Birthday bash @ Bern's

Bern's Steakhouse (Tampa)
Tasted Saturday, April 26, 2014 by MC2 Wines with 315 views

Introduction

Wonderful surprise trip to Bern's for my birthday! It was our first time, but we were lucky enough to go with two regulars who knew how to maximize the experience. Highlights might be the visit to the 100k bottle cellar and the '98 Grange, but everything was good.

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

  • 2004 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvée Théo

    France, Alsace

    No detailed notes on this as we drank it at dinner. I remember thinking it was a heavier Riesling - very dry, but with strong floral component and the perception of fruit which led it to come across as a bit softer. Paired well with a lobster sushi roll. Overshadowed quite a bit by the wines that came after, but makes sense as they were also different price points.

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  • 1998 Penfolds Grange 97 Points

    Australia, South Australia

    I should preface this by saying that a '98 Grange is one of my bucket wines and the expectations were pretty high. I'm happy to say this one really delivered. It's still a baby (funny that a 16 year old wine is, but that was clear). Drank over the course of a few hours and wish we'd thought to give it more time since it evolved quite a bit. An intense wine without being overpowering, it had all flavors. Deep dark black fruit, cinnamon, pepper, earth, meat.... This wine overshadowed everything else we had at dinner (either on the plate or in the glass). Just stunning. Can't wait to try ours, but given this experience will prob need to wait ten more years.

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  • 1983 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Paired against the Grange in a Syrah taste-off. Was originally going for the Guigal, but unfortunately supply had run out and so we had to find a back-up. A very meaty wine - has some of the funk that I associate with Northern Rhones, but relatively light on it's feet. Get some olives, bacon, damp earth. Paired with a chateaubriand pretty well. I was partial to the Grange, but this was a good wine.

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  • 1972 Graf von Plettenberg Kreuznacher Hinkelstein Ruländer Auslese Eiswein

    Germany, Nahe

    Drank in the dessert room at Bern's. Our first eiswein (or true one from Germany anyway). Quite a bit of the sweetness had faded with time as had some of the acidity. Came across as mostly tart - a bit like a lemon with just a touch of the kerosene flavor that Rieslings sometimes have. It was a decent wine, but again, hard to compete with the Grange.

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Closing

Fun to finally visit the legend. Prob a bit more skewed towards Bordeaux than our tastes go, but still interesting. No specific note, but also tried a 1908 Madeira. Amazing how youthful! Was a fun evening (almost 5 hour dinner).

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