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WINE PRESS
ESSEX COUNTY
WINE SOCIETY
November 10, 2004
Dear Friends and Fellow Wine Lovers:
Last week we had a very successful tasting.
We had a excellent turnout and a great set of wines. The tasting was
conducted by one of our foremost tasting leaders, Gary Schwarz. As Gary
stated at that tasting the second label Bordeaux allow us to purchase great
Bordeaux wines from the 2000 vintage at prices that range as low as 15% of
the first label wines. The favorite wines of the evening, as voted on by
those in attendance, were the Les Forts de Latour, the second label of
Chateau Latour and Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux, the second label of
Chateau Margaux. When we had a second vote based on value at the current
pricing the Tourelles de Longueville, the second label of Chateau Pichon
Longueville Baron at a price of $25.99 rose to the top of the list. Once
again, We know that everyone who attended enjoyed the evening.
Our next tasting will be held on December 2,
and will be a tasting of the Piedmont 2000 vintage. James Suckling in the
Wine Spectator (November 30, 2003) said:
“for the first time ever Wine Spectator
gives a 100 point vintage rating; it goes to Piedmont for its Nebbiolo based
reds in the 2000 vintage. Never has Italy’s famous northwestern wine region
made so many rich, yet harmonious reds…. The 2000 vintage will be the point
of reference for Piedmont and its distinctive Nebbiolo grape for perhaps
decades to come and it should become an Italian wine icon for the new
millennium….”
Robert Parker also noted that the 2000 is an
excellent vintage rating it a 94, the same as 1997 and one point behind the
classic 1996 vintage.
Bruno Giacosa, one of the elder statesmen
among Piedmont wine producers, stated that he has never seen a vintage like
2000. He goes on to say that “the wines are extraordinary, they have
richness and power yet they have wonderful balance and beauty” (Wine
Spectator, July 31, 2004).
Our leader for the tasting will be Mike Aria.
He brings with him some of the top named wines from the region. These will
include representative wines from Elio Altare. In fact, one of his wines we
will taste, the Barolo Vigneto Arborina was given a score of 96 by James
Suckling of Wine Spectator. In addition we will taste wines of two Altare
disciples, Fratelli Revello and Corino. Among the wines we taste will be the
Revello Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata with a score of 97 from Wine
Spectator. We will also be tasting additional single vinyard offerings from
such others as Paolo Scavino and Domenico Clerico.
The timing of this tasting is perfect since
these wines are first coming into the market. As you know, they could not
even be made available until 2004.
As a reminder all individuals on our waiting
list ARE invited to join us at our tastings with or without a member.
We hope to see all of you at our next tasting
on December 2. As you might imagine the above wines are quite pricey and as
a result our tasting will be on the expensive side. The cost of this tasting
will be $59 for members and $68 for non-members.
The following tasting of the Australian
cabernets will take place on January 6.
In vino veritas and a votre sante,
Bob and Howard
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