What an experience. I along with fellow forumites from another BB got together at Steve and Rocky's. One of the forumites is really good friends with Steve (one of the owners). He sectioned off an area for us and allowed us to bring our own wine. WITHOUT CORKAGE! A couple of people came from Boyne City, another from Brighton and a couple from Novi. Some of the nicest people I have ever met. I've read about "offlines" before and thought they would be fun. It couldn't of been better. At first I was a little hesitant. Nah. I couldn't wait to go to this.
The lineup:
First we started off with two bottles of champagne to start the evening off.
--1995 Perrier-Jouet
...and then the wines.
--1996 Chateau Montelena "Mag"
--2001 Ridge Lytton Springs
--2001 Pride C.S. (2)
--2001 Munamthia
--2001 Neal Family C.S. (2)
--1999 Rosenthal C.S.
--2001 Shafer Firebreak
--2002 Marquis Phillips Intedrity WOW!
--1999 Puligny Montrachet
--2002 Rully 1st Cru "Gresigny"
...and after dinner.
--1999 KRACHER Scheurebe Trocken Beeren NO. 9 Auslese from Austria
The wine that gave me the biggest impression was the Marquis Phillips Integrity. This wine had flavors that I have never experienced before. If you can find this wine I would suggest it highly. Candy, sweet dark cherries, dense, thick and bold just to list a few. My memory is a little fuzzy. The bouqet hit me 10 inches from my nose and the finish never left. This doesn't have the oakey, ripe flavors of the regular bottling of their shiraz.
The Pride and the Neal were my other two favorites in no particular order. The Pride exhibited Casis, mocha, vanilla along with a thick syrupy feel in the mouth. A true classy wine. The Neal was a completely different style. More herbal green bouget with a style that seemed to me more like a Bordeaux style. At least this had fruit that was pretty evident.
The No. 9 Auslese was incredible. I usually don't like desert wines, but this was awesome.
Thank you Steve.
