So what was opened this past weekend?

Did anyone celebrate Grenache Day on Friday?

So I tasted the`08 Monte Vicor Calatayud Sp.with the serving girls at the Grill after a busy night of floor walking, me not the girls!
Started off as a ripe new world style, cherries and plum, soft tannins and nice finish. At home afterwards, unpleasant finish which told me wine had not held up too well since I opened 3 hrs previous. Could have chosen a better example I guess?

Thinking it is time to open my last `88 Doisy Vedrines tonite!

What is Grenache Day?

I most certainly did not celebrate. I had a couple of vintages of Descombes VV Morgon (07 and 08). The antidote to grenache!

[James Roscoe]

No one told me it was Grenache Day Friday!!! You mean I could have had CdP with my Mac and Cheese? Instead we had Craggy Range SB. I am sure Mr. Bueker would have loved it. It was a very good SB from NZ which I usually tend to avoid, but the freebies need to be consumed.

What is Grenache Day?

I most certainly did not celebrate. I had a couple of vintages of Descombes VV Morgon (07 and 08). The antidote to grenache!

http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/ ... enache-day

I opened a 2007 Baus Family Vineyard Merlot from Napa Knights Valley and for only $12 I was very impressed. Lots of tannic backbone coupled with lots of black fruit. Probably would be even better either with more decant time or more cellar age but will I get a lot more in the near future from Ft. Wayne Indiana. I'll also look into their Cabernet which was sold out at the store I was in.

I also had never heard of Grenache Day before now and would have entertained opening one on Friday. As it happened, we ate out that night and had to settle for a bottle of 2010 Drylands Sauvignon Blanc (also from NZ and no doubt another Rieslingfan favorite). Last night, though, I roasted a chicken and opened a bottle of the 1966 Château GIscours which was still a faded old jewel and quite lovely with the chicken.

Mark Lipton

I baked a tail filet of fresh wild king salmon on Friday and opened a bottle of '08 Field Stone Chardonnay (Hopkins River Ranch, Russian River Valley).
The Chard was definitely Californian - it seems to me that it wasn't as oaky when I tasted and bought a couple of bottles. However, it had a good bit of steel in it and the oak moderated after a little while. All in all, a good meal with the salmon masked with sour cream, white wine and onion, boiled new potatoes and broiled tomatoes. My tomatoes are tiny this year, but finally they're ripe.
I had more of the chard tonight with leftover chicken stew (a Pierre Frenay recipe with lots of tarragon) to which I added some more tomato. 'Twas good, and a couple of days in the fridge definitely muted the oak.

John

I must have unconciously known it was Grenache day: <b> 2010 Cote Est, Lafage, Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalans</b>. This is a crisp blend of 50% Grenach Blanc, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Marsanne. Very refreshing on a hot day, citrus with some grassy notes, a bit short and simple, but a reliable $8 bottle. Screwcap closure.

Joe, the 2009 version of the Lafarge Cote Est is pretty nice, too--and I think a bit more multi-dimensional, perhaps. But as you say, it is nice summer drinking either way.

Mark, nice note on 1966 Giscours. I've had good success with that vintage over the past month or so--with a fading but very pleasant 1966 Latour a Pomerol and a stunningly youthful and full-blown savory 1966 Ch Latour.

As for my weekend, I do think there was some grenache in there somewhere, with a pair of Priorats that I didn't much care for. Otherwise, it was pretty outrageously good, with some highlights from Toro and Ribera, Bordeaux and Jura, Chianti and Barolo!

-Michael

Mark, nice note on 1966 Giscours. I've had good success with that vintage over the past month or so--with a fading but very pleasant 1966 Latour a Pomerol and a stunningly youthful and full-blown savory 1966 Ch Latour.

Michael,
I couldn't agree with you more about '66, which has been underrated for decades courtesy of RMP's noted lack of enthusiasm for it. Dale Williams and I split a lot of '66s at auction this summer, so I have been reaping the rewards of our efforts. Dale, poor fellow, has had to read my notes on these wines while awaiting the arrival of Fall shipping season The bottle of '66 Cheval Blanc will await a more auspicious occasion, though, since I expect that it will be in the mold of the Latour you had.

