Book Club - Brig's Wines

Foretti's
Tasted Wednesday, February 28, 2024 by brigcampbell with 38 views

Introduction

Here's the story of bookclub. It's been going on for more than 12 years. We kind of lost track. It was the brainchild of Frank who thought to put five people together that enjoyed wine and each other's company. He should work for match.com. We rotate turns hosting where your responsibility to pick the restaurant and provide all the wines. Check comes at the end of the night and we just chop it up.

As the host you also have the option to invite a guest. The guests tend to be very wine oriented individuals and they always add a unique dynamic to the gathering.

Oh, the wines are always served blind. Many times there's a theme within a flight, across all the flights, or nothing at all. The beauty of it is everyone puts thought behind the wine they select. This is about exploration, challenging the norms, and great fun.

Flight 1 - Jacquesson Head to Head (2 Notes)

Let's see how a 2010 base wine is holding up compared to a more current bottling.

  • NV Jacquesson & Fils Champagne Cuvée No. 738

    France, Champagne

    A little bit concerned when I pulled the cork because it barely made a whisper. This was paired up with the 745 and certainly showed more flesh and roundness. A white bread note and a hint of sweetness. I really enjoy any sort of bready representation in the sparkling wine. Red and yellow apple with some citrus back in it up.

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  • NV Jacquesson & Fils Champagne Cuvée No. 745 Extra Brut

    France, Champagne

    This is right in the wheelhouse for what most people consider a grower champagne. Low dosage, with strong acidity driving lemon, lime, tart rind. Midtown shows a touch of red apple as well. Very enjoyable.

    This was paired up with the 738 and for me showed better because it just stood up and commanded attention.

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Flight 2 - Zinfandel Mashup (2 Notes)

How about a wine from a producer using a vineyard from the other producer and vice versa? That should really screw some people up. Let's make them from the same vintage.

  • 2013 Carlisle Zinfandel Bedrock Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    Most of the people thought this was a syrah and that's a very good guess because it has the complexity, iodine note, spice, the bite and acid of a syrah. Complex wine but challenging to identify as his Zinfandel. That also could be a property of the variety since aged is Zinfandel is a chameleon.

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  • 2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Right off the bat I thought this wine had terrific balance of fruit and acidity. Tannins are fairly well resolved but they're still a little prickle in the back of your throat. It's a fairly rich fruit profile, mostly a red currant and dark blackberry. Touch of licorice on the back end. Medium plus weight. Very good

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Flight 3 - Wine for the Meat Eaters (2 Notes)

We probably don't drink enough chateauneuf du papes in the group.

  • 2017 Carlisle Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    I hate wax capsules. Medium+ depth of color. This is a very well balanced wine. It's primary red fruited with an earthy dirty streak running all the way through it. A hint of saddle leather adds to the fun. Medium plus finish. Nice.

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  • 2019 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources

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

    Whoa. Don't do it, don't open this bottle right now, put it back in the cellar. You've been forewarned.

    The tannins on this wine will rip your face off. At this stage in its life it needs to be paired with the big fat steak because from the mid to end palate there's a significant drying. It is grippy. It shows good acidity and richness of fruit.

    This was served blind and all thought it was a Bordeaux blend, the question was left bank with petite verdot or right bank with cab franc. Both were fantastic guesses. It's shocking to me that this one is more than 60% grenache because there is no sign of cherry, maybe the syrah and other varieties are driving the flavor profile.

    This will never be confused with a big sloppy, pruney CndP.

    Probably be spectacular in 10 years.

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