What a pleasure it was to meet Noel and some of our fellow Berserkers. We met Sunday morning at the Foreign Cinema for a variety of white wines, champagne and a few older California reds. Joining (Noel) LMD Ermitano were myself, Joel Galang, his wife Mia, Ed Kurtzmann, his wife Michelle, and original instigators Ashish Agrawal, Glenn Levine and his partner Melinda. Foreign Cinema (FC) is well known for its brunch and it lived up to it’s excellent reputation. We had an assortment of oysters, plus wonderful calamari appetizers and their special fresh fruit “pop tarts” along with delicious brunch entrees. I have divided up the wines into three flights as we opened whites, champagnes and then reds. However, all flights were started in quick succession and once opened, it was possible to enjoy any of the wines at any point. And we did! I brought a pad to write down my notes, but quickly realized our (lack of) format made too difficult to concentrate, and succumbed to simply enjoying the company, food and the wine. I hope some others have better notes or recollections.
Flight 1: The Whites
We opened these first. As noted below the Graillot was off the list. I’d drink it again, but not in the same company of wines. It was sadly out of place here. And the Rieussec? It was not out of place at all, and was a valuable lesson learned about the versatility of a Sauternes with excellent acidity. Thanks Glenn!
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1976 Dehlinger Chardonnay Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): Tasted in a diverse group of whites, this was a revelation. Golden color with an intoxicating aromas of honeysuckle and butterscotch. The palate was filled with green apples sauteed in butter. Now I know why California winemakers went crazy in the '70s with the buttery Chardonnay thing. If they were always this good I’d be a big fan too. -
2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): My written note simply says “excellent”, hee hee! I remember a fullish Chablis with oyster shell minerality, discrete lemon and some vanilla all wonderfully integrated. Classic wine. -
2009 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Blanc - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): In screwcap. As the opener from the list it suffered in comparison to the other whites. At this point it seems on the leaner side of Marsanne, and its bouquet was a bit subdued. -
1983 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): Opened in the general scrum along with all the other whites and champagnes, the Rieussec held its own with oysters, small plates and, eventually, cheese and dessert. As my first '83, I found it to be classic Rieussec at its best: Lively acidity, luscious stone fruits, and zingy noble rot. It reminds me of the 1989 but more unctuous.
Flight 2: Champagne
For my palate it was a mistake to get going on the bubbly after opening the whites. They were both outstanding but I couldn’t focus on them while 3 whites with big personalities were on the table at the same time. Please someone add cogent notes here.
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1990 Drappier Champagne Grande Sendrée - France, Champagne (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): I took no notes on the champagnes at this meal! The vague recollection on this one was of a very full-bodied champagne that wanted some room away from the whites, reds and sparklers opened concurrently. -
1999 De Meric Champagne Catherine de Médicis - France, Champagne, Aÿ, Champagne (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): I took no notes on the champagnes at this meal! My vague recollection is the CdM was excellent and very fresh tasting.
Flight 3: Older California Reds
Three reds from another era. They all had a great story to tell. Even though I brought the BV I was totally surprised by it’s showing today.
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1977 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate Grown - USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): This wine was all about the nose - perhaps the finest example I have had of a Pinot that screamed “California”. The cola notes have dissolved into far more subtle spice aromas, and were backed up with trademark but restrained Cali earth and cherry. At first I found it tired on the palate, but it got more lively if never being much more then sturdy. -
1960 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): My birth year wine and a big surprise for me. It was a real lesson of what Napa Valley Cabernet is capable of, even in an off- vintage. 1960? Puh-leez. I find that I didn’t take any notes on this one either but the impressions of pure cabernet fruit on the nose and palate linger. This was not a blockbuster but very, very pleasurable. I sure wish that I had bought more when I had the chance. Objectively this wine was excellent, perhaps a little better, but in the context of the tasting it was outstanding! -
1974 Freemark Abbey Petite Sirah York Creek - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District (7/17/2011)
Welcome Noel to SF Brunch (Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA USA): 37 years old and still has a tannic punch to it! Brambly, tobacco aromas, reminiscent of rasberries and blackberries. On the palate gently stewed blackberries, red fruits, mineral and a bit of a tannic kicker. This magnificent wine screamed for red meat accompaniment; alas, I had truffled eggs.
Posted from CellarTracker
Thanks again Glenn for suggesting an offline, and to Ashish and Ed for pulling off both brunch and dinner! It was a real pleasure to meet everybody, Berserkers and partners, and it was wonderful that everybody was so generous in their wine contributions. We really need to do this more often, and I would love to help organize a late summer/early fall Choucroute/Alsatian fest. Michelle, start perfecting those sausages!
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