Library Bistro Offline

Seattle, WA, USA
Tasted Monday, March 24, 2003 by Eric with 1,529 views

Introduction

Peter Finkelstein came to Seattle, and that sparked an offline with 11 folks (Eric & Suzi LeVine, Roy Hersh, Jason Goldberger, Tracy Leonard, Dave Browing, Barbara Lagarde, Clint & Diana Hall, Michael Gordon,and Peter) at the Library Bistro (in the Alexis Hotel where the former Painted Table was for many years). They served us a very tasty 5 course Prix Fixe with corkage waived, thank you David LeClaire! And of course, let me extend a great BIG thanks to Jason for organizing this fine shindig! The theme of the night was WTDS, Wines That Don't Suck.

Flight 1 - 1) WHITE FLIGHTS (4 Notes)

Sadly I didn't taste any of the following four wines:

1993 Blanc de Lynch Bages
1997 Tim Adams Semillon "Barrel Fermented"
1998 L'Ecole No. 41 Semillon "Barrel Fermented"
1999 Chinook Semillon

That said, what I did taste was lovely. First some Riesling heaven...

  • 1997 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg

    France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

    On this nose this had strong elements of petrol or was that overly microwaved Barbie Doll? A very distinct plastic smell. Hiding in there was some lemon. On the palate this was clean and simple with some citrus notes. A bit disappointing.

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  • 2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 90 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    My bottle. No disappointment here. A very clean, mineral element on the nose. On the palate this was an explosion of sugar, lemon, minerals and a bunch of other stuff I am too lame to pick out. Nice acidity. Yummy! Need to get some more!

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  • 2001 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    Not to be outdone by the Prüm, this one was similarly explosive with stunning acidity and freshness and a long, sweet finish. Both of these German 2001's really knocked my socks off!

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  • 2001 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Eroica

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    This one had a very tough act to follow, but I thought it held up pretty well. Similar plastic notes (I have been told that this is something that not everyone smells and which I apparently am overly sensitive to) to the Weinbach, but on the palate this is crisp with nice minerality and less sugar. It matched up very well in my opinion with the Halibut and asian fermented black beans.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

Now we move onto the heavier whites.

  • 1999 Domaine Marc Roy Marsannay Les Champs Perdrix Blanc

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay

    A nose of toasted filberts, lots of wood. On the palate this is clean with some citrus notes and really, REALLY nice body, and more spiciness from that toasty oak. Powerful finish. Very nice!

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  • 2000 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane 88 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    My bottle. This is often called the benchmark of Viognier, and for some folks it didn't disappoint. The nose was spicy, racy, and floral with some (IMHO) overt notes of wood. On the palate this was even more exotically spicy and creamy. That said, for my taste the wood was too intense. After those fresh, clean German wines I found this overbearing. (Thank goodness there wasn't any California Chardonnay at the tasting!)

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Flight 3 - 2) RED FLIGHTS (2 Notes)

First we started with some Pinot.

  • 1996 Gérard Mugneret Vosne-Romanée

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée

    Earthy, kirsch-like notes on the nose. Great body and acidity, simply lovely with the duck. Powerful, lingering finish that keeps you coming back. Nice bottle of Burgundy!

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  • 2001 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Canary Hill Vineyard

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Toasty oak on the nose. On the palate this is quite warm with alcohol, simple cherry fruit, and not much apparent acidity. Jason likened it to cherry cough syrup, and I think this is right on the mark. Disappointing.

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Flight 4 (2 Notes)

Then some Bordeaux.

  • 1988 Château L'Eglise-Clinet 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    My bottle. This was black as night, it literally smelled like tannin, blackness, brooding, and tobacco. What a gorgeous nose, I could smell mature Bordeaux like this for the rest of my life! On the palate this was dark, powerful, black and somewhat unforgiving. I kept hoping this would open up and show more sweetness, but it never really gave a lot of love. A very nice drink but tantalizing.

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  • 1990 Château Figeac Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Peter exclaimed right off the bat that this was corked, albeit subtly. It took quite a while in the glass for cork-smell to emerge amidst the smell of mature Bordeaux, but I agree it was there. On the palate this was muted and somewhat bitter. No love to give. :-(

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Flight 5 (4 Notes)

Then some Syrah and Shiraz. (Yes I know they don't deserve to be lumped together.)

  • 1999 Valhalla Syrah

    USA, Virginia, Blue Ridge Highlands, North Fork of Roanoke

    Who would think it, but this wine was from North Fork, Roanoke, Virginia! Yes, a VA Syrah?!? Lots of wood and gaminess on the nose. On the palate there is tartness and nice body with a clean simple finish. Roy served this to us blind, and a number of us guessed that it was some sort of Grenache thing. A nice drink and a surprise.

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  • 1999 Domaine Barge Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    What a nose! Medicinal, scorched earth, meaty, and with time some white pepper. On the palate this is massive, tannic, with smoked meat and spiciness. The finish is spicy although the tannins are a bit drying. This seemed like a wine that needs some time to settle down, but wow what a monster Syrah!

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  • 2001 Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend

    Australia, South Eastern

    Smells like a melted candy bar. Somewhat grapey on the palate. All in all this was a chocolately mess with no structure or acid. Just gooey and chewey. A number of folks suggested that with a day of decanting this would wake up and come into form.

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  • 2001 Henry's Drive Shiraz Reserve

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway

    This one had a longer decant but also apparently could have benefited from a lot more air time. I caught hints of coffee and mint on the nose which seemed surprising. On the palate this has amazing sweetness and loads of alcohol with a syrupy finish. The descriptors don't really say it, but I liked this one a lot more than the Sara's Blend.

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Flight 6 (4 Notes)

And finally some (amazing) California Cabernet.

  • 1999 Ritchie Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Dark, plummy notes with some coffee on the background. Medium body on the palate with some brooding character and a nice, strong finish. I found this to be pretty approachable and enjoyable for a 99 CA cab.

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  • 1998 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My bottle. In a different crowd this might have stood out, and it was a very nice wine. That said, it was thoroughly outclassed by the 1987 Montelena and 1994 Phelps Insignia also on display at the tasting. Coffee and cassis on the nose. At first this seemed to show huge structure and was a bit dry in the mouth. However, with time this gained in sweetness and power. Very nice, an elegant wine.

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  • 1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted from magnum, thank you very much Roy! Oh my goodness! Deep, inky black. This was an amazing nose: chocolate, mint, licorice, deep plum, and a million other things I couldn't pick out. This was powerful with loads of structure in the mouth, simply massive! It was also just remarkably sweet and pure. Simply amazing juice and WOTN in my book, although many gave the nod to the 1987 Montelena.

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  • 1987 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    How could this thing be 16 years old? Inexplicably it is somehow darker than the Insignia?!? Strong mint on the nose with some horseshit (in a good way). Deep purity, amazing structure, powerful, brooding, and medicinal. Gorgeous! This one did tend to dry out in the glass, and that was perhaps the only way in which it showed its age. Whomever thinks CA-cabs won't age needs to try a wine like this; it was seemingly immortal. Thank you Dave!

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Flight 7 - 3) DESSERT FLIGHT (3 Notes)

Maybe my palate was overly wowed by some of the great reds, but none of these really rocked my world.

Closing

All in all, it was a great night enjoyed by all. Thanks again Jason for organizing and Peter for giving us an excuse. And thanks all for bringing such terrific wines that clearly DID NOT SUCK.

Until next time, cheers!

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