1989 Bordeaux tasting - October 17

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:16 am

Jay Winton wrote:I can't remember...are we in or on the waiting list?

As far as I am aware nobody is dropping out at this stage Jay...do you know of anyone dropping out? As I explained to you on a post above (4/29), and was made explicitly clear from the outset, the numbers are limited to 12, and it was first come first served. Otherwise it just isn't fair to everone else.

I remember this "happened to you" last year and I would suggest next time you get your name down early rather than procrastinate. But since you may still consider it unfair, you can have my place at the tasting. It just means someone else needs to take over the reins and you need to think about what you can bring.

SteveH · Post by **SteveH** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:39 am

I am now woefully short of ' 89s because they've been so enjoyable to drink.
That said, if there's room for me, and if you folks could tolerate a second bottle of Ch. Palmer that night, I'd like to join you on Oct. 17th. If it's already a full house, just toss me onto the wait list.

Steve

Ramon_NYC · Post by **Ramon_NYC** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:28 am

I will not easily give up my 1989 Palmer spot! But, I'm OK to have 2 Palmers just to have Steve in for the tasting. If I follow the thread correctly, the Tertre Rotebouf is still not in the line up. I can bring that instead (with the Prieure Lichine)

SteveH · Post by **SteveH** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:38 am

Thank you Ramon.
The wait list is fine for me. Fair is fair.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:21 am

So Ramon are you OK with 14 + people? And d o you want to take over the reins?

Jay/Steve - these wines are missing from the line up:

Petrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, Cheval Blanc, La Tetre Rote-Boeuf, Mouton, LLC, Yquem...plus of course Lafite and Mish

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 4:07 pm

Comte Flaneur wrote:
Jay Winton wrote:I can't remember...are we in or on the waiting list?
As far as I am aware nobody is dropping out at this stage Jay...do you know of anyone dropping out? As I explained to you on a post above (4/29), and was made explicitly clear from the outset, the numbers are limited to 12, and it was first come first served. Otherwise it just isn't fair to everone else.

I remember this "happened to you" last year and I would suggest next time you get your name down early rather than procrastinate. But since you may still consider it unfair, you can have my place at the tasting. It just means someone else needs to take over the reins and you need to think about what you can bring.

No worries, waiting list is fine

Ramon_NYC · Post by **Ramon_NYC** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 5:00 pm

Comte Flaneur wrote:So Ramon are you OK with 14 + people? And d o you want to take over the reins?

Jay/Steve - these wines are missing from the line up:

Petrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, Cheval Blanc, La Tetre Rote-Boeuf, Mouton, LLC, Yquem...plus of course Lafite and Mish

I'm not really looking to step up over the fine job that you're doing on holding the reins Ian. I think Steve and Jay have opted for the waiting list and I'll go along with that.

Claret · Post by **Claret** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:31 pm

Oh man, I so wish that I could magically hop onto NJ Transit from New Brunswick like I used to do and be at Penn Station in 1 hour, with a bottle of LLC and join you guys.

The 1989's are starting to open up now and should show very nicely with more upside potential in many cases. Many monumental were made wines including Palmer, Haut Brion, Montrose, Pichon Baron, Angelus. This will be a great tasting.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 5:35 am

Jay (Mr Vino) and Steve (H)...thanks for your kind understanding, and apologies for my outburst...you know how these things work...spreading a bottle between 14/15 + is rather fraught....I have been to British trade tastings where greedy merchants, charging a small fortune, try to stretch a bottle over 15+ people...it just doesnt work if you end up getting a thimble full of dregs...if someone drops out rest assured you are No 1 and 2 on the waiting list

Ramon...Tertre Rote-Boeuf, would be awesome if you wanted to drop the Prieure...Margaux didn't click outside Palmer in 1989 in my experience...Ch Margaux was well off the pace...Latour was well off the pace too, but I think RMP seriously underestimated Lafite and Mouton...Mr Claret, I had LLC recently and it was superb, tho' I think in this vintage Mouton was even better (Ithink originally rated 99 by the succour, 89 by RMP).

