11 good people + 17 bottles = 1 great time in Edmonton!

Bob Parsons started a thread earlier about the recent Edmonton offline, but it seems to have become bogged down in a debate over Chateau Musar. (Check it out for some great TNs from Ruth).

So I'll start a fresh one to post photos, along with some notes (soon to come) from this fun event. Bob and I put it together at Ric's Grill in honour of a visit from Mishy, who can be found on the winefanatic.ca forum. We invited forumite Ruth, along with a few other good friends, including Ed Fong from deVine Wines and Melanie Thiessen from Desidero Home.

Thanks also go to the wonderful and accommodating staff at Ric's Grill downtown, which is where you'll find Bob when he's not holding court at Ed's store.

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/249371458_942a5bfa82.jpg" width="371" height="500" alt="Mishy hits the bottle">
Mishy gets started with a sparkler from Sumac Ridge

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/249371461_8aab8ac848.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="A lovely couple">
Melanie and Brad, a lovely couple (sorry, it's an inside joke)

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/249371464_e4256edccc.jpg" width="371" height="500" alt="Another lovely couple">
Elvira (my wife) and me

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/249371469_fa734800a8.jpg" width="371" height="500" alt="In the bag (literally and figuratively)">
A toast from Ruth, who brought a stunning Sangioveto

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/82/249377745_1381c88512.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="CHEERS!">
And the drinking gets underway in earnest

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/249371466_1663085860.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Close scrutiny">
"A soupcon of asaparagus. . . " Seriously, though, Brad has an incredible palate

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/249375841_40b5d09c11.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Bob and Ed">
The two serious wine guys, Bob and Ed

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/98/249375826_825cba5e8e.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Heeeyyy Ruuuuuth!">
"Let's party!" - Wayne, Ruth and Joe

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/249375831_f79fce281c.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Shooo I shess to dis guy">
"Shooo I shesh to dis guy . . . " - Karon, Joe's wife

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/249375833_de8f122245.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Drunk and drunker">
Drunk and drunker

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/249371465_c6c9e4f48a.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Due praise">
Due praise

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/249377750_1293e68419.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Bob takes stock">
Bob takes stock

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/249377748_3146bd0be0.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="We drank how much?">
All of the bottles exhausted, the night comes to an end

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/249375839_a744e8c4ac.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Cheers">
Cheers!

Thanks Mike for posting the evidence!!! Did we drink all those?!!!

Great pix there Mike! Thanks for sharing. It sure looks like a fun night.

[Robin Garr]

What Bill said, Mike. Thanks for all the pics ... next best thing to being there, but without the wine.

OK, so here are some notes I jotted down in between sipping and chatting. They represent some of my thoughts, as well as comments from everyone at the table.

By no means are these complete tasting notes. Bob and Ruth can fill in any blanks. Interspersed are irreverent quotes from the evening, just to add a little flavour.

We had the whites with appetizers of bacon-wrapped scallops, crabcakes, jumbo prawns, and Mediterranean dip.

We had a choice between Caesar or spinach salad with artichoke hearts.

The main course was a choice of bison tenderloin, New York pork or a half-rack of lamb. I went for the bison, but sampled some of the other dishes. All were excellent.

I can’t wait to do this again.

Nino Franco ‘Rustico’ Prosecco NV A great opener for the evening. Clean, soft with a bready taste.

Sumac Ridge Stellar’s Jay 2002 Bob and Mishy called this one as corked. Though it wasn’t so bad as to be undrinkable. Dry, strong acid, lemon.

Herdade de Esporao Reserva 2002 This brought looks of intrigue with its smoky nose and flavour. Citrus and mineral notes on the palate. It was perfect with the crabcakes.

Scurati 2004 Apple. Clean. I have almost no comments on this one. Anyone else?

Chateau Montelena Potter Valley Riesling 2004 A faint whiff of petroleum on the nose, with tropical fruits, peach and honey on the palate. A great combo with the prawns.

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Damn! Lively, nice tart acid on the tip of the tongue, citrus. One of the best vintages of this wine.

