Indian Food at Steve & Barb’s house

Sandwiched between 2 nights at Fearrington who were we to pass up the chance to eat Barb’s homemade Indian food ( Nan, Lamb Korma, Aloo Goba and a great Cardoman Crème Brulee ). In attendance were me & Dena, the South, Fred Bower and Bob Cuozzi who we had not seen in way too long. As is usually the case when this crowd gathers some great bottles of wine saw their ultimate demise.

• 1986 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

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

  Light yellow in color, this wine showed a great balance of fresh, bright and vibrant fruit with a light bodied palate that tasted as if it had age to it but in no way oxidative. I wonder if this went through the classic White Rhone shutdown period where it tasted oxidated and if so it is amazing how it came out the other side. Lemon peel and beeswax were present and a long, but very light, finish closed things out. A great treat to start the evening. 50+13+13+9+9 = 94.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1998 L. Aubry Fils Champagne Le Nombre d'Or Sablé Blanc des Blancs Brut Campanae Veteres Vites 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light yellow in the glass, this wine poured with very heavy bubbles but once in the glass it calmed down very quickly, as I would expect given it’s lower gas of 4 atmospheres vs a traditional 6. Great freshness and acidity to this wine with beautiful deep fruit and no rough edges. Medium bodied, it was clear that this wine can age for several years, although this is the second time we’ve had in the last 6 months and it has certainly been drinking beautifully both times. A long finish to end the experience. Really wonderful. 50+13+13+9+9 = 94.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Weinrieder Weissburgunder Hohenleiten II 92 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Weinviertel

  An Austrian oddity courtesy of Bob that he carried back with him from a purchase in Germany. Light gold in color, this wine had an explosive and exotic nose that attacked you as soon as you raised the glass. Exotic spices, tropical fruit and bubble gum assault the nose. Full bodied, I found the wine a minor disappointment on the palate, but only in relation to the fantastic nose. A long finish closed out this most fascinating wine. 50+14+12+8+8 = 92.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1994 Giuseppe Quintarelli Rosso del Bepi Veneto IGT 92 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT

  Decanted about 1 hour. Purple in the glass. This wine was a really good match with the Lamb Korma, and not quite as good on the last sips on it’s own where it showed a very sweet and Port/Amarone like tone to it ( no surprise as this was declassified Amarone ). Nice integration on the full bodied palate where it showed very glyceral with lots of dark berries. A medium to long finish added spicy notes to the mix along with a little sweetness, which became much more evident when the wine was on it’s own. 50+12+13+8.5+8.5 = 92

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1985 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Decanted about 1 hour. Fred’s contribution to the night’s events, partly to satisfy our Chave craving that was still remaining after the TWE “Chave” dinner the previous evening. Ruby to light crimson in the glass, this wine revealed classic Chave aromas and flavors. Beautifully integrated with meaty and minerally notes, with Dena specifically noting Sanglier ( Wild Boar ). This is not as deep and rich as the fantastic ’89 or ’90 versions but a wonderful wine when not subjected to that harsh comparison. Should drink well for another 5+ years. 50+13+12+8.5+8.5 = 92

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1997 Romano Dal Forno Nettare 92 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT

  According to the label this wine is made up of the Garganega and Turbiana grapes, which I know nothing about. A very inviting gold to copper in the glass, this wine had a big nose of apricots, assorted dried fruits and cardoman. Full bodied and sweet but not heavy with a very long finish. A great dessert wine that only had one obvious fault – we paired it against near perfection, the ’94 ZH Rangen Gewurz SGN. 50+13+12+8.5+8.5 = 92

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1994 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain Sélection de Grains Nobles 98 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  From 375ml. Medium gold in the glass, this wine had the perfect balance of varietal and terroir. The Gewurz contributed roses, lychees and that slightly bitter note ( in a positive way ) that the grape tends to reveal. The Rangen vineyard clearly made it’s mark on this wine contributing an earthiness along with loads of minerals. A big, sweet wine that somehow manages to float on the palate with a great purity of flavors and no sense of heaviness or cloying. It then almost dissolves on the tongue before a long finish that lasted for several minutes. This wine seems almost ageless in that it can probably continue to improve and gain more layers of complexity for 50 years. Really stunning! 50+14+15+9.5+9.5 = 98

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue