The Official Wine Thread

[Axelman 17]

Grilled a few flying pigs farm chickens and served with leek bread pudding:

Foley 2001 Santa Maria Hills Pinot Noir
- drank more like a Syrah, lots of big fruit, fair amount of tannins, ash

Gevrey Chambertin Domaine Rene Leclerc 1999 Premier Cru
- this one needed at least an hour to open up, started out very soft but by the end was sweet with some strawberry, very enjoyable

 

[audiophilia]

 

[gomestar]

hai guiz, i'm back. Will be posting a lot of food and wine pics soon.

 

[Cary Grant]

O haiz...

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by gomestar

hai guiz, i'm back. Will be posting a lot of food and wine pics soon.

Oh hai. Waiting to kop pics.

 

[Ricardo Malocchio]

2 Rossos from Tuscany, 2007 vintage. Each under $20. Both drunk with antipasto, bread and cheeses. And there ends the similarities:

Tenuta Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino 2007:
Ruby red in color, translucent. Beautiful aromatics of plum, bing cherry, fresh herbs, rose petals, and maybe just a bit of lemon peel. Palate emphasizes sweeter red fruits, cherries and strawberries, with very nicely balanced acidity. Medium bodied to light, juicy, with polished tannins and a surprisingly long finish of spice and sweetness. Positively wonderful.

Casanova di Neri Sant' Antimo Rosso di Casanova di Neri 2007:
Deep garnet with only the slightest translucence. Nose is darker fruit, black cherry, tar, and oak. Taste is ripe, extracted, dark berry, smoke, licorice. Finish is a tad harsh, tasting more of coarse oak tannins than sweet/spice sangiovese. This isn't quite oak-bombed, but it's got way too much wood for my taste, and needed something heavier than even the strong Fennochia-whatever and Chorizo. Char-blackened hippo shank maybe?

I can't wait to drink another of the Poggione, but I won't be buying the Casanova again (and sadly have one more bottle to choke down).

 

[Cary Grant]

I'm srprised to hear the Tenuta Il Poggione was that "ready" for an 07. Not that Rosso's need to sit around like a big eye-tal might.

 

[Ricardo Malocchio]

The Poggione was decanted for 2-1/2 hrs, but probably would have been nearly as lovely popped-and-poured. It's definitely on the lighter side, but I am surprised at how polished the tannins are, especially given the impressive length of the finish.

I think these "baby brother" wines should be drinkable fairly young, though I'm also duly impressed by those "serious" rossos that are practically brunellos. Still, gotta have something to drink while the others are cellaring!

Another little brother wine I've been loving this summer is Vietti's 2007 Perbacco nebbiolo. This definitely needs decanting, but opens up wonderfully in short order. Likewise the 07 Sottimano Langhe nebb. And I had an '06 Giovanni Almondo Langhe nebb - briefly available about 6 mos ago at Federal Wine in Boston - that was just outstanding for a young'un.

 

[Cary Grant]

That's great Ricardo. And I agree about the lighter baby brothers. I've been drinking quite a bit of the Sottimano '05 Nebb lately.

 

[gomestar]

London, summer trip 2010.

Day 1 - I flew throughout the night so of course I lost a few hours of sleep. I had white wine on the plane. It was ****. I arrive and meet up with my brother - we grab breakfast of an excellent croissant at a small cafe in Kensington (where his flat is). He goes to work, I check in to the hotel and catch an hour of rest (jet lag doesn't really affect me, but a little rest helps). I putz around the neighborhood for a bit before meeting up with him for dinner. We eat at a pub called the "Builder's Arms" - although the name suggests a gay lounge for construction workers, I did not notice any in sight. Rather, some excellent food came out, all of it made right on premise. Washed it down with a nice Hoegaarden, though Krug 2002 was a mere 120 GBP a bottle there (cheaper than NV Krug at any London store!). Then, we grab some cheeses, some sweets, crackers, and fruit and crash it at the hotel and watch Casino Royale. And then we pop some DP2K - yes, overpriced, yes, there are better - but I still love DP and the 2000 vintage is drinking so well young. That creaminess is alluring and this wine is all about finesse rather than power. Cheers to my first night in London.

Day 2 starts with breakfast at the same place as yesterday:

I then promptly return to the hotel to change - my brother and I both showed up in white OCBD's, jeans, and LL Bean loafers.

Then, off to get some shopping done. I make some obligatory stops and pick up some goods at Crocket & Jones, Huntsman, and a few other small places along the way.

Lunch is a double shot.

More shopping.

Then, dinner is at Scott's, a rather famous seafood place in Mayfair. I was a little hesitant about this - many reviews were glowing, while a few people (including Matt) weren't that impressed. The wine was an excellent Domaine de Chaude Écuelle Chablis 2008. Perfect for seafood and I wouldn't mind seeking out here. The starters ranged from being very good with the potted shrimp to superb with the sea bass cevice and the smoked salmon. Sadly, both of our entrees were disappointing. My dover sole meunière was too mushy at the thick parts and I genuinely don't like when I have to reach for the salt and pepper mills to add some flavor to a $65 piece of fish. My brothers was a little bit of the same with seasoning, although his was expertly cooked. His sauce was also excellent, but rather expensive for a "grilled fish of the day". Both deserts (ice cream) were brilliant, and we both mentioned this is what we'll remember most about our dinner (but big time props to that cevice).

I forgot my camera for some quick Scott's shots, sorry.

End of day 2.

 

[Cary Grant]

Looking forward to the rest, Gomes... I've tried Dover sole three times in the last year in London and never had anything I would call "good". I think it's become a forgone conclusion at too many London restaurants.

By any chance did you get to Wild Honey?

 

[Piobaire]

Nice start. Need moar.

07 Chard here tonight, Mosquito Hill. Think it was a WTSO kop.

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

Looking forward to the rest, Gomes... I've tried Dover sole three times in the last year in London and never had anything I would call "good". I think it's become a forgone conclusion at too many London restaurants. By any chance did you get to Wild Honey?
did not get to Wild Honey. I didn't get to too many things, unfortunately, 6 days can really fly by quickly. next poast will likely be lengthy, stay tuned.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Friends came over for dinner last night with three bottles of DP Oenotheque 1990. Great stuff, left one behind.

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by iammatt

Friends came over for dinner last night with three bottles of DP Oenotheque 1990. Great stuff, left one behind.

big time win right there, the Oenotheque is special stuff. I need moar friends like your friends.