Important Update From the Founder
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Tampa Spring Break (the second)
Various spots (homes, Mis en Place, Capital Grille)
Tasted February 17, 2017 - February 19, 2017 by MC2 Wines with 881 views
Introduction
The Tradition continues! For the second year in a row Mark, Larry, and Jeff pulled together a top notch weekend of wine fun. We were lucky enough to make most of the events this year (alas work interfered with the Friday tasting of Tamber Bey - but I hear good stories were told and wine was drunk). We did get to everything else though and even capped the weekend with a trip to Berns!
Flight 1 - Old World Night @ Mis En Place (10 notes)
Yet again these guys hit it out of the park. The organizing team had provided a list of wines and the chefs went about creating a perfect pairing menu. Lots of great food, lots of great wine, and for me an excellent way to get the weekend kicked off.
- Amuse Bouche -
(it was some form of cured meat with a hint of spiciness that just went very well with the champagne)
Jacques Selosse Initial
- First Course -
February Vegetable Salad
whipped feta, hazelnut vinaigrette
2006 Beaucastel Vieilles Vignes
2006 Verget Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru
- Second Course -
Red Snapper
quick lobster virginia ham black eyed cassoulet, meyer lemon fresno chili rosemary emulsion, turnip chowchow, sunchoke pure
2013 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon
- Third Course -
Duck Breast
celeriac leek puree, pulled duck brick, lamb bacon, fiji apple brussels, braised cipollini, morello cherry fennel thyme minus 8 gastrique
2007 Clos des Papes
2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils
- Fourth Course -
Filet of Beef Tenderloin
oxtail fat marble potato black truffles chive salad, haricot verts, pine nuts, smoked kale salsa verde, red onion marmalade jus
1990 Chateau Cos D'Estournel
2001 Chateau Montrose
- Dessert -
Beehive Barely Buzzed
blackberry port tarragon jam, focaccia toast, candied pecans
2007 Le Macchiole Scrio
1985 Paul Jaboulet Aine La Chapelle
White - Sparkling
N.V. Jacques Selosse Initial
We have a bottle of this sleeping in offsite storage, but my takeaway was we should definitely have more. Rivaling Krug in that ability to create a MV champagne that is excellent and interesting. Lovely toasty characteristics, but what I really liked was an almost spiciness to bubbles in the mid-palate. Still very classy and elegant. Very much enjoyed.
White
2006 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes
I love this wine and must say it was showing incredibly well this night (esp for those who let it sit and open up in the glass - very much appreciate a white that acts more like a red at times). A touch of petrol and gasoline in the beginning, but then it's caramel and freshness and a bit young tasting even. It's been one of my favorite wines since schwank and mrs. schwank introduced us a few years ago. Delicious.
White
2006 Verget Corton-Charlemagne
As most people know, white burgundy is completely lost on me (and generally even a bit wasted). I can tell that it is light on its feet and would be considered pretty for a wine. Get some basil and licorice in there. But the chardonnay characteristics overly predominated.
White
2013 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon
Truly excellent wine. I continue to be impressed what the Rhone does with their whites. This was sweet buttered creamed honey in the beginning but with the right acidity to make it interesting and a bit tantalizing rather than cloying or overdone. With time, I started to almost get some turnip or other root vegetable in there. Fun wine.
Red
2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
One of my favorites of the night, this was just singing. Still a baby and I'm sure it's got a long life ahead. Get cinnamon and christmas spice and great fruit and that meaty syrah characteristic. An intense wine, but well paired with the duck breast.
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Red
2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin
Complete and total baby of a Burgundy. This still has some of the baby fat (bigger mouthful). Lots of black fruits. A bit tight. The nose let's you know there's some good things ahead. And certainly a treat to get to try.
Red
2001 Château Montrose
This was the point in the night where my handwriting becomes a bit less legible and the conversation picks up. Generally though found this wine to be very young still (I guess esp next to a '90 Cos served alongside). It was a bit gamey in flavor. A bit tight. But interesting wine.
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Red
1990 Château Cos d'Estournel
One of my favorites of the night, this was just in a great spot. Bright black fruit, spicy, leather. The more I swirled it in the glass the more it opened up and gave. Great wine and just singing.
Red
2007 Le Macchiole Scrio Toscana IGT
We've had this producer in the past, but first time with this specific wine. Lots of black fruits just falling over themselves, great tannin, hints of blueberry, a touch of alcohol but that blew off quickly. Enjoyable wine, but prob even better with a bit more time.
