Sunday, June 27, 2004
Normally wine lovers go to the winery or attend wine dinners to get to know winemakers. Not so when it comes to Winepals. Yesterday those who made the bottles fest at my place were treated to not only David Corey and his excellent wines; both the 2003 Core Rose which is getting better and darker every week, as well as his 2002 352 Mourvedre based blend. Corey is even making 352 in half bottles, so I suggested he name that release the 176.
Not much after David arrived Etienne from Cordon arrived, with of course bottles in tow. Then came McPrice Myers who like Etienne and David all crush, ferment and bottle at Central Coast Wine Services in Santa Maria.
McPrice's dazzling Viognier and 2002 Syrah was a real treat too. Oh, yes. We had a total of 27 bottles of wine and about 15 people or so as the day went on. David was last seen heading off to a bike race after breakfast at Beach Grass Cafe. We needed food. Etienne was off to get married in Belgium and McPrice blazing up the 5 to his home in Orange. Funny, there wasn't any food left, and I'm stuck with a bunch of BOTTLES, which are all empty
:-( Somehow that always happens here.
And you want notes? Sorry....I'm lucky I can remember what day it is.....all I remember was McPrice digging the 1994 Rosemount Estates Black Label Diamond Shiraz, David asking for Faugeres so we opened the 1993 Alquier Young Vines and the 1998 traditional Alquier. At some point wine sales god Bill Gillespie showed up, with guess what, more wine. But, my friends, I'll do my best at recoiling, I mean, recalling the wines that seemed to ring out.
I do recall was the 2002 Sandridge Washington State Viognier being smashing, textbook perfect and right on the money. Then again it was the first wine we opened. Sandridge's Rose of Sangiovese was light, aromatic and almost made you want to get up and dance. A 1999 Fluery Saint Joseph was all black and green olives, blueberries and drinking lush and lovely. The 1994 Cuvee Unique Coteaux d'Aix en Provence was roasted herbs, wild berries and a touch of sauvage. Long finish and delightful with grilled chicken marinated in Nando's Peri-Peri Curry Coconut.
There also was a 2000 Fess Parker Frontier Red that said, stick to acting. I'm sure if I can mosey on up the steps I'd be able to locate the other bottles, but that would take more effort than I can muster. Someone opened up a Ray Feist, yes as in Magician and all those books he writes, supplied S. Anderson Sparkler. At some point Ray McKewon, founder of the 2003 NASDAQ IPO of the Year, Accredited Home Lenders suggested to the uninitiated that a visit to the cryogenic cellar where the wines are stored to age longer than most was in order. For Etienne, who is a Navy Seal reservist, that was not a request, as McKewon, who retired at the rank of full captain and was at times ranked Commodore, instructed him as such.
We ended up pulling a few real treats. 1989 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas. Stunning. No one could believe it was an 89, figuring it was an 98. The 1990 Domaine du Pibernon was glorious, and unlike Tempiers or Pradeauxs of the same vintage, the Pibernons are very much forward and appealing right now. A 1995 Saint Joseph from Cave Cooperative L'Tain Hermitage, deemed by some to be the best cooperative in France, and certainly the Northern Rhone valley. Initially closed and austere, as it lingered in the glass it took on an almost Cornas like mouth feel and flavor.
Of course Bill brought along Castle Rock 2002 Napa Cabernet, which is just darn good wine for $9 dollars a bottle, but it was his 2002 Bosch Albarino that seemed to catch my attention. This is the second time I've had that wine has crossed my lips, and as Albarino's go, it was darn good, especially when one realizes that it was made in the USA and not Spain.
Lisa Giraudi came by with a bottle of 85 Lyeth. Like most 85 Napa Cabs, they just aren't doing it for me any more. Well, in reality, they never did, as I always thought both 84 and 87 were superior and in some cases so too was 1986.
For those interested David Corey and his wines will be appearing at Gaffney's Wine Bar in Encinitas on Wednesday June 30th, starting @ 6 PM. Dinner someplace after the event for those so inclined? In the interim, I'll be found with Water. Lots of Water. We went through another case of the most recent vintage of Arrowhead yesterday. I think it was Roosevelt who said "buy bonds." I say, buy water.
Cheers,
Andy
Not much after David arrived Etienne from Cordon arrived, with of course bottles in tow. Then came McPrice Myers who like Etienne and David all crush, ferment and bottle at Central Coast Wine Services in Santa Maria.
McPrice's dazzling Viognier and 2002 Syrah was a real treat too. Oh, yes. We had a total of 27 bottles of wine and about 15 people or so as the day went on. David was last seen heading off to a bike race after breakfast at Beach Grass Cafe. We needed food. Etienne was off to get married in Belgium and McPrice blazing up the 5 to his home in Orange. Funny, there wasn't any food left, and I'm stuck with a bunch of BOTTLES, which are all empty
:-( Somehow that always happens here.
And you want notes? Sorry....I'm lucky I can remember what day it is.....all I remember was McPrice digging the 1994 Rosemount Estates Black Label Diamond Shiraz, David asking for Faugeres so we opened the 1993 Alquier Young Vines and the 1998 traditional Alquier. At some point wine sales god Bill Gillespie showed up, with guess what, more wine. But, my friends, I'll do my best at recoiling, I mean, recalling the wines that seemed to ring out.
I do recall was the 2002 Sandridge Washington State Viognier being smashing, textbook perfect and right on the money. Then again it was the first wine we opened. Sandridge's Rose of Sangiovese was light, aromatic and almost made you want to get up and dance. A 1999 Fluery Saint Joseph was all black and green olives, blueberries and drinking lush and lovely. The 1994 Cuvee Unique Coteaux d'Aix en Provence was roasted herbs, wild berries and a touch of sauvage. Long finish and delightful with grilled chicken marinated in Nando's Peri-Peri Curry Coconut.
There also was a 2000 Fess Parker Frontier Red that said, stick to acting. I'm sure if I can mosey on up the steps I'd be able to locate the other bottles, but that would take more effort than I can muster. Someone opened up a Ray Feist, yes as in Magician and all those books he writes, supplied S. Anderson Sparkler. At some point Ray McKewon, founder of the 2003 NASDAQ IPO of the Year, Accredited Home Lenders suggested to the uninitiated that a visit to the cryogenic cellar where the wines are stored to age longer than most was in order. For Etienne, who is a Navy Seal reservist, that was not a request, as McKewon, who retired at the rank of full captain and was at times ranked Commodore, instructed him as such.
We ended up pulling a few real treats. 1989 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas. Stunning. No one could believe it was an 89, figuring it was an 98. The 1990 Domaine du Pibernon was glorious, and unlike Tempiers or Pradeauxs of the same vintage, the Pibernons are very much forward and appealing right now. A 1995 Saint Joseph from Cave Cooperative L'Tain Hermitage, deemed by some to be the best cooperative in France, and certainly the Northern Rhone valley. Initially closed and austere, as it lingered in the glass it took on an almost Cornas like mouth feel and flavor.
Of course Bill brought along Castle Rock 2002 Napa Cabernet, which is just darn good wine for $9 dollars a bottle, but it was his 2002 Bosch Albarino that seemed to catch my attention. This is the second time I've had that wine has crossed my lips, and as Albarino's go, it was darn good, especially when one realizes that it was made in the USA and not Spain.
Lisa Giraudi came by with a bottle of 85 Lyeth. Like most 85 Napa Cabs, they just aren't doing it for me any more. Well, in reality, they never did, as I always thought both 84 and 87 were superior and in some cases so too was 1986.
For those interested David Corey and his wines will be appearing at Gaffney's Wine Bar in Encinitas on Wednesday June 30th, starting @ 6 PM. Dinner someplace after the event for those so inclined? In the interim, I'll be found with Water. Lots of Water. We went through another case of the most recent vintage of Arrowhead yesterday. I think it was Roosevelt who said "buy bonds." I say, buy water.
Cheers,
Andy
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