1983 Bordeaux offline NYC January 15th 2011

[mike reff]

With the great sucess of this past weekends Bordeaux tasting, I figure, lets see where the underrated 1983's are?

Plan on a Saturday either the 8th or the 15th. I also opened it up to folks that I am friends with on the WS board (do not lob grenades my way yet!). For this tasting, it would be great to cap off the wines to no more than two wines per person or couple.

Mike Reff and Mara Morr

[Michael-P]

My Bordeaux epiphany wine, many years ago, was an 83 Ducru Beaucaillou.

Michael-P

[Winona Chief]

Mike,

Which month?

I also like the 1983 vintage. Of course there were a lot of nice wines from Margaux but one of my favorites is another St. Julian - Gruaud Larose.

Chris Bublitz

[mike reff]

sorry about that could I be more vague... January tentatively

[Ramon_NYC]

I'm good wiith the date .... for now.
I'll have to see what 1983 I can bring or source as it draws nearer.

[aimeedogdogdog]

Good theme, Mike.

Blanquito suggested we had an '83 bordeaux theme for a pre-Saturday dinner in the convention 2011. We might as well have it.

Werner

[mike reff]

Planning on the 15th of January..

so far it is:

Mike Reff and Mara Morr: Chateau Trotanoy
Greg Del Piaz
Tom Rippe
Ramon

[Ramon_NYC]

Count me. Thanks.

[mike reff]

Done!

[awinestory]

Is there room for two more? Marisa D'Vari and Ron D'Vari?

[mike reff]

of course the more the merrier at least so far. Welcome aboard a winestory

[mike reff]

Planning on the 15th of January..

so far it is:

Mike Reff and Mara Morr: Chateau Trotanoy and La Lagune
Greg Del Piaz
Tom Rippe Lynch Bages
Ramon
Marisa +1

[mike reff]

Updated

[Blanquito]

Hey Mike,

Drop me a line per the Bordeaux 1990 tasting on 12/17 in NYC.

My email: phm3martin@yahoo.com

Cheers,
Patrick

[mike reff]

Bump,

Ramon, do you want to contact the restaurant or was that Ian who did it last time?? How was the La Fonda restaurant? Do we want to have it back at Fabio's Picoolo?

Mike

[Ramon_NYC]

Mike,

Fabio's is a consistent reliable Italian restaurant with good food and great service.

La Fonda is kinda new to us, but was great with a very good modern Spanish menu, good wine service (good stems, decanters, coolers, spit buckets), and including $10pp corkage that I worked out with the manager, costs about the same as Fabio. Last time I organized a dinner there, I asked them to create a menu including tapas of cured Spanish meats to start with, choice from 2 appetizers and choice from 3 entrees - easier to do this with a large group. They have special Spanish-style grilled steaks and other meats but need minimum of 8 people and 48 hours advance order.

I'm also perfectly cool with doing this elsewhere.

I can help make arrangement with Fabio's or La Fonda del Sol.

Btw, since the event is a Saturday night, have to make sure that booking is done early as these places gets filled up.

[mike reff]

Ramon,
lets do it at La Fonda, it would be nice to see how this place measures up.

Please make it for 8-10 people for now, and I will confirm the exact number that week. Sound good?

[Ramon_NYC]

Mike,

i sent you a PM.

[mike reff]

I think that we are going to change the venue to La Fonda Del Sol, Spanish themed food. In the Met Life building by GCT.

Here is the menu http://www.patinagroup.com/restaurant.p ... ants_id=19

let me know what your thoughts are for ordering.

[Ramon_NYC]

Mike,

If there enough of us, perhaps, an arrangement can be made to order from the "Asador" menu .... the one with the larger portion of grilled meats.

[mike reff]

that works for me. Lets talk the week of, they were very accomodating

[mike reff]

post holiday bump

[mike reff]

Marisa +1 are out, that leaves four of us. Any others interested??

[JimHow]

I'll be in town but I'll be at the Met opera that evening, I'll get to one of those fancy NYC dinners yet!

[Winona Chief]

If anyone else is interested, there are great rates for hotels in NYC that weekend - just a little more than half of what I paid in October. I think I'll join this party if it's OK. I can bring Talbot and Rieussec.

Chris Bublitz

[mike reff]

Great to have you aboard Chris

Updated:

Mike Reff Chateau Trotanoy and La Lagune
Greg Del Piaz
Tom Rippe Lynch Bages
Ramon Pichon Lalande
Chris B
David Johnson

Ian, are you around or were you travelling, I forgot.

[Ramon_NYC]

I'll bring a Pichon Lalande.

[Blanquito]

Yum, Pichon Lalande 1983...

[Ramon_NYC]

I tried to scan the thread but couldn't find any reference, but what time is the start time?

[mike reff]

6pm, I met with Nick, and he suggested some meat platters to start and that we would order our own entrees.

[Winona Chief]

Sounds good, see you all there. Anyone around on Friday night. I'm coming up on the train early Friday afternoon. Give me time to take in the Vermeers in the Frick before dinner.

Chris Bublitz

[JimHow]

The opera gets out at 11, I'm not sure if I'll be available and I have to split town early Sunday morning to get back in time to watch Sexy Rexy's Jets against my Pats, but if you guys are having a late night cocktail or glass of wine give me a call or text message after 11:10 pm at 207-754-3900.

[mike reff]

The opera gets out at 11, I'm not sure if I'll be available and I have to split town early Sunday morning to get back in time to watch Sexy Rexy's Jets against my Pats, but if you guys are having a late night cocktail or glass of wine give me a call or text message after 11:10 pm at 207-754-3900.

JIm, would love to meet you but my son gets up between 6-7am, and with a bordeaux like hangover that might be iminent, it could be tough to meet up.

[JimHow]

Yeah, I need to hit the road really early Sunday morning, like 6am. We'll catch you at another event later in '11. Looking forward to the notes from '83!

[mike reff]

Great time last night at La Fonda Del Sol, except for the salty Paella the food was decent and the price was even better.

Sparkling set us straight with the Cedric Bouchard La Parcelle followed by a 2001 Marc Colin Puligny Montracet Garenne. The white Burgundy was decent and pleasant but soon faded in the glass after only about 15 minutes or so. Next up was a Schramsburg Rose which was simple but nice.

Onto the 1983 Bordeaux reds, The Ch Le Gay, had a depressed cork and after comparing labels with the Trotanoy, I had a feeling that it was not going to hold up. The cork completely fell apart and even though it had a dark garnet color, it was acidic and fell apart soon thereafter. This is the problem when purchasing one bottle at an online auction.

The Lynch Bages was up next and had some nice fruit and great color with a medium finish that was nice. The Pichon Lalande entered the fray, and totally blew me away. It had the funk and green pepper nose with a nice medium to long finish, my WOTN. The Trotanoy followed which was just as stellar as the PL. Finally the Talbot was excellent as well. We were pleasantly surprised with the 1983 Bruno Giacosa Vallero Barolo which offered some nice comparisons to the bordeaux that we had just drank, a true treat.

Dessert was a 1983 Rieussac, which had a nice amber color and was perfect to end things with.

Bravo