Atlanta Berserkers (and guests) meet for an epic dinner!!!

WINE TALK
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Last night Don Cornutt and Randy Katz put together an incredible event, and I’m fortunate to have been one of the guests, along with about 10 Berserkers present. An insane amount of wine was available and poured, and the food was spectacular. The meal was in the chef’s tasting area of the kitchen at Antica Posta, and among the highlights (though all the food was fantastic, truly) were the Chef Sandro Oven Roasted Tuscan Chicken, Girello di manzo razza (beef eye of round), and the Gnocchi with scallops and shaved fresh summer black Truffle, which was so delicious I could die eating nothing but that gnocchi. Perfectly weighted, fluffy, and the sauce with fresh truffles set the standard for any gnocchi I’ll ever compare it to.

My thanks to Don and Randy for the event - full of fun, laughs, camaraderie, and food that forced a workout this morning.

The wines (not all, but most)

Champagne

2008 Dom Perignon
NV JL Vergnon Champagne Grand Cru Conversation
NV Stephane Coquillette Champagne « By Louis » Brut
2008 Guy Larmandier Champagne Signé François Vieilles Vignes Blanc de Blancs
Brut Vintage Cepage Arbane 2009, Moutard Père et Fils

Whites

2014 Domaine Comtesse de Cherisey Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru La Genelotte magnum
2015 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne magnum
1994 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne magnum
1999 Pieropan Soave La Rocca
2009 Aubert Chardonnay Larry Hyde and sons magnum
2016 Peirson-Meyer Chardonnay Charles Heitz Vineyard
Vouvray Moelleux Les Girardieres 2ieme trie 1996, Domaine des Aubuisieres


Reds

2010 Jadot Corton Pougets magnum
1999 Drouhin Charmes-Chambertin magnum
1998 Geantet-Pansiot Charmes-Chambertin
2007 Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
2001 Sassacaia
1999 Solaia
2005 Fontanafredda Barolo Riserva
2003 Leoville Barton magnum
2004 La Mission Haut Brion magnum
1998 Troplong Mondot magnum
2001 Pape Clement magnum
Gevrey-Chambertin PC Lavaux St-Jacques 2005, Domaine Tortochot
Rioja Reserva Vina Tondonia 2005, Lopez de Heredia magnum
2001 Rotllan Torra Priorat Tirant
1968 Bertani Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Superiore Amarone

No notes, as we had little room for all this wine and food, but my standouts were definitely the 2004 La Mish and the 2005 Fontanafredda, as well as a tiny pour of 1946 PX just as Dennis was leaving.

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It was a great night of celebration of old friends and new. My last big restaurant dinner before the lockdown was in the same room with many of the same people so this was a fitting first post-pandemic event. My favorites were maybe the 1994 Bonneau du Martray and 1999 Drouhin Charmes-Chambertin, but it’s tough to pick among so many good wines. I can’t agree more with your food highlights, the memory of the gnocchi and scallops in particular will haunt me. I look forward to your notes on the rest of the weekend festivities.

Finally, a special thanks to Randy and Don for organizing the dinner, it’s a blessing to have friends like you.

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So you all know, Mike brought FOUR wines to this event…and he was alone. He wasn’t the only showing up with multiple bottles, and/or multiple bottles and mags [cheers.gif]

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What an evening :slight_smile:. I have wine thoughts and non-wine thoughts. Which will be of more value? Who’s to say…

On the Wines. I thought the 2008 Dom was the best I have seen it shine over the past 18 months. Really popped with life, and there were fantastic minerals on the nose. A special bottle, and hopefully indicative of the overall wine’s evolution as it shifts into a different stage.

Mike Evans is on point as ever to nominate the 1994 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne for special attention. Served from magnum. We had a Bronzini course before the scallops with which I thought the Corton (now opened for 90 minutes) really, really shined. The fish had that signature little oil burst which along with a well-chosen spice rub, beautifully melded with the Corton. I think most of the group had already shifted to reds, but a) I nursed my glass and b) knew where the dregs of said magnum where hiding. I loved it.

I am perhaps in the minority of the table, but I think the 2005 Domaine Tortochot Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Lavaux St-Jacques was quite noteworthy. Compared with the 1999 Drouhin, it vanishes because of the power difference, but on its own, I thought its nose exquisite. Dark fruits, floral, subtle. Lots of ongoing conversation about 2005 in Burgundy; this particular wine had grace, and of that vintage, that is sadly not so uniform a trait.

