Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Ken

4/7/2013 - 87 Served with grilled and marinated NY strip steak. Opened and double decanted about 4 hours before serving. Nose and initial flavors of casis and black plums; moderate, relatively soft tanins in the mid-range and finish, good length. Reminds me more of a 2010 than a 2009 with its somewh...

Ken

I know. Just had a birthday which is one year past full retirement age.

-Ken

Ken

Thanks. One correction, that should have been 1983 Beaucastel instead of 1981. Drank up all of the 1981s. It is my last bottle of 79 and it will be interesting to see if it is still intact. Haven't had one in a number of years. The 1978's were always as hard as nails, and only became drinkable a few...

Ken

All of those sound good to me, especially the Pingus and Beaucastel.

I will bring the 78, 79, and 81 Beaucastel.

-Ken

Ken

I am glad you brought this up. I was able to locate and purhased a case at one of our local wines shops. Decided to go ahead and purchase a case since I have enjoyed the 2005 and 2009. Look forward to trying it this week.

-Ken

Ken

I thought I had tried the 2010, but could not find any tasting notes on it. Listed below are Uncle Bob's tasting notes on the 2010, 2009, and 2005, as well as my notes on the 2009 and 2005. As indicated, HWSRN only scored the 2010 a 90, the 2005 and 2009 were scored at 88. My experience has been tha...

Ken

Check is in the mail.

-Ken

Ken

Aloha: I too am interested in both the subjective and objective "normals". However, I don't think the conversation has been focused on meterological averages (or perhaps I misunderstood). I think the conversation has largely been about preferences for styles; hence the criticisms of Parker...

Ken

I was pleased to see the use of the word "normal" in quotes for this discussion, since I thing the term is a bit problematic. Just a cursory review of the ways in which it is being used in this discussion suggests that we may not always be speaking the same language or using words in quite...

Ken

I have 1978, 1979, and 1983 Beaucastel I could bring on Friday. Let me know what might be appropriate

-Ken

Ken

I have the 1984 and 1985 Montelena, but I will probably not be there until Friday. Any way to work one or both of them in?

-Ken

Ken

Nicklasss - I generally agree with that sentiment about judging the quality of a vintage by the petite Bordeaux. It certainly is a good indication of quality. Stefan - Good luck on wine room. Should be fun to have when it is done. I also have the same problem with storage space; but the good thing a...

Ken

I have only tried a couple of lesser wines including the following. If these are examples of the vintage it makes me optimistic, except for the price. Caronne Ste. Gheme: 2/3/2013 - 89 Points This is a very nice 2010 Bordeaux. Did not decant. Served with grilled NY strip steak. Lovely nose of earth,...

Ken

I will send my check shortly.

-Ken

Ken

I would like to attend if possible and plan to travel with Stefan and Lucie. They just down the street.

-Ken

Ken

The 2010 reviews have not been posted online yet.

The wine spectator 2010 coverage issue was released about a week or so ago.

-Ken

Ken

I think this is certainly an interesting question given the skyrocketing prices of classified growths. Since I drink a lot of under $30 Bordeaux, I would respond as follows: 1. I tend to be a bit of an Aristotelian in that I put things in categories. Under $30 Bordeaux is one of those categories, an...

Ken

Bacchus - I have had exactly the same experiences and I have started adding to the finish line in my comments whether I like the wine and whether I would buy it. I also find my notes frequently read the same which does not reflect my experiences. I think I have trouble waxing poetic; unlike some of ...

Ken

Bacchus: The volume by Paul Starr was published, I think, 1982 and won the Pulitizer Prize. It is available in paperback from Amazon and is well worth reading. What Starr does, and he is a sociologist, is use the evolution of medicine as the archtypal example of the development of the "Professi...

Ken

Not sure what the resolution would look like Jim, but one more or less final comment. I do listen to Stefan and Leve, and knowing their palates, in some cases they carry more weight than Parker. The problem with evaluating Parker, however, is the problem of a counterfactual. What would have happened...

Ken

Sorry. Slip of the pinky or middle finger. Should have been Jeff Leve.

-Ken

Ken

Jim: No argument about the distribution of expertise. I have learned, for example, about Stefan's knowledge and expertise about Bordeaux, Burgundies, and Oregon Pinots. So I listen to him and value his opinion about those wines. I also am learning to appreciate your point-of-view and experience with...

