Essex County Wine Society

WINE PRESS

                          ESSEX COUNTY WINE SOCIETY

 January 12, 2009

 At our January event, Dick Appert led us through a blind tasting of Cabernet Franc, in a range of expressions, from around the world. We tasted wines from the Loire Valley in France, and U.S. wines from Long Island, Virginia, and the Napa-Sonoma area of California. Among the ten wines, the tasting featured 3 different “pairs” of wines – the same wine, but different vintages: Barboursville Vineyards, Cabernet Franc (Virginia), 1998 and 2006; Couly Dutheil, Clos de l’Echo (Chinon, France), 2003 and 2005; and Pride Mountain Vineyards, Cabernet Franc (Sonoma County, CA), 1997 and 2005. Dick asked members to try to identify which wines were the pairs and which wines were 100% Cabernet Franc vs. blends (with at least 75% Cab Franc). This proved to be a difficult exercise, which was met with little success, but led to much learning and enjoyment. By member vote, the Wine of the Night was the 2005 Pride, with the 2006 Rubicon Estate (Niebaum Coppola), Rutherford, CA finishing second.

 Our next event will be a horizontal tasting of 2001 Barolo, led by long-time member Mike Aria, on February 5th.  Please try to respond no later than January 30^th.

 2001 was an outstanding vintage in Piedmont and we will be serving nine superb wines, plus an aperitif. The majority of these wines are Riservas, and they are all 90+ point wines. It will be somewhat more expensive than the average ECWS tasting – but all of the additional cost has gone directly to the purchase of high-quality wines at good prices. To paraphrase a line from the film Pulp Fiction – “This one’s a little more expensive. But when you [drink] it, you’ll know where the money went.”

 The 2001 vintage in Piedmont was rated 96 by Wine Advocate and 95 by Wine Spectator. Some of the wines we will drink include:

 Paolo Scavino Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata Riserva – “presents a multitude of aromas and flavors including roses, minerals, smoke, tar and sweet red fruit in a stunning display of sensual elegance. Today it comes across as open-knit and incredibly expressive…it is a great privilege to get a glimpse of this monumental wine at such an early stage.” 96 points; Wine Advocate.

 Domenico Clerico Barolo Per Cristina – “Clerico waited an additional year to release his 2001 Barolo Percristina and that proved to be a wise choice, as the wine has clearly benefited from the extra time in bottle. This sweet and powerful yet luxurious Barolo is loaded with ripe dark fruit, spices and chocolate that flow onto the palate with stunning length, delineation and balance.” 94 points; Wine Advocate.

Azelia Barolo Riserva Voghera Brea – “The estate’s 2001 Barolo Riserva Voghera-Brea is surprisingly open for a Serralunga Barolo in this vintage. Made in a sweet, ethereal style, this medium-bodied wine presents a lovely purity and sweetness in its stewed prunes, plums, leather, scorched earth and coffee beans…it is delicious today.” 91 points; Wine Advocate.

 Luigi Pira Barolo Vigna Rionda – “The 2001 Barolo Vigna Rionda, an attractive dark ruby, shows its pedigree, with a beautiful nose of spices and menthol. It is concentrated yet silky on the palate, revealing elegant notes of dark, backward fruit, licorice, tar, chocolate and minerals, with an exquisitely long finish.” 91 points; Wine Advocate.

 Cavallotto Riserva Bricco Boschis – "Made in a dark, brooding style, it reveals a deeply layered personality that marries richness to depth, with generous tar, smoke, menthol, spices, and sweet black cherries.  It may be the finest Cavallotto has ever made, and is not to be missed." 95 points; Wine Advocate.

 Plus, 4 more 90+ rated Baroli – please join us for what promises to be a very special tasting.

 The cost for the tasting will be $89 for members, $106 for guests.

 The tasting after this will be of 2005 Bordeaux – 1^st labels vs. similarly priced 2^nd labels, led by Gary Schwarz on March 5, 2009.

 De gustibus non disputandum est,

 “Hide our ignorance as we will, an evening of wine soon reveals it.”

 - Heraclitus of Ephesus

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