Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting

Departing from our normal tasting format, the group gathered on a Saturday and combined the tasting with dinner and a boeuf bourguignon showdown.

Casually sipped while we enjoyed a wonderful triple cream cheese and chicken liver pate, courtesy of R&R.

• 2021 Domaine Coursodon St. Joseph Blanc Silice 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

  Double blind. Pale color. Notes of pear and chamomile. Medium-bodied, showing mineral and orchard fruit on the palate. As it warms it begins to show a pleasant sweetness to the fruit, hinting at something just a little tropical in the finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Jean-Luc Jamet Côtes du Rhône Couzou 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  A touch deeper color than the first wine, showing a hint of toast along with or hard fruit and spice. Medium-bodied. Orchard fruit and unripe peach flavors with bright acidity. Very nice. 90+ pts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2010 Château Gloria 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Double blind. The darkest wind of the flight but this does appear to have a little age. Aromas of plum, iron, currents and a touch of tobacco. Red berry fruit and iron dominate the palate, and there’s a nice ripeness to the fruit. Medium tannins with a lingering finish. Guessed 2009 St. Julien.
  
  I believe this was merely double decanted off its sediment perhaps two hours before it was poured. (R&D)

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2010 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos des 60 Ouvrées 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Opens with a toasted note reminiscent of a burnt popcorn kernel. That blows off leaving abundant cherry, red berry fruit, tar and mineral notes. Flavors of cherry and red fruit. Medium bodied with a nice finish. There’s a meatiness here as well which has me wondering if it could be northern Rhone rather than Burgundy. Regardless, this is a lovely wine.
  
  The cork was pulled perhaps 45 minutes before the flight. (R&R)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2017 Van Duzer Pinot Noir Homestead Block 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Double blind. Lightest color of the flight. Opens with a baked cherry note, like cherry pie filling, along with dried herbs, potpourri and earth. Medium-bodied, with abundant red berry and cherry fruit, herb and pine flavors. Balanced; nice supporting acidity. Guessed Burgundy. 92+ pts.
  
  I believe the cork had been pulled just a short time before the tasting started. (J&J)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Blind. Crimson red color. As soon as my nose hit the glass I knew what this was as the first aroma is that signature bretty funk. Aromas of red fruit, plum and pepper with herbaceous elements poking through as well. Medium bodied. The palate follows the bouquet with abundant red fruit, garrigue and pepper. Long finish.
  
  This continues to show very well- without the roasted/raisiny qualities that other wines in this vintage can show. This was double decanted off its sediment about 2.5 hours before the flight was poured. It continued to drink well throughout the evening and paired very nicely with the bourguignons.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Château Malescot St. Exupéry 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Blind. Abundant dark fruit, with violet, cedar and perfume notes. Quite elegant, actually. Full-bodied, with medium+ tannins and flavors of black currants, raspberry and blackberry. Somewhat dense/chewy; could use some time yet. Finishes with good length.
  
  In such a small flight this was easy to pick out as our Margaux. Showing well, albeit still quite youthful, having been double decanted off its sediment five hours before the flight was poured.

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Château Gloria 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Double blind. Aromas of dark fruit, perfume and dried herbs with hints of iron underneath. The iron isn't prominent enough to make me think Graves...but this is very clearly Bordeaux. Full-bodied with firm tannins and good density. Finishes with length, showcasing more black fruit than red. Guessed 2010 Pauillac. I'd definitely give this a few years yet...maybe 2028+?
  
  This too had been simply opened and not decanted, I'd estimate three hours before the flight. Back in 2019 (longer ago than I thought) I opened a few 2016s and decanted them for 6+ hours and they were all tight as a drum. I was amazed by how comparatively "open" this was for the vintage, especially considering it wasn't decanted ahead of time. (R&D)

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Spring Valley Vineyard Cabernet Franc Katherine Corkrum 91 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Double blind. Crimson core with a bit of bricking. Aromas of tapenade, pepper and black fruit. Full-bodied. Flavors of black fruit, spice, clove, pepper and plum. There's a bit of acidity supporting the ripe fruit...old world? Guessed 2009 Châteauneuf. 91-92 pts. (J&J)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2010 Bouchard Père et Fils Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Lightest color of the flight. Aromas of tar, bacon fat, baked cherry and red berry fruit. Medium-bodied with flavors of cherry, mineral, white currant and raspberry. Picks up mineral and floral notes as it breathes in the glass. Wonderful silky mouthfeel with a lingering finish. Guessed Burgundy. I believe this was simply opened and allowed to breathe in bottle perhaps ninety minutes before the flight was poured.
  
  Very happy to see this unveiled and realize that we have five of these in the cellar. Drink now with a brief decant if you like your Burgundy on the younger side or continue to hold. There's a lot to love here...I'll try to hold off a couple of years yet- 2026+. (R&R)

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Wines from the two flights of reds were left on the table so that we could casually sip the wines with the bourguignons. The origin of this event went back to a previous Friday tasting during which I boasted about my bourguignon. J remarked that his version was also superb and so the idea of a showdown was born. We moved the event to a Saturday so that we could begin earlier and have ample time to spread out the courses.

As for the format, we would each make a batch and they would be served side-by-side. We were not disappointed and all left with full bellies...and kudos to J, who made the most silky, velvety sauce I have had...pro-level stuff. We did not discuss the wines and how well they paired with the stew as conversation had changed course by that time in the evening, but my favorites with the bourguignons, in no particular order, were the: Pegau, Spring Valley and '10 Gloria, though there was not a slouch in the entire lineup.

With a chocolate tart, courtesy of R&D, that was decadently rich yet incredibly light and finessed- a lovely match with the Niepoort.

• 1900 Niepoort Porto Colheita 94 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Double blind. Tawny color. Abundant toffee and roasted nut aromas, with caramel and stone fruit underneath. Flavors of toffee, pear and apricot with a long, lingering finish. This seemed so incredibly young, I thought it could be a high-quality 20- or 30- year tawny, or perhaps a young colheita.
  
  Into demijohn in 1955, bottled in 1972. Amazing- so very fresh and bright. The acidity was a perfect foil for the richness of the decadent chocolate dessert served alongside. Many thanks, J2, for sharing this rarity. (J&J)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Now, if someone in the group would just boast about truffles, foie gras or caviar...