WTN: Chambers Street Wine 25th Anniversary Party

So on a steamy Saturday I headed to Chinatown for a celebration of Chambers Street Wines’ 25th Anniversary. 5th floor of Golden Unicorn, a cosy 150+ people. I stuck mostly at a table with old friends, but did a little circulating. I probably didn’t note half the wines I tasted. Nice speeches by David, Jamie, and Eben. Some dim sum circulated (good spring roll, one ok dumpling and one to avoid), later there was a served buffet with Peking duck, baby bok choy, orange chicken, flounder, beef with broccoli, and more

NV Roederer 244 (mag)
Pear and white nectarine, brioche, a touch of almond. RIch and elegant. A-

2019 Schloss Gobelsburg Ried Heiligenstein 1OTW Riesling (Mag)
Pit fruits, petrol, big styled. I liked, some others loved. B/B+

2007 Pepiere Granite de Clisson Muscadet (mag)
Mine. I was a little nervous, but it showed well. Not as saline as in youth, but complex and lithe. Citrus and pear, hazelnut, oystershell. A-

1992 Weber-Ostermann Wintricher Grosser Herrgott Riesling Spatlese
OK unknown producer, unheralded vintage. It’s actually pretty good. Grapefruit, pear, caraway seed, light petrol notes. B

La Lunotte Les Rossignoux2
I didn’t get if there was a vintage. Very floral/musky, I thought maybe Rhone white, but then was told it was Loire SB. Oops. Peach, blossoms, a little funk. B-

2011 Gonon les Oliviers St Joseph Blanc (mag)
I’m not a big Rhone white guy, but liked this. Nectarine, orange zest, a little wool. B

2004 Cazin Cuvee Renaissance Cour Cheverny “
Mine. Just a bit off dry, wool, wax, citrus, pit fruits. B/B+

2002 Clos Rougeard Poyeux Saumur-Champigny.
Lovely nose of raspberries and sandalwood, more delicacy than power on palate, long and elegant. A-/A

1975 Cavalotto Barolo Riserva Speciale
Some thought this way past it, but I thought that though fully mature it was nice. Red cherry, balsam, tar. Herbs and earth. B+/B

2009 Baudry Grezeaux Chinon
Surprisingly silky for Chinon, cassis and kirsch with brambly notes. B+

2018 Baudry Grezeaux Chinon (mag)
Very young but this will be a beauty. Dark berries, smoke, tobacco. Ripeness of the vintage is apparent but in balance. B for now, A potential

1985 Stags Leap Wine Cellars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon (mag)
Blackcurrant and blackberry, cigarbox, a hint of chipotle. B+/A-

2009 Clos de Roilette (Coudert) Cuvee Tardive Fleurie (3L)
I’ve always liked this wine, but should drink out of 3L more often.
Black cherry, mocha, herbs. Delicious, long, and complex. A-

2011 Gonon St Joseph
Mine. I had decanted the 2010 to discover it vilely corked. Grabbed cradle and ran down for backup but only found the 2011 (found other ‘10 next day). The 2011 was pretty good! Red berries, truffles, pepper, black olive. I really enjoyed, Brad said he expected more. More for me! A-

1995 Foreau/Clos Naudin Moelleux Vouvray
Apricot, honey, beeswax. B+/B

Bois Brincon Cremant de Loire
It’s wet. Actually it’s fine, but pales next to rest of stuff on table. B-

There were lots of other wines I tasted (and 25X that I missed - there were probably 400-500 wines in the room). I know there was a ‘88 Lafarge, a Gruner, a Monte Bello I liked, some others I didn’t ( another Gruner, a Jura, a very tired Produttori), but too many to write down,

Really fun night. CSW has been a huge part of my wine education- and frankly of the direction of wine in the US. When CSW turned 10 Mike Steinberger wrote an article in Slate titled “the Greatest Wine Retailer in America.” Still true (though thanks to CSW’s lead there are a lot more great shops these days)
https://slate.com/human-interest/2011/0 ... erica.html

Fun night with great wines and great people. Everyone is looking forward to the 50th in June 2051.


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was the only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

CSW has been a huge part of my wine education- and frankly of the direction of wine in the US. When CSW turned 10 Mike Steinberger wrote an article in Slate titled “the Greatest Wine Retailer in America.” Still true (though thanks to CSW’s lead there are a lot more great shops these days)
https://slate.com/human-interest/2011/0 ... ica.html...

Sounds like the rollicking good time one would expect. And at least from the ones you mentioned, wines that fit the CSW mold.

I do hope CSW gets credit for its role in developing US wine culture. So many shops these days are effectively off-shoots of CSW.

[David M. Bueker]

Looks like a lovely event. The cold comfort on that corked Gonon is that it wasn’t terribly expensive back then!

Can't swear to it, but pretty sure both 2010 and 2011 were about $28.Which was pricey, 2006 was $21!

Can't swear to it, but pretty sure both 2010 and 2011 were about $28.Which was pricey, 2006 was $21!

That's a great price for the 2010. I paid $40 for mine.

[David M. Bueker]

Can't swear to it, but pretty sure both 2010 and 2011 were about $28.Which was pricey, 2006 was $21!

2006 VV cost me $50! I nearly balked at the price and only bought 3.

Maybe I'm misremembering (nostalgia), but do see old CT notes from 2012saying sub $30.
One of my big regrets is that I never bought the VV the couple of times I was offered. Foolish!

Criminy, is Gonon fancy now? I haven't paid much attention, obviously, it was a solid wine but not one of my absolute favorites.

Chambers St. is for sure one of the top shops. I basically don't order from the other coast unless it's something special I just can't get, but Chambers is the one exeception.

Can't swear to it, but pretty sure both 2010 and 2011 were about $28.Which was pricey, 2006 was $21!

2006 VV cost me $50! I nearly balked at the price and only bought 3.

Just think what you could sell them for today.

Criminy, is Gonon fancy now? I haven't paid much attention, obviously, it was a solid wine but not one of my absolute favorites.

Chambers St. is for sure one of the top shops. I basically don't order from the other coast unless it's something special I just can't get, but Chambers is the one exeception.

Yes, regular Gonon St Jo retails for $100-150 now, bottles with age go for several hundred dollars at auction, and bottles of the VV auction for $800-1200 plus vig (so $1K+).
CSW is rare shop I will buy something I haven't heard of on rec.