A few berserkers in TX - 9/25/2009 Campania Pizza

[zachary_l_a_n_g]

I was asked to post a list of bottle consumed…Hopefully there will be some notes soon!




2003 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre (France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru)

2005 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)

2006 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)

2005 Herman Story Syrah Larner Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)

2002 Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Indian Wells (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley)

N.V. Stéphane Coquillette Champagne Cuvée des Cles (France, Champagne, Chouilly, Champagne)

2003 Vodopivec Vitovska Venezia Giulia IGT (Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT)

2004 Tenuta Argentiera Bolgheri Argentiera Superiore (Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri)

2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2005 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon HL Herb Lamb Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)

2003 Azienda Agricola Stanislao Radikon Jakot Venezia Giulia IGT (Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT)

1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires (France, Champagne)

2006 Gros Frere et Sœur Echezeaux (France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru)

1993 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco)

2003 Carlisle Syrah Bennett Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley)

2001 Aia Vecchia Sor Ugo Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)

1989 Grans-Fassian Leiwener Klostergarten Riesling Eiswein (Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer)

1975 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac)

1992 Domaine Rossignol Trapet Chambertin (France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru)

1995 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red (USA, California, Napa Valley)

[ToddFrench]

I have no specific notes, but my favorites of the evening were:

2003 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre (France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru)
2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires (France, Champagne)
1993 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco)
1989 Grans-Fassian Leiwener Klostergarten Riesling Eiswein (Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer)

The 1975 Lalande was opened afterwards, and absolutely ROCKED. The color was so fresh and bright, and so was the fruit. This wine truly blew me away and is among the very top wines I’ve ever had, without question. It had the perfect combination of aged components and fresh components - great finish as well.

The '95 Pahlmeyer also impressed me, only because I was expecting something more like the '99 that I had about a year ago, which was incredibly disappointing.

[Bill_Tex_Landreth]

I enjoyed both th Switchbacks…even though they are too much for some.

The Chablis was very nice and round. I don’t have enough experience to form a real opinion on it for the vintage, but I did enjoy mine.

The orange wines were interesting to say the least.

The Beau-Blanc was very rich and I think it will only get better.

That 1989er was the shit.

Herb Lamb Cab stole the show for me…drank at least half the bottle. Best so far out of four bottles in the past six months. Has everything that one could want in a Napa Cab.

That 3 Liter of merlot was worth what I paid for it and hopefully the popped collar boys put it to some good use later on.

[ToddFrench]

@Bill Tex Landreth

That 3 Liter of merlot was worth what I paid for it and hopefully the popped collar boys put it to some good use later on.

I would doubt that any $20 bottle of wine has ever provided as much entertainment to as many strangers as that merlot.

[Tyler_Rico]

my favorites were:


N.V. Stéphane Coquillette Champagne Cuvée des Cles (France, Champagne, Chouilly, Champagne): Nice pinot driven style that I really enjoyed

2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape): Really well made white rhone, good balance with nice acidity that white rhones sometime have a hard time with

2005 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon HL Herb Lamb Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley): WOW!! Balanced, silky, plush napa cab

1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires (France, Champagne): Killer as always, wish I had more. Lemon zest, citrus fruit, fresh and enjoyable

Post Party:

1975 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac): This tastes 10 years younger by a long shot. So concentrated, integrated acidity and tannin structure. Had this a few months ago and this bottle was much fresher.

[Peter_C]

@Bill Tex Landreth

I enjoyed both th Switchbacks…even though they are too much for some.

The Chablis was very nice and round. I don’t have enough experience to form a real opinion on it for the vintage, but I did enjoy mine.

The orange wines were interesting to say the least.

The Beau-Blanc was very rich and I think it will only get better.

That 1989er was the shit.

Herb Lamb Cab stole the show for me…drank at least half the bottle. Best so far out of four bottles in the past six months. Has everything that one could want in a Napa Cab.

That 3 Liter of merlot was worth what I paid for it and hopefully the popped collar boys put it to some good use later on.

What was the 3 liter? Who are the popped collar boys?

[Michael_Malinoski]

Zach, did you get to try the Radikon? At last? Thoughts?

I would have liked to have tried that '03 Raveneau MdT, as I had my first exposure just recently (with the 1995 vintage) and was intrigued for sure with the producer’s style.

