While reading this piece on Vinography about Eric Asimov's speech at the California wine writer's conference on the Tyranny of Tasting notes I got an interesting idea. At least fun for me. I have many empty bottles around my apartment commonly called dead soldiers. These are bottles I have had at my pad or outside my pad where I remembered to drag the bottle home. Easier said than done. I hate dragging empty bottles home in my bag at the end of the night as little bits of wine get over my nice leather merse (man-purse for the uninitiated). The point is that I wanted them around as visual reminders of great wine I had and the experiences that surrounded each bottle. After reading this article I was wondering if I could give a tasting note for some of my dead soldiers. The only catch is it had to be one word. Abolishing the tasting note is an interesting idea but updating the tasting note for today's sound-bite generation seems a bit more realistic. So without any further ado here are some one word tasting notes on the greatest wines I have ever had (whose empty bottles I have hung onto).
1978 Ceretto Barbaresco "Asili" - Resolved.
1998 Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc "De L'Oree" - Gingery.
1988 Roumier Bonnes Mares - Shy.
1993 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru "Clos Des Epenaux" - Untamed.
1971 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Auslese - Sphere.
1971 J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese - Perfect.
1998 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Spatlese GK (Auction) - Folded.
1998 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Spatlese - Rarin'.
1975 Von Hovel Oberemeller Hutte Auslese - Honeyed.
2007 Schafer-Frohlich Felseneck Grosses Gewachs - Electric.
1971 Huet Vouvray "Le Haut Lieu" Demi-Sec - Harmonious.
1996 Jean-Noel Gagnard Batard-Montrachet - Layered.
2002 Francois Cotat Sancerre (Chavignol) La Grande Cote - Opulent.
1983 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild - Finesse.
1999 Chateau Lafleur - Fruitcake.
1983 Chateau Palmer - Truffley.
2000 Chateau Latour - Massive.
2000 La Conseillante - Concentrated.
1978 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon "Eisele Vineyard" - Menthol.
1993 Sean Thackrey Orion Old Vines - Explosive.
1990 Dujac Clos de la Roche - Confectionary
2002 Denis Bachelet Charmes-Chambertin - Red.
1995 Soldera Brunello di Montalcino Reserva Intistieti - DRC.
NV Jacques Selosse V.O. - Chablis.
Done.
I've played the one word tasting note game with friends. It quickly devolved into the one facial expression tasting note game. That's even more fun!
ReplyDelete2006 Mollydooker Maitre'd?
ReplyDeleteDoes DRC qualify as one word?
ReplyDeleteDRC is a wine among wine geeks I guess. Are acronyms words?
ReplyDelete2006 Mollydooker Maitre'd - Alcohol.
I would have called '95 Intistieti, "Monfortino"
ReplyDelete-as in, "never ready to drink"
Great stuff, Lyle. Good catching up at Return to Terroir. I think my hibernation is over and I will be returning to The Schist shortly. It took a good talking to with a friend at Ten Bells over a spicy(one word) glass of sparkling Melon de Bourgogne.
ReplyDeleteThe '95 Soldera which I refer to above was brilliant nd had the breadth and explosive power of a DRC Grand Ech from a structured vintage. It was definetly not like Monfo which I agree is never ready.
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteGood to see you too and hope you continue to blog as well as you do.
What sparkling Melon was it? Bossard?
Thanks, Lyle. I look forward to getting involved again. But maybe in a more balanced way.
ReplyDeleteIt was the Chapeau Melon($8.0 btg) at Ten Bells. I think it's imported by Jenny and Francois. The Bossard kills.
Thanks for the nod Lyle. Just saw this now. Nice one word notes.
ReplyDeleteinteresting.
ReplyDelete