A close encounter of the religious kind with 2001 Ch. Petrus

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu May 26, 2011 11:47 pm

My excuse was that it cost less than half a bottle of Chateau Lafite 1996, yesterday was my birthday and 01 is the dark horse vintage on the right bank. The 1998 costs nearly three times what I paid for this, the 2000 nearly five times. This wine could even be a bargain.

When I took the bottle out of my wine fridge on my return from San Francisco my pulse started to quicken and I got a lump in my throat. Just standing there it looked so imposing, so regal. When I carefully uncorked it last night my heart was racing and my hands were trembling.

A deep color, it is dense and brooding. It slowly unfurls majestically over two hours. It is rich and complex and has unfathomable depth. It is silky, refined and complex; ever changing subtle nuances and a kaleidoscope of flavors start rolling across my tongue, caressing my palate. Dark berry fruits, olives, tobacco, tea, spice market, mint, eucalyptus, cloves and nutmeg -wave upon wave, never ending. Effortlessly majestic, it is noble and regal.

Close your eyes and you can imagine you are on a boat in the middle of the night as bright moonlight dances across the dark water. You are aware of a shimmering presence. A woman shrouded in black is coming towards you across the water, getting closer, clearer, bigger. Meanwhile on the palate Beethoven’s 5th symphony is climaxing towards a deafening crescendo...

She stares straight into my eyes and walks by right up close and then slowly disappears. The symphony winds down and the wine goes back into its shell to become closed and tannic. It was such a thrill to get a glimpse of this wine’s unlimited potential. I can only imagine how profound this will be in 20-30 years from now.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri May 27, 2011 12:02 am

Wait, I think I got that same image of the woman coming across the water the night I drank that whole bottle of Boones Farm Apple back when I was sixteen and we were camping out one hot summer night back in the seventies.

I don't think I got the dark berry fruits, eucalyptus, etc., though.

Happy birthday and say hi to the brothers Martin this weekend.

jal · Post by **jal** » Fri May 27, 2011 12:21 am

Dennis: Listen, strange women walkin' in ponds is no basis for a objective wine rating system! Supreme rating power derives from a
mandate from the masses, not from some farcicial aquatic ceremony!

Arthur: Be quiet!

Dennis: Oh but you can't expect to wield supreme raring power just because some watery tart walked towards you!

Arthur: SHUT UP!

Dennis: Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor of wine, just because some moistened bink lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IAN!!!!!

with apologies to Monty Python

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xd_zkME ... re=related

JonoB · Post by **JonoB** » Fri May 27, 2011 10:25 am

Happy Birthday... two religious experiences then!!

Are you trying to become a saint??

Happy Birthday!!!!

p.s. I would like photographic evidence of this lady you mention!!! :p

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri May 27, 2011 11:06 am

Very nice, Ian. Happy Birthday!

Houndsong · Post by **Houndsong** » Fri May 27, 2011 4:42 pm

It was 10 years ago,
On a cold dark night.
There was someone killed
'Neath the town hall light.

Though few were there,
They all agreed
That the killer who ran
Looked a lot like me.

The judge he said
Son what is your alibi?
For if you weren't there
Then you don't have to die

Not a word I said
Though it meant my life.
For I had been in the arms
Of my best friend's wife.

She walks these hills
In a Long Black Veil
And she cries o'er my bones,
When the cold wind wails.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Fri May 27, 2011 7:30 pm

Nothing religious in that post, except if the woman was a nun!

Happy brithday Comte Flaneur.

i tried Petrus 3 times, but still waiting for that type of encounter.

Nic

Michael Malinoski · Post by **Michael Malinoski** » Fri May 27, 2011 10:07 pm

Great note, Comte. Very evocative. Didn't quite end the way I was expecting, but...

Houndsong, Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison or some other version?

Houndsong · Post by **Houndsong** » Fri May 27, 2011 11:01 pm

Lefty Frizzell

http://youtu.be/50k18gL76AU

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Sat May 28, 2011 11:38 pm

Happy Birthday, Ian!

sdr · Post by **sdr** » Sun May 29, 2011 7:32 pm

Awesome note, Ian. I'm eager to read your TN about this wine when it is mature in 25 years.
Happy Birthday.

Stuart

PS: it was nice to meet you at the convention after reading so many of your notes.

RDD · Post by **RDD** » Tue May 31, 2011 2:22 pm

Happy B-day.
Great note.
I get it.

A close encounter of the religious kind with 2001 Ch. Petrus

A close encounter of the religious kind with 2001 Ch. Petrus

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