Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Hey folks -- I thought it would be good to start a thread specifically to discuss what wines we will bring for the 3/23 Friday night and 3/24 Saturday night dinners. Not only will this thread help to build anticipation for DC '18 to a deliciously unbearable pitch, it will help us coordinate what wines to bring on what nights.

The "theme", such as it is, for Friday night is "anything but Bordeaux". I think some people had narrowed it down to "Burgundy and the Rhone". I am thinking about bringing --

1*2003 Clos Des Lambrays
1*2000 Beaucastel CNDP (to go with Davidg's massive 3L 1988 Beaucastel)
1*1995 Laurent Echezeaux? Or possibly a 2011 Cameron Rouge Clos Electrique -- an Oregon pinot that is extremely European-styled and one of the best American "ringers" for Burgundy, just to change things up a bit?

I was also thinking of bringing a new world Cabernet that is very Bordeaux styled, like e.g. an aged Togni or something more obscure, just to play around. But that may not fit depending on what others are bringing.

Given the Burgundy theme hopefully people will bring at least a few good whites as well.

For Saturday night, I was going to bring a short vertical of Leoville Poyferre, the 1996, 2000, and 2003. I believe others are considering bringing some LP as well.

Everybody else -- pitch in with ideas, questions, suggestions, etc.!

[Note -- I can bring plenty more to either night if there is a shortage, but I thought two or three bottles/person was a good place to start as otherwise the numbers become really totally unmanageable]

For Friday night:

1978 Jaboulet Les Cedres CdP (recent release and excellent - you haven't lived until you have 1978 CdP)
1998 Potel Bonnes Mares

For Saturday night:

1998 Angelus
1998 La Mission Haut Brion

SF Ed

Up to now,

Friday night:
1995 Domaine Vieux Télégraphe

Saturday night:
1995 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion

Will update with more in the coming days....

Nic

Friday Night
1988 Beaucastel - 3L
And 6 very nice bottles of Champagne courtesy of SDR

Saturday Night Reception
3x 164eme Krug MV
3x 2006 Taittinger Comtes

Saturday Night Dinner
1998 Conseillante
1998 L'Evangile
1998 Figeac
1998 Pavie

Wow, we are headed for an AMAZING Saturday night lineup it appears! My contributions look like if anything the laggards.

Still need to fill out our Friday night lineup, I think people should feel free to get creative beyond Burgundy/Rhone if desired. Also, Northern Rhone is underrepresented so far...

Friday night

Domaine Gros Frère et Sœur Richebourg 2001
And a CdP, some option, maybe Vieux Télégraphe La Crau 2005 to pair with the 1995 of Jean-Nic

Saturday Night

2x Ducru Beaucaillou 1998
Or
1x Ducru Beaucaillou 1998 and 1x DB 1996 or 2000


Jean-Fred

For Saturday: probably 1998 Haut Brion and 1998 Lafleur-Petrus, plus another older red Bordeaux and a Sauternes (have to look around to see what works).

Just started thinking about Friday night. I will bring a red Burgundy, white Burgundy and an older Chateauneuf. I'm lazy, I haven't figured it out yet.

Chris Bublitz

Courtney and I are only available for Friday - sad to miss the festivities on saturday!

I can bring some champagne, a 2005 Fevre Chablis GC Preuses, a mag of 1999 Beaune Vignes de L’Enfant Jesus and a surprise or two, likely Burgundy or Northern Rhône (not much of a Southern rhone Guy here). It will be something good, I promise!

Hey Noah -- awesome you will be coming on Friday! Will be great to see you and Courtney.

Tempting fate by opening a 1999 mag -- that year seems to be on a 50 year aging trajectory. But will be interesting to see where it is.

I am thinking now I may bring a non-Sauternes dessert wine on Friday night -- possibly a 2002 or 2005 Baumard Quarts de Chaume.

Plus a half bottle or two of Sauternes on Saturday, why not.

Is it better to double up or to avoid duplicates? For Saturday, I could match Chris' '98 Haut Brion and '98 La Fleur Petrus. Alternatively, I can bring '98 Mouton and a different '98 right banker. With 30+ people, doubling up looks desirable. In any event, for an older wine I intend to bring '76 Ducru-Beaucaillou from the same batch that was beautiful last summer.