"It’s like sucking a lawnmower!" - Brad

Chateau Musar 1989 Ed brought this as the first of our brown baggers. Several of us (myself included) wrongly guessed pinot noir at first. The barnyardy nose and light colour must have thrown us off. But that blew off, revealing plum and perfume. Considerable bricking and pale red in colour. Complex and evolving on the palate with notes of blackcurrant, sour cherries, cloves, cinnamon. I can see why people are passionate about this wine. My WOTN.

Badia a Coltobuono Sangioveto 1997 We really had trouble guessing this lesser known varietal, but Brad came the closest, suggesting sangiovese. Dark berry notes, gripping tannins. Mmmmmm…..

Tignanello 1997 I don’t have much in the way of details written down. A tight nose with dark cherries on the palate. Bob found it peppery. A great example of super Tuscan style.

Vieux Telegraphe ‘La Crau’ 1998 Mishy and I liked this now, but most agreed it would benefit even more with a couple years. Clove, leather, tobacco, cinnamon.

“You can put puppies in a crate and you won’t get arrested for child abuse.” – Ruth

Eileen Hardy Shiraz 1995 Classic Aussie shiraz mint/eucalyptus on the nose and mouth. Very full in the mouth. Blackberry, pepper, cassis.

“I wanted to strip naked and roll around in it.” - Mishy

E&E Black Pepper Shiraz 2002 Definitely on the younger side, this was one hot mama. Still, it’s an impressive wine, with blackberry, pepper and chocolate notes on the palate.

“Hotter than pistol!” – Bob

Maxwell Lime Cave Cabernet 1999 A pleasing, elegant drinker, especially for an Aussie Cab. Notes of blackcurrant with a good balance of fruit and tannin.

“I could be wrong, but it’s got good acidity.” – Mishy

Three Brothers Reunion Shiraz 2004 Jammy and in need of a couple more years, but showing good shiraz characteristics of blackberry and pepper.

“A good restaurant wine.” – Bob

Noble Ridge Meritage 2003 Showing signs of young vines, but this is an emerging B.C. winery to watch for. Dark chocolate, powerful oak, plum, black currants.

Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz 1999 Similar characteristics to the Eileen Hardy – mint, blackberry, pepper. Very thick mouthfeel.

Quinto do Noval 1996 Bob will have to confirm, but I think this was an LBV (it was the last of night, that’s my excuse). A good port, but it’s starting to lose its grip.

The hands-down favourite of the evening was the Eileen Hardy, with the Kim Crawford, Musar and Esporao close behind. The Montelena, Meshach and E&E also received a few nods of approval.

Thanks Mike, will of course add some comments after the busy weekend!! The Noval was an LBV and lacked some grip and tannin, certainly nowhere close to the `97.

I tried to post a link to Potter Valley but had no luck ref. the Montelina Riesling. It`s a sub area of Mendicino apparently.
I checked a few google sites and it appears this wine can age quite well. It was a cellar-door sale> never seen this one before.

Yeah, we picked up the Riesling when we visited Montelena earlier this year. They have a limit - I think it's four bottles.

I know absolutely nothing about Potter Valley, unfortunately.

We're planning on heading back to San Francisco in the New Year and will likely make the drive up to Napa again. If we do, I'll be sure to pick up my limit of Riesling and put some aside this time.

Great to see photos------my what an ugly bunch you male canutes are
you certainly had some nice wines,although I do think a couple of them were perhaps way too young--------especially the Grant Burge Meshach and Tig----Did you decant these as I reckon both need a few hours.

The Tig was decanted for about an hour or so and the Meshach was opened for two hours, but not decanted.

The Tig could benefit with some more aging, but I thought the Meshach was drinking just fine. But then, it was one of my last wines of the night.

I have another bottle of the '99 that I'm going to hold onto for a few years.

