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ESSEX COUNTY WINE SOCIETY WINE PRESS
January 12, 2006
Friends and fellow wine lovers:
What an exceptional wine tasting! On January 5th
Mark Chase led us in a tasting of ten 1990 Bordeaux, primarily from our
society wine cellar. These are wines that we normally would not get an
opportunity to taste. Furthermore if we tried to purchase these wines today
we would probably spend a small fortune. We had a full house and we sensed
that everyone really enjoyed this tasting. The favorite right bank wine of
the evening was the La Conseillante and the favorite left bank as well as
the favorite wine of the night was the Leoville-Las Cases. The close
contenders were the Figeac and the Lynch Bages.
Once again we want to remind you of two matters. First
there is a schedule change: the last tasting of the year on April 6, 2006
will be of older Bordeaux not Burgundy. In addition, please remember that
the society will have an election in the Spring and recommendations for
officers and a trustee are sought. Contact Richard Appert, chairman of the
nominating committee with names of your possible nominees.
The next tasting on Thursday, February 2, 2006, will be
led by our resident Southern France expert, Richard Appert. We will be
tasting the 2001 vintage of Languedoc wines.
“Languedoc [is] the single most important French wine
region, in terms of the volume of the wine produced, and in terms of the
importance of viticulture to the region’s economy”. (Oxford Companion to
Wine, Jancis Robinson, Oxford University Press 1994). There is a sea of
vines in three departments totaling more than 700,000 acres – about one
third of all French wines and more than the total area of the United States
under vines. For years the wine production was aimed at quantity rather than
quality. It remains a “source of red wine . . . which varies from pale
remnants of the regime past as a bulk wine supplier to dense, exciting, good
value souvenirs of some of France’s wildest countryside” (J. Robinson) It
is only in very recent years that producers have been able to price their
wines at a level equal to their quality though some excellent wines are
still available at lower cost
Steve Tanzer in the International Wine Cellar (issue
116) says:
“With each passing month, 2001 is looking like
the most consistentl excellent vintage for Southern France in many years…..
In my extensive recent tastings of the 01’s I found a high average level of
quality, compelling fruit authority, and a combination of density of
material and freshness that was too often missing in the 1999 and 2000
vintages. Vintage 2001 is a worthy successor to 1998, the last widely
excellent year across most of France’s Mediterranean rim. …the wines have
vibrancy and intensity of flavor, and the best examples should enjoy an
interesting evolution in bottle.”
Richard has selected eight wines that should truly
reflect the character of the vintage. Among the wines will be the 2001 La
Porte du Ciel Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape which retails for approximately
$120 a bottle. As you might imagine, this is quite high for this region of
France. Tanzer rated this wine a 93. We will also taste wines from Prieure
De St Jean de Bebian and Mas Julien among others.
The following tasting on March 2, 2006 will be of
Central Coast Pinot Noir wines conducted by Gary Schwarz.
In vino veritas and a votre sante
Bob and Howard
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