Doubling up sounds like a decent idea to me given the sheer number of people that will be there. Also, it is always interesting to compare bottles of the same wine. But I defer to more experienced members of the board. I am tempted to just say that either way we win.

My Leoville Poyferre vertical feels a bit random with others bringing such great 1998s. I can't compete in that realm since I have no 1998s laid down, but if others want to add on to the Poyferre vertical be my guest.

I think of having two bottles each of two of the best 1998 Bordeaux sounds like a great idea. That way everyone will have a chance to sample them - and no one will be shut out of the chance to have a taste.

I will bring a bottle to add to marcs' Leoville Poyferre vertical - the 1990.

Chris Bublitz

I've got Thursday night down, now I have to start thinking about Friday and Saturday night.
The only 1998 I have is Pape Clement.
I was thinking about a 1982 Branaire as well.
I would bring a 1989 Lynch but it would be just a waste, this wine is in a dark place right now.
I'll bring some Sauternes for sure.
I have three bottles left of those beautiful 2001 Prums and Donnhoffs, perhaps one or two for Friday night?

OK, for Saturday I will bring

1998 La Mission Haut-Brion to match with Ed THIS IS A CORRECTION
1998 La Fleur Petrus to match with Chris
1998 Angelus to match with Ed

I'll scratch the 1976 Ducru-Beaucaillou unless I can fit it in somewhere in my luggage.

For Friday I am thinking about 2002 Drouhin Clos de Vougeot and a Grand Cru Burgundy from the 1990s; probably 1996. I have a lot of 1999 but I don't think the '99 GC are ready; not even those in my warm storage. 2002s are more approachable.

I will bring two bottles of 1998 Pape Clement.

This will result in a 1998 contingent of 2 bottles each of:

1998 Haut Brion
1998 La Fleur Petrus (yum)
1998 Angelus
1998 Pape Clement
1998 Ducru Beaucaillou
Plus one bottle each of:
1998 Conseillante
1998 L'Evangile (Baby doll)
1998 Figeac
1998 Pavie (Can't wait)
1998 La Mission

JimHow wrote:I will bring two bottles of 1998 Pape Clement.

This will result in a 1998 contingent of 2 bottles each of:

1998 Haut Brion
1998 La Fleur Petrus (yum)
1998 Angelus
1998 Pape Clement
1998 Ducru Beaucaillou
Plus one bottle each of:
1998 Conseillante
1998 L'Evangile
1998 Figeac
1998 Pavie

Wow, epic! 14 total bottles on the horizontal, with eight from the great right bank vintage. If we stay around 30 people that will give everyone plenty to choose from. Then when you're tired of 1998, a four bottle vertical of Leoville Poyferre with the four best vintages over the twenty years between 1983 and 2004 (90-96-2000-03), and the 1995 LMHB from Nicklasss. And that's just with 8 of 30+ attendees reporting in, so there's probably more to come. You guys know how to party!

No matter what wine I drink there's always a little voice in the back of my head whispering "it doesn't count if it ain't red Bordeaux". This is going to be an ultimate red Bordeaux night!

Add a bottle of 1998 La Mission to your list Marcus!

2 bottles each of:
1998 Haut Brion
1998 La Fleur Petrus (yum)
1998 Angelus
1998 Pape Clement
1998 Ducru Beaucaillou
Plus one bottle each of:
1998 Conseillante
1998 L'Evangile (Baby doll)
1998 Figeac
1998 Pavie (Can't wait)
1998 La Mission

Indeed, this list is from less than one-third of the participants of Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts... The greatest wine website in the world. Expect far more to come!

with eight from the great right bank vintage.

Indeed, Marcus, but I think most experts included Graves/Pessac in there as well in 1998 along with the Right Bank. I've never had the 1998 Haut Brion, a wine I always wanted to try. And that 1998 La Fleur Petrus is just amazing, I haven't had it in a decade.

Amazing selection of 1998 for Saturday. And Friday is also shaping very well.

But like always, I'll be looking forward to meet old friends and especially all the new ones I never met yet, like Marcs and Noah.

Ah, BWE.

Nic

You have met Marcus, Nicola. Noah we have never met, looking forward to it.

You know, the Hair-Medoc produced very good wines at the high end in 1998. I am happy that we have the Ducru. Maybe later responders will bring some other excellent 1998 H-M.

