BWE 2010 Friday Rhone dinner

[Michael-P]

Indeed, those speeches from Nic are priceless (in a good way).
We'll also miss those famous flame thrower shots of some strong alcohol in the bar afterwards!

Rick: What do I owe you for the Rhone dinner (we are 2)? And would you prefer I grab some last minute Rhone purchase (easily done as we are in Chicago the day before) or bring something else? Thanks.

[JimHow]

I'm sure you mention it in here somewhere, Rick, what tine is the Rhine dinner starting on Friday?

[DavidG]

Jim, you bringing Germans to this dinner? Should be interesting...

[hm$]

I am bringing an older Beaucastel in addition to the Quet '07.
I could also bring a german or other dessert wine....

hm$

[DavidG]

Just goofing on the Rhine typo...

[Rick]

Howard an 89 Beaucastel would be great
Michael P - there is no fixed coast we will order off menu and I suggest that we just have them divide up the final bill and allocate per person.........The contract does call for a 30% tip vs corkage...the server will earn every penny is my guess after he has to pay out the glass washer

a couple dessert wines would be good

The room is ours all night - I was suggesting a 630 start but I would be good with 6 if that is more appealing to others

Also, I am thinking a couple of us head over 30 min before to get the wines set up....who would like to help with this?

rick

[DavidG]

I'll volunteer for wine duty. Just let me know when to show up, Rick. Were we still planning on doing some of the '07s blind? If so, bring a roll of aluminum foil. I'll bring pour restrictors.

[Rick]

will do...............lets figure it out when we get together Thur/Fri if we do some blind which ones etc

rick

[Rick]

The line up as I understand it today............sorry if there are any errors we can fix easy
This is an 07 line up that any Rhone lover would die to be a part of
as the BD would say Well Done Well Done group!!!

07 Beaucastle - Jim Howaniec
07 Janasse CDP VV - David G
07 Ferrand - Jim Hannan
07 Janasse Chaupin - Hannan
07 Quet - Howard
07 Vieux Telegraphe - Rick

Others
plus an older Rhone - Howard
non-Rhone New World Grenache/CduP blend - David
CÔTE-RÔTIE "La Viallère", Dervieux-Thaize 1988 - Rob
CÔTE-RÔTIE Jamet 1991 - Rob
98 Vieux DonJon - Bob D
plus a CA Rhone Ranger - Bob D
98 Cdp - Jon N......Jon not sure which one(s) you were bringing

Any dessert wine?

[JimHow]

Rhine, Rhone, just one letter apart on the iPhone keyboard. Some day we'll have to do a German/CdP dinner. Well done indeed, Ricky, I'm assuming I should uncork the Beaucastel about five days beforehand?

[DavidG]

Yes, well done Rick! I think Jon threatened to subject us to a '98 Pegau.

Jim, you could just put that Beaucastel in a blender...

[Rick]

a couple nice 98s will be good to try .........while 2000 and 2001 were VG years I think the 98 was the last fabulous before 2007 but my memory maye a little off

[Michael-P]

Rick: off the menu and dividing the bill, plus 30% tip all sounds good. I'll bring a couple dessert wines. Thanks for organizing.

[JCNorthway]

I am planning to bring the 1998 Pegau. And I will also bring a 2000 Lavieille Julienne, just for a little scientific research, in case we need another bottle.

Jon

[JimHow]

What is the dress code for the Friday night Rhone dinner Rick?

[Rick]

With a secondary 98 theme emerging I have put another nice 98 in my bag for Friday night
something to quench our thurst after the 07s :)

Jim - The Capital Grille does not require a coat BUT Thursday and Saturday does
At TCG you will see dress up and pretty casual
TCG is easy walk from Hotel


If we are lucky we will have an unused private room across a little hall from our private room to conduct the 07 tasting
glasses will be set up in there

I say lets start at 6 and we will go from 6 to 645 or so on the 07 tasting

A few of us can go over at 430p and decant the wines so they will be raring to go in the pre-fight match up

630 730 -2009 if anyone needs me

I am staying at BWE central should arrive around 4p on Thursday

Rick

[DavidG]

Rick you have my cell. I'll head over to TCG with you at 4:30P Friday. Bring aluminum foil and tape.

[Rick]

TCG did a wonderful job..great service and food.

Just a quick note that last nights broad tasting of 6 high point 07s confirmed they are the real deal. Served in a private room next to the one they had set up for dinner which worked out great. The wines had all been openned for 4 hours and decanted for over an hour before we started. We did a quick vote of everyone's top two wines....I am not sure where the tally sheet is. Kathy confirmed my memory that the VV was the WOTN.
flights of two

07 Janasse CDP VV
07 Janasse Chaupin

07 Vieux Telegraphe
07 Beaucastle

07 Ferrand
07 Quet


I had the VV back in Sept and it was nowhere near as good as last night's bottle. The two Janasse's where my two favorates.
Everyone of the wines deserve the top press they get.
The Ferrand had the funky nose that some liked a lot and others of course did not
The 98 Beaucastel got many good comments and is aging well.

Many other very nice bottles were passed around during dinner.
Michael P brought 2 1970 Sauternes ( can not remember which ones) that ended a wonderful evening leading up to tonights big fight

Rick

[JimHow]

Thanks for organizing, Rick, a lovely event. My favorite wine was the 1998 Beaucastel.

[DavidG]

Lots of great wines. Of the '07s that we tasted before dinner, I liked the Janasse VV and Chaupin best, and in that order. The '07 Vieux Telegraphe and Mas de Boislauzan Quet was next, followed closely by the Vieux Telegraphe and Beaucastel. Loved the nose on the Ferrandbut did not like the balance and structure/fruit relationship. Others had it first, but I was in the mood for lush and plush.

I paid less critical attention to the dinner wines, but I loved the '98 Beaucastel, '98 Vieux Donjon, '98 Pegau, and '91 Jamet Cote Rotie. The '04 Sine Quan Non Into the Dark was a standout but didn't go well with the rest of the wines. Would have been better in another group. Michael P's Sauternes were a great treat to finish the night with foie gras.

Great fun evening, I look forward to the main event tonight.

[Rick]

David
Like you I paid much less attention after the 07s except to say the 98s have lived up to the 98 CDP hype

I also had the VV 1st and Chaupin 2nd......my Chicago friend Jim when tasing the 07 Janasse VV was heard saying this is the best F**ing wine I have ever had. Jim knows his way around French wines but not first growths or older wines like he had on Saturday night.

Will need to check in with him on Saturday night wines

rick

[Michael-P]

The two Sauternes were: 70 Doisy Daene. Howard and I both thought the second bottle was noticably better than the first, even though the first was nice.

As a result of this silly Rhone dinner (i mean really, this part of France is kind of countryside bumpkin, yes?), I decided I MUST have some of the Chaupin and Ferrand in my cellar, so I'm on the hunt. So far none in sight of any auctions (where I would heop to do better than retail).

Rick: Thanks so much for a wonderful evening!

Michael-P