ESTG pandemic breaker

Everyone is fully vaccinated. At last, after dozens of zoom tastings and 16 months, it was time to get together for a wonderful steak dinner and mostly outdoor gathering.

While everyone arrived, we pitched, putted, watched Jason send smoke signals to outer space and enjoyed these wines.

• 2017 00 Wines Chardonnay VGW

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Mmm, delicious, so Burgundian it is nuts. I just love the mineral and flint on this.

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• 2019 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel Cuvée de la Reine des Bois

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Tavel

  Deeeeep color, lots of red berries on the nose but also with a smoky graphite. The palate is just bursting with red fruit, not candied, keep it cool, nice rose on the larger end of the spectrum.

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• 2000 Dom Pérignon Champagne Rosé

  France, Champagne

  Wow what a nose, exotic, almost wild. The palate is very energetic, equally complex, not generous, but more cerebral. Quite a wine and such a treat, thanks Bob & Christina!

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• 2014 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  This was a tough gearshift from the starters for me. Very, very Cayuse on the nose, very animal Syrah in that reductive way. The palate is dark, intense, smoky, but actually surprisingly light and energetic.

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Next we moved upstairs and started to sort out the wines. These were tasted before we sat down for dinner.

• 2005 Luis Pato Vinho Regional Beiras Vinha Pan

  Portugal, Beiras, Vinho Regional Beiras

  Wow, what a seriously cool wine. Great, WILD nose, feral, furry, lots of animal to this. The palate on the other hand is more cool, dark, sleek, more Burgundian than Rhone-ish. Fascinating wine!

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• 1976 Louis Latour Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches

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

  Very mature, sous bois, light cherry, very pretty, silky.

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• 2009 Dominique Laurent Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts Vieilles Vignes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  Fleeting taste here, very young, needs time.

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Time for steak and Bordeaux, nice flight!!!

• 1990 Château Lynch-Bages

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  From magnum. Right down the fairway, everything you want in Lynch Bages.

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• 1986 Château Gruaud Larose

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Mmm, leather, game and tobacco. Always an outstanding wine.

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• 1986 Château Rausan-Ségla

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Lighter and brighter than the other Bordeaux, somewhat austere, mineral, very Margaux.

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Then we moved to the Rhones, and more Châteauneuf-du-Pape kept appearing from the cellar.

• 2011 Marie et Pierre Bénetière Côte-Rôtie Cordeloux

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Olive, olive, and more olive. Painfully young but super serious Syrah.

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• 1998 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo

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

  Wow, wow, wow, late harvest Grenache, but spicy, loaded with garrigue, some RS, so much structure, really a truly unique wine.

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• 2011 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin

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

  What a great pop and pour from Jason, just mindblowing Mourvedre, an absolute laser of a wine and a stunning counterpoint to the 1998 Da Capo. I think I actually preferred this one, more classic really.

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• 1994 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée

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

  This wine is immortal, as classic an example of Châteauneuf-du-Pape as you can imagine. Absolutely love it!

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Finally a little rain chased us inside for dessert and a pair of dessert wines.

• 1971 Château Filhot

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Crazy upside down label. Lovely, mature Sauternes.

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• 1991 Warre Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Mmmm, a great way to close out the night. Surprisingly complex and mature for a youngster.

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So amazing to see everyone again after all this time!