Thanks to a lot of hard work I have always been fortunate to be able to splurge and occasionally drink the great wines of the world. With the recent surge in prices I can see a point in the future where this will not be possible. If I had to pick one great wine that I will truly miss it is La Tâche. Before I get to the wine it is important to set the stage.
I have wanted to go to the Red Hook Tavern for many, many years and for some reason it just has not happened. I love the Red Hook area and have been going there for various reasons for 15 or so years.
Wanting to try something new last night and being tempted by an IG shot of a beautiful looking grilled Branzino we decided to head over and hopefully snag a walk-in seat at the bar.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CemRSJOuERc/
We arrived about 20 minutes before opening and were first in line. I decided to walk across the street to 360 Records and lo and behold I ran into Edan, the creator of one of my all time favorite hip hop records and one that Gas Lamp Killer had posted on just minutes before me running into Edan. I chatted with Edan about his gig tonight closing for Kool Keith and his interest in doing more events like the wine and creative weekend we did in LA earlier this year with Cut Chemist. My dear wife was texting me to get back as the line was growing…I bid adieu to Edan and said I hoped to see him at his show.
Back to the Red Hook Tavern, we were first in line and were able to grab two bar seats. I had already scoured the wine list and knew what I wanted order. We started with a 2017 Domaine Moreau-Naudet Montmains 1er, it was nice but did not have the energy I love from 2017 Chablis, and if I am honest was a bit too “natural” for me. It was much better with food. We also ordered a 2020 Famille Dutraive Les Deduits Fleurie which after cooling it a bit was delicious and paired wonderfully with the food. The Branzino delivered and alone was worth the trek.
Meanwhile two older gentlemen in their 70s loudly stormed into the Bar and ordered drinks, whiskey of course, at the end of the bar. They were extremely loud and one was dropping F-Bombs but it was weird as it was not obnoxious and they reminded me of the older gentlemen that used to day drink in the bar I worked at in college in my home town of Buffalo. They were clearly OGs in the Red Hook community as the barkeep told us no one is allowed to only drink at the bar. We immediately struck up a conversation with them and learned as one of them ripped off a large bandage where the IV was stuck in that he almost died that morning and had just got out of the hospital. The other guy who was dropping the F-Bombs had saved him and took him to the hospital. He was a retired FBI Agent. I asked when he retired and he said 1998! He was part of some elite crime unit. He told story after story but the one that really go to us was his best friend had just died. He had terminal cancer. His last wish was to see the new Keanu Reeves movie??? He somehow reached Keanu in Europe and after hearing the story and knowing time was of the essence Keanu arranged for one of his people to fly to NYC on his private Jet with an advanced copy of the movie. Sadly he landed in NYC at 10:00 p.m. and the friend died at 9:55. Then the guy pulls up a video tribute on his phone from Keanu that was played at the his friend’s funeral! The former FBI agent was telling us how much he values life and was worried about the friend who almost died that morning and about so many other older friends, it was a special moment and I felt like he was telling us something!
In the back of my mind I kept thinking about an incredible deal and wine I really wanted to drink that I had spotted earlier when scouring the wine list. In the heat of this special moment I decided to say F-it and ordered the 08 DRC La Tâche…
The first thing I thought when I smelled and tasted the wine was how is it possible for a wine to VIBRATE! It was electric, everything and more than I hoped for…simply stunning! The thing that differentiates the great wines of the world from everything else for me is mouthfeel and never ending finishes. There were so many fascinating flavors all exploding at the same time. The oak, which is something I don’t like is just mesmerizing in this wine as it must contribute to all of the fascinating esoteric spice flavors. I said to Renee I somewhat wished the wine was not this great. It was right up there with the great La Tâches I have had including 42 and 90. It was magical, emotional and so deep. I gave a glass to our bartender and one of the old timers and they were similarly blown away.
We took a glass or so home and finished the bottle later in a complete life-affirming trance!
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