Essex County Wine Society

WINE PRESS

                          ESSEX COUNTY WINE SOCIETY

October 14, 2009

The first tasting of our 37^th season was of 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape (with a “mini-vertical” of Vieux Telegraphe – 1998, 2000, and 2006). Gary Schwarz led us through a range of wonderful wines from the Southern Rhone, and threw in a ringer, as well. While wine critics are currently agog about the 2007 Southern Rhone wines, we found that the 2006 wines were excellent – and will certainly remain less expensive than their 2007 counterparts. The wine of the night, as voted by the attendees was, in fact, the ringer, the 2006 Esprit de Beaucastel from Paso Robles, CA. Finishing a close second was Paul Avril’s Clos des Papes – though the voting provided some support for each of the 2006 wines we tasted. A special thanks to Gary for presenting three tastings (2 Bordeaux tastings last year) in less than a calendar year.

On November 5^th we will have a very special tasting when Laurent Drouhin of Maison Joseph Drouhin joins Howard Menaker to present a sampling of Drouhin Burgundies from the 2006 vintage. It is my hope and expectation that this tasting will be well attended. Please send your replies as soon as possible, and in any case, no later than October 30^th.

Laurent Drouhin is one of the four children of Robert Drouhin who are currently running this major producer of some of the finest Burgundies made in France. The Drouhin family started their Burgundy negociant operations in 1880 and through the years, with the purchase of a number of parcels throughout the area, became one of the most prestigious and finest Domaines in the Cote d’Or.

Many of you were present in March 2008 year when Howard led us through a tasting of 2005 village Burgundies and, as he indicated at that time, 2005 was a great vintage in Burgundy from top to bottom (Grand Cru to Village).  Well, the 2006 vintage, although not as good nor as consistent as 2005, produced many fine wines. As Allen Meadows (aka Burghound) states, “2006 is a very fine vintage that produced classically styled wines of superb purity and transparency that will deliver much pleasure and sooner than 2005’s. These wines have superb terroir transparency, vibrancy and the purity of 2001 allied with the generosity and ripeness of 2000.” (Burghound.com, 1^st qtr 2008, issue 29)

We will have the pleasure of Laurent leading us through the tasting of wines from Beaune, Corton, Vosne Romanee. Chambolle Musigny, and Gevrey Chambertin . We will taste a number of premier cru as well as grand cru wines including Corton Bressandes and the outstanding Charmes Chambertin.

The cost for the tasting will be $65 for members and $79 for guests.  

Our next event will be a Champagne tasting on December 3, 2009, led by Gil Bauer.

De gustibus non disputandum est,

~  “There are many ways to the recognition of truth, and Burgundy is one of them"

- Isak Dinesen

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