quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Me too!

If we hit traffic, we may be a couple minutes late,

Fret not, I will post a tasting note on the Champagne you missed out on!

We'll be cool. The backwash at the flute bottoms from that bad boy will still be 95pts!

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Me too!

If we hit traffic, we may be a couple minutes late,

Fret not, I will post a tasting note on the Champagne you missed out on!

We'll be cool. The backwash at the flute bottoms from that bad boy will still be 95pts!

What is the best Champagne you have ever enjoyed?

1985 Heidsieck Brut, "Charlie," without a doubt. Followed by the '89 Pommery "Louise," which I'm bringing a bottle of. My vintage sparkler history is quite limited, as you can see.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
1985 Heidsieck Brut, "Charlie," without a doubt. Followed by the '89 Pommery "Louise," which I'm bringing a bottle of. My vintage sparkler history is quite limited, as you can see.

Both excellent wines.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
[

What is the best Champagne you have ever enjoyed?

Whichever one you brought last time we broke bread together....

I am excited as well. We will probably make it to Louisville a few hours early and heard over to Churchhill Downs to take a look at a few horses...

Thirsty "I ain't eating lunch tomorrow" Man

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
1985 Heidsieck Brut, "Charlie," without a doubt. Followed by the '89 Pommery "Louise," which I'm bringing a bottle of. My vintage sparkler history is quite limited, as you can see.

Both excellent wines.

True that, but I'm guessing the Mesnil is a whole new level!

quote:

Originally posted by thirsty man:

Thirsty "I ain't eating lunch tomorrow" Man

Not me! I'm going to start carving up loofah sponges early in the morning, and will eat them throughout the day to absorb the delicious nectar I'll be consuming! Food? Yeah, whatever.

Some official (and otherwise) tasting notes of wines to be consumed this evening:


1. Honey, apple tart, light toffee, cream and piecrust. Very complex and full-bodied, with lively acidity and beautiful clove honey, red apple and lemon flavors. Long, balanced and very lively. A massive white. Layered and beautiful. Made to age, but who can wait to drink this? Best after 2010. 3,000 cases made. –JS

2. Dark ruby red. Intense aromas of currant, flowers and leather. Opulent. Full-bodied, with supervelvety tannins and powerful fruit. Layered and beautiful on the palate. This has a long life ahead of it. I would still give it a few more years. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah

3. Stops you in your tracks. Fascinating-from the barrel-fermented coconut, vanilla, pineapple and marmalade bouquet to the incredible richness and concentration, this is an original. The peach,vanilla, honey and tangerine flavors ride a crest of bracing acidity, dry and forceful, to a lingering aftertaste of spring blossoms and hazelnut.

4. This inky purple wine had a wild nose of violets, and perfume. The palate was tight just before I had it decanted. After 40 minutes in the decanter the spices were flowing from back to front. The true reason why this is a great wine is in the finish. It had large amounts of blackberry, plum and ripe hand picked blueberries and blackberries. The tannins are sweet and integrated. Outstanding with my filet rubbed in garlic. Everything I hoped for and more. 95pts.

5. Terrific. Bursting with biscuit, fig, walnut and coffee tones on a fresh, lively structure. It picks up a hint of mushroom on the finish and has enough weight for the main course. Drink now. –BS

6. A pretty red with blackberry and Indian spices on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied, with good tannins and a long finish. Best after 2006. 1,000 cases made. –JS

7a. (A non critic TN)The nose explodes from the glass with a mixture of black cherry, floral and cedar aromas.
The first sip exhibits extraordinary weight and a silky-smooth mouth feel more akin to a 20-year old Leoville Las Cases or Gruaud Larose. There is unbelievable harmony between the cherry fruit, oak and smooth tannins which now play a mere background role in this symphony of a wine.
In the mid-palate, the black cherry fruit is nicely accented by a hint of tobacco. The finish goes on for 45 seconds.

7b. A TN in 1993: This extraordinary wine is backward and unevolved, but even neophytes will recognize its potential greatness. The opaque, saturated, dark purple color reveals no sign of age. The huge, smoky, oaky, blackcurrant, herb, and vanillin-scented nose only hints at what will be achieved with further evolution. Sweet, decadently rich, dense, highly extracted flavors are wrapped around a full-bodied, chewy, super-concentrated, moderately tannic wine that, ideally, needs 7-8 more years of cellaring.

8. Popped and poured - and it roared. Right from the gate, the nose pumped out a redolent combination of spring blossoms and macerated blueberries. One of those wines that you just can't help sticking your nose in the glass every 15 seconds to breathe in softly and deeply. (Highly recommended decompression technique after a stressful day at work, BTW). On the attack, a game of hide and seek ensues, with a dynamic and intense core of blackberry fruit careening around all corners of your mouth but never standing still enough to reveal its full splendor. Hints of black pepper and hickory smoke in the background. Finishes with a tongue-tightening grip.Clearly will integrate further with time, but is enjoyable in its sinewy and provocative youth.

9. A very stylish wine that's plush, rich and concentrated, offering an array of spicy currant, cedary oak, anise, herb and mineral flavors that are soothing, winning points for its polished texture and firm yet gentle tannins. Best from 2006 through 2013. 4,500 cases made. –JL

It will be interesting to see how our bottles tonight compare to the above TN's.

IW

Wow, a public service for sure! Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by thirsty man:

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
[

What is the best Champagne you have ever enjoyed?

Whichever one you brought last time we broke bread together....

I am excited as well. We will probably make it to Louisville a few hours early and heard over to Churchhill Downs to take a look at a few horses...

Thirsty "I ain't eating lunch tomorrow" Man

They have a nice little restaurant there at Churchill Downs where you can grab a light lunch.

Do not be surprised if Churchill Downs still does not have electricity. We had major problems earlier in the week city wide do to the wind storm that came through last weekend. Several people still do not have power.

IW

quote:

Originally posted by Italian Wino:
Do not be surprised if Churchill Downs still does not have electricity. We had major problems earlier in the week city wide do to the wind storm that came through last weekend. Several people still do not have power.

IW

Yikes! I'm going to the official Ryder Cup event there Saturday night.

I'm here at the Ryder. Sorry I missed the gathering. Sounds like a good time was had by all.
And oh by the way, after a few years away, I am reminded why this site got so bor-O-ing. Obviously someone still acts like a bully and a fool.
Sorry for the regulars. See ya in another 3 years.

KOH,

I wish you had seen this earlier, so you could have joined us. Which boards are you posting on now?

IW

None really.

Woah! KOH Lives!

quote:

Originally posted by Eric White:

Woah! KOH Lives!

Yeah, I just notice that too. Long live the King! Hope all is well, m'Lord.

Thanks guys. It has been a while. Just trying to keep our heads above the water line Way Down Yonder. Miss seeing y'all.

KoH, it has been a long time.

I hope all is well.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by wine+art:
Current list, if I understand.

1986 Krug Clos du Mesnil

2005 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

1987 Mondavi Reserve

2002 Etude

2001 Joan Les Eres

2006 Stefania Syrah

2002 La Confession

1997 Gaudo al Tasso


Shaping up nicely I think.

Not one wine that did not show well, and a few very well.

I will post more on Tuesday when I get home, but the WOTN was an easy choice.

quote:

1989 Pommery Brut "Louise"

1986 Krug Clos du Mesnil

2005 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

1987 Mondavi Reserve

2002 Etude

2001 Joan Les Eres

2006 Stefania Syrah

2002 La Confession

1997 Gaudo al Tasso

2004 Charles Hours Uroulat Jurancon

+ a delicious "port" (Tawny from Africa?)
:

Mrs. IB-to-be and I had a fantastic evening. Although, I'm glad she went easy and drove us home. I was wearing the wobbly boot into the next morning.

Thanks for putting this together Italian Wino! The food was a treat, and wonderful to meet your fiancee!

Very cool to see you again W+A, and to meet thirsty man and cousin.

When five hours seemed like two, there can be no doubt the conversation and wine were top notch.

WOTN? Almost wasn't fair, the Mesnil, without a doubt. Now, the best Champagne I've had (sorry Charlie). My runners up were the interesting Uroulat Jurancon, Haut Lafitte Blanc, and the Mondavi. Of the rest, nothing out of the 90s!

Cheers,

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:

quote:

1989 Pommery Brut "Louise"

1986 Krug Clos du Mesnil

2005 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

1987 Mondavi Reserve

2002 Etude

2001 Joan Les Eres

2006 Stefania Syrah

2002 La Confession

1997 Gaudo al Tasso

2004 Charles Hours Uroulat Jurancon

+ a delicious "port" (Tawny from Africa?)
:

Mrs. IB-to-be and I had a fantastic evening. Although, I'm glad she went easy and drove us home. I was wearing the wobbly boot into the next morning.

Thanks for putting this together Italian Wino! The food was a treat, and wonderful to meet your fiancee!

Very cool to see you again W+A, and to meet thirsty man and cousin.

When five hours seemed like two, there can be no doubt the conversation and wine were top notch.

WOTN? Almost wasn't fair, the Mesnil, without a doubt. Now, the best Champagne I've had (sorry Charlie). My runners up were the interesting Uroulat Jurancon, Haut Lafitte Blanc, and the Mondavi. Of the rest, nothing out of the 90s!

Cheers,

Amen to that IB.

IW, thank you again for setting all of this up and sourcing the Krug. It was a wonderful evening that will not be soon forgotten. I have been so tied up with these depositions (that ended early today) that I have been unable to chime in. WOTN was easily the Krug.

IB and ItalianWino it was a treat to meet your wonderful fiancees, they both added a much needed touch of softness and beauty to the table (they also kept the conversation clean and flowing).

I will not try to rank the wines, but after the Krug, my top three were the Mondavi, Joan Les Eres and the Etude. All three were very special wines and closely followed by the rest. Not a single bad or off bottle and all were well above 90 pts in my humble, intoxicated opinion.

G

PS - I'll get the name of the port from my cousin - it was a 1980 vintage port from South Africa.

Hey thirsty man, shoot me an email, I have a photo for you.

Cheers,

Calling KOH - looking for some info on N'Awlins j r g 3 7 2 at m s n dot c o m if ya could