARTINBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND