I'm sorry to hear that the T-Reps won't be able to make it on the 14th.  However, it is the best day for me (I'm taking Karen to dinner the day before for her birthday.)  The only problem with Lavandeau is the $14 a bottle corkage fee.  Dean would probably cut us a break.  However, in order that we get it together, I will commit to the 14th lmost anywhere.  If the Herrings, James, and others can make it, I think we should get it arranged.  I'd also like to try to invite some of the folks who I've had wine with from the WS group that many of you know.

 

It would also be nice if Alex and/or Julie could make it.  How about you PoolBoy?  

Norm,

 

Actually, I'm seeing if I can interest some of the folks from the WS board.  Jace has expressed interest, and maybe PH and/or kimkelv may be interested as well.  I've also asked Michael M if he is interested. 

 

So far it seems the Crü is falling apart for the time being, but that is to be expected in these times and with small kids some of them have.  I'm sorry Rich can't make it.  I'll contact you as soon as I know more, but at a minimum, I'd love to have dinner with you and Joyce.  There is that bottle I'm saving for your retirement dinner with the Crü . . .

Norm,

 

I've made a reservation for 6 people at 7pm at Lavandeau.  Hopefully Jace will be able to come, and Alex is checking if he and maybe Julie can come.  Unfortunately T-Rep can't and Kevin from the WS boards is doing babysitting duty so he can't either.  I've sent an e-mail to PurpleHaze to see if he wants to attend.

OK-- sounds good-- thanks Din

 

I'll bring a brunello and something else- maybe rhone

OK-- I had to wait a day as we had 8 wines for the 6 of us and I'm not sure my notes made any sense on Sunday but here goes--Great company as Jace, Mike and Mike's wife Mary joined Cru members dinwiddie and me Saturday night at Lavandou

 

My impression was that this was a night where the wines took over and the food was an afterthought- don't get me wrong ,good food but it just filled in between servings of spectacular wine.

1. 1979 Guigal Cote Rotie -Brune Blonde- two 1/2 bottles and they were very different

The first bottle had a very bad cork that had to be dug out - but come out with bright coloration, tobacco and floral (violets) my wife says witha metalic finish- if you've got it drink it now

The second bottle- the cork was also difficult and it was slightly musty out of the bottle but not corked- alos good color and the nose wasn't to my liking  due to the old cork smell but it wasn't plummy or bricky

 

 

2. 99 La Chapelle Hermitage- beautiful wine- nose of spring air - floral after a minute or two, no tannin so its fully open, smooth all the way to the back of the mouth- gone too soon.

 

3. 99 Val de Sug Brunello- Wow- needed about 5 minutes to open with some tannin still evident, smoothed out to a ripe attack of dark fruit ,pepper, and  kick at the throat to let you know it still had somthing to say on the way down- this wine went in minutes and we all wanted more in fact there was an attempt to milk the bottle

 

4. 99 Clos Martinet Priorat-- Yum- Generally smelled of a light clove, and spread over the tongue like a dark blanket of warm cherry and again let you know it was 15% alc at the back of the mouth --Mike says he has more so we all said we'll meet at his place

 

5. 04  (notes are getting a little rough here) Cozes- Hermitage/Remizieres-- needed some time in the glass- I held it about 20 minutes and it steadied as it was a smooth rolling taste but not brilliant and the ripe plum dominated then faded to a lovely orchard of ripe fruits

 

6. 95 Beau- Sejour/ Becot-- I wished I had paid more attention to this wine as I got a short first pour and found it to need a little time and when I got back to it it was gone

 

7. 96 Montrox ( handwriting gone to hell about here) lush wine with a mowed hay and lilly nose- , my opinion is that this wine is ready now and can't take  much more time in the bottle- depends on storage but the intial fruit and floral body lost it's essence in about 10 minutes- could have been my fuzzy tongue at this time but I say on the decline

 

8 05  Unti Dry Creek Zin- 14.9 alc with 85% zin and was a ripping wine to set off some of the strong cheese as its power reawakened the taste buds and its nose was full of ripe fruit and the kick at the end let you know you were still alive

 

What a great line up and the proprietor hung arond the table all night and gave us his running commentary on the list and his wife even got into it with her promise of favors for more of the La Chapelle- alas it was gone too soon-My WOTN the 99 Brunello

 

The wife- light drinker drove home

I can't add much to Norm's notes, I was doing good to write them all down.  Couple of corrections, the remaining Clos Marinet Priorat is in my cellar, not Mike's.  I think I have two bottles left.My WON was definitely the Brunello.  What a fantastic wine.  And unfortunately Norm got it in Italy and doesn't think you can get it here.  

1979 Guigal Cote Rotie -Brune Blonde had very musty corks, and they did fall apart, but the wine wasn't bricking at all and still had great color.  I too found the first bottle to be better than the first, but it was definitely a nice wine.

 

99 La Chapelle Hermitage had some licorice and berrys and smoke to it, not a lot, but very floral.

 

Cozes- Hermitage/Remizieres - cherry and tobacco with a mineral undertone.  Really nice wine.

 

95 Beau- Sejour/ Becot was my last bottle from the cellar of that vintage.  I wish I had more.  It was a little tight at first, but opened up with tastes of blackberry, cinnamon and a velvety finsh.

 

I didn't take detailed notes so most of the above is from memory but there wasn't a bad wine all night.  Definitely a night where the wines were center stage and kept the spotlight on them.  I don't think we rolled out of there until almost 11.

 

I've been trying to get Mike to come to one of these dinners, and now that he has, I hope to get him to attend more. He and I have been sharing wine for over 10 years, mainly when we end up at the same conferences, and I hope he enjoyed himself enough to want to do it again.