TheWino.net

Judgment of Paris thoughts

Finally read George Taber’s Judgment of Paris, the book that chronicles the fateful afternoon of May 24, 1976 when nine French judges, in a blind tasting, proclaimed a California Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon superior to first growth French wines. I flew to London for a week of work yesterday and am visiting Paris over the weekend, so I wanted to read it before I get to France.   

Bachelor Party Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting

A close friend of mine asked me to organize (in the loose sense) a tasting for his bachelor party this past weekend.  He's getting married later next month wanted heavy reds, ideally Cabernet, wines that will leave a mark so to speak. I went to K&L & Beltramos wine stores (both local to the Bay Area Peninsula – Menlo Park/Redwood City area) and picked up seven bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The wines came from Chile, France and the United States (primarily California), all representing different styles & regions to give everybody as much variety as a wine tasting at a Bachelor party can handle.                     

Chateau Ormes De Pez Saint-Estephe 2004

Chateau Ormes De Pez Saint-Estephe 2004 the first bottle in a seven bottle series global Cabernet Sauvignon tasting I did for a bachelor party recently.  This is from the Bordeaux region of France but its a less known area of that region (Saint-Estephe). 

Details:

13% alcohol

Red Burgundy & Salmon

The last two nights I've enjoyed a nice bottle of Red Burgundy Table Wine (Pinot Noir for those wine idiots like me) with dinner.  It's a 2001 Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru, Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange which K&L Wine merchant sold to me a few weeks back.  Last night it was with cheese & brie topped off with a nice appetizer style trader joe's pizza.

NYT's Review of 2003 French Vintages...

The NY Times recently tasted a bunch of 2003 vintage french wines.  Rare warm weather wrecked havoc of white wines which pushed their acidity too high but it left many of the reds in fine shape.  According to NYT, its not an outstanding vintage but a very good one, particularly in the St. Emilion, a Bordeaux commune on the right bank of the Gironde River. 
They published a list of top wines from the tasting.

Friday Night Tasting?

The picture should tell the whole story.  In what was initially
intended to be a single bottle of wine winding down after a nice dinner and a long week of work resulted in seven, count them, seven bottles of vino.  In TheWino fashion, a small group of close friends, ended up drinking good wine well into the night.  On Saturday morning we felt the pain, some more than others (my brother in law in particular was hurting) but nothing can replace opening up endless bottles of wine.  Well, ok its not always the best idea if you have comittments the next day but fortunately for me I had none. 

Of the seven bottles my favorite was the Longoria Syrah (2002, Santa Barbera County). 

Judgemet Day: Part Deux - 30 years later...

In an thirty year anniversary re-enactment of the "Judgement in Paris" this past weekend in simultaneous tastings in London & Napa, the results were surprisingly the same.  California wines took the six of the top ten spots in the Bordeaux category, and each of the first five.  Showing once again that not only could those wines hold up against the best France had to offer at a young age but they've held their ground over 30 years.  San Francisco Chronicle had the details

Chateau Monbousquet 2001 Saint-Emilon Grand Cru

Chateau Monbousquet is the estate of Chanta and Gerald Perse, self made millionairs who make win in the Saint-Emilion region of France.  2001 was a good growing year and this bottle, the 2001 Chateau Monbousquet Saint Emilion Grand Cru displays much of that wonderful year. 

From Wine Advocate,

"The home estate of Chantal and Gerard Perse, the 2001 Monbousquet (a 7,500-case blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon bottled unfined and unfiltered) is a big, flamboyant, sexy offering with a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of licorice, dried herbs, smoke, black currants, and blackberries. Beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, opulent, and forward, this is a juicy, succulent, seductive claret to drink over the next 10-12 years. Score: 91. —Robert Parker, June 2004."

I personally don't find this wine as sweet or big as Wine Advocate, and I would caution anybody buying it that doesn't like dense flavor from things such as leather, coffee and hide but its a wonderful wine for those that enjoy a smooth, complex and well appointed bottle. 

BottomLine:  If you appreciate a complex wine that displays strong scents of its well being and place in the world, then this is a bottle for you. 

TheWino Rating: 90

Varietal Notes
Price: $40
Cases: 7500
Wine: Chateau Monbousquet

Chateau Monbousquet is the estate of Chanta and Gerald Perse, self made millionairs who make win in the Saint-Emilion region of France.  2001 was a good growing year and this bottle, the 2001 Chateau Monbousquet Saint Emilion Grand Cru displays much of that wonderful year. 

From Wine Advocate,

"The home estate of Chantal and Gerard Perse, the 2001 Monbousquet (a 7,500-case blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon bottled unfined and unfiltered) is a big, flamboyant, sexy offering with a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of licorice, dried herbs, smoke, black currants, and blackberries. Beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, opulent, and forward, this is a juicy, succulent, seductive claret to drink over the next 10-12 years. Score: 91. —Robert Parker, June 2004."

I personally don't find this wine as sweet or big as Wine Advocate, and I would caution anybody buying it that doesn't like dense flavor from things such as leather, coffee and hide but its a wonderful wine for those that enjoy a smooth, complex and well appointed bottle. 

BottomLine:  If you appreciate a complex wine that displays strong scents of its well being and place in the world, then this is a bottle for you. 

TheWino Rating: 90

Varietal Notes
Price: $40
Cases: 7500
Wine: Chateau Monbousquet

Europe - US Reach Wine Accord

The United States & European Union reached a wine accord on Friday (March 10th) that gives US winemakers more leeway on production techniques & protects European appellation names such as Port & Champagne. 

The US & Europe will begin discussions on a 'more extensive' agreement in the next ninety days but this accord is a start towards resolving many of the issues between the 'Old World' and 'New World' wine growing regions of the world.  Those issues started in the 1980's as the two largest wine producing countries in the world (France & US) disagreed on wine making techniques. 

The accord explicitly covers the following:

Wine Making Techniques - The US, and other new world winemakers, sometimes use steel barrels (instead of the traditional method of oak) and put in woodchips to achieve the oaky taste of traditional methods.  This is far cheaper than using oak barrels, and In fact commercial European winemakers are banned from using this method.  Under this agreement, the US will be allowed to export to the EU wines made via steel barrels and flavored with woodchips.  The statement from the parties about the agreement included a comment about"“mutual recognition of currently authorised US and European wine practices”.

Wine Region Name Protection - The French, in particular, wanted to protect their wine region names which have often been used by other wine region winemakers to describe their wines.  Under this agreement the US agrees to refrain from using European wine region names such as Sherry, Champagne, Burgundy, Chianti and thirteen other names.  The US will get protection for its region names as well. 

Wine Exporting Certification - The EU & US also agreed to reduce the exporting certification for each other's wine exports, allowing for a simplier & cheaper export process. 

The U.S. and Europe are each other's most important markets for wine exports. Annual shipments to the U.S. are worth approximately $2.6 billion and account for about 40 percent of the EU's wine exports. U.S. wine exports to Europe are far lower--they totaled $487 million in 2004--but are increasing steadily. There was opposition to the agreement....

2003 Chateau de Mattes-Sabran Le Viala....

Chateau de Mattes-Sabran's 2003 Le Viala is dark but pales in comparison to most french red wines.  It lacks complexity and/or strong flavors, failing to deliver that 'awe' sensation that even mediocre French wines deliver.  Darker and earthier than others, but not as complex as a good pinot noir.

BottomLine: Drink it with pleasure but have minimal expectations for this average French wine.

TheWino.Net Rating: 74

Price: $14