 | | VinoCellar.com Wine Forums | |
| |
| | | Author | Messages | |
jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts:3504
 | | 10/10/2003 3:02 PM |
| I hope TJ doesn't mind me going ahead and starting this thread. Last night, williamsc (and brother), TJ, Corkage, dinwiddie and I went to Butterfield 9 last night to partake in some good vino, food and conversation. Highlights of the dinner include nice appetizers of duck spring rolls and foi gras, with entrees ranging from antelope, lamb to steak. We ended the night with cheese and dessert sampler plates.
For the inquiring minds, here's the lineup of the wines (the bottles were open at the restaurant and sat there without decanting for 30-45min):
NV Veuve Cliquot Magnum (JT 88pts)
- What can I add? It's like the Sam Adams commercial: "Always a good decision."
'95 Viader (JT 90pts)
- This wine took a little bit time to open up, but when it did, it was an elegant balance of earth and fruit.
'99 Ciacci Fabius (JT 94pts - WOTN for me)
- When I stuck my nose in the bottle to sniff, I had to smile. Dark decandent fruits in the nose with elements of pepper. Then after about 20 minutes in the glass, the wine opened up with flamboyant butterscotch notes. Very, very good.
'93 Signorello Cabernet (JT 92pts)
- I got aromas of black fruit reduction sauce, seaweed and iodine on the nose. TJ and I also detected a salty aroma/taste that added character to the wine. Balanced and earthy, a delicious drinking Cabernet now.
'99 Justin Isoceles (JT 92pts)
- This wine does everything it asks you to do. Well-balanced, generous on the palate, forward fruits. Solid wine.
'00 Peter Lehman Botrys Semilion 375ml (JT 90pts)
- A nice dessert wine to end the evening. Honeyed aromas with flavors of peaches and apples. Yum.
Thanks to all for bringing fantastic wines - JohnnyB, sorry we missed ya. Guys, feel free to add to these notes! | | | |
| dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2178
| | 10/10/2003 6:12 PM |
| I'm glad jamietown started this thread since I was afraid too feeling the way I did this morning.
NV Veuve Cliquot Magnum
I thought this was quite good. Toasty yet crisp. I've never been a big fan of the bubbly but this was very enjoyable. I'd say a solid 88-89 pts.
'95 Viader
- This was the first time I had ever had a Vaider and it was everything I thought it would be. Elegant, balanced, and very delicious. 91 pts.
'99 Ciacci Fabius
Also my WOTN. It was just outragous with the duck spring rolls. I kept coming back to the glass just to be able to sniff it. As it opened the butterscotch aromas became more pronounced. An absolutely wonderful wine. Full bodied, yet soft like a woman's carress. Smoky notes made this a joy to drink. 94 pts for sure.
'93 Signorello Cabernet
As it opened it had a slight sea air note to the nose. Fruity yet complex with flavors of black cherry, currant, anise and light oak. The tannins were soft, as one would expect with a CS of this age, yet full and firm. The finish fairly long. 90pts (Of course since I brought it, I was more familiar with this than the others)
'99 Justin Isoceles
- Excellent. Well-balanced lots of fruit, very tasty. Of course this was the last one I tasted except for the Semilion and by then I wasn't taking notes at all. 90pts
'00 Peter Lehman Botrys Semilion 375ml
- Not at all bad. Sweet of course, and I wonder if we should have opened it with the fois gras. Tastes of apples and pears. 90pts
Service was everything we could have asked for, they gave us plenty of appropriate glasses and the food service was efficient and discrete. We did not lack for anything in the service area.
It was fully to watch the som., a youngish (to me at least, not so much to the others) lady who we gave tastes of everything. (Except the champagne, the waiter got the last glass of that) Thought she could have comped at least one of the corkage fees.
All in all a great night. Had fun and actually mad it home in one piece, even if I did almost hit a deer driving home from the metro. (And I will never be able to see a turtle again without thinking of the turtle story that got told. lmao) | | | |
| Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 10/10/2003 6:59 PM |
| Gents-
Nicely Done. I'll echo your very good notes with just a couple of adds
My WOTN was definetly the 99 Ciacci Fabius. The nose when first opened had a hint of green pepper which eventually subsided into butterscotch. Truely an awesome accompainyment with the Duck spring rolls.
NV Veuve Cliquot: always good, Citrus and earth. Pouring a Magnum is just sooo much fun.
95 Viader: I found it a joy to taste this wine all the way through the evening and note the changes in tannis and the uncovering of more subtle floral notes.
93 Signorello: This showed very well after a half hour in the glass however I went through three small glasses in that time. The heat on the finish disapeared over time and was replaced with nice lingering finish.
99 Isoceles: Big fruit up front, well constructed tannins. A very comforting wine, I could have handled another bottle.
00 Lehman Barosa Semillion: lots of tropical fruit up front, green apples, pinapple. Decent desert wine for the price.
The Lamb was very good and I woke up this morning wishing I has some more of those duck spring rolls. Brian and I commented that the Cheese plate was a bit of a travesty for such a restaurant as Butterfield 9 but tasty none the less. I think by the end of the night our Som. was bit looped as it was clear she was trolling the restaurant for free tastes. I don't think Corkage gave up his jumper cables to some stranded rest. employee but if he had that would have been the selfless act of the night.
I must have heard that turtle story 10 times and I always manage to almost wet myself each time. I'll let Fred Jr. know you all enjoyed it. Thanks everyone.
| |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
| Corkage
Grape Puncher
Posts:975
| | 10/10/2003 6:59 PM |
| My WOTN: Syrah, then tie between Signarello and Justin (although very different), then Viader. I thought the wines were alot like a horse race, the Viader broke to the front of the pack at first, but as the mules hit the last 1/4 mile, the Syrah was out a few lengths and the Signarello was pulling in front of the Viader while the Justin was moving up quickly outside.
The champagne got me buzzed.
Yeah our som was very friendly and comfortable bringing her glass back around (we were in fact encouraging her). But she should have comped some corkage instead of charging us to a "T". She did comp my valet parking when I offered to give that girl my jumper cables...
williamsc, you and your bro are a hoot, the turtle story will live on as one of the best.
See you guys soon, I do want to pop the Rochioli PN we let sit on the table unopened..... | | | |
| Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 10/10/2003 7:04 PM |
| "You won't believe the size of the Turtle I just hit! It was at least as wide as my tire!"
I'm dying here! | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
| jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts:3504
| | 10/10/2003 7:28 PM |
| Good times, good times!
I also thought we were generous with our wines with the Som - I was a little disappointed that there was no comps for our meal...
Dinwiddie, the ball is in your court for the next off-line! | | | |
| dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2178
| | 10/10/2003 7:55 PM |
| | OK. Since Tuesday, November 11 is Vets day, should we try for Monday 11/10, that way we can sleep in the next day, something I wish I could have done this morning. | | | |
| Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 10/10/2003 8:11 PM |
| | I'm working Vetrans day but I can play through the pain. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13711
| | 10/10/2003 9:12 PM |
| Awesome evening once again. It's good that we have a great local Crue to do this. I'd always envied the NJ dudes, the CA dude and even Otis' Chicago Crue. But, we're the DC Crue, and we RULE. heh heh
Here are my comments on the wines --
NV Veuve Cliquot Magnum -- I suck at rating champagne. But this was what I expected it to be -- quite tasty and a great way to kick things off. I'll agree with the 87-89 range suggested here.
1995 Viader
1999 Ciacchi Fabius (Favius?)
This was also my WOTN. Outstanding.
1993 Signorello
1999 Justin Isosceles
2000 Peter Lehman Botrys Semilion -- this was really pretty good. I was starting to enter palate fatigue (or brain fatigue!) so I'll agree with JT's comments here. It was pretty good.
All in all an excellent evening. I am still a little surprised that they didn't comp us even a single bottle of corkage fees and also that they charged double for the magum (is that typical?). Ah well, stilla great evening despite that.
The food was excellent and I am lamenting the fact that I did not try the foie gras, too. It looked sublime. But, I did get my espreso fix! Woo-hoo! The only downside to the evening (aside from me being late) was the metro ride back -- had to wait 27 minutes for a connecting train. Oy!
But we gotta keep this up, gents. It's too much fun not too. Especially if 'Fred's' brother (Brian?) keeps us laughing with more storeies like the turtle. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 10/10/2003 11:30 PM |
| | It looks like a great time was had by all! Thanks for the notes all. | | | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13711
| | 10/11/2003 12:06 AM |
| | I'll have pictures up on ofoto shortly (tonight or this weekend). Anyone wants access, PM me your email address. I don't have a place to host these on the web directly or I'd supply a link... | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13711
| | 10/16/2003 2:19 AM |
| Pictures (what few I took) are now available. I made them accessible to those who asked and a few more who's emails I had...  | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
| ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 10/16/2003 3:03 AM |
| | thanks tj! | | | |
| Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11879
| | 10/16/2003 9:12 AM |
| Good shots TJ.
Don't forget to occasionally turn the camera around and shoot the shooter! | | | |
| ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 10/16/2003 11:40 AM |
| suicide by camera  | | | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13711
| | 10/16/2003 12:41 PM |
| You beat me to it, Ant.
Ow my eye! | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
| Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11879
| | 10/16/2003 2:58 PM |
| Well, shoot figuratively, anyway. 
IA.. his arms are so long, he could possibly miss! | | | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 10/16/2003 11:52 PM |
| Ahh could some one give me the address for ofoto...please.
EDIT: DOH ! Got it sorted, thanks TJ.
More edits- looked like a fun time by all. Cheers TJ. Jaimetowns eyeball- nice descriptor! | | | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13711
| | 10/17/2003 1:56 AM |
| ok ok more pics at the next event, but Renoir-Revlis I am not.  | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
|
| | You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
| |
ActiveForums 3.7 |
| |
| |
|
| | Proposed Change to American Viticultural Area Naming Standards Monday, March 10, 2008
| Wine Primers - Links to Your Wine Education Tuesday, February 12, 2008
| Wine Country Report: Day trip to the Willamette Valley Monday, February 11, 2008
| VinoCellar's Favorite Wine Links Saturday, February 09, 2008
| Wine Retailer Reports - Thanks Winetex! Monday, February 04, 2008
|
|
| |
| |
| |  | Membership: |  | Latest:pitch9 |  | New Today:1 |  | New Yesterday:0 |  | Overall:2056 |
 | People Online: |  | Visitors:88 |  | Members:5 |  | Total:93 |
|
|
| |
| |
|