Mark Lipton

[Jenise]

No one told me it was Grenache Day Friday!!! You mean I could have had CdP with my Mac and Cheese? Instead we had Craggy Range SB. I am sure Mr. Bueker would have loved it. It was a very good SB from NZ which I usually tend to avoid, but the freebies need to be consumed.

And just where are you getting free wine from, my dear?

[Jenise]

I also had never heard of Grenache Day before now and would have entertained opening one on Friday. As it happened, we ate out that night and had to settle for a bottle of 2010 Drylands Sauvignon Blanc (also from NZ and no doubt another Rieslingfan favorite). Last night, though, I roasted a chicken and opened a bottle of the 1966 Château GIscours which was still a faded old jewel and quite lovely with the chicken.

Mark Lipton

OOOH OOH OOOOOH! I own a bottle; it's my last 66. I'm thrilled with your note, thanks!

[Jenise]

You asked for it. These are the wines I recall, there might have been more :

2005 Marchel Cuvee Gravel Bourgogne
2004 Domaine Serene Evanstadt Reserve PN
2008 Marina Piper PN, Willamette
2004 Girardin Savigny-les-Beaune les dessus
2008 Goose Ridge Cabernet, Washington
200? Alondra Cabernet, Napa
2002 Terra Andina Cabernet, Chile
2001 Ch Guittot Fellonneau Cuvee Artisan Haut-Medoc
2010 Villa des Anges OV Rose (of Cinsault)
2008 Laraine 'Scarlet Harlot' Merlot, Sierra Foothills
2008 Ch St. Jean Chardonnay, Belle Terra vineyard
2009 Ch St. Jean Chardonnay, Robert Young vineyard

Late posting this - but Liz and I enjoyed some very nice wines this weekend:

2010 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, CA
2010 Soter (Rose of Pinot Noir) Willamette Valley, OR
2010 Lagler Gruner Veltliner Wachau, Austria
2008 Domaine de Pallus 'Les Pensees de Pallus" Chinon, France
2006 Opolo 'Mountain Zinfandel’ Central Coast, CA (16.5% abv)
2000 Lafon-Rochet, St. Estephe, France

The standout was the Merry Edwards S.B.

Some Grenache notes from Sarah Ahmed on Happy Grenache Day!

http://www.thewinedetective.co.uk/blog/ ... l-surplus/

Joe, the 2009 version of the Lafarge Cote Est is pretty nice, too--and I think a bit more multi-dimensional, perhaps. But as you say, it is nice summer drinking either way.....

My first exposure to this wine was the '08 and then last year we had some of the '09. No notes on them but if memory serves, the 2010 seems a bit leaner than the '09. BTW, some shops around here still have the '09, which is quite a bit more golden in color. Wonder if this is due to age, or if it was always that way? I don't reckon these wines as keepers.

Hi Bob,

I did not celebrate Grenache day, unfortunately. Did open a nice affordable Chilean pinot noir Anakena. Under $15 at LCBO with nice cherry nose, smooth tannins, nice acidity and cherry and beet root flavors. Decent finish and it went well with barbequed pork loin smothered in portabella mushrooms sauteed in butter. Yum .

Tom, I have heard from a good authority that the PN to look out for is the 2008 Amayna Pinot Noir (Leyda Valley, Chile). $34 here in AB.

Tom, I have heard from a good authority that the PN to look out for is the 2008 Amayna Pinot Noir (Leyda Valley, Chile). $34 here in AB.

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the tip. I will be looking for it at LCBO. I don't think I have had any PN from the Leyda valley in Chile.

Tom, you might have to go to a private/independant wine store to track this one down!

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/produ ... anguage=EN

[James Roscoe]

No one told me it was Grenache Day Friday!!! You mean I could have had CdP with my Mac and Cheese? Instead we had Craggy Range SB. I am sure Mr. Bueker would have loved it. It was a very good SB from NZ which I usually tend to avoid, but the freebies need to be consumed.

And just where are you getting free wine from, my dear?

My daughter is in the biz. She distributes for RNDC in Charleston, SC. WE get some wine every now and then. Christmas tends to be VERY nice!

I think it is about time I dived into my stash of Loire reds! Maybe a Baudry would fit the bill?
Loire-heads stay tuned.