Red
1985 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle
I was looking forward to this wine all dinner and it didn't disappoint. It's well aged and more in the leather and woodsy version although a touch of fruit poked through. Enjoyable wine.
Flight 2 - Herman Story w/Russ From (13 notes)
Russ was generous enough to come with 12 magnums plus a bonus bottle. I found myself particularly drawn to some of the cooler vintage wines (although I did like the 2014 White Hawk vineyard as well). The Late Bloomer label is a riot and the wine was one of my favorites. QPR is crazy good on these and wines are fun.
White
2014 Herman Story Viognier Tomboy
Very bright, lots of honeysuckle and more floral characteristics. Very much a Viognier. For some reason this was just screaming for seafood as a pairing to me. Enjoyable.
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Red
2008 Herman Story Grenache On The Road
Love, love, love that Russell brought this wine to the tasting and really don't think it got enough credit. Few put it in their top wines, but it was definitely in mine (did I mention I like my wines with some age?). This can go much further, but a lot of the sharper edges that exist in the young wines have come together here. Fruit is that lovely red candied form that grenache can do. With just a touch of black pepper. More integrated. To me this was great.
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Red
2012 Herman Story Grenache On The Road
Hard to drink this right on the back of the 2008 as that wine had had a lot more time to integrate. This tasted just young. Much more fruit and a bit sweeter with some decent tannins to keep it in place. I get the feeling that the 2020 drinking window in CT is too young - would love to see this again in about 10 years (so 2027).
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Red
2013 Herman Story Grenache On The Road
The youngest of the On the Roads that we were drinking, this wine was all about the promise rather than the delivery. Just young. You can tell you're going to get to a point with some sweet candied fruits going, but at this point it's a bit tighter than that and yet smooth and not quite as nuanced as it I think it will be with a few more years. Touch of spritz which I got on some of the wines. Just time (and more than CT thinks - if I was going to pick a time to open this it's again another 10 years instead of 2021).
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Red
2011 Herman Story Grenache Late Bloomer
One of my favorites of the tasting and I think the group's favorite based only on the little amount that was left in the magnum at the end of the tasting. Fruit more muted here - instead lots of brambles and an almost herbal quality. Still sweet. Still fun. Can't tell how much of the more muted nature was the year (2011 being cold) versus the style of the Late Bloomer (3 years in oak till it's released). Overall though, a wine to seek out.
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Red
2013 Herman Story Grenache Bien Nacido
Others loved this wine more than me (in fact I'd say it was top 5 for most everyone I spoke with). I think I missed something here. I got a lot of jammy black fruit. A wine that is still too young and a bit colt-like with those longer limbs that aren't quite pulled together yet. Also perhaps suffered being between two 2011's (the Late Bloomer and Casual Encounters) which I really liked.
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Red
2011 Herman Story Casual Encounters
Another one that I broke from the group on. This is nice. Lots of blackberry and blueberry but then there's a woodsy characteristic that I find quite compelling. Appreciate a slightly more muted version. IMagine with some time this is a great one (again, breaking with CT drinking window of 2019).
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Red
2013 Herman Story Casual Encounters
Drank on the heels of the 2011 and while I know that most would say this is the better vintage I just really enjoyed the balance in that wine. This is much more fruity, rich, jam-like in its characteristics. Right at the end I get the woodsy side, but it's more overpowered here. Give it a lot more time - suspect will integrate more.
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Comments (1)
Red
2014 Herman Story Syrah White Hawk Vineyard
This is my eat crow wine. I know it's a warm vintage and a warm appellation and mostly I wrote how much I appreciated the cooler version of the HS wines. But this one I just liked. Hints of floral (maybe the Viognier). Lots of juicy black fruit but somehow the floral balances it a bit more. Very enjoyable. I can see why this is a wine that does not last long.
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Red
2012 Herman Story Syrah John Sebastiano
I was very prepared to love this wine coming from a cooler climate, but not sure I completely saw that. I suppose the fact that the cracked black pepper predominates and the black fruit is more of a secondary characteristic is a hint. Just a touch of heat, but fades quickly. Hard coming on the heels of the White Hawk which I just very much enjoyed.
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Red
2014 Herman Story Larner Vineyard
This one seemed to have a special place in Russ's heart - perhaps because it's the vineyard he's worked the longest with. A blend of Syrah and Grenache cofermented (this year was 52% Syrah/ 48% Grenache). I like what that did. A bit more balanced (but that I mean the woodsy characteristics that sometimes come forward in these wines/ Good tannins.
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Red
2012 Herman Story Syrah Nuts & Bolts
The flagship wine and yet it didn't seem to come up as much as the favorite in the group. This was much more intense, very fruit forward, funnily enough just a touch of an effervescent style to it (I call it some spritz in my notes). For my tastes I preferred the cab in this group. This wine I'd give some time to calm down a bit.
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Red
2014 Herman Story Bolt Cutter
Big bright black fruits that are with you from the get go. This was one of my favorites in the line-up which surprised me (I love Syrah, but just very much enjoyed this cab as well). There's some tannin here that tames down the wine a bit. With a bit of time I think could be even better.
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Flight 3 - New World night @ the Capital Grille (10 notes)
- First Course -
Heart of Romaine
candied orange, celery hearts, brioche croutons, meyer lemon & anchovy vinaigrette
2014 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
- Second Course -
Hudson Valley Duck Breast
toasted pumpernickel, cherry mostardo, foie gras butter
2001 Hundred Acre
2001 Philip Togni
- Third Course -
Filet Au Poivre
white truffle potato gratin, grana padano crisp, courvoisier sauce
2003 Schrader Old Sparky
- Fourth Course -
Dry Aged Kona Strip
roasted root vegetable puree, caramelized shallot butter
2005 Two Hands Aphrodite
2006 Caymus Special Selection
- Dessert -
Assortment of Fine Cheese
blue, gouda, brie, parmesan
Chocolate Mousse
2007 Dominus
2009 Next of Kyn
2009 Vine Hill Ranch
For me the Hundred Acre, Next of Kyn, Old Sparky, and VHR won the day - all for different reasons. Overall though one of my favorite events of the weekend. Very much enjoy the big reds.
White
2014 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
As you can prob tell, I'm not really a chardonnay drinker. So I will say that given that, this was not quite as 'chardonnay-y' of a wine as it could be. It's more in that sweeter, honeyed, unctuous style that I can almost get my head around. White flowers everywhere. Paired very nicely with the salad we had.
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Red
2001 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan
So if opening this wine, I highly recommend a longer decant than what we did (we poured from a magnum and gave it prob 2 hours and change - but man this was opening up 3 or 4 hours after the original pour). Just an awesome wine and one of my favorites of the night. Raspberry and brambles in the beginning. Then hints of herbal and fig and chocolate. By the end I was getting this lovely black cherry characteristic. Not all that hot for a Cali wine (13.9%). Very well balanced. Could have gone longer. Just beautiful.
Red
2001 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon
These wines are just made to be aged for ages (aka - more than 16 years). It's pretty young. Lots of fruits. Lots of spice cabinet. More red currant and sour cherry. It's got lots of great components but just isn't quite ready for prime time I think. Still, tasty.
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Red
2003 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
One of the best wines of the night. This has aged better than I think some of the TRB ones do. Very classic Napa but with a nice balance and great fruit and more earth tones. Very enjoyable.
Red
2005 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Aphrodite
I'm always a sucker for an Aussie (where I started my wine tasting). Eucalyptus, candied fruits, lots of herbs and spices. Very tasty in that slightly hedonistic way.
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Red
2006 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection
This almost seems to exemplify what is meant by a jammy wine. Very intense. Interesting next to an Aussie which was also a bit hedonistic. Touch of pepper, but mostly lots of fruit. I think needs a bit more time to calm down. Could be really fun in another decade or two.
Red
2007 Dominus Estate
Very very young. Lots of great components. Oak which almost balances the fruit. Some blueberry and blackberry. A touch of earthiness. I think needs another 10 years. Less fruit forward than I would have expected for the year and did appreciate the balance it brought.
Red
2009 Next of Kyn No~3 Cumulus Vineyard
This wine is just straight up slutty (but in a good way). Lots of meat and spices and fruits and every time you sip it it's a different wine. I believe was opened and decanted a few hours before pouring, but this wine was still making major evolutions in the glass. Super fun to drink.
Red
2009 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch
We visited this place for the first time about a month ago and I was very impressed with the wines (and esp the QPR for Napa - as much as you can use QPR and Napa in the same sentence). It's a much more muted wine than the Next of Kyn and came across as practically old world. Lots of chocolate mixed in with the fruit flavors. Agree with previous note on the cedar although disagree that it was lacking complexity. To me it was a very nice understated wine that was served a course too late (really wanted some red meat but actually ended up paired with the cheeses).
White - Sweet/Dessert
1989 Château Suduiraut
End of night treat (and it was late so recognize notes not quite as detailed). Do remember that again this was less sweet and almost more savory and nutty and still the caramel but with more toast. It's very nice though. Easy to drink and complex. Nice way to end a night.