Others that I thought looked really interesting happened to be the exact same 5 that Todd highlighted as his faves–'93 Giacosa, '75 PLL (most of all), '05 Beau Blanc, '95 Heidsieck and the '89 Eiswein. I would like to try a Herb Lamb some day, too.

I am sure lots of the others were great, as well–nicely done, ladies and gents.

-Michael

[Daniel_McNiff]

Really fun night, thank you guys for coming out and bringing such delicious wine!

[CFu]

@Bill Tex Landreth

I enjoyed both th Switchbacks…even though they are too much for some.

The Chablis was very nice and round. I don’t have enough experience to form a real opinion on it for the vintage, but I did enjoy mine.

The orange wines were interesting to say the least.

The Beau-Blanc was very rich and I think it will only get better.

That 1989er was the shit.
Herb Lamb Cab stole the show for me…drank at least half the bottle. Best so far out of four bottles in the past six months. Has everything that one could want in a Napa Cab.

That 3 Liter of merlot was worth what I paid for it and hopefully the popped collar boys put it to some good use later on.

The one i popped at Berserkerfest Friday night dinner was ridiculoussssss. What a wine!

[zachary_l_a_n_g]

Michael, there just may be a 95 heidsieck floating around my cellar for sometime soon!

[Bill_Tex_Landreth]

@zachary l a n g

Michael, there just may be a 95 heidsieck floating around my cellar for sometime soon!

Where is the master list of Saturday night wines?

[Michael_Malinoski]

@zachary l a n g

Michael, there just may be a 95 heidsieck floating around my cellar for sometime soon!

Most excellent!

[Daniel_McIntosh]

@Todd F r e n c h

The '95 Pahlmeyer also impressed me, only because I was expecting something more like the '99 that I had about a year ago, which was incredibly disappointing.

I was a buyer of Pahlmeyer through 1996 but not since. They not only got too expensive but every taste I’ve had of one since those years has been a disappointment. Monolithic, oak addled fruit bombs. But then that’s my feeling about most things out of California, Australia and even Bordeaux as of late. Some of it I blame on my palate favoring things like CDP now and some of it I blame on winemaker trying to make wines they think will get the huge score from RMP. BTW, I still have some Pahls from those early years. They are outstanding.

[ToddFrench]

@Daniel McIntosh

@Todd F r e n c h

The '95 Pahlmeyer also impressed me, only because I was expecting something more like the '99 that I had about a year ago, which was incredibly disappointing.

I was a buyer of Pahlmeyer through 1996 but not since. They not only got too expensive but every taste I’ve had of one since those years has been a disappointment. Monolithic, oak addled fruit bombs. But then that’s my feeling about most things out of California, Australia and even Bordeaux as of late. Some of it I blame on my palate favoring things like CDP now and some of it I blame on winemaker trying to make wines they think will get the huge score from RMP. BTW, I still have some Pahls from those early years. They are outstanding.

That’s exactly what I got from the '99, Daniel. I was disappointed, as it was my first Pahlmeyer, and I had expected something more along the lines of Dominus, which is quite traditional Bordeaux-esque, and something I very much enjoy.

[Tony_V_e_l_e_b_i_l]

The only downside to Dominus is the occasional brett bomb. But a clean Dominus can be amazingly Bdx like…superbly balanced.

[Tony_V_e_l_e_b_i_l]

Awesome. i have had most every vintage back to 83 or 84. Some have been bretty but some have been amazing. 94, 91, and even the less heralded 92 which you can find for around $100.

[ToddFrench]

@Tony V e l e b i l

Awesome. i have had most every vintage back to 83 or 84. Some have been bretty but some have been amazing. 94, 91, and even the less heralded 92 which you can find for around $100.

I’ve had the 83 also, and it was just wonderful. I’m not at ALL brett-averse, so I like those bottles with a little extra some’n-some’n

[Daniel_McIntosh]

I guess we’re talking Dominus now. I was buying those in 6 packs until the prices went up after the 94 vintage. To me the best Napa wines were BDX-like but somewhat riper and more extracted. Both Dominus and Pahlmeyer were delivering the goods in the early-mid 90s. Dominus may still: I don’t know, in terms of stocking the cellar I can’t keep up with the prices. But I have tried the occasional bottle and it seems to me that so many Calis (as well as BDX: the 2005 vintage has been a huge disappointment for me) have gone all Aussie on my ass. OMFG they all taste like Roogles! Its simplistic to say but I blame winemakers for trying to get the Big Bob score.