I am in.
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Yep
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I’ll be there
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I’ll be there, can’t wait!
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The cooling system on my entire custom built wine cellar just stopped working correctly. Probably needs a coolant recharge, but in the interim I think I will bring an extra bottle or two - all within theme - just in case the problem gets out of hand.
I will also be bringing some custom TDS anti-voter intimidation T Shirts in case anyone wants to make Peter feel any worse than he already does for supporting Cadet Bone Spurs. You have two hours to post preferred size, or you get XL or XXL.
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with 13 people tonight Jay, you are to be on your best behavior, and you must keep the bottles moving around the table… don’t make me scold you twice.
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It is not a 100 yard dash. It is a marathon. Something you should learn if you want to join me as a blind tasting champion.
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some of us have work in the morning and don’t have the luxury of being retired…
that being said, it will be lovely to see you again my friend. glad you are feeling better…
feel free to bring those unicos you have in the back of the storage.
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Retired? I am not familiar with that term. In case you have not read the papers recently, here is a link to some of my recent handiwork:
Documents 25-39.
You might be interested in Defendant #2. Especially because he has been publicly accused of specializing in something that your hero spends a lot of time with.
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please try to be on your best behavior…
PS my heroes are Han Solo, Sterling Archer, Jeremy Clarkson and Jay Hack!
XXL for me, thanks
I’ll be there at 615
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Great evening everyone. Always humbling when you are blind tasting regions that aren’t in your regular wheelhouse. I am toying between concluding that I am not versed enough in Spanish wines to be able to properly differentiate between very good and great, or that in youth, the difference is too small too tell? My assumption is of the great wines we had last night, most were 10-20 years away from their peak and could have been opened Sunday. The 2001 La Rioja Alta 904 was awesome, but so was the $21 2016 Oscar Tobia Gran Reserva Blanco-- @AaronR definitely gets my nod to best pair of the evening. The 2004 Priorat Blanco (Garnacha Blanco / Viura) was the most interesting wine of the night to me. The ygays and the Termanthia easily could have been opened in 2050 and still be fresh. In general, there wasn’t one white wine that I disliked–clearly Spain has lots of wonderful wines across the spectrum to try. Having 2 Commando G’s at one dinner is always a surprise, but I consistently conclude that they are good, but overrated.
I don’t have the details on the next one yet, might take a few days to figure them out. Will post when I know.
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No surprise unicos?!
Cheers to Peter for hosting another excellent tasting! Agreed in young Rioja it doesn’t seem $250 necessarily delivers much more than $50, although I assume that would change with age.
My biggest takeaway from the night was the reminder that Spanish whites are outstanding and made in such a vast array of styles, and I think this category doesn’t get enough love outside of a few big names.
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An excellent event. Once again, the Ygays were outstanding. I have never owned one. That is my mistake. The Termanthia, which I brought, will be ready in 10+ years. Notable because it was a 2005 and, according the the Zachy’s tag on the back, I have owned it since 2007. I should have double decanted it on Sunday, or perhaps Monday at noon. I did not, It was double decanted at the restaurant about two hours before we drank it.
The 1970 that I brought was probably (the label was iffy) the 1970 Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Crianza Bordón. I got 6 bottles at auction as an experiment. This was one of the better ones and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
The third wine that I brought was the 2009 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera. I bought this in 2013 from Grapes for $26. Perhaps a slight overpayment in 2013, but not horrible. Also double decanted two hours prior to trying it. It was not bad, but no a religious experience. Nice solid wine with no negative characteristics but a nit light on the sweet fruit I was hoping for after 16 years.
The 2001 La Rioja Alta 904 was disappointing to me. I think that whoever brought it said that it was double decanted during the afternoon. I took a long position on it when it was released and it should have come round more by now. It also needs at least another five years.
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I agree on the Spanish whites. The floral and white fruit aromas we generally very good. I was at a trade Cava tasting last week and, “It ain’t your father’s Cava any more.” I do not know if I would pay $100+ for the Cava that was poured, but it was better than the ubiquitous mid-level NV champagnes.
As to the reds, I am not sure that age causes as much divergence in like-ability as you would think. The best aged Rioja I have had was a CUNE from 1968 about 15 years ago, which was outstanding and was probably priced on par with Liebfraumilch when it was released. I believe that the inexpensive Rioja wines are great at 30+ years!
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I’m sad to let everyone know that Monday was the last event at Corkbuzz Union Square for me. Laura posted this last night:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DKdr0a0Mc-oVFHGHihL7Gym_pV15xrs4oz3jmY0/?igsh=anBsaHRtNzh1NzMx
We will do another one soon, lining up another place soon. But I know it won’t be as good at Corkbuzz.
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