Boston Berserkers Offline

WINE TALK
1

2006 Nicolas Potel Bourgogne Blanc
1988 La Grande Dame
1995 Caymus
2001 Seavey
2003 Neyers Zinfandel Tofanelli Vineyard
2003 Pontet Canet (Pauillac)
1982 Cadet Piola (st. emillion)
1999 Fossi Sassoforte
1986 Dunn Howell Mtn.


This was the first Boston WineBerserkers offline. We’ll get some more notes up here soon, but to start off, these are Blair Ridley’s thoughts, copied here from the offline thread:


The wines were good but not great. Food was awesome as always.

The '95 Caymus was the WOTN (mine too) followed by the '99 Fossi Sassoforte (my #2 as well). I can’t remember which wine placed third by the group, but my #3 was the '03 Pontet Canet. Good wine, well balanced, but in obvious need of at least 10 years (probably 20).

I was really disappointed in the '86 Dunn HM (fruit has receded and the structure remains) and the '82 St. Emilion which was laced with funky brett on the nose but more interesting on the palate. The zinfandel was underripe and showed orange notes. I was also disappointed in the Seavey which was unbalanced - I sure hope it makes a comeback. All other vintages I’ve had recently have been far superior (like the '97, '99, '02, '03, '04 and '05).

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Pontet Canet is in Pauillac, not Pomerol.

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Thanks…the worst part about that is I was already corrected on that once today!

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Nicely done, guys. Did you think the Seavey was unbalanced as in too much oak? Or in what way?

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The '03 Pontet Canet is not showing its ‘hot vintage’ characteristics, really?

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I felt as the night went on, the Seavey just became a tannic beast. The tannins were burying any fruit that may have been there.

The Pontet canet was much more subdued that I thought it would be. A hint of oak, but not Cali over the top oak. Good fruit, but certainly needs some time

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Thanks again to Zach for organizing. Food and service was fantastic as always, and with the exception of a coughing fit and flying silverware, Pete actually behaved himself this time! It was great to see some of the poker group all dressed up and Natalie very ncie to meet you!

2006 Nicolas Potel Bourgogne Blanc - Sweet almonds, lemon peel and vibrant limestone on the nose. Really nicely balanced on the palate with great sweet vicous texture blalnced with a crisp finish. An excellent starter and great value.

1982 Cadet Piola - My #3 WOTN, but not a table favorite I think. Definitely old world with cedar, graphite, blackberry, a hint of brett and a hint of green pepper on the nose. All secondary fruit on the palate, soft flavors of licorice and blackberry. Soft vegetal tannins on the finish. Not a blockbuster, but in a place I like.

2001 Seavey - This was actually best when it was first opened. Lots of mocha and coffee on the nose with a nice mineral backbone. Black cherry and warm rich sweet coffee notes on the attack with significant tannins. As it opened up, the tannins just became enormous until it was almost difficult to drink.

1995 Caymus - Sweet black raspberries, coffee, dark warm earth and baking spices on the nose. Very sweet and a little simple on the palate. Nice red fruit.

1999 Fossi Sassoforte - My WOTN. A great cross between new and old world. Leather, white pepper and sweet powerful black fruit. Very elegant, powerfully coiled black fruit on the attack with substantial stuffing and strucure. You can sense a very powerful tannic backbone, but it is nicely hidden behind the fruit. Long finish.

2003 Pontet Canet - Very, very ripe nose - tons of plums, blackberries, very warm fruit but no alcohol heat. Very similar ripe fruit on the attack, but a pronounced hole in the mid palate where the flavors seem to disappear and then singificant sweet tannins on the finish, which is quite long. Maybe some time will knit this together, but I’m not sure.

1986 Dunn Howell Mtn. - We could replace the old Zen koan “what is the sound of one hand clapping?” with “when is a Dunn actually ready to drink?”. This was actually my #2 wine of the night, despite tasting a little under ripe. It did have a pronounced green pepper note, but also some nice (albeit tannic) howell mountain fruit, lovely earthy and tobacco notes on the nose. Very nice on the attack with good structure and precise light fruit, but then the wall of tannins envelop the wine.

2003 Neyers Zinfandel Tofanelli Vineyard - Not good. Very disjointed and unpleasant.

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I can see I am going to have to step up and start actually doing tasting notes rather than downing the wine like the boozehound I am. You guys know how to roll and thanks to Zach for organizing. My WOTN was also the Fossi.

BTW-Jud is being PC. The Neyers bit. Thank God I don’t have a crapload of it.

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The '03 Pontet is shut down & not drinking well at all. I had it at a tasting two weeks ago & found that mid-palate hole. It wasn’t there three years ago & I bet dollars to donuts it won’t be there in 10 years.

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Do you really think this will not ever come around? I have not had one for about 2 years, but I do not agree.
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Could be wrong, but I think DB is saying that in 10 years, the “hole” will no longer be there (aka filled out and good) - but I am drinking scotch now and could be misinterpreting.

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Agreed David, I felt a very big void when i last had the 03 PC

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These were the only pics I took that night.

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photo from the Berry

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Do you guys drink anything but cab?

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See post one!

2006 Nicolas Potel Bourgogne Blanc
1988 La Grande Dame

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I try to get these guys drinking other stuff, but they’re addicted to oak syrup! [dance.gif]

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P.C. you can lead a horse to the riedel but you cannot make them drink.
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Actually I’m all for people drinking cabs, Bdx and italians. They are the BEST wines in the world, the only serious wines in the world, what every “real” wine drinker drinks. Cote Rotie, Hermitage, SQN, CdP, Musigny… those are for wimpy, uninformed people like myself who have no palate. So please please keep drinking and buying those cabs, hopefully that will lower the demand and prices for the wines I like
[wow.gif] [dance2.gif] [drinkers.gif]

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SQN is definitely in the former group.