WTN: Bunch of Bordeaux and a few outliers.

A group of us did a bit of cellar re-arranging this weekend, and simplified our task by opening a few bottles. In order of preference; the poor performers at the end actually appeared early on and convinced some folks to move out the Bordeaux area.

1990 Hermitage La Chapelle Paul Jaboulet Aine Northern France. 13.9% alcohol.Imported by Frederic Wildman, New York, NY. 4*+. Wine of the rearrangement, complex long and satisfying.

1990 Ch. Latour Pauillac Bordeaux France. 12.5% alcohol. Imported by Wine Cellars Ltd. Briarcliff NY. 4*. Drinking beautifully now, with signs of continued improvement.

1989 Ch. Lynch Bages Pauillac Bordeaux France. 12.5% alcohol. 1/2 half bottle. Imported by William Grant and Sons, NY. 4*. Drank beautifully. Very pretty wine.

1990 Ch. Angelus Saint Emilion Bordeaux France. 13.5% alcohol. Imported by Premier Wine Merchants, NY. 3*. Very pretty wine, drinking very well.

2001 Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley California. 15.6% alcohol. 3*. Showed very well with aged steak and baked potatoes -- didn't taste as hot as the label indicated it might.

1990 Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien Bordeaux France. 12.5% alcohol. Imported by Paramount Brands, Port Chester, NY. 3*. Uninspiring. Either a weak bottle, or if representative, an indication that the wine is in its best drinking window, perhaps even leaving it.

1982 Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien Bordeaux France. 12.5% alcohol. Imported by Alias New York, NY. Corked. 1*.

1997 Behrens & Hitchcock Winery Merlot Napa Valley California. 13.5% alcohol. Dead. 1*.

1986 Pichon Laland Pauillac Bordeaux France. 12.5% alcohol. Corked. 1*

1986 Ch. Margaux Margaux Bordeaux France. 12.5% alcohol. Corked. 1*.


Regards, Bob

What a dashed shame about those corked 1986s. I'd have loved to hear your views on them as I'd just tasted them recently.

Leoville St. Julien? LLC, Barton, Poyferre?

Fixed, thanks Dale.

[Jenise]

Bob, next time you need help in the cellar, you call me, okay? I'd kill to taste that Latour. What a shame about the corked bottles. I'd have been looking up at the heavens asking why it couldn't have been the Martinelli.

Bob, we did a 1990 horizontal at Tribeca Grille last year. Didn't have the LLC, but the Barton, Poyferre, and Lagrange were going strong. I'd be surprised if LLC, normally the longest-lived St Julien and with good rep in 1990, was fading. You'll have to force yourself to try another bottle!

"...why it couldn't have been the Martinelli."

Over dinner we had a small taste off of the Martinelli and a zin we had read about -- both fit Janet and Robin's taste profiles.

David and I and a couple of buddies who dropped in decided to "rearrange" the cellar -- more tasting than rearranging went on based on the relatively few changes in my inventory records. :-)

The corked percentage bumped up a bit Saturday, but I feel fortunate that it seems to be hold below 10% this year. All the tasters were quite experienced and we had complete agreement on the TCA.

Stop by any time, Jenise -- there is plenty of re-arranging to do.

"You'll have to force yourself to try another bottle!"

Will do, Dale. We have more of the 1982 than the 1990, so I may have to settle for the 1982.

[Jenise]

there is plenty of re-arranging to do.

Well, you know us women. We can't help ourselves. And where wine's concerned, I can be counted on to find something that didn't 'fit' and would require opening.

And of course, you're welcome to drop by and re-arrange mine, too!

Sounds good, Jenise -- both ways.