WTN: T-day wines

With friends at Thanksgiving:

2007 Edmund Vatan, Sanserre Clos la Néore:
Served closer to room temperature than my fist bottle of this several days ago; starts tight and only moderately expressive but uncoils as it gets air and as the wine warms to be the most precise, evocative and enjoyable sauvignon blanc I have tasted. Immense complexity, lyrical fruit, evolving palate presence and endless length – all in such perfect balance that it seems of whole cloth. Stunning wine!

1999 Jadot, Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques en magnum:
Correct, even ethereal on the nose; precise but without much depth or breadth in the mouth. Good wine but not showing greatness, by any stretch. Excellent with the dinner but I’m afraid my expectations were higher.

2001 Chat. Leoville-Barton:
Some vegetal notes with good finesse and complexity but again, not much depth. I enjoyed it but would not buy it. Others felt it better than I.

2002 Ridge, Cabernet Sauvignon Montebello:
So much American oak that I could make no judgment as to the wine – nor could I even discern what variety it is. Others enjoyed it; I felt that this is evidence of how oak can mask or even destroy a fine wine.

Best, Jim

[David M. Bueker]

I'm not terribly shocked you did not really enjoy many of the wines Jim. Young Monte Bello does not fit your current stylistic preferences, though I have little doubt that in 20 years time it will show more to your liking. On release I found the 1997 so oaky as to be indistinguishable from eating fine furniture, but last year it had already gained significant harmony even if it still needed a lot more time.

I cannot imagine the Jadot or the Barton being close to ready to drink. The '99 Jadot Echezeaux (2008 Thanksgiving wine for me) from bottle was not even remotely evolved or open, and the 1999 Jadot CSJ opened in 750 ml earlier this year was also not close to ready to give up any of what it was holding onto. Some of the 2001 right bank Bordeaux are showing well, but the left bank wines are nearly all still very angry (I put a 2001 Montrose back on the cellar shelf specifically because of recent experiences with other left bank wines).

I'm not terribly shocked you did not really enjoy many of the wines Jim. Young Monte Bello does not fit your current stylistic preferences, though I have little doubt that in 20 years time it will show more to your liking. On release I found the 1997 so oaky as to be indistinguishable from eating fine furniture, but last year it had already gained significant harmony even if it still needed a lot more time.

I cannot imagine the Jadot or the Barton being close to ready to drink. The '99 Jadot Echezeaux (2008 Thanksgiving wine for me) from bottle was not even remotely evolved or open, and the 1999 Jadot CSJ opened in 750 ml earlier this year was also not close to ready to give up any of what it was holding onto. Some of the 2001 right bank Bordeaux are showing well, but the left bank wines are nearly all still very angry (I put a 2001 Montrose back on the cellar shelf specifically because of recent experiences with other left bank wines).

I take a certain amount of solice in your comments.
Here I thought I had begun to turn to a more CA palate, demanding open, big, yummy wines - nice to know that I'm just a little too early to the well.
Best, Jim

That Vatan sounds nice, it's even harder to find last couple years since he semi-retired. But this one sounds worth the effort

It's nice to know I have at least seven bottles of wine that you have anointed as stunning. Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving. We had dinner as usual with some friends in ST Helena where I got to sit next to Karen MacNeil and got into an arguement with her about wine like last year. We'll never agree on that subject, I guess that's why they paint cars different colors. She refers to Robert P. as her good friend Bob and it goes downhill from there.

...it's even harder to find last couple years since he semi-retired.

Actually, from where I sit it seems like Vatan's fame and availability is even more wide-spread since the semi-retirement. I haven't tracked this scientifically or anything, but I've seen Vatan in some pretty mainstream places.

It's nice to know I have at least seven bottles of wine that you have anointed as stunning. Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving. We had dinner as usual with some friends in ST Helena where I got to sit next to Karen MacNeil and got into an arguement with her about wine like last year. We'll never agree on that subject, I guess that's why they paint cars different colors. She refers to Robert P. as her good friend Bob and it goes downhill from there.

'Love to have been a fly on the wall for that discussion.
Best, Jim

[David M. Bueker]

You finally got me Jim. Despite my long-held aversion to Sauvignon Blanc I went ahead and purchased one bottle of the Vatan. So should I pop it soon, or just let it rest.

You finally got me Jim. Despite my long-held aversion to Sauvignon Blanc I went ahead and purchased one bottle of the Vatan. So should I pop it soon, or just let it rest.

Nice move. But aside from issues of travel shock, I would think you should open it soon. Inquiring minds want to see how you respond! Plus, why age wine you're not certain of liking at any stage?

[David M. Bueker]

Well I now have exactly 3 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc in the cellar (Vatan, Cotat & FX Pichler). Perhaps we need to find a chance to uncork all three at the same time.

David,
While E. Vatan, Sancerre can be exceedingly long-lived, I agree with Rahsaan that opening it now makes sense. One caution - not too cold - the closer it is to ambient temp. the better it gets. And take your time; it evolves over an evening. You may not like it at hour one only to find that by hour three it is something entirely different.
Best, Jim

Well I now have exactly 3 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc in the cellar (Vatan, Cotat & FX Pichler). Perhaps we need to find a chance to uncork all three at the same time.

That would be a nice group of stylistic counterpoints. And it would also be inteesting to see Salil respond to these wines.