Lexington Off-line Wine List

The small, but mighty group of seven enjoyed more great wines than should be allowed by law, accompanied by outstanding food. Here is the list of wines that were opened along with my brief word association tasting notes written after the fact. I hope the other attendees will offer their thoughts once the cobwebs clear.

2002 The Shadow - Open and ready following a multi year slumber.

1999 Nuit St. George "Au Bas de Combe" (sp?) Jean Tardy - Smooth ripe fruit.

2001 Jadot Pommard Epenots - Muscular and taut. Did not get to revisit.

1999 Vosne Romanee "1st Cru les Charmes" (?) Jean Tardy - Quite tight when uncorked.  Opened up nicely after time in air.

1998 Thunder Mountain Pinot Noir - Rich and complex in a Burg style.

2002 D' Angerville Clos des Ducs - Much less tannic than when last tasted. Maybe slightly closed at the moment.

2009 Kinkead Ridge Viognier Roussanne - Missed this one somehow.

2000 Corton Charlemagne Bonneau du Martray - Smooth, light, fresh and complex.  Bottle drained in about 20 minutes.

2005 CdP Alain du Pape - Very young with lots of potential. A cough syrup note on opening.  Never had the opportunity to revisit.

2000 Arlaud Morey St. Denis 1st Cru Les Rouchots - Nice backbone and great Burg character.

2007 Faiveley Chablis 1st Cru Vaillons - Good minerality.  Paired well with the scallops.

Chateau Tahbilk mini vertical '98, '99, '00 - Excellent opportunity to compare and contrast vintages of this outstanding wine.  I will defer to the most generous Mr. Howry to provide his notes.

2010 ESJ Bone Jolly Rose - Funk on the nose and flat on the tongue. Seems to be an off bottle.

2001 Wegeler Mosel Spatlese - Sweet and rich.  Nearly auslese in character.

Henriot Souverain NV - Explosive bubbles. Semi dry with dough and lemon.

Miguel Pons Cava Brut - Refreshing, palate cleansing acidity.  Didn't note the vintage.

2010 Ferraud et Fils Macon Villages - This one escaped my glass as well.

1991 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve - Superbly smooth and elegant.  Rich and fully integrated. My WOTN among many outstanding wines.

1988 Lafaurie-Peyaguey - Great botrytis nose of silly putty and band-aid. Honey and lemon the palate. Blossomed in the glass as I sipped.

Otima 20 Year Tawny - Work horse port with hints of chocolate and cherry.

OMG! I just got up from a nap, and you've already posted these incredible notes! I am very impressed. What a fun night. How I wish I had a big plate of Mike and Cindy Hughes mushroom risotto with scallops before me now; wasn't that delicious!?
So good to see you and Luanne, looking forward to more offlines together. Thanks so much for being the responsible one in the group .

Best,
JB

I would have loved to attend and see Bob and everyone else, but, I just couldn't do it.

I would have loved to attend and see Bob and everyone else, but, I just couldn't do it.

Ditto, Howie. Reading Sam's list and description of the wines just adds salt to the wounds.

Mark Lipton

Sounds like a fun time.
I should haul out my last bottle or two of the shadow.
Did you think the Bone Jolly rose reduced (did funky mean mercaptans?_
I'll leave my 02 Ducsters alone.
thanks for notes

Did you think the Bone Jolly rose reduced (did funky mean mercaptans?_

The funk was more of a brett note, Dale. It was definitely at an annoying level initially and I did not get the chance to come back to it later.

I would say that the CdD needs another 3 years before sampling, for sure.

Sam-
I couldn't help but notice that a number of your notes mentioned that you didn't get a chance to revisit.
Does that mean:
1. You were behaving yourself?
2. Everyone else threw moderation out the window?
3. ?

Quite an amazing bottle/person ratio! Bet there were some sore heads the next day, although I did have a brief chat with BobH and he seemed in fine form. Would like to hear how the three marsanne's held up. Have quite a soft spot for this particular label. Quite an array of nice Burgundy by the sound of things.

[David M. Bueker]

Wow, Thunder Mountain. I can't rmember the last time I saw that name. Brings back memories, both good and sad.

I couldn't help but notice that a number of your notes mentioned that you didn't get a chance to revisit.
Does that mean:
1. You were behaving yourself?
2. Everyone else threw moderation out the window?
3. ?

It was all I could do to keep up with the wines as they were opened, let alone cycle back to very many of them. This was a "drinking", not a "tasting" as there was no spitting involved, and I didn't want to go all full-raving-drunk over the course of the evening. I stayed well hydrated, and controlled my own pours for the most part. I'm glad that I wasn't driving anywhere, but I think I could have made it through the alphabet when quittin' time came at about 1:00 a.m.

In addition to excellent wine, the company and the food were outstanding as well. We certainly missed you and Norma.

Would like to hear how the three marsanne's held up.

David,

I am hopeful that Bob, or someone more conversant with the Tahbilk will post their notes. My sampling of the mini-vertical was a bit disjointed, and I think others did a better job of side-by-side tasting than I did.

I'm a big fan of Arlaud's wines--especially the Morey-St-Denis "les Ruchots." I think it was the 1999 vintage that I went gaga over (over which I went gaga just sounds too precocious.)

JC,
I loved the Morey-St-Denis classic burg style. I made a lamb terrine to pair with it, and thought it hit the mark. Wish I had a few more in the cellar.

I would never think you precocious..pedantic maybe (kidding)

JB

[James Roscoe]

I am sure if Professor Lipton had been in attendance a corked bottle would have been discovered. That joke is NEVER going to get old!

Hi Sam -

Thank you for the notes. I assume that this was Lexington, Kentucky?

Anyway, glad to hear that the 2000 Bonneau du Martray was not premoxed, unlike the one that I sampled last year. There was still enough there for me to know then that it would have been special, had it been a good bottle.

I am sure if Professor Lipton had been in attendance a corked bottle would have been discovered. That joke is NEVER going to get old!

Yeah, just ask JB!

Mark "TCA Mary" Lipton

Thank you for the notes. I assume that this was Lexington, Kentucky?

Hi Andrew,

Yes, we were in Lexington KY, not MA. I hope that you weren't waiting for us at the Lexington MA Homewood Suites!

Sam

I'm jealous not to have been able to join you folks. All those Burgs!!! And the '88 L-P, next to d'Yquem '96 my favorite Sauternes ever!

But I have a swell consolation prize: I got offered the job I interviewed for on Monday!!!!! At this point, it seems I'll be moving to South Dakota.

Congratulations Ryan.

I'm jealous not to have been able to join you folks. All those Burgs!!! And the '88 L-P, next to d'Yquem '96 my favorite Sauternes ever!

But I have a swell consolation prize: I got offered the job I interviewed for on Monday!!!!! At this point, it seems I'll be moving to South Dakota.

That's great news, Ryan, in what is still a buyer's market for academics. Maybe we should have a goodbye Ryan offline before you depart for points Westward?

Mark Lipton

Maybe we should have a goodbye Ryan offline before you depart for points Westward?

Yes!!!!!

And just to be clear, this is a tenure-track position!

Great Ryan, you will have to take up butterflying, some great species there, espec in the badlands!

Great Ryan, you will have to take up butterflying, some great species there, espec in the badlands!

Do you make it down that way often Bob?

Not as much as I would like. Enough surveying and research to keep me busy up here!