Here's what I'm thinking about the big BWE Bdx v Cali faceoff

[JimHow]

Has there been a big Bordeaux versus California face-off since the legendary one in the 1970s?
I don't know, and I don't care.

It is time for a BWE-sanctioned event….

In 2017, I would like to round up 5-10 of the biggest names in Bordeaux and get them in the same room as 5-10 of the biggest names in California.
Who would attend would obviously be dictated by availability.
So we would not be able to do it during certain months of the year.

I would like to see the wine press there: Neal Martin, the Decanter crowd, James Suckling, Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, etc.
The event would have to either occur in New York City, Washington DC, or Napa, CA.

Regardless of who attends, Alfred Tesseron would have to be one of them. He is just obsessive enough to get involved in a project like this.
Because of the timing involved, I would be hard pressed to see this happening as part of BWE California '17.

Wouldn't it be great if we could get Alfred Tesseron, the Cathiards, Annabelle Cruze Bardinet, etc., etc., at a six hour event in NY, DC, or CA.

We could make a very big deal out of it.

Hey, let's think big, why not a big Bordeaux versus California matchup, 4pm-10pm, the first Saturday in June 2017, in Washington DC, at Charlie Palmer, let's get all the big names there, be there or be square.

Just thinking out loud.

To me, we need someone like Alfred Tesseron to agree to do it, get a few available dates from him, and then start generating excitement and inviting others, etc.

One other rule: If Alfred Tesseron or any of the other names I mentioned were involved I would not want to take advantage of their hospitality. They would be OUR guests.

Just thinking out loud here, I'm going to put some more thoughts out there on it.

BD

[AKR]

Could do it blind.

I kind of think some of these Cali wines that were not around then, but are well seasoned now like Dominus, are going to be very tough competitors.

Maybe do it like a boxing thing, with weight / dollar classes.

[JimHow]

I like it!
Yes, definitely blind.
There are a million possibilities.
Remember, we could approach like 200 properties from each side.
All we need is 5-6 from each side to participate.

[tim]

There was indeed a replication of the Judgement of Paris, celebrating the 40th anniversary.

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2016/05/ ... 0-years-on

It would be great if we were to pursue something similar at the next Convention, though...

[JimHow]

Yes but don't you think it would be tougher to get the French over during the usual April BWE convention season, way over on the left coast, rather than on the east coast of the US, in the mid-Atlantic, where Robt Parker, Tom Wheltle, and a ton of other infrastructure is already in place… Don't you think we would be a million times more likely to get the Tesserons, Cathiards, Sucklings, etc., there on the east coast in a month when there is no harvest going on, no release of the latest vintage going on, etc.? How would we do it in April way over in California if Alfred Tesseron, Jeff Leve, and the rest of Bordeaux are in Bordeaux releasing the 2016 vintage?

[tim]

There is always a risk when inviting big names if their wines don't show well....

[jckba]

What vintage were you thinking of doing or did you not get that far yet?

[JimHow]

My life has been one of risk taking, Tim.

I have not thought that far, jckba.

My first thoughts are to get somebody legitimate like Alfred Tesseron to commit to a general timeframe and begin to work around that.

[robertgoulet]

Throw in a couple ringers to boot '02 Bordeaux or '04

[JimHow]

It wouldn't be a BWE event if we didn't, Bobby G!

[JimHow]

i read that article Tim. What is up with that. All of the Bordeaux vintages were from 2001. What kind of a comparison is that???
I've got something bigger than 2001 Bordeaux in mind.

[AlohaArtakaHoundsong]

i read that article Tim. What is up with that. All of the Bordeaux vintages were from 2001. What kind of a comparison is that???
I've got something bigger than 2001 Bordeaux in mind.

2002?

You'll recall Tesseron just bought a place in Napa. He may have plans that coincide with yours, or could be made to.

[Nicklasss]

I already suggested to try to do it at Mr Tesseron new estate in California.

We would need to have Bordeaux and California wines from good to excellent year, in their middle age, vintage with a little bit of controversy... 1995!

I think that could be grandiose!

Nic

[robertgoulet]

95 GPL and Pontet!!

Killer wines when they are on

[dstgolf]

Amazing idea Jim and I love the way you think. If it's the last two weeks of June or later I'm in wherever. Before that time it's a no go in all liklihood for me at this time with everything going on in May and first week of June. March possible. Start the ball rolling and see where it goes. Too bad I just finished off my Montelena Reserve Cabs from 78 &79...boy were they ever amazing and they'd give any Bordeaux a run for their money. Amazing bouquet still very much alive with fully evolved but still present fruit/balance etc etc. My problem is I don't have anything from the 70s to contribute at this time making it awkward if that's the theme of the event. I could always horse trade if it came down to it.

Go for it Jimmy boy!

