Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

JCNorthway

"Thanksgiving 2009, Day 1". Here we go again!

I love following the saga, Stefan. Looking forward to the next 5-6 days of reports!.

Jon

JCNorthway

Rick,

Binny's has (at least they did) the regular bottling - about $36 as I recall. Have not seen the single vineyard.

Jon

JCNorthway

I was in Latin class in 9th grade (I'm the old guy here). A friend in my class had heard the news between classes (I don't remember how), and we both got in trouble for talking in class as he was trying to tell me what had happened. Our teacher had not yet heard the news. And it's amazing what you r...

JCNorthway

Good to hear from you Peter. I echo the comments above that it seems only fitting for you to return to Chicago this March to celeberate BWE's 10th annual dinner. As I recall, you were the best dressed of that first dinner!

Jon

JCNorthway

Jim, I just commented on Rick's CdP thread about a recent tasting of 2007 CdPs with my wine tasting group. In general, I think that most of the 2007s will be enjoyable to drink early. My only question was how long lived they will be. At this tasting my favorites were the Vieux Telegraphe and Mas de ...

JCNorthway

I too think that a Friday CdP focused dinner sounds like a lovely idea.

Jon

JCNorthway

Wow! I've been out of touch for most of the weekend, and feel like I've missed a month of conversation in this thread alone. A few random thoughts, reactions, questions: Jim, the Pavie Macquin sounds like it needs another 10-15 years. Wish I had one to hold onto for that long. Stefan, glad you are a...

JCNorthway

Rick, A couple of weeks ago, my wine tasting group blind tasted six 2007 CdPs that ranged from 90-96+ Parker points. What was most interesting about this tasting was that everyone seemed to enjoy the wines, but most people commented that they just did not seem like typical young CdP wines. I actuall...

JCNorthway

Without the aid of Cellar Tracker, I had to use the old fashioned Excel method. It turns out that my average vintage is 2001.2 from 1424 bottles over 25 vintages (not including NV). I was a little surprised by that average until I realized it was influenced by 21.7% of my bottles being from 2005 - l...

JCNorthway

Ok. Now I'm curious about my own cellar. Back shortly with an answer (from an Excel file, like Stefan).

Jon

JCNorthway

Saw this article in the online New York Times. For any who have not seen it, there is a very favorable commentary on Harry's Chateauneuf du Pape book.

http://s.nyt.com/u/Cvq

Jon

JCNorthway

So based on all of your recent experiences, if one were to consider selectively buying a few 1986s, preferably avoiding first-growth-type prices, what would you recommend?

Jon

JCNorthway

My experience with 1986 Bordeaux is pretty limited. I've had the 1986 Pichon Lalande (twice) and 1986 Lynch Bages. But both of these wines were "top flight." Jim and Rick tasted the same 1986 PL earlier this year at a dinner in the Chicago area, and I think their views would be similar. An...

JCNorthway

Unlike David, I do not have to worry about a daughter's tuition. But I would need to be 10-15 years younger before I could get excited about purchasing this vintage. Perhaps if I live longer than I expect to, I will be lucky enough to have some younger friends who bought the 2009s and are willing to...

JCNorthway

Michael, I've enjoyed that monster 86 Lynch, also. Rick on this site organized a Lynch tasting in the Chicago area maybe years ago. The 1986 for me slightly edged out the 1989 (sorry BD), only because it was so massive. Hope you get a chance to revisit that 86 PL soon. If it's a good bottle, you wil...

JCNorthway

Michael, Thanks for the usual great detailed notes. It's really too bad about the 1986 Pichon Lalande. I've only had that wine twice. But in both cases, it was a big muscular, but aromatic, wine that had decades of life to look forward to. Although the tannins were still very prevalent, there was a ...

JCNorthway

So here is a counterpoint to the recent thread wondering why we were not seeing greater discounts to move the glut of wine in the pipeline. Sounds like a nice flavor/aroma profile, and with that kind of discounting, it seems like a no-brainer. Too bad that we are not seeing more of this to clear up ...

JCNorthway

I'm beginning to think that these wines are the sweet spot in today's Bordeaux offerings. I have touted 3 or 4 wines from the 2005 vintage that I acquired for under $20 a bottle. And this wine sounds like a similar find. You can enjoy 10 of these for the price of one Palmer (or insert your own high-...

JCNorthway

That is a wonderful tribute, Jim - not just to a veteran, but to a wonderful person. There were a lot of people like your parents in that generation. Much of what you described of your upbringing could have been used to describe my parents who somehow managed to to raise four boys and were relativel...

JCNorthway

The comparison between the 06 and 08 is interesting. I've heard that the 06 vintage is pretty fruit forward and ready to drink now, while the 08 is more structured and will require some time to come into its own. It sounds as though these notes bear that out - on a sample of one producer.

