One thing I’m increasingly trying to do in my essays is emphasize the value of 1) Tasting high-profile wines with the same groups of people over the years, and 2) The fun in pointing out divergence or stylistic appreciations between those friends. Particularly those that are within a range of plausibility/reasonability.
I would never emphasize a tablemate who highly praised a flawed wine or a weaker wine. The aim isn’t to score points . But with groups of 8-12 palates, most or all with decades in the game, I think there’s real value in allowing/listening to when somebody is lowest or highest on a wine.
And as I also write about on the regular, Authenticity is an essential component of a wine table. Little freedoms help that gel.
I think there are various formats for wine dinners that are great. This particular event is pretty unique for a number of reasons because of the social emphasis and the fact that many spouses attend and actively participate, and while we certainly drink great wines, that’s not the entire focus of the event.
I like smaller dinners with a few bottles too, although I think it’s pretty unusual for me to do them with as high end of bottles as I do for this particular event and some other events at Paulee.
I suppose the downside is that some outstanding bottles do get relatively short shrift, but we did get to spend some time with the Rossignol trapet and Trapet at the after party and they had both really blossomed into wonderful wines. The Rousseau… definitely didn’t make it to the after party.
Ha, I wish. In 2007-08 when these might have been released I was just beginning my Pinot journey with enthusiasm for all things Oregon.
Another 05 CSD I opened in August 2025 (at a table that included, yikes, Alan Meadows ) was also advanced, tasting older than I’d expect. Both bottles came from the secondary market (GRW). I rolled the dice and lost that bet, sigh.
In contrast, a magnum of Dujac CSD I opened in Aug 2024 (SommPicks) was tight and not ready to enjoy, something I ascribed to the 1.5L format.
In spite of the 05’ hype, my experience of the vintage has been mixed: some winners, some duds and some just ok. How much of this is down to provenance I don’t know, but surely it’s a higher risk for these older, sought-after bottles.
I don’t blame the retailer-its a caveat emptor, but it makes me more leery of buying older bottles. File under hoist by my own petard.
. But with groups of 8-12 palates, most or all with decades in the game, I think there’s real value in allowing/listening to when somebody is lowest or highest on a wine.
) was also advanced, tasting older than I’d expect. Both bottles came from the secondary market (GRW). I rolled the dice and lost that bet, sigh.