Excellent event. Too much wine, but we are used to that. I forgot to mention last night that we were celebrating a national holiday - the 52nd anniversary of the Watergate break in, which is why I wore my Anti-intimidation Voter Escort T Shirt.
Best wines were the Valdicava, the Materium, and the Insignia. I was pleasantly pleased with the Clos de la Maltroye Chassagne Montrachet Rouge that I brought. Although I am not a Burghead, they delivered as good bottles of wine. The 1976 was very good when decanted at 5:30 pm, but it slid down hill fast in the decanter and by the time we passed it, mostpeople found it unpleasant.
I also liked Julie’s Cru Beaujolais. There is a memorial wine luncheon for Connie Savage this Saturday and I found a bottle of 2005 Cru Beaujolais from Jadot that Leo and Connie gave us about 15 years ago, and after tasting Julie’s wines, I will bring that to the memorial luncheon.
Not pictured were plenty of lovely bottles: insignia, Cru Beaujolais, 2011 & 2016 Marc hebrart special club champagne, two other vintages of Jay’s chassagne montrachet rouge, some chianti classico riservas, Maybach materium, pegau, chateau montelena(I think) and definitely a few others I’m missing.
Thanks to everyone for making last night a real showstopper. Everyone came correct with excellent and interesting wine, and the experience really broadened my horizons. I clearly have a lot to learn, but I’m already looking forward to the next one.
Blind tasting was humbling fun with a good group. thank you Peter for orchestrating this challenging tasting! The Valdicava Madonna del Piano was a standout along with great Napa trio of blinds, chianti’s, barolos, cdp, champs, pinot noir, and angelico.
2007 and 2012 Luna Matta Vineyard Aglianico from Ryme Cellars
As I mentioned during the dinner, 2007 was their first-ever bottling with only 50 cases made.
No tipicity in those wines, but it was fun to hear the discussion and confusion trying to place the flavors. 2007 tasted so much older than 2012, but I assume that was largely due to changes in the quality of equipment and general winemaking as the winery got off the ground.
And there is a reason why no one is posting another such dinner. I do not know what it is. Could someone give me a hint? I will do August at my house for the Berserkerfest (August 17), at which the wines will allow for a lot of sommelier training. Have you had a 70+ year old Rivesaltas? Do you know what Rivesaltas is? If you do, how about Wendouree? Compare and contrast a 1989 and a 2005 left bank Bordeaux. How about a 2000 Fifth Growth versus Crus Bourgeois versus lower than that throw down? But that will wait until August. How abut July?