Friday, a white burg (Meursault) and more. I also could bring champagne but it looks like we are in good shape. Having a rough Eldercare time right now so looking forward to a night of relaxation and friendship.

CORRECTION. I do not have 98 Haut-Brion. I do have 98 La Mission Haut Brion. So for Friday and Saturday I will bring

Friday

2002 Drouhin Clos Vougeot
2002 Potel Clos St. Denis
1996 Jacques Prieur Clos Vougeot

Saturday

1998 La Mission Haut Brion
1998 Angelus
1998 La Fleur Petrus

Looking forward to meeting everybody. My impression from Board Status is that Jim is like 8 feet tall.

Jim - if you’re bringing Riesling on Friday, happy to coordinate a flight.

I think my Burgundies will likely be a game-time decision - more fun that way!

Some German Riesling would be a nice addition to the mix.

Chris Bublitz

OK Noah I will bring these two 2001 Germany wines and a red Burgundy for Friday night!

NoahR wrote:Looking forward to meeting everybody. My impression from Board Status is that Jim THINKS HE IS 8 feet tall.

corrected that for you

Wow, Marcus, I think you are making the common mistake of confusing me with the internationally renowned and beloved Jimmy "B.H." How. Jimmy "H.B." How doesn't exist....
As for myself, I am simply a kind and benevolent dictator with nothing to prove, just trying to run a humble wine web site and spreading the generosity and goodwill of BWE, which has been around for 18 years now, hundreds of BWE relationships before you were even a twinkle in our eye, hundreds of thousands of posts before you joined our humble site....

Damn good Rieslings Jim

Looking forward to drinking them, Glenn, those 2001 Germans have been stunning. Hey we hope to catch you at a BWE dinner sometime soon, it has been too long!

Lest I be considered a slacker for bringing only 1 bottle Friday, I'll add a bottle of German Riesling to complement Jim's offering:
2001 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Reisling Auslese Goldkapsel

Looking good!

JimHow wrote:OK Noah I will bring these two 2001 Germany wines and a red Burgundy for Friday night!

To match and compare to the Jim's JJ Prum G.H. Spatless, I will bring a Auslese 10 years younger!

2011 Prum JJ Graacher Himmelreich Auslese


Jean-Fred

.... Finally with the German

Friday Night:

Domaine Gros Frère et Soeur Richebourg GC 2001
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese 2011

Saturday Night

2 x Ducru Beaucaillou 1998

Jean-Fred

Friday: 2001 Dönnhoff Niederhauser Hermanshöhle Spätlese, 2002 JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese

Saturday: 1998 Pavie, 1976 Y-something-or-other. Plus battle of 2 vintages in dispute of an obscure Médoc to determine once and BWE forever which is better.

Stu

Looking forward to trying 1998 Pavie at the 20 year mark.
Of course a lot of skeptics thought early on that it would fall apart with age.
Looks like we have a fun little German thing going on Friday night!

Friday night, we'll feel more like in Köln than Washington DC! But i like it!

I still need to precise at least one more bottle for Friday and Saturday. But it already look crowded.

Nic

We should have plenty of people on both nights

Based on the above, our Friday night lineup for reds so far (outside the Rieslings and Champagne) is --

1988 Beaucastel 3L
2000 Beaucastel
2003 Clos Des Lambrays
1995 Laurent Echezeaux
2002 Drouhin Clos Vougeot
2002 Potel Clos St. Denis
1996 Jacques Prieur Clos Vougeot
2001 Domaine Gros Frère et Soeur Richebourg GC
1978 Jaboulet Les Cedres CdP (recent release and excellent - you haven't lived until you have 1978 CdP)
1998 Potel Bonnes Mares
1995 Vieux Telegraphe
2005 Vieux Telegraphe La Crau
1999 Beaune Vigne de L'enfant Jesus Magnum

This is 16 bottle equivalents of red, we could probably fill it out a bit more. I may bring another bottle or two, and someone above mentioned bringing a bit of Bordeaux so Noah doesn't miss out on what BWE is all about.

For Friday night, I will be bringing a 1990 Beaucastel, a 2012 Meursault Genevrieres and a 2003 Clos de Bez.

Chris Bublitz