Ramon_NYC · Post by **Ramon_NYC** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:17 pm

Comte Flaneur wrote: Ramon...Tertre Rote-Boeuf, would be awesome if you wanted to drop the Prieure....

You got it.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:21 pm

...yet another victim of the '89 Lynch....

Ramon_NYC · Post by **Ramon_NYC** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:26 pm

Heh heh heh.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:54 am

Ramon_NYC wrote:
Comte Flaneur wrote: Ramon...Tertre Rote-Boeuf, would be awesome if you wanted to drop the Prieure....
You got it.

Ramon you are a gentleman and a scholar...

...what a line up we have got

Ramon_NYC · Post by **Ramon_NYC** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:02 am

Comte Flaneur wrote: Ramon you are a gentleman and a scholar...

...what a line up we have got

Ian, I've never been a scholar and it's been many years since I can recall when my own wife refered to me as a gentleman. But, I must agree that the line up has got me very excited. I'm looking forward to meeting up with everybody. Woo hoo!

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:44 am

The lineup, edited as of 6/30:

Ian: Lafite and La Mission Haut Brion and Mouton
Blanquito: Dominique and Cantemerle and Rieussec
Chris B: Climens and Angelus
Pappa: Pichon Lalande and Nicolay Urz/Wurz TBA
Jim: Lynch Bages
Tom & Gail: La Conseillante and Haut Brion
DavidG: Montrose and (2 btls) Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle MV
Jacques: Pichon Baron and l'Evangile
Ramon: Palmer and Tertre-Roteboeuf
Stefan & Lucie: Ausone and Cos D'Estournel and La Lagune

Truly awesome!

That's 23 bottles so far.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:50 am

I need you-- I need anyone-- to bring something that will challenge the '89 Lynch....

PappaDoc · Post by **PappaDoc** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:42 am

I subed the Lalande, for the Champers once I located it. The 89 TBA is still in though.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:32 am

David - thanks for taking the time in doing that, I was going to perform the same exercise...

...of course Tom is the dark horse (as he was in the 86 tasting)...and Gail, in one of her rare posts, let it slip that they would bring a sauternes...what ever could that be I wonder...?

Anyway what distingushes this tasting from the '86 tasting is the diversity of wines...at the 86 tasting we only had one 86 right banker...thanks to Tom and that was the Petrus!

This time we have much more diversity from left and right plus the two graves superstars...

I still vote for stefan to bring the Lagune, as the number one cheerleader for this under-rated estate...tho it is completely his prerogative...

This will be Jim's greatest ever challenge...either the Lynch emerges as the superstar, or it is relagated to the ranks of the also rans...Our Dear Leader's credibility is well and truly on the line for the ultimate test...

When we get closer to the event we should fdiscuss the flight order

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:48 am

Thanks Pappa & Ian I edited my post to reflect that.

I've seen Gail work on Tom re: Sauternes on several occasions. Quite successfully, I might add.

Jim, the saying is "only great bottles," but unless you've figured out a reliable way to stuff the ballot box, I think the Lynch is going down hard.

So do we want Champagne to start? If so, I'll bring a couple of bottles.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:54 am

That would be exceptionally generous of you David, otherwise I could bring a magnum of 85 krug; or if you bring the Siecles I will bring Mouton

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:57 am

La Lagune it shall be, Ian.

stefan

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:58 pm

I'll bring a few spare livers...

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:05 pm

Ian, you're on! I'll bring 2 bottles of LP Grand Siecle.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:16 pm

If all the bottles show "as expected" I predict the Haut Brion will garner first place. And the Riesling TBA will beat the Sauternes.

jal · Post by **jal** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:26 pm

This looks like a widespread conspiracy to down the Lynch Bages. I think we should pair it with asparagus soup, artichoke hearts with goat cheese, and a pasta with marinara sauce.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:47 pm

Bring on those Delon wines, baby. Bring on those big boys. The bigger they are the harder they fall....

