Comtesse, Dal Forno, the Stones, a perfect summer night.

[JimHow]

I treated my family and a couple lawyer friends to a night with Mick and the boys this past Sunday evening in Foxboro, Mass.
It was just a perfect night of weather, and the old boys can still bring it as well as ever.
Quite inspiring, actually, they looked like they were having fun up there and the 60,000 in attendance certainly were.
Two cancer survivors and Mick just, what, two months off of open heart surgery.
We tailgated out in the parking lot before the show, my brothers pulled out the grill and my sister in law had all kinds of fancy side dishes.
My brothers and I were big 1970s rockers, my brother Tom still has his large vinyl collection.
The weather could not have been better, hot in the afternoon but a gentle breeze and no humidity made for just perfect concert viewing as the sun went down.
It was fun to introduce my niece Samantha to the Stones catalogue, in fact it is always good to see a healthy percentage of younger people at these concerts, this was my sixth Stones concert and I think the last three have been the best, they just seem to be getting better with multiple banquitoings, it has been a VERY long plateau of maturity, with still a very good core of fruit, if the tannins now perhaps softening just a bit.
I pulled out my last bottles of 2006 Lagrange and 2004 Clerc Milon, both in a very good place.
That Lagrange really just kept getting better with each bottle that I pulled from the case, and the twelfth was the best, with that "light on its feet" character of the 2006 vintage, a beautiful expression of St. julien.
The 2004 Clerc Milon was also like other recent bottles. I would say that the first six bottles I had from the case were rough and rustic, almost painful, but somewhere along the way, maybe five years ago, this turned into a Pauillac beauty. Again, last bottle from my case, but I am replenishing my Clerc Milon stock these days (more on that in an upcoming post).
I pulled out a 2010 Dal Forno Romano Amarone.. OMG. We uncorked this at a BWE convention a couple years ago and the 17% was just too much. But on this occasion, wow, wow, wow! 100 points. Wow... Just wow. Tommy in DC/CO once opined at my house that Dal Forno perhaps sould be consumed on the younger side and I think he's right. At age nine this wine just smoothed out splendidly, with so much going on, like an eight minute rendition of Midnight Rambler.
Keith has really put on a pot belly but like someone commented, he's never looked healthier!
Ronnie is such a force up there on stage, your eyes are always drawn to him, very underrated on guitar.
Charlie is serene as ever, flashing that occasional wry smile up on the big screen that warms up the whole stadium.
They got a new younger girl joining Mick up at center stage for Gimme Shelter, she's sassy and hits all the high notes, not just faking it, Lisa Fischer was ready to move on.
The 2014 Pichon Lalande was a beast, big and oaky but it was quickly consumed with the beef and chicken treats being cooked up on the grill as we turned up the Stones sound track on our speakers in the cacophany of noise in the teeming acres of parking lots outside of the House that Brady/Belichick/Kraft built.
I uncorked my last bottle of 2010 La Tour Carnet, loved it! Still young but great fruit, black/purple, I poured seven plastic cups full for the walk from our cars to the stadium, i mean come on, you can get dry walking that quarter mile or so...
I gave Tom and Barb my last bottle of 2004 La Lagune for their room after the show, I couldn't stay up and party with the rest of them as I had to get back to Lewiston for a bankruptcy hearing at 10am.
Good times, I thought the Rolling Stone magazine review of the concert was spot on:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... er-856257/

The boys are as rough and ragged as ever, but in the end they are true professionals.
They bring it every night, not just sometime when they feellike it, like these newer performers.
(I once went to a Ja Rule concert and he showed up three hours late and performed for 40 minutes.)
They don't give the tickets away, but, hey, you can't bring it with you, and I wouldn't trade the experience of family, great wine, and great classic music for a minute!
Bordeaux, the Stones, and a spectacular midsummer night with family and friends in New England.
Life is good!

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... er-856257/

[stefan]

I used to think that whiskey was more appropriate for a Stones' concert, but now with little time left and many bottles unopened I don't want to go a day without wine.

With the 2006 Lagrange still improving you need to buy some more, Jim.

Damn! A fly just drowned in my glass of 2016 Ken Wright Canary Hills PN. Should I drink the rest of the glass or open something else? This was my last bottle (yes I drink young wines, too).

[dstgolf]

Jim,

Memories like that are priceless and all for the price of a second growth for an unforgettable night rocking with family and friends. Sounded like a fabulous time. Glassware could have been better and no fish to help the Tour Carnet down was a little disappointing to read!

[JimHow]

Ha i thought of you while I was uncorking that La Tour Carnet Danny.
Yeah I upgraded those tickets which were from when the show was originally scheduled in early June before Mick had his heart surgery.
A blessing in disguise at least for the fans, the weather was absolutely perfect.
The new tickets closer to the stage were first growth prices but you are right nonetheless, worth every penny. Great memories.

[Nicklasss]

Great report Jim. Happy to read you had lot of fun with family and friends.

That 2004 Clerc Milon is just too good.

This week, with Alex/Mélanie and all the kids, a priceless week. We're just drinking too much Champagne but hey, we're on holidays. Alex and me kind of figure that you can drink Champagne at any hour of the day, with almost anything.

Rosé de Saignée LarmandierBernier was so dry and mineral. Wow, with strawberries and that serious body of Pinot noir. Labruyere Prologue Grand Cru was more classic, with yeast, bread crust, great fruit. Delicious.

Nic

[jal]

So fun! Good for you Jim!
I have never ben to a Stones concert. I had tickets to see them at Shea Stadium in 1988 but had to go to Chicago on a last minute business trip and so Jill took a friend. I regret it to this day.

[DavidG]

Wonderful gathering. I’ve seen the Stones twice. In the 80s and about 15 years ago. Amazing that they can still bring the energy.

[spikegrhm]

Jim , I just finished packing (I am near Destin , Fl.) to travel to New Orleans to see the Stones this weekend. I then happened to read your post. Oddly enough, I had already packed 2005 Clerc Milon for the trip as well as a bottle of Old Grandad bourbon (seemed appropriate). WE plan to eat at Mandina's and Brightsen's over the weekend. We have a guide to fish on Friday for redfish on Friday which will almost certainly be a rain-out. However, back to the wine...I will report back when I return. Spike

[JimHow]

Very well done indeed, Spike.
We lucked out, it rained torrentially up here on Saturday evening, but the next night was spectacular, it was just a perfect evening.
Looking forward to your report.

[Claret]

Saw The Stones 3 times. Tatoo You tour opener in Philly was loud and intense. Two other times at Giants Stadium, with Chrissy and Pretenders once stealing the show! Gimee Shelter with a great vocalist and a perfect mix was one of my all time concert moment bests and I have seen hundreds of concertsl!!!

[Racer Chris]

The first high school dance I went to, actually I was still in 8th grade, had a band that was made up of older students at the Catholic high school. They played Brown Sugar and Jumpin' Jack Flash, and made me a fan of the Stones forever.

[Jay Winton]

Sounds like a fun night. I just finished a visit with my 92 year old father and brother; family times are indeed special. I think Jagger's heart scare rejuvenated the band as they are now quite aware that nothing lasts forever. In their prime, not quite the Who as a live act but a fine band especially the Mick Taylor era, a truly underappreciated guitarist.

[AKR]

Incredible. Sometimes I sneak wine into our ski lunch bags, but even them I'm nervous imbibing when doing high energy sports.

IIRC, the band Rush is quite into BDX as well.