Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

sdr

Actually, I think it’s pronounced “Lunch Bags.”

Stu

sdr

NoahR wrote:Thanks!

Sadly was on call, so had a few sips of Bedrock Nervo heritage Wine, but that was it for me...

Noah, is July 4 the busiest day of the year for hand surgeons?

Teenager + beer + firecrackers = bad news

Stu

sdr

Well, I drink a fair amount of champagne, but Krug is my favorite. As Gilman points out, the MV is pretty consistent, but only after it takes on some age, like 4 - 7 years after release. I may be misreading the much praised Edition 164, since I find it atypical, a little too light and austere. I pre...

sdr

At the latest Skinner auction a single lot of 2 bottles. 1978 Ch Haut Brion 1979 Ch Haut Brion Prices were a little aggressive considering the bottle conditions for many of the lots. Gerry, have you found Skinner to be reliable and trustworthy? Some of the old bottles seem to sell for well below FM...

sdr

I have always assumed that, given equal growing conditions, left banks would last longer because they generally have higher levels of Cabernet rather than Merlot. For those of you in the know, is that the primary reason? I assume, like many others, that that is the reason. But I hear the ‘21 Pétrus...

sdr

I think the 1982 Canon, while still good, is now past it’s best. I think the 1982 l’Evangile is still in it’s prime but it was being consumed along with much younger and fruitier wines - which I think affected our perception of it. Chris Bublitz Much as I love ‘82 Bordeaux, I have to admit some of ...

sdr

The ‘98 is amazing good, a real superstar.

Stu

sdr

Well, I continue to insist that 1982 Bordeaux is the best mature vintage for drinking now. Great notes, Ian. It’s the first vintage I bought on release and although I have very few bottles from then, I continue to reload my favorites whenever my stash gets low and almost all of my auction purchases ...

sdr

I want to love Trotanoy but I find it frustratingly irregular, at least for the older vintages. I have finally warmed up to the ‘82, which is lively and interesting, at least the better bottles. The even older ones from vintages such as ‘76, ‘75 and ‘70 are mostly poor or flawed although the ‘71 is ...

sdr

I like one Bordeaux but I like two or more even better. But I have seen a puzzling number of possible spellings, even within this sophisticated and erudite group. I always thought the word “ Bordeaux” covered both singular and plural (same pronunciation), but maybe not. I’m pretty sure “Bordoze” isn...

sdr

Thanks for the suggestions. Only Ridge Geyserville seems to get much respect. Still concerned the fruit loving heathens will find Ridge too shy or too complex, though. Still can’t convince my local wine group to do a Zinfandel tasting even though they drink all the other 10,000 varieties in Jancis’s...

sdr

It’s almost summer, it’s hot, it’s grilling and BBQ time. I’m tired of all those old ‘47 Cheval, ‘59 Mouton and ‘61 Latour wines. Want something completely different. And don’t even mention that wimpy Pinot Noir. Something big and bold. Something for both the civilians and the Bordeaux snobs. What a...

sdr

In my experience, old Montrose has the highest rate of TCA spoilage. My unscientific recollection is that WAY over half of the bottles from ‘59, ‘61 ‘66 and ‘70 were corked. Most recently 2 weeks ago (‘61). Vintages since 1982 have been okay.

Stu

sdr

3 bottles of the 1974 Mondavi Napa Cabernet in auction. Stu’s bottle at BWE Denver got my attention. I hope your bottles perform well, Patrick. The bottle I brought to Denver was the Reserve. I think the ones in The WB auction were the standard ones. It would be interesting to compare them side-by-...

sdr

Beautiful note and story, Ian. I’ve had more than my share of Lafite but I have not tasted the ‘53 in over a quarter century. Even back then, most of them were weak and tired, more tea than wine. But the best one was phenomenal. It seems you got lucky with a bottle that was risky. I don’t bid on any...

sdr

I'm surprised that they didn't have the normal wine service procedure of presenting the bottle at the table, opening in front of the patron, checking for taint, and then if needed decanting at the waiter station. That protects all parties from situations like this. If the restaurant had done that a...

sdr

Blanquito wrote:There’s Batard-Montrachet and then there’s everything else, as I learned to my chagrin at BWE 2019.

