Cafes & Wineries

Just back from Great Wines of Bordeaux - United States Tour - 2004 Vintage Tasting - 90 some odd wines to taste - managed 30 plus in slightly under two hours -

Signiificant overload - the trick is religiously "spitting" - would call myself only "semi pro" in that regard - always looking for the "take home" wine - the one you come back to after sipping your way across the room -

Reveiws are short - extemporaneous check marks (number at the end of each set of notes) - first impressions - fascinating to match retail price to tasting notes - i.e.- a $90 Pomerol really does taste different than a $45 Pomerol -

Everything is 2004 -

• Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion - Pessac Leognan - other side of the street - sooo tight - nothing special - 1
• Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion - Pessac Leognan - much softer than the Larrivet - better - 1
• Chateau Beauregard - Pomerol - 75% Merlot - 25% Cab Franc - very tannic - $45 - 1
• Chateau Clinet - Pomerol - 80% Merlot - 15% Cabernet Sauvignon - 5% Cab Franc - bigger Nose - Big Fruit - $60-65 - 3
• Chateau Gazin - Pomerol - refined nose - refined taste - very tight - 80% Merlot - 15% Cabernet Sauvignon - 5% Cab Franc - $50 - 2
• Chateau La Cabanne - Pomerol - subtle - rich purple - dry - tight - 92% Merlot - 8% Cab Franc - 13.5% alc - $40 - good value - 3
• Chateau La Conseillante - Pomerol - classic Pomerol - $80 to $96  - and this is a what the price for this wine should be - give it about 7 or 12 years to soften - 3 - will become a 4
• Chateau Petit Village - Pomerol - 75% Merlot - 20% Cabernet Sauvignon - 5% cab franc - different class from La Conseillante - appropriated priced at $45 to $55 - 3
• Chateau Brane Cantenac - Margaux - big nose - 2
• Chateau Dauzac - Margaux - light body - nice - 2
• Chateau Durfort Vivens - Margot - rich rich color - tight - tannic - 65% Cabernet Sauvignon - 30% Merlot - 5% Cab Franc - needs 7 years  minimum - maybe even 15 - $30 - good value - 2
• Chateau Ferriere - Margaux - lay it down - maybe 25 years - made from 45 year old vines - 20% Merlot - 80% Cabernet Sauvignon - nice nose - might be a take home wine - light - young - 2 to 3
• Chateau Kirwan - Margaux - sticky nose - 2
• Chateau Lascombes - Margaux - beautiful !!! - $50 - 3
• Chateau Gruaud Larose - Saint Julien - wonderful
• Chateau Lagrange - Saint Julien - 3
• Chateau - Leoville Poyferre - Saint Julien - lovely - 3
• Chateau Haut Bages Liberal - Pauillac - 28 % Merlot - 72% Cabernet Sauvignon- $30 to $40 - 3
• Chateau Lynch Bages- Pauillac - classic - rises above the field - 3
• Chateau Ponet Canet - Pauillac -65% Cabernet Sauvignon - 29% Merlot - 4% Cab Franc - 2% Petite Virot - the salesman joked hat this would relieve stress - was he ever right - best in show - the definite take home wine - 4
• Chateau Ormes De Pez - Saint Estephe - OK - 2
• Chateau Phelan Sequr - Saint Estephe - 2
• Chateau Coutet - Barsac - 2
• Chateau De Fargues - Sauternes - 1
• Chateau De Malle - Sauternes - great back palate - 2
• Chateau De Rayne Vigneau - Sauternes - did not like it  - one of the only downs of the tasting -
• Chateau Doisy Daene - Barsac - back to Barsac - 1
• Chateau Guiraud - Sauternes - overrefined to neutrality - better as it warmed up - 1
• Chateau La Tour Blance - Sauternes - absolute greatness - wonderful nose - wonderful taste - amazing - take home - 4
• Chateau Lafaurie Peyraguey - Sauternes - OK - 1
• Chateau Sigalas Rabaud - Sauternes - 1
• Chateau Suduiraut - Sauternes - winner just with the nose - lovely - touch of acid - 3

30 some years ago - first trip to Europe - pulled out of Club Med - took a room over a bakery in St. Moritz - from which the aromas of fresh baked croissant waifed up - into my room - every morning - before the sun broke over the alps -

Breakfast was a must - this naive American ordering "Orange Juice" - the waiter immediately bringing forth a glass of thick red juice - tried to send it back - ordering again -  "Orange Juice" - the waiter mumbled something in German - it was a scene from a movie -

Giving up - I sipped what was offered - another sip - it was amazing - almost Orange Juice - but it wasn’t - quickly swigged the whole glass - coming back everyday during my stay - immediately ordering a fresh glass of what I eventually learned was "Blood Red Orange Juice" from Italy - memorable

Today’s announcement  - its "Blood Red Orange" season - 2.89 per pound (Fairway_

Squeeze them by hand - mix with Tino’s Vodka - add ice - vigorously shake until ice cold - makes two Blood Red Orange and Vodka Cocktails - awesome !!! - pulpy - even after the stainer - sweet - low acid - unique - wonderful - love it -