Essex County Wine Society

WINE PRESS

                          ESSEX COUNTY WINE SOCIETY

December 12, 2008

At our December tasting, Gary Schwarz led us through a blind tasting of representative samples from every Bordeaux appellation (plus a Haut Medoc) from the much-heralded 2005 vintage. The wines were concentrated, tannic, mostly well-balanced – and a little difficult to enjoy at this point in their evolution, especially without food – but most also showed great potential. When revealed, we discovered the wines we tasted included Malescot-St.-Exupéry, Léoville Barton, Lynch Bages , and Lafon Rochet, among others. As a special treat, Gary added a 9^th wine – the 1996 Lafon Rochet – so we could compare the young wine with a more evolved version.

Our next tasting will be an exploration of different expressions of Cabernet Franc, led by long-time member and past president Dick Appert. Please respond no later than January 2nd – though given holiday schedules, it would be helpful if you could respond earlier.

Cabernet Franc is probably best known as a blending grape in Bordeaux (though, of course, it is the main variety in the great wine of Chateau Cheval Blanc). It is grown throughout the Old and New World and stands well on its own and with minor help from other varieties.  It sees outstanding expression both in the Loire and in California. We will taste Cabernet Franc from several different areas – and there will also be examples with some age.

We expect the January tasting to be blind – so I will provide notes and scores for some of the wines, but not the names (of course, you could Google the notes, but that would just be wrong).

“A showy wine that has substance and depth, with lots of fresh, ripe, vibrant cherry, currant and earthy berry flavors, fine acidity and tannins and a nice splash of toasty oak. The flavors sail on through the long, complex, integrated finish.” 92, James Laube (WS).

 “Good dark red. Captivating nose combines red fruits, tobacco, iron, tree bark and flowers; like a hypothetical blend of sangiovese and Bandol. Sweet and creamy but juicy, with lovely inner-mouth energy and spice character. Very tactile, elegant wine with insinuating persistence.” 92, Stephen Tanzer.

The cost for the tasting will be $57 for members, $69 for guests.

The tasting after this will be of 2001 Barolo, led by Mike Aria on February 5, 2009.

De gustibus non disputandum est,

"There are no standards of taste in wine, cigars, poetry, prose, etc. Each man's own taste is the standard, and a majority vote cannot decide for him or in any slightest degree affect the supremacy of his own standard." - Mark Twain, 1895 

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