Ken

Thanks Aloha. I do sometimes appreciate fireworks and conflict from afar, but I suffer from wanting to add to the pyrotechnics.

-Ken

Ken

Jim: You seem to be imposing an almost impossible burden on judging the contribution of Parker to the wine world. He must not only be good at what he does, he must be infallible. Since I am not religious, I gave up on infallibility a long time ago. I think the criteria needs to be the way we judge s...

Ken

One quick correction. I realized 15 minutes after I sent the previous post (while I was out walking our dog) that I misspoke slightly in responding to the issue of blind tasting. I should have said that my understanding is that Parker historically tasted wines that were blinded not double-blinded. T...

Ken

Jeff's statement is on target. One of the many comments made about the 82's is that "they would not make old bones". We are certainly hearing many similar comments about the 2009's and generally about the mordern style. I think we need to separate out whether we like the style or not from ...

Ken

DavidG: That is an interesting comment about expectations. One of the things extensive wine tasting does is provide us with standards in our head that we carry around and that provide a standard of comparison outside of the immediate context (other wines, fit with food, etc) for whatever we are tast...

Ken

Thanks JonoB. I was very impressed with the Caronne Ste Gemme; particularly for the price and quality. I have never been impressed before with their wines, but this one is worth buying, and I think it will keep for a few years. We bought the Eugenio Bocchino Nebbiolo d'Alba 3-4 years ago when a loca...

Ken

Listed below are some well priced wines I have tried in the past month or so. While we may not agree about all wine topics, I do think that, the overall quality of wines has improved dramatically over the past 30 years or so. Never cease to be amazed as to how one can find relatively inexpensive win...

Ken

I have heard a number of criticisms of RPs reporting on Burgundies, but I don't feel quite capable of judging his perceptions/reporting. I find Burgundies extremely easy to appreciate and extremely difficult to purchase without having tasted them. I envy Stefan's knowledge and experience with the Bu...

Ken

Thanks Jim. I think what we learn to do is to take the palate of the taster into account; so knowing Parker's preferences I can better make sense of his comments and recommendations. I guess the only other thing I would add is that I generally trust Parker more than the Wine Spectator, and I find th...

Ken

I have been subscribing to the Wine Advocate since around 1977, although the earliest issue I can find in my stacks is 1981. While I generally try to stay out of these kinds of conversations, I would note the following. When I began subscribing, there were only a few wine review magazines around, in...

Ken

I always thought Lucie had good taste and judgment, and this confirms it.

-Ken

Ken

When I was in my doctoral program in public health, back in 1981, I was also working half time at a research institute and on the weekends at a very good gourmet and wine shop (A Southern Season) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. At the wine shop, I waited on a physician who had just moved south after...

Ken

During the holidays tried a few new wines that I enjoyed. 2006 Château d'Armailhac (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac) 12/31/2012 91 Been meaning to try this for several months since several reports on Cellartracker indicated it was approaching its drinking range. Double decanted about 3 hours befor...

Ken

Saw a bottle of the second wine of Giscours, La Sirene de Giscours, at one of our local wine shops at an affordable price ($32). Decided to purchase a bottle and try with beef ribs on a Saturday night, slow cooked on our grill. Double decanted about 3 hours before serving. Initially served a bit col...

Ken

Recently tried the following 2001's, both of which were quite good for the price. 2001 Chateau Malescasse (Haut Medoc) 88 Double decanted about an hour before serving and served with grilled lambchops. Initial nose of leather, earth, and plums. Good mouthfeel and texture with leather and plums persi...

Ken

1959 Latour or 1973 Conterno Monfortino, if I can have them in the condition in which I originally drank them.

-Ken

Ken

JonB: I have about 8 bottles of the Ampelia left. Think I will try again in a year or so. Like you, I think it will last for a few years. Stefan: I was traveling on the Star Alliance partner of UA, Air Canada. Appears they are not much better since this was the second flight in 2 days to Toronto the...

Ken

Glad you liked it Stefan. It is always a relief to me when you agree since I have a great deal of respect for your opinion, tasting experience, and judgment. I think both the 2008 and the 2009 are very good for what they are and I enjoy drinking them, which is perhaps the most important criterion. I...

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