Tom In DC · Post by **Tom In DC** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:03 pm

Well, despite Gail's suggestion to the contrary, we don't have a single bottle of Sauternes from 1989 and I'm not inclined to try a get one at this point.

We'll add another red to our set -- we have Margaux (beautiful at the BWE dinner at the Chateau...), LLC, Cheval Blanc, La Fleur de Gay, or the dread "LB-Killer" Vieux Chateau Certan...

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:12 pm

It will fascinating to see which wine comes third assuming the Dillon (not Delon, sry) wines are not faulty...I think every other wine has a shot at winning the bronze - even the Lynch

But was thinking about flight order...one flight will surely have to be: Haut Brion--La Mission Haut Brion--Lynch Bages

Will this be the Lynch Bages catharthis or nemesis?

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:16 pm

Thanks Tom for that, so far we have:

One Margaux (unless you include Lagune and Cantermerle)

Two St-Estephe

Five Pauillacs

No St-Juliens

Four St-Emilions

Two Pomerols

Two Graves/Pessac

Two sauternes

One German and two champagnes

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:18 pm

I think we need to do a flight of those three wines blind-- we'll have to change the bottle for the HB, of course. I don't want any of you guys cheating in favor of the Delon wines....

Tom In DC · Post by **Tom In DC** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:20 pm

Delon wines? I think we're either talking about Dillon or Delmas... It'll be a sad day for the "Fight Fixer, er, uh, Fight Lawyer" if the LB can't top Potensac and Clos du Marquis.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:26 pm

Oops I thought that didn't sound right....

gmarie · Post by **gmarie** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:46 pm

Hi Tom in CO
Oopsies - didn't realize d'Yquem would have to be an 89

...... but it is an 89 tasting so....... I guess -- it's best to stick to the rules.

See you on thursday.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:52 pm

See what I mean? Is she great or what!? I particularly like the use of the

graemlin...

Tom In DC · Post by **Tom In DC** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:40 am

No worries, Gail -- I can't keep track of what we have down there, so you have no chance whatsoever!

OK, so we'll bring the Leo-LC to cover Jim by putting a Delon wine in the mix and to get something "representing" from St. Julien, and we'll bring the Cheval Blanc to match up with the Ausone on the undercard.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 4:56 am

Whoa...very kind Tom...you obviously have an amazing cellar...maybe we should call it a day there...I am counting 26 wines now among 12 of us...and we should perhaps restrict the Friday warm up strictly to one bottle per person. (to avoid hangovers for the Big Enchilada)...I spent an inordinate amount of time today juggling flight orders...and it is going to be a really tough one to finesse...apart from the obvious blind flight...I ended up disappearing up my own backside...would be interested in any suggestions...

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:57 pm

An all-time great lineup, edited as of 7/1:

Ian: Lafite, La Mission Haut Brion and Mouton
Blanquito: Dominique, Cantemerle and Rieussec
Chris B: Climens and Angelus
Pappa: Pichon Lalande and Nicolay Urz/Wurz TBA
Jim: Lynch Bages
Tom & Gail: La Conseillante, Leoville Las Cases, Cheval Blanc, and Haut Brion
DavidG: Montrose and (2 btls) Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle MV
Jacques: Pichon Baron and l'Evangile
Ramon: Palmer and Tertre-Roteboeuf
Stefan & Lucie: Ausone, Cos D'Estournel and La Lagune

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:06 pm

How about this for a line up?

Intro

Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle X2

Flight one

Cantermerle, La Lagune, Dominique

Flight two

Conseillante, L'Evangile, Tetre-Roteboeuf

Flight three

Lafite, Mouton, Palmer

Flight four

Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Angelus

Flight five - BLIND...

Haut-Brion, La Mission Haut Brion, Lynch Bages

Flight six

Pichon Baron, Pichon Lalande, Leoville Lascases

Flight seven

Cos, Montrose

Flight eight

Climens, Rieussec, Riesling TBA

The idea is to build up to the highlight flight 5 (though none are exactly shabby) so that time we are psyched more than fatigued as some of us might be towards the end

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:32 pm

I like.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:26 pm

Me like too.