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Flight 4 - Pour to Impress Brunch (15 notes)
There were two flights of wines (white and red) and then another award for the blind taster.
Brunch was excellent with pairings lined up for each flight.
- White Wine Flight -
Charcuterie Platter
Carolina Shrimp and Grits
south carolina style grits with a french twist cheddar cheese, grits with a white wine cream sauce with sauteed shrimp
Creme Fraiche Scrambled Egg Wrap
scrambled eggs with melted gruyere cheese, finished with crispy, crumbled prosciutto and chives, wrapped in a fresh warm tortilla
- Red Wine Flight -
Roasted Beef Tenderloins
roasted beef tenderloins finished in a decadent saint agur blue cheese sauce
Lemon Herb-Marinated Port Tenderloins
roasted pork tenderloins served with lemon beurre blanc sauce
Inside-Out Potatoes
twice baked creamer potatoes, baked and filled with cheddar cheese and chive
White winner: 1996 Chateau D'Yquem
Red winner: 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard
And amazingly enough a two way tie for first place on the blind tasting! Nuts!
White
1996 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
Very interesting wine. My second favorite of the whites (as someone said, it's hard to compete with D'Yquem). Has great acidity, a bit of an interesting more unctuous flavor to it. I had guessed Chenin Blanc so way off, but appreciated the just hints of sweet that that grape can do that happened here as well.
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White
2014 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc
My second experience with this wine and better than the first. Served fairly cold and I think the sweeter characteristics were not there. Instead was a riper version of Sauvignon Blanc. Had thought more old world because of such a strong acidity but can see the new world side of it. Very crisp.
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White - Sweet/Dessert
1996 Château d'Yquem
Yum Yum Yum! I just love this wine. Perhaps this isn't my favorite of the years I've tried, but it's still such a wonderful light on it's feet and balance of sweetness and ever changing and just beautiful. Similar to the sauternes we tried last night I'd say the sweet is fading a bit and become now a bit more nutty. Just lovely. Could drink it all day. Was also surprisingly a great pairing with some shrimp and grits.
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White
2008 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc
Didn't take quite as many notes here. Had no idea what this wine was in the blind tasting. Felt like it was some grapes a bit off the beaten path (I suppose somewhat true - I had a Grenache Blanc in my list). Nice and again a good level of acidity and an easy sipper. Made me long for a hot summers day and a porch.
White
2007 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
Keeping with the theme of I'm not a chard drinker. This was clearly chardonnay and the extra age with this vineyard (perhaps plus combined with a fairly warm year) meant that this was chardonnay in all of it's glory with that really tough aftertaste. Could taste more of the oak here. So not for me.
Red
2005 Clos des Jacobins
Very bordeaux like. Was interesting because my initial taste of this bottle I got some of the fruit, but lots of leather and cigar as well. And a good dose of lavendar. When I went back to it, it tasted almost new world with how much more the fruit was dominating the wine.
Red
1983 Penfolds Grange
So I am completely and totally biased on this wine, but I just think I could sit and smell the nose forever. We didn't do it justice - didn't have a decanter so was just opened for a few hours and poured out of the bottle. To me I'm not sure the mustiness ever had a chance to fully go away. Lots of leather and tea leaves and just a hint of fruit (I suspect more time in a decanter and that would have come forward more). Still - I love it.
Red
2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard
Great wine. Very fruit forward and in that candied format that works when it has the right acidity and balance (which this does). A pretty wine and very enjoyable and not overdone, but just delicious.
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Red
1995 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cabernet Franc Alzero
Wow - what a different wine! This was so very interesting. I had no idea what it was and in a million years was never guessing CF from Italy. It was raisins and sweetness and reminded me an awful lots of a non-fortified port. The kindof wine I'd want to sip on it's own. No food needed. Would love to revisit. Very interesting.
Red
2004 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage
Poured from a magnum. Just a baby of a wine. Still a bit tight and not quite ready for business. It's very old world in style - lots of leather and cigar and saddle. Enjoyable wine. Went back to revisit and thought it was starting open up even more - liked my second pour better than the first.
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Red
2001 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbaresco Vürsù Vigneto Gallina
This was definitely old world and definitely with a bit more age. First impression was of traveling down a dusty road. I think this wine might have finished early and so I ended up just having the one small taste and don't have as many notes on it.
