2005 Bordeaux

Wednesday, September 306:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Blind Tasting
Cost:$795Member's Price:$750Limited to 115

Guest Speaker: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

"Tasting 2005 Bordeaux from the bottle, many of them three or four times, confirmed that this is the greatest vintage produced during my 30-year career."

Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, Issue 176

While we have seen several truly great Bordeaux vintages in our lives, 1961, 1982, 1990, and 2000 come to mind, there is little doubt that the best 2005s surpass all of them. This was a vintage that perfectly synthesized the best of Mother Nature with modern winemaking techniques. The results at the highest level are extraordinary. As the immortal cliché says, these wines "must be tasted to be believed."

This evening, we welcome back Robert Parker to host a blind tasting composed of 15 "wine of the vintage" candidates. As the 2005s have been trickling in at a very slow pace, we've scheduled 2005 Bordeaux in September to assure that all the wines we've procured are here in time for the tasting.

Here's our spectacular lineup of 15 of Mr. Parker's favorite 2005 Bordeaux with his rating in parenthesis: Angelus (98) • Cos d'Estournel (98) • Ducru Beaucaillou (97) • Haut Brion (98) • Lafite Rