Welcome Noel to SF Brunch

Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA
Tasted Sunday, July 17, 2011 by theRealPepe with 1,195 views

Introduction

What a pleasure it was to meet Noel and some of our fellow Berserkers. We met Sunday morning at the Foreign Cinema for a variety of white wines, champagne and a few older California reds. Joining (Noel) LMD Ermitano were myself, Joel Galang, his wife Mia, Ed Kurtzmann, his wife Michelle, and original instigators Ashish Agrawal, Glenn Levine and his wife Linda. Foreign Cinema (FC) is well known for their brunch and it lived up to it's excellent reputation. We had an assortment of oysters, plus wonderful calamari appetizers and their special fresh fruit "pop tarts" along with delicious brunch entrees. I have divided up the wines into three flights as we opened whites, champagnes and then reds. However, all flights were started in quick succession and once opened, it was possible to enjoy any of the wines at any point. And we did! I brought a pad to write down my notes, but quickly realized our (lack of) format made too difficult to concentrate, and succumbed to simply enjoying the company, food and the wine. I hope some other have better notes or recollections.

Flight 1 - The Whites (4 Notes)

We opened these first. As noted below the Graillot was off the list. I'd drink it again, but not in the same company of wines. It was sadly out of place here. And the Rieussec? It was not out of place at all, and was a valuable lesson learned about the versatility of a Sauternes with excellent acidity. Thanks Glenn!

  • 2009 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Blanc

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    In screwcap. As the opener from the list it suffered in comparison to the other whites. At this point it seems on the leaner side of Marsanne, and its bouquet was a bit subdued.

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  • 2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

    My written note simply says "excellent", hee hee! I remember a fullish Chablis with oyster shell minerality, discrete lemon and some vanilla all wonderfully integrated. Classic wine.

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  • 1976 Dehlinger Chardonnay

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Tasted in a diverse group of whites, this was a revelation. Golden color with an intoxicating aromas of honeysuckle and butterscotch. The palate was filled with green apples sauteed in butter. Now I know why California winemakers went crazy in the '70s with the buttery Chardonnay thing. If they were always this good I'd be a big fan too.

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  • 1983 Château Rieussec

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Opened in the general scrum along with all the other whites and champagnes, the Rieussec held its own with oysters, small plates and, eventually, cheese and dessert. As my first '83, I found it to be classic Rieussec at its best: Lively acidity, luscious stone fruits, and zingy noble rot. It reminds me of the 1989 but more unctuous.

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Flight 2 - The Champagnes (2 Notes)

For my palate it was a mistake to get going on the bubbly after opening the whites. They were both outstanding but I couldn't focus on them while 3 whites with big personalities were on the table at the same time. Please someone add cogent notes here.

Flight 3 - Older California Reds (3 Notes)

Three reds from another era. They all had a great story to tell. Even though I brought the BV I was totally surprised by it's showing today.

  • 1974 Freemark Abbey Petite Sirah York Creek Vineyards

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    37 years old and still has a tannic punch to it! Brambly, tobacco aromas, reminiscent of rasberries and blackberries. On the palate gently stewed blackberries, red fruits, mineral and a bit of a tannic kicker. This magnificent wine screamed for red meat accompaniment; alas, I had truffled eggs.

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  • 1977 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir Chalone

    USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone

    This wine was all about the nose - perhaps the finest example I have had of a Pinot that screamed "California". The cola notes have dissolved into far more subtle spice aromas, and were backed up with trademark but restrained Cali earth and cherry. At first I found it tired on the palate, but it got more lively if never being much more then sturdy.

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  • 1960 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My birth year wine and a big surprise for me. It was a real lesson of what Napa Valley Cabernet is capable of, even in an off- vintage. 1960? Puh-leez. I find that I didn't take any notes on this one either but the impressions of pure cabernet fruit on the nose and palate linger. This was not a blockbuster but very, very pleasurable. I sure wish that I had bought more when I had the chance. Objectively this wine was excellent, perhaps a little better, but in the context of the tasting it was outstanding!

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Closing

Thanks again Glenn for suggesting an offline, and to Ashish and Ed for pulling off both brunch and dinner! It was a real pleasure to meet everybody, Berserkers and spouses, and it was wonderful that everybody was so generous in their wine contributions. We really need to do this more often, and I would love to help organize a late summer/early fall Choucroute/Alsatian fest. Michelle, start perfecting those sausages!

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