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Thursday Night Tasting Group

Tasted July 7, 2005 by slmral with 1,019 views

Introduction

The monthly, first Thursday tasting group had it's meeting at Bela's home to taste 2002 white Burgandies. These tastings are done single blind, in one flight. The wines were served at whatever temperature the bottles arrived, meaning slightly too warm for my tastes. After everyone had tasted and rated them, the bottles were revealed and the scores tallied. "Yeagers" were awarded for differences between an individual's placement and the group's placement. Low Yeager's mean either good agreement with the group, or unimaginative, middle of the road sameness, to others. Bread was on the table, and various cheeses were available.

Flight 1 - "Starter" wines (2 notes)

In keeping with a summer night on the porch, two bllind roses were poured. Neither were outstanding

Rosé
2003 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel La Dame Rousse France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Tavel
84 points
Nothing special. Starter wine for the Thursday night tasting group. Alcohol too high. Not to my taste.
Rosé
2002 E. Guigal Tavel France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Tavel
82 points
Bottle was probably cooked. Orange color suggested an older wine. Oxidized taste. Not very good.

Flight 2 - The Main Event (8 notes)

Everyone else had been instructed that the "theme" for the night was 2002 white Burgandies. I was only told "white Burgandies". Therefore, I ended up bringing the "ringer", a 1998. Most of the people had a tough time ranking these wines. Not a lot of difference top to bottom. As is typical, the first, seventh, and eighth were easier to pick out. The middle five were a problem.

White
2002 Yves Boyer-Martenot Puligny-Montrachet Les Reuchaux France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet
88 points
Light color, and light palate. Nice but subdued nose. My 4 out of 8 and the groups 5.
White
2002 Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
86 points
I found this to be a middle of the road Chardonnay. Light both in color and taste. The group liked it better than I. My 6 of 8 the groups 4th.
White
2002 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Vieilles Vignes France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
91 points
Thick, creamy, with loads of fruit. This was the WOTN. My number 1 of 8 and the groups number 1.
White
2002 Louis Jadot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Abbaye de Morgeot France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
90 points
Rich mouth feel. I noticed some oak. Good acid. My number 2 of 8. The groups number 6.
White
2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
90 points
Fresh, acidic, with noticeable mineral content. Most of the group thought Chablis. My number 3 of 8 the group's number 2
White
2002 Dujac Fils et Père Puligny-Montrachet France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet
82 points
I noticed a certain nutty quality in a rather poor wine. Devoid of fruit. My 8th of 8 and the groups 7th.
White
2002 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru Grande Cuvée France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
84 points
I noticed a dry citrus quality that I didn't find appealing. My 7th place of 8, but the group liked it much more than I and rated it at 3rd.
White
1998 Pierre Bitouzet Corton-Charlemagne France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
86 points
This is the one I brought to the tasting. The orginal memo to the others was for 2002 white burgandies. My instructions were for any white burgandy. The color alone made this one easy to pick out. Seemed to me to be past it's prime. Thick on the palate and slightly oxidizzed, this was only my 5th out of 8 at the tasting. The others liked it less and rated it the bottom wine of the night. If it wasn't mine, I might have agreed.

Flight 3 - Dessert Wines (1 note)

Two strange desert wines and a vintage Port were served blind. All provided lots of conversation, and a nice finish and match for the cherry cake.
One of the wines, Luva, was one with which I am completely unaware. The other, a Tokaji Aszu 3 Putts from 1979 was somewhat like drinking hard cider. It even looked like a hard cider in the glass. The port seemed to fit in with this odd mix. Sometimes those 100 pointers can be "foolers".

Red - Fortified
1992 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Portugal, Douro, Porto
84 points
Served blind. Those with some Port knowledge thought a young vintage port. Others, including myself, felt it was "port like". Everyone agreed it was hot and rough. None of us realized we were drinking a Parker 100 pointer! If I had any in the cellar, I wouldn't want to revisit for another ten years. Right now, it's just a brute.

Closing

Lessons learned -- No "really" bad wines in the lot. White Burgandies from 2002 still need more time to come togeter. White Burgandies from 1998 may be past their prime. Great vintage Porto needs to be old enough!

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