Red
2007 Marcassin Pinot Noir Three Sisters Vineyard
Very nice and bright fruit and that lovely candied cherry flavor to it. Big spice cabinet which keeps the fruit from over dominating. Very enjoyable.
Red
2010 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous
I pegged this wine as a new world so can imagine the fruit that was coming out - lots of blackberry and currant and super high tannin. Clearly a baby and I'd argue almost not quite in drinking window even if it has been seven years. Very young. A bit of a refined nature to it underneath all of that though. Enjoyable wine.
Red
2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine
Another one of my favorites of the tasting. This was was just great. Very berry but then the black pepper brings it a bit more into balance. Lots of cherry, cranberry but with hints of spiciness. Excellent wine.
Red
2012 Herman Story Syrah John Sebastiano
Wow! Sneakiness. This wine came back into the line-up at the Pour to Impress served blind and in another bottle. Day two of the wine - I get a lot more meat and again very sweet black fruits. Tasted very young to me and worthy of more time (so I suppose interesting to see it on day three or four).
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Flight 5 - Berns steakhouse (7 notes)
One of my clear learnings from this time is you need to prepare for Berns. We got the wine list in advance and went to work figuring out what we wanted to try. Given how busy the place has become I'd say the wine list is only partially correct (I believe they actually had only about half of the bottles that we inquired about). Still - good place to start and to discuss. And the '16 Conseillante was a real treat.
Red
1996 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
What a real treat to get to try this. We always love the Lokoya wines but have never had the Rutherford before. This was in an excellent spot (aka - CT window much too short - drinking well in 2017). Lots of black fruits well paired with that Rutherford dust. Very well integrated. Great wine.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Domaine Langlois-Château Crémant de Loire Brut
This was purchased as our palette cleanser for the evening. A bit of light bubbles to open up the taste buds given we were on day 3 of many wine drinking marathons. Very easy wine, light bubbles, hints of sweet. Not extra complex or anything, but good for that light break between wines.
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Red
1916 Château La Conseillante
I think this might have been my wine of the trip. Ordered off the wine list at Berns. Crazy to imagine this wine is 101 years old (I have multiple grandparents who lived entire lifetimes since this was made). Good color and decent fill (prob shoulder area). Opened and decanted and for two hours this just kept getting better and better. Lots of pretty floral and red fruit characteristics. Almost young tasting in the beginning. Around the two hour mark it seemed to make a turn downhill, but it was a fun ride while it lasted. Just a pretty wine and something really special.
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Red
1966 Leon Revol Côte-Rôtie
This was the consolation bottle as the '75 La Mouline was sold earlier in the night. It started off a bit intense (esp coming on the heels of the '16 Conseillante'). Very gamey and young tasting. Lots of cranberry. Hints of pepper. Didn't quite take the same trajectory though - instead my impression is first few sips of this were the best. A bit tough given wine was between the '16 Conseillante and a '96 Angelus.
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Red
1996 Château Angélus
Funny - this was the first bottle that we opened when we got to the restaurant. Had it decanting for about two hours... only to find out the bottle was corked. So another one was pulled and decanted and poured. In some ways I think that worked out for us. The first taste was my favorite and as it sat out it seemed to lose some of it's brightness. I had spectacular as the descriptor at the beginning, but with a bit of time it faded into more just old leather and cigar with the fruit escaping quickly. Good wine, but not the '16 Conseillante we had earlier in the evening.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1976 E. Becker Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese
In the Bern's dessert room. Funny because we were looking through the very long list trying to decide what we might want to try and our somm brought this opened and decanted and ready to go. I'm not 100% sure it's what I would have picked, but it was interesting. Lots of petrol and gasoline to it and the fruit and sweetness had faded to be more in line with a Kabinett than a BA. Did mean there was a bit more of a mouthful and some extra complexity to it. The group was split on whether it needed a bit more sweet or was ok in the hinting at savory category. Did make me think there's a sweet spot for Riesling that might be earlier than 41 years.
White - Fortified
1830 Unknown Madeira Malmsey
Very small pour from the Bern's cellar. The label had mostly gone off the bottle although could still see the year. To be honest I think this was more for the fun of it than a truly better Madeira than say something from the early 1900's. It was nutty and touches of caramel and the alcohol still there but not overpowering. Fun to try, but prob once was enough (given price tag would be just as happy with something a bit younger and cheaper).
Closing
Overall, a very successful wine weekend with great company, great wine, and great food. Many thanks to the organizers who herded the cats and made it all happen. Also big thanks to the winemakers who made the trip and kindly parted with some of their wine. Looking forward to next year.