Essex County Wine Society

                  WINE PRESS

                           ESSEX COUNTY WINE SOCIETY

February 12, 2009

At our February tasting, Mike Aria led us through the glories of 2001 Barolo. We were not surprised that these were excellent wines – but we were thrilled to see how well almost every bottle of this fairly young, though highly-touted vintage showed. The wine of the night, as voted by attendees was the Luigi Pira Vigna Rionda – followed closely by the Domenico Clerico Per Cristina. While the other wines were statistically distant, it was generally agreed that, on the whole, they showed very well.

 On March 5, we will have our second tasting of the season of the outstanding 2005 Bordeaux vintage.  This one has a little different twist, however, which was first suggested by Bob Erickson.  Gary Schwarz will again present eight wines, four of which will be “first labels” of highly rated chateaux, and four “second labels” of other top Bordeaux estates.  Each first label will be tasted alongside a second label from the same appellation which cost approximately the same when originally purchased.  The idea is to see if we’re better off buying the second labels of the most prestigious estates or, for the same money, first labels of other worthy producers.  The first labels include Sanctus (a small production “garagiste” wine), Branaire Ducru, Lascombes, and Pontet Canet, rated respectively by Parker 93, 95, 95, and 96.  These will be contrasted with the second labels of Valandraud, Leoville Las Cases, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Latour (first labels rated respectively by Parker 95, 98, 98+, and 96+, and by Wine Spectator 95, 100, 100, and 99 – [note, we are drinking the second labels of these wines, not the wines which received these scores]).  This promises to be an informative and unusual tasting, and another opportunity to sample wines from one of the finest Bordeaux vintages of the last fifty years. 

 The cost for the tasting will be $66 for members, $79 for guests. 

The tasting after this will be of 2006 White Burgundy led by Alan Saroff on April 2, 2009.

 De gustibus non disputandum est,

 An old wine-bibber having been smashed in a railway collision, some wine was poured on his lips to revive him." Pauillac, 1873," he murmured and died.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914),

"The Devil's Dictionary", 1911

 ______________