1st Gro(w)th Nite at PRIMAs
PRIMA, Walnut Creek
Tasted Friday, April 30, 2010 by soyhead with 994 views
Introduction
...Bugle call...
Hear ye hear ye hear ye
On the thirtyth knight of April hath doth
Good friends assembelaged to imbybe
All the faymous great groths
It was the 2nd annual first gro(w)th night at PRIMA with a motley crue of entrepreneurs, physicians, and political hacks (with considerable overlap) in attendance. Prior to the event, the email thread discussing the evening was one of the lengthiest I have ever seen but it seems like whatever we decided on we wound up forgetting anyway.
The final list of acceptable wines was determined to be, on the left bank, Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut Brion (all 1855 classification), Mouton (elevated to first growth in 1973), and Groth (elevated to first groth in 2010). On the right bank we settled on Petrus, Lafleur, le Pin, Ausone, and Cheval Blanc. Money in the bank would enable one to bring a DRC Richebourg which John happily agreed to include but was vetoed by others. Peter prepared a special menu, and Lance stepped up to the plate to take care of our vinous needs at the table.
Ladies in attendance were Peggy, Steve, John, Bob, Jeff, Errol, Mario, Victor, Duane, and Kevin. Notably absent were Brian, due to an illness in the family, and JD. It was commented that in fact this was just a gathering of Mario and his future dialysis patients - i should hope not.
Everyone’s worst fears were confirmed when Duane showed up with some random bottle label intact, but all scribbed with black ink.
At this point, what to say? Bringing a Groth to first growth night? I mean heck, people have been erroneously put on the no fly list for a similar spelling stumble, certainly we could cut the doc some slack, no? And when it was hinted that it might be a 1996 Petrus and John jumped out of his chair and exclaimed with glee, 'i knew it!', all was forgiven in my mind.
This led to some polite grumbling from the cognoscenti - mind you some of us have tried the 1996 Petrus five times, thank you very much!
Having said that Jeff and Kevin both, to my amazement, picked it out to be a late 70's early 80's california cab, and they were right on. And what made you think that Duane would bring a Petrus, let alone a first growth to first growth night?
Some champagne and whites were served to start the evening which I detail below. I missed the Salon but I think I made it for the rest. Great food, ambiance, and above average company led to sensory overload, and i must admit i found tasting and evaluating these wines a challenge. I think many of us found keeping track of which wine was which to be an equal challenge, and as Lance pointed out, it wouldn't surprise me if a few new first groth cuvees/blends were inadvertantly created that night.
As usual the opinions below are mine only and the scores quite arbitrary, esp on a night like tonight where the overall experience is impossible to quantify. There were some great bottles tonight, and some special wines that i had for the first time ever - thanks to everyone for their generosity.
NV G. H. Mumm & Cie Champagne Mumm de Cramant 90 Points
France, Champagne
nose - dough, cherry
mouth - fresh and dry with plenty of the salinity that sets champage apart.
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