The 2004 La Mission Haut Brion was just effing delicious. Very pleasantly surprised how accessible it was, particularly from Magnum. And no lengthy decant. Scrumptious wine. Elegant, lovely subtle spices, composed finish. You know who really loved this wine, as well? An Enthusiastic Wisconsinite named Todd French. Going back for thirds/fouths. His cleverness on full display. Good taste, as well.

That’s a nice segue into the observations of the table…

I was not prepared for Todd French’s luscious hair. Incredible. And kept its composure even as the night grew long. No one told me, so I was totally blind-sided.

Eric Levine is now a Peloton obsessive and it is impressive to see in the flesh. Looking like he just stepped out of a Trek Wind Tunnel before he boarded his fight.

True story, at the behest of one of the hosts, we went around Kindergarten style and introduced ourselves with our names and a little tidbit about ourselves. It was very endearing. Would recommend.

Don & Randy did the difficult task arranging this with such skill. Randy was working hard on the food and boy did it show. Excellent menu. Evans said it already: we are blessed to have such friends.

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sounds like an awesome evening. I just have to ask, did you get through all that wine or did the waitstaff have a bonanza to take home with them at the end of their shift?

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I think the waitstaff had a few drops left over. It was a 4 hour dinner. Lots of food.

An absolutely great night. Thanks to all who attended. My personal favorites were the same as Mike if forced to make a choice. An absolutely apointe Magnum of 1994 Bonneau du Martray thanks to Mary Margaret McCamic MW and a stellar magnum of 1999 Charmes Chambertin from Drouhin. We had an incredible over the top amount of great wine. The best part was seeing friends and meeting some new ones.

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Todd’s hair is a thing of beauty, it should have its own name!

Yea that 2004 La Mish is awesome. Funny to see that sneaky Wisconsite hitting it multiple times. I distinctly recall him being aghast once at Bern’s, when I declared 2004 was an excellent Bordeaux vintage. [wow.gif]

Excellent notes man!

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Well done gentlemen. Sounds like quite the event! I hear some of you might have had a bit of a rough morning as well. [drinkers.gif]

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Nick, I’m glad you mentioned the 2008 Dom and 2004 La Mission HB. The Dom was the richest, most vinous bottle of it I’ve had and it makes me happy to have stocked up on it. The 2004 La Mission was my favorite of the Bordeaux on the nose, but it got brutally tannic with some time in the glass. Having it shortly after a Burgundy didn’t help, confirming my opinion that Bordeaux should generally precede Burgundy if you want to enjoy the Bordeaux.

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Do not live in Atlanta, though I do store there, and just putting it out there in the world that I’d love to attend any WB events there – very willing to fly in! Not a huge tasting community here in NWFL…

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WHERE da DAMN PICTURES AT?

Sounds like an outstanding evening. Jealous.

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Well done, gentlemen! champagne.gif

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It was a great night! I really enjoyed all of the wines. The company was even better! A special thanks to Don and Randy for putting this together. I’ve known Don for years, but this was my first time meeting Randy who handled the food and it was fabulous! Mike Evans was very gracious and great guy to drink with. First time meeting Todd and Eric. Todd does actually have great hair but it appears to require a lot of work. Eric looked very fit so something is working well for him there. A quick note to my friend Nick Christie. I told you about the 1994 Bonneau du Martray about 30 minutes before you discovered it. That’s why you were looking at dregs! I reminded you last night but just had to point it out again.

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Sweet! Bravo to the organizers, Don & Randy. Cheers to all who participated.

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Sounds awesome! I’m inspired to make something happen in San Francisco soon – thread created in the offline planner section

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I will try to find some pics. I know Todd took a few.

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Nice job, sitting on some 04 La Mission, glad to hear it is doing well.

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Wow. Sounds like an outstanding night. If anyone can provide impressions on the Pieropan, I’d be interested in how they hold for 20+ years?
Glad to see 'serkers getting together in this way again.

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I brought the Pieropan and it has aged very well. It was very similar to a bottle I opened a few years ago when I wrote the following note, though with a little more nuttiness and honey and less melon:

1999 Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca - Italy, Veneto, Soave Classico (8/25/2017)
Stunning, with some nuttiness and a little butterscotch showing its age, but loaded with flowers and melon with a touch of slate, and still with enough acidity to hold it together. (92 pts.)

This was my last bottle of the 1999 but if I had more I would be in no great rush to drink them.

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I have photos of the wine, but methinks Neal wants to see photos of the PEOPLE, and I did not take those photos, other than this one of Don:
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