Danny

[AKR]

In a perfect world one would want vintages that were good in both Northern California and BDX. 1990 was like that. 2001 sort of too.

Then among more recent years it gets easier to choose, but then we don't really get to see the grandeur that some of these top tier estates are reaching, when with age, complexity emerges.

2005, 2008, 2009, 2010 are also all good comparisons.

[JimHow]

Yes, I say we go for it! I'm going to put together a draft plan for input from the group.

[Blanquito]

1995 or 1996 make sense.

[AKR]

1995 or 1996 make sense.

96 would sort of exclude many right banks though, although its good in Nor Cal.

I think 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010 does open it up to many of the newer California high quality estates.

Many of them weren't totally operational even a decade earlier.

[Nicklasss]

I tell you, 1995 would be the best. 2005 or younger would please Jim, but I don't think you'll get many wine press people with young vintages. You have to make sure that Bordeaux dumb phase is behind them.

But even if I'm commenting our BD idea, at the same time I'm wondering if BWE is getting too big for me...

Nic

[AKR]

Well with 1995 one has the tradeoff that many board favorites like d'Issan and Ponet Canet had only just begun to emerge -- certainly making very fine wines -- but not like their radiant efforts of just a few years later.

[Blanquito]

In general, I think it makes sense to focus on Left Bank when comparing to California as there are just so few top flight merlot and cab franc in the USA to pair with the Right Bank. Of course, flavorwise you could argue that French merlot has more in common with Cali cab than the wines of the Medoc do. But if this tasting is to put mature examples from the same vintage from each region against each other, it would best focus on the classic estates from NoCal that age well. In my experience, to get Cali cabs still drinking at or near peak after 20 years, you need classic wines like Togni, Dominus, Mayacamas, Ridge Monte Bello, Dunn Howell Mtn, Montelena Estate, Phelps Insignia, Forman, Mount Eden, Laurel Glen Sonoma Mtn, and maybe a few others. These estates compare (reasonably well) in style to the Medoc as well.

I am on the record that Bordeaux from big vintages doesn't hit full maturity until 25-30 years after the vintage, so it makes sense to me to find Cali wines that age like that (assuming comparing the same or similarly aged vintages is a priority). The best of the 95s and 96s from the Medoc will be better 10 years from today, for my preferences.

[AKR]

Those are fair observations although there is plenty of merlot / cab franc in many of the Medocs anyways.

Its strange how expensive glamour wines like Insignia have gotten, while the classics like Laurel Glen remain forlorn years later.

Currently all out of the Laurel Glen's, and have not reloaded in a long time.

Dominus seems to be increasingly a CS driven wine by blend, but on those delightful and rare occasions when we have it, it doesn't seem like it.

[RDD]

Dalla Valle Viader Mondavi Reserve

[RDD]

Well with 1995 one has the tradeoff that many board favorites like d'Issan and Ponet Canet had only just begun to emerge -- certainly making very fine wines -- but not like their radiant efforts of just a few years later.

So???????????????
Trying to fix the fight?

d'Issan Ponet Canet...................


I would think Latour Margaux or Haut-Brion would be more appropriate.

CaliCab got heavy hitters or not?

Also why restrict to one year? Is that a test/match? What can a property/estate produce over a number of years?
Then have an open challenge. Best you got.

[JimHow]

Yes you are reading my mind Rob.
I'm thinking the best from California versus the best from Bordeaux.
Multiple vintages.
None of this second tier stuff.
None of this Bordeaux from 2001 nonsense.
Let's match up the best versus the best.
Blind.
Sure, we can have some second tier stuff in there as a side show or an undercard.
But this will be an epic celebration of two great wine-producing regions.
A once in a generation tasting….

[Blanquito]

Yes you are reading my mind Rob.
I'm thinking the best from California versus the best from Bordeaux.
Multiple vintages.
None of this second tier stuff.
None of this Bordeaux from 2001 nonsense.
Let's match up the best versus the best.
Blind.
Sure, we can have some second tier stuff in there as a side show or an undercard.
But this will be an epic celebration of two great wine-producing regions.
A once in a generation tasting….

Loving the sound of this.

[robertgoulet]

The best of the best Bordeaux leads to a very wide interpretation...and who picks the Cali wines?

[JimHow]

The best of the best Bordeaux leads to a very wide interpretation...and who picks the Cali wines?

All very manageable details.
Far more complicated will be picking date, location, attendees, sourcing bottles, etc.

[robertgoulet]

I'm actually more interested in the side show wines than anything else because I love when these underdog omega's show up the alpha's.

[RDD]

The 1991 Dalla Valle ( and Maya) can take on the best of France.
It will be at worst a split decisions.

That's my contender.

As for selection.
We can use the French method in 1855. Rate by market price.

[robertgoulet]

Older Dunn's will give Bordeaux all it can handle