Jon

JCNorthway

While I agree that there seems to be more sale pricing on Burgundies, I don't think the pricing is that discounted; usually you can find similar pricing at other stores via Wine Searcher. I was commenting on another thread recently that I was not seeing much sale pricing on any kind of wines in Chic...

JCNorthway

So according my notes, I last opened a bottle of this early BWE favorite back in 2001. At that time my note indicated that it was showing good fruit and structure and seemed destined for a nice long life. Tonight I decided to see how this wine was doing at age 13 (how time flies) and matched it with...

JCNorthway

Michael,

I feel for you regarding the Pegau. I also have a really hard time getting the bretty elements of wines. I know some like it, but I find it to be an aroma that just works in opposition to all the other aromas/flavors within the wines. Hope your next one is better.

Jon

JCNorthway

Jim,

Your notes are tempting me. I've been sitting on several bottles each of the 95 and 96 GPL. I also have some 2000 Armailhac and Lascombes I have been thinking about lately. Given your notes on the GPL, Giscours and du Terte, I may need to check all these out soon.

Jon

JCNorthway

Just to add one more Chianti perspective, last night I opened up my last bottle of 1997 Felsina Chianti Classico - the basic wine. It was still pretty youthful and had significant remaining fruit, tannins and acidity. It went perfectly with a spicy "vodka pasta" dish prepared by our friend...

JCNorthway

Hound, I bought a two mixed cases of Laurent's 1999s at nicely discounted prices when a distributor was clearing inventory a few years back. I have just been sitting on them on the advice of the wine shop where they were purchased - the reason for waiting was to let the wood calm down. I did open a ...

JCNorthway

So many wines. So little time. At the rate that high-scoring wines are appearing from the various critics, one would need to be virtually independently wealthy to taste all of them. At the moment, I'm having a hard time keeping up with all the great $15-30 wines, let alone some of those "top of...

JCNorthway

Thanks for providing these notes. I, too, love good Chiantis, and find them to still be relative values for their quality, at least the quality of several recent vintages (i.e., 2001, 2004-2006). I have not bought any of the Rufino Ducale bottlings for quite some time. I concluded that, for the pric...

JCNorthway

Congratulations to you and Marie-Claude, Nic! We would love to see you in Chicago, but we'll also understand if you are not able to make it.

Jon

JCNorthway

I agree on the availability of high quality wines from areas such as the Rhone, Tuscany, Piedmonte. But here in Chicago I am generally not seeing great pricing. For all the talk of the large surpluses in the supply chain, the major retailers seem to be largely holding the line on pricing for now. An...

JCNorthway

We recently returned from a great vacation, mostly in France, but with stops in Brussels and Luxembourg. In France, we spent time in Alsace, Champagne, and Paris. In each location we had at least one outstanding dinner. And with each dinner was at least one memorable wine. I report on just three her...

JCNorthway

Piling on Stefan's comment about the 1998 La Pointe, I just opened a bottle of this wine a few nights ago and had not yet gotten around to posting a TN. This was the 3rd bottle from a case purchase. The first was opened in 2002 and I thought the wine, though young and awkward had good potential. The...

JCNorthway

Thanks for the great notes on these wines. Your description of the pinots in flight #2 seems pretty consistent with the pinots I've had from that region. For my tastes, these wines tend to be more interesting to drink by themselves than to pair with food. I've had a hard time getting good matches wi...

JCNorthway

Sorry to weigh in late on this discussion, but we just returned from a couple of weeks in Europe, mostly in France. I'll report on a few wines we enjoyed in another thread (one of them a bordeaux). I think that weekend looks fine on our calendar, and I saw it also looked OK for Rick. That's great si...

JCNorthway

PD,

Can you tell me about J Dhondt? I have Juhlin's book called "4000 Champagnes," which is considered to be the definitive book on Champagne producers. And I do not find that producer in the book??

Jon

JCNorthway

I hear you, Jim. It's as if balance, reason, and compassion are words that no longer have a place in this world. I am not keen on what I may have to look forward to during the rest of my years. In a strange sort of way, I feel glad that I am not 25 now!

Jon

JCNorthway

It's been interesting to follow this discussion since I invested significantly (for me) in the 2000 vintage. And I bought only a single case in 2005 because my goal is to open my last bottle right before they take me to the funeral home. However, unlike folks who have commented here, I have yet to o...

JCNorthway

Stefan,

Glad you enjoyed that first 1999 LB. Based on my recent bottle, I'm not surprised at your experience, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the case as much.

Jon

JCNorthway

This was the last of several bottles I bought when I found this at around $25 shortly after release. In looking back, I have drunk these over the last 5 years and each bottle has provided enjoyment, and it's fun to look at my cryptic comments that follow the wine's development. My first comment allu...

JCNorthway

Rick,

I remember the Beaucastel vertical that you and your friend organized a few years back. As I recall the 1989 was the star of the show.

Jon

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