Glad Patrick enjoys a good BM

Stu

sdr

When I was young and foolish, I actually liked Aubert chards. Now I can’t even choke down a teaspoon of the stuff. There are a few California chards I do like, such as Rhys, but that’s because they don’t taste like California Chardonnay, they taste like Chablis. Yet most of the guys in my local wine...

sdr

Well, I’m not J-F, but I couldn’t wait to find out so I asked him right after the event. Not only did he finish the freakin’ thing, he did it in a blazing 3:16:30! And his wife wasn’t far behind at 4:04. If you have ever struggled to run a marathon or half marathon, you know how awesome that is. Not...

sdr

No wine can survive asparagus.

sdr

I’m a big fan of old Bordeaux, but Arv is right. Almost all of the ‘70s are dead or dying, the only exceptions to me are Pétrus and (sometimes) Latour. Maybe Ducru if you are in a generous mood. Former darlings such as Trotanoy and Palmer have been weak. At this time, the ‘66s are holding up better....

sdr

Can’t make it, have a great time.

Stu

sdr

Thanks, Patrick, hoping Uber-man knows how to find Korbel Hall.

Stu

sdr

1982 Bordeaux at age 37: Still too young: Mouton, Léoville Las Cases Sweet spot: L’Évangile, Ducru, Léoville Poyferré, Haut Brion, Cos d’Estournel, Pichon-Lalande, Lynch Bages, many others Too old: Pichon-Baron, Pavie, Palmer, Certan-de-May, Domaine de Chevalier, Canon, La Conseillante Weird stage: ...

sdr

Re: Friday - is it “Maglione Hall” or “Korbel Hall”? Are they both the same address?

Stu

sdr

Stu - hearty cassoulet, black cod
Kathy - trout, black cod

sdr

Quicky review by vintage where I’ve had both more than once: 1959- Haut-Brion: fabulous at best, variable, even years ago La Mission Haut-Brion: fabulous, earthy, also variable Tie Score 1961- Haut-Brion: equal to ‘59, nothing better since, more concentrated La Mission Haut-Brion: parallels Haut-Bri...

sdr

Hey, can y’all give me a list of the locations of the first 19 BWE conventions?

Stu

sdr

1982 Bordeaux is great now, plenty of ripe fruit, most of the better ones in early to mid secondary stage, no tertiaries yet.

Stu

sdr

Thanks for the bday wishes. The ‘82 has been extremely variable in my experience, from mediocre to great, this bottle was near the bottom. The ‘90 and ‘98 were terrific but I don’t think my scores are influenced by any of the other bottles. The ‘47 was incredible of course. Maybe my greatest wine pu...

sdr

Still trying to decide, hoping for some half decent swill for the motley crew.

Stu

sdr

47CB AND FRIENDS - 3030 Ocean, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (2/16/2019) This being my birthday month was a good enough excuse to do a nice vertical of mature Cheval Blanc, a wine I have tasted a few times in the past but never a range all in one day. I wondered if I could detect a distinct Cheval Blanc ...

sdr

Follow up on my corkage story. This was about 15 years ago, it was a French restaurant no longer in business. Finally, one of my guests, who had been unusually silent, politely spoke up. He was the owner of Marin Wine Cellars, who supplied this restaurant and others with their fine wines. The arroga...

sdr

Corkage story - Some years ago I went to a high end restaurant in San Francisco where a I had previously brought my bottles without problem. This time, the arrogant somm told me they had changed their policy to ”no corkage allowed.” I offered to buy 5 bottles of wine off their list, one for each bot...

sdr

Uh, be cautious about dietary advice for your situation.

Pay attention to your Gastroenterologist or dietician.

Start low and slow, your appetite will return.

Bonus points: you might get back to your high school weight.

Stu

sdr

Thanks to all for your comments and compliments. Jay, I’ll disagree with our esteemed colleague Danny and suggest that the ‘61 Latour is usually, but not always, superior to the ‘59. Specifically, I found the ‘59 we shared March 2017, while very good, was less focused and lively than this sixty-one....

sdr

It’s always fun to host fellow BWEers who stop by for a bit of our favorite liquid refreshment. It’s nice to see DANNY’s detailed terrific notes. Along with good local friends Ryan (DrinkBordeaux.com) and Allison, a good time was assured, especially since they bonded over cruise and travel stories. ...

sdr

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Jim. Sorry we missed you last night. If you do not have pancreatitis, it is likely you will be able to drink in the future. And even if you do have pancreatitis related to the gall bladder, you should be okay. Now peptic ulcer disease is another story. Getting a fi...

sdr

Thanks gentlemen for the compliments and encouragement. Onward to 5000+.

Stu

sdr

Having recently surpassed 4000 tasting notes I have posted on Cellar Tracker, I asked myself why I bother. I don’t expect anyone else to read them, so I am doing it for myself. One reason is provide a record in case in the future I want to decide whether or not to purchase that wine again. Another i...

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