A wine tasting a Martin Weiner’s is always a fun experience. To get to the tasting, one first walks through the ultra-modern newly-remodeled building foyer, but once you reach Martin’s apartment, you are transported to a bygone era into a carefully-preserved relic from the 1970s. From the popcorn ceiling to the orange graphic-painted kitchen cabinets, one would fully expect to be greeted by some hippies playing some Crosby, Stills and Nash, but instead you are greeted by the warm smiles and hugs from seasoned wine veteran, Martin and his lovely wife, Carol.
The tastings start at 7:30pm, but those in-the-know arrive by 7pm to ensure they get a good seat. The tastings include up to 28 people who are seated around a dining room area, an oversized leather U-shaped sofa in the living room and some spillover seats set up in rows in between.
The event begins with a handout of a map of the vineyards of the area being presented that evening, along with a ballot listing all of the wines. Martin stands and talks a little about the area and vineyards and then the tasting begins. The bottles are passed around in flights of three along with small measuring cups marked with tape. Everyone is instructed to pour to the top of the line only and to watch your neighbors to make sure they comply.
After the second flight is poured, the meal is served. The meal is another 70s throwback which typically comprises a protein, a starch and a side of vegetables and is all prepared by Martin and Carol. Afterward, a selection of cheeses and crackers are set up on the counter.
At least half of the group are regulars who catch up with each other between the flights. Newcomers are warmly welcomed and the room grows louder as the night progresses.
At the end of the night, the ratings from Robert Parker and Burghound are revealed along with the current prices found on Wine Searcher. Participants are encouraged to mark their own scores on a ballot and a week or so after the tasting, Martin sends out an email noting the class average scores.
Tonight, the theme was Grand Cru Burgundies from Richebourg, Clos de la Roche, Echezeaux and Vosne Romanee. My notes and scores are as follows:
1st Flight:
2004 Echezeaux, V. Girardin – Served a bit too warm which really brought out some high alcohol on the nose and palate; midpalate a bit thin. 89
2004 Grands Echezeaux, Mongeard-Mugneret – Higher acidity than the Girardin, some nice spice notes, slight green notes detected, but not overbearing. 88
2004 Clos de la Roche, Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Ponsot – Slight VA on the nose, more structure and length than the other two wines, very tightly wound. Needs a lot of time. 90
2nd Flight:
1997 Clos de la Roche, L. Jadot (from magnum) – Great body, but not very complex, a bit hot on the palate, good acidity, was much better with food. 87
2003 Clos de la Roche, P. & V. Lecheneaut – A total mess; extremely oaky nose, no structure. Showing the heat and ripeness of the vintage. 83
2003 Clos de la Roche, D. Laurent – Very typical Laurent wine with more oak than is pleasing to my palate, but much better winemaking than the Lecheneaut with better structure and some nice spice notes. 86
3rd Flight:
2003 Echezeaux, L. LeMoine – Nose of cherry cough syrup, big and concentrated, some green bell pepper notes. 88
2002 Echezeaux, J. Grivot – Lovely complexity, structure and length, a bit tightly wound, but a very seductive wine is hiding for those who will wait. 92
2002 Echezeaux, Mugneret-Gibourg - A little more concentration than the Grivot, showing slightly better right now, but in the long run, I think the Grivot will be the better wine. 92
4th Flight:
2006 Grands Echezeaux, Domaine d’Eugenie – Big spice on the nose, very concentrated wine that will be quite nice when it settles down. 90
1993 Grands Echezeaux, F. Lamarche – Nice aged nose, the fruit is fading. Drink up if you have any, because this is going downhill. 88
Mystery Wine – Weird herbal, plastic, Kool-Aid nose, very hot, clearly California Pinot Noir, but I couldn’t figure the producer. 2004 Marcassin Blue Slide Ridge Pinot Noir. 85
5th Flight:
2003 Richebourg, A.-F. Gros – Big, spicy, full bodied, a richness and smoothness that we hadn’t had yet in the night, slightly flabby. 90
2002 Richebourg, A.-F. Gros – Gorgeous balance, lots of complexity and spice, slight herbal notes, will be a wonderful wine with some more age. 93
1995 Richebourg, Anne Gros – Still very young, some green pepper notes, but not overpowering, very long finish. Drinking well now, but will continue to evolve with a few more years. 94
6th Flight:
2003 Romanee St. Vivant, Domaine de la Romanee Conti – Classic RSV spice nose, concentrated but focused with slight heat on finish, will be a monumental wine with time. 96
1996 Grands Echezeaux, Domaine de la Romanee Conti – Stemmy nose, good midpalate with strong acidity, some softening on the finish. 94
1988 Grands Echezeaux, Domaine de la Romanee Conti – Some funk on the nose, slight bricking, gorgeous complexity, long finish, my pour came from near the end of the bottle and was cloudy. 93
7th Flight:
1976 Richebourg, Domaine de la Romanee Conti – Ever so slightly corked, very light orange-red color. NR
1993 Clos de la Roche, Leroy – A WOW wine, huge structure, class and balance. Some herbal notes that I don’t usually find in Leroy’s wines. 98
8th Flight:
1989 La Tache, Domaine de la Romanee Conti – Typical pickle juice nose of La Tache along with some perfume, long finish, a very good wine, but lacks the pizzazz of better vintages. 94
1990 Grands Echezeaux, Domaine de la Romanee Conti – So rich and deep with the great structure of the 1990s. Gorgeous. 95
1990 Richebourg, Domaine de la Romanee Conti – DOA, oxidized; obviously a huge disappointment. I didn’t see the cork, so I’m not sure what happened to this bottle. NR