Interesting Mike because I have a palate that tends to prefer wines young,but wines like Tig,Meshach, Dead Arm and Jim Barry The Amagh improve so much IMHO with 15 years or more bottle age. I have a case of 94 Meshach which I will not broach until 2010,although ,based on your experience ,maybe I will try one soon.

Keith, I don't really have a reference point with older Meshach. I can certainly see how it would benefit with time and I plan to leave my other bottle alone for a few years, but I liked the '99 just fine now.

I've had some early 2000s Dead Arm and agree, it was far too young.

I'd be interested to hear your impressions on the '94 if you decide to open one.

FYI, Keith,

Mishy who brought the Tig, figures it needs 3-5 more years, or at least a few more hours decanting.

Excellent notes Dusty, thanks to you and Bob Parsons for putting this together ! It was great to meet all the Edmonton area winos, what a fun group, and the food was delicious !
I was a bit disappointed in my Tignanello, I had read a few notes on ebob this year that suggested it was wide open or at the very least, drinking well, this was not the case. It was extremely closed on the nose, but the palate was gorgeous. Leave in the cellar for at least a couple more years if anyone owns any. I decanted an hour but probably needed 3-4 at this stage, what a crime !
Eileen Hardy Shiraz '95 was a gorgeous example of aged Shiraz, I'd suggest ready to drink now but very cellerable for a few more years. I found it fairly primary yet, at it's present age.
The Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc '05 was delicious, I've read the '05s are their best vint in a few years, and if that Crawford is any indication it is.
The Veuve Telegraph '98 was glorious, but I'd halt at opening another for 3-5 years, it was so primary but drinking very well at this point. Many people guessed this as New World, I would have too had I not known it was mine. New-ish oak predominates, ripe beefy fruit, loads of layers, a star !
E & E Black Pepper was a complete 'ho, but I loved it. Don't open another for 5 years !!
Thanks to Ed for bringing that Musar, it totally had me stumped, I would've nailed it as an old Rhone. A bit edgy at this point with some acid and sweet fruit I thought.
I loved the Burge Meshach '99, it also needs more time but it was a brilliant drink right now.
The Noble Ridge '03 from BC was a very interesting selection, something worth noting and following for future purchases in the next good vintage. Only 135 cases made in '03.

I really had a fabulous time, hopefully I'll be back in the spring (if I'm not moved to the Okanagan by then) and maybe we can do it again.
BTW - I loved my stay at the Hotel MacDonald, lunch at the Harvest room the next day was very special.
I have some pictures but my camera seems to be retiring, I'll do a download of these to see if any are salvageable tonight.

[David M. Bueker]

I was a bit disappointed in my Tignanello, I had read a few notes on ebob this year that suggested it was wide open or at the very least, drinking well, this was not the case. It was extremely closed on the nose, but the palate was gorgeous. Leave in the cellar for at least a couple more years if anyone owns any. I decanted an hour but probably needed 3-4 at this stage, what a crime !

Hi Mishy! Long time no post...

Anyway, I tend to find this happens a lot with eHedonisticgobsoffruit.com notes. I keep wondering if most (but not all) of the folks there are so in to young wines that they don't really understand when a wine is approaching maturity/open. Either that, or despite the paranoia over provenance, they do not treat their bottles all that well, and they end up more advanced. Thanks for taking one for the team though, as I have 3 (stored at 55 since release), and was considering opening one soon. Now I won't.

.............as we await pics of the Cool do, just bumping up to remind you all how we do it up here!!!!

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Damn! Lively, nice tart acid on the tip of the tongue, citrus. One of the best vintages of this wine.

"It’s like sucking a lawnmower!" - Brad

You think the 2005's good - wait till you try the 2006!!!
Good photos - makes one feel almost like they're there. And that bottle of KCSB really stands out.

Mike,

I notice a general lack of spit buckets. I trust that you and your fellow "tasters" didn't actually swallow all of that wine.

I agree with Sue. The '06 Kim Crawford SB really outdoes every other KC vintage in my opinion. It is a wonderful wine. We've killed nine bottles and counting.

Spit buckets? This is Alberta matey!!!!!