WTN: Wine sans Power (ESJ, Geil, Chartogne-Taillet)

[David M. Bueker]

So now into day 4 of our journey back in time, we still have no electricity. Thankfully we have gas hot water & gas cooktop, so we're bathing and eating. with the days being only so warm, and the nights quite cool, the wine cellar is now the warmest room in the house! It's holding at 55 or so according to the battery operated temp readout.

I have not taken any kind of notes on the wines we drank over the last few days, so these are mere impressions.

2010 Edmunds St. John Rocks & Gravel
Just picked up from UPS on Thursday, so it may or may not have travel shock. I'm also not sure if Saturday was a root day. Then there's the fact that the wine was served rather cool, as we lost power before hte bottle had a chance to warm up from cellar temp. That said it is very forward fruity, but in a well-mannered way. I actually had a hard time getting a read on it, as it seems to lack the focus of the 2009 (which I also uncorked soon after arrival) right now. I think it's very good, but I need more warmth to know for sure.

2009 Geil Scheurebe Kabinett
Meowwww!!! This has some of that Scheurebe-typical herbal/catty mix, but it's also quite full of ripe grapefruit and it has enough body to stand up to a Thai green curry.

2006 Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Les Barres
100% ungrafetd Pinot Meunier, and enough red fruit to go toe to toe with the ESJ! This is very delicious, and gone too soon.

I know nothing of Scheurebe. Based on your description, it made me think of NZ Sauv Blanc, so I looked it up. From the Winegrape Glossary: "If fruit is unable to mature, the wine quality will be of poor quality with an aroma described as similar to "cat urine". "

[David M. Bueker]

Howie,

I should clarify that the herbal/catty element was secondary to the ripe grapefruit. This was not an unripe Scheu, but rather a ripe one that also spoke of its varietal character.

Glad to hear you're OK. Hope you guys get power back soon. (Doesn't look like Vernon'll be restored for some time.)

[Jenise]

There you are! Robin and I were getting worried about you and was hoping a power failure was all that kept you away. Sure makes you appreciate modern conveniences, doesn't it? Also, cat warmth. We lost power for four days once--in ALASKA--and that made for some interesting times; like you we were lucky to have had a gas stove, so we could at least boil water and make food.

[David M. Bueker]

So tonight a '97 Altesino Brunello was corked, while a 2000 ESJ Los Robles Viejos was quite velvety and herbal/earthy complex.

The home made chicken pesto was quite delicious, and rescued stuff that would have to have been thrown out from the freezer.