TNs: '90 Demoiselle, '81 Negri Sfursat, '85 Palmer, '67 Feist

[Peter_Tryba]

Straight from The Castle’s frigid cellars to our table with a mess o’ oysters came the Demoiselle.
Vivid acidity and freshly zested citrus fruit backed by yeast and fresh bread in the nose.
The body replicated these characteristics plus showed tons of refreshing vivacity and brilliant flavor.
Yum!

The Negri was suggested by yours truly partially as a joke since my friend is a huge “weird” Italian wine fan. However, the more we thought about it, the more intrigued we became, so we grabbed it. Under $100 and freakin’ delicious!
Who thought this would have so much fresh juicy fruit to it? Well, stored at 50 degrees since the day it was shipped, this wine was about as young tasting as could be expected (or unexpected) for a 25+ year old Nebbiolo NOT labelled Barolo.
The RS was slightly apparent, but really added a juiciness to the wine which I found enchanting. My wine of the evening!

Who doesn’t like perfectly cellared Bordeaux with a couple of decades of age?
The Palmer was a bit “weedy” with rhubarb in the nose upon first taste, but with my antelope and with air, the wine fattened up and became something of a wonder. Sure, it’s no 99 point wine, but it was absolutely terrific with everyone’s meals (which are in Epicurean Exploits). Classy, elegant, polished, dry with edges of mineral-flavor, this puppy had us breathing hot and heavy with our food.

'67 Feist? wtf right?
It looked like someone’s Colheita rather than a Vintage Port. Cherry wood color and absolutely crystal clear in the glass. Obviously a fun little port, but I was way too busy with the pair of red wines to pay much attention. Sorry!

The Castle is certainly the source of amazing, and inexpensive, well stored wine. I have clear recollections of '82 Le Pergole Torte, '76 Yquem, '83 Poyferre, and '78 Scavino Bric del Fiasc. All spectacular bottles. All unbelievably under priced. Good thing this place isn’t in Boston or the cellar would be cleaned out or the prices would be nuts.

[LMD_Ermitano]

@Peter Tryba

Who doesn’t like perfectly cellared Bordeaux with a couple of decades of age?

The Palmer was a bit “weedy” with rhubarb in the nose upon first taste, but with my antelope and with air, the wine fattened up and became something of a wonder. Sure, it’s no 99 point wine, but it was absolutely terrific with everyone’s meals (which are in Epicurean Exploits). Classy, elegant, polished, dry with edges of mineral-flavor, this puppy had us breathing hot and heavy with our food.

I seem to have enjoyed the '85 Palmer more than you, Peter. I didn’t get any “weedy” notes from it at all when I had it last sometime in early September 2007 (the bottle was ex-château):

1985 Palmer > - From my good friend, Franck Alby, whose son-in-law’s family are still shareholders in Palmer. I recall that, for a time, Edouard’s family were also minority shareholders in this chateau.A serene wine, wearing its 22 years very well, supple and refined on the palate, medium-bodied silk of seamlessly woven plum, cassis with a bit of red cherry, laced by discreet, earthy dark spice and a whisper of sweet camphor. Very elegant. The 1997 La Mondotte I brought to dinner seemed pedestrian and ham-handed in comparison.

This bottle was all the more memorable since it was the last dinner Franck tendered for us in his Philippine residence (early-to-mid September 2007) before he moved to Dijon beginning October.Wine dinners in Manila will not be the same without him and his most charming wife, Françoise. They are dearly missed.

[Peter_Tryba]

@LMD Ermitaño

I seem to have enjoyed the '85 Palmer more than you, Peter. I didn’t get any “weedy” notes from it at all when I had it last sometime in early September 2007 (the bottle was ex-château)

I imagine you didn’t have a red wine with residual sugar directly before your bottle of Palmer.

Once our entrees arrived the Palmer rose to the occasion, bringing that polished, elegant, “serene” quality you note. I agree, the wine was delicious, but I don’t bring note paper to dinner with friends, so my adjectives and exposition about the wine were limited by choice. My wife enjoys great wine, but has a low tolerance for “geeking out” about them.

[Michael_Malinoski]

Thanks, Peter. A few of us had dinner there 3 years ago and had some great wines at great prices.

1986 Pouhin-Seurre Meursault Limozin
1972 Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio (under $200)
1985 Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne
1983/1984/1985 Multi-vintage Chapoutier CdP La Bernardine
1995 Chateau Musar
1983 Ch Pichon Lalande
1983 Schafer Hillside Select

The tour of the cellar was something else. You almost need to go out ahead of time, tour the cellar and pick out some wines because it seemed lots of stuff was not on the wine list and the owner has a lot of fun ideas on things to open and pair with the food.

-Michael

[Faryan_Amir-Ghassemi]

Cool notes Peter, 85 Palmer is on the “to do” list.

[Roberto_Rogness]

“The Negri was suggested by yours truly partially as a joke since my friend is a huge “weird” Italian wine fan.”

What’s “weird” about mountain grown Nebbiolo from a winery founded before any of us were born (over a century ago), owned by the largest Italian winery group (Grupo Italiano Vini) and distributed world wide?

http://www.ninonegri.it/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.gruppoitalianovini.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cole_Kendall]

I bought a bunch of 85 Palmer back in the day and have enjoyed them. No tingling in the toes, but a nice wine.

[Peter_Tryba]

@Roberto Rogness

What’s “weird” about…

Bait taken!

Thankfully Roberto, I always practice catch and release, but I do win a small bet that my use of the word “weird” would get you to reply.
All in fun my internet friend!