Essex County Wine Society

In the past two months the Essex County Wine Society has had two excellent events: 1) a vintage Bordeaux tasting (“Treasures of the Cellar”); and 2) the Spring dinner at Table 8 in Montclair.

On April 6, 2006 member Richard Steinberg conducted a vinous tour de force through some great vintages of Bordeaux starting in 1953 and ending in 1985. The descriptions of the various vintages as listed in the March WINE PRESS for this event held up pretty well. From the great vintage of 1959 the Leoville las Cases was solid and full with some tannin remaining boding well for a longer life. From an equally great year the 1961 Haut-Batailley (listed in the WINE PRESS incorrectly as Haut-Bailly) was a big wine also with some time remaining. The 1953 Leoville-Poyferre (substituted for the 1952 Pichon Lalande) and the 1964 Ausone both had perhaps faded a bit but the Ausone had a lovely finish. The 1966 Leoville las Cases, 1970 Ducru–Beaucaillou, and 1975 Lynch-Bages were still solid with both the 1966 and 1970 being rather chewy. The 1978 Gruaud-Larose was perhaps the least robust wine of the group but was still good. The 1982 Leoville-Barton was thick and tannic, little changed from our last tasting of this wine a few years ago when we had a vertical Leoville-Barton event. (The only corked bottle in the tasting was one of the 1982 Leoville-Barton). The group felt that the 1985 Mouton-Rothschild was probably at its peak and showed a lovely bouquet, great fruit, and complexity on the palate. Some felt that although the wine was excellent it was not extraordinary. We must say that this was a very, very special tasting.

On April 30, 2006 the Society had its 33^rd annual Spring Dinner this year at Table 8 in Montclair under the direction of Demetri Malki (owner) and Michael Clampffer (chef). The food served matched the wines. Since we are a wine society we try to pair the food with our wine not the reverse. Most agreed the hors-d’oeuvre were excellent and the New Zealand sparkler, the oddly named No. 1 Family Cuvee No. 1, was fresh and pleasant and while not complex, very appealing. The first course of sea bass was accompanied by a solid, rather creamy, albeit young 2003 premier cru white Chassagne-Montrachet Vergers from Colin-Deleger. An interesting pasta, celery root ravioli with a morel balsamic sauce, was paired with a 1995 Chateau La Lagune from our cellar. One observer called it a classic La Lagune. The most appreciated wine of the evening was the 1991 Ridge Montebello, which, while still somewhat tannic, was enormously complex both in bouquet and taste with excellent fruit. The rack of lamb it accompanied was a good partner. The 1988 Guiraud Sauternes however did not show as well as it did when we served it before the 1990 Bordeaux tasting perhaps because of the glassware or the lack of an strong cheese as a partner. The passion fruit tart ended the meal well. This well-attended event was at the quality we expect for society dinners.

Our schedule for the upcoming year has been tentatively set. Please note that the date for the Fonseca Port tasting is not firm and depends on the plans of the presenter, a representative and, we think, a family member of the owners.

2006-2007

September 17, 2006 Fall Dinner

October 5, 2006 Spanish Red (Salthouse)

November 2, 2006 2003 Bordeaux (Mitchel)

December 7, 2006 Southern Italian (Aria)

January 4, 2007 2003 Northern Rhone (Bonito)

February 15, 2007 Fonseca Port (Fonseca representative)

March 1, 2007 Oregon Pinot Noirs (Strauss)

April 5, 2007 Vertical Pichon Baron (Roland)

May 6, 2007 Spring Dinner

We are attempting to provide most of our communication electronically (to save postage) and we would like to send the WINE PRESS by e-mail if possible. If you would prefer this method of providing information and we do not have your e-mail address, please send it to:

Rlx2ericksonrl@msn.com

Hmenaker1@aol.com

Our next WINE PRESS should be sent in late August for the Fall Dinner and in mid-September for the October 5, 2006 Spanish tasting.

Have a lovely summer and we hope it is attended by excellent wines.

In vino veritas and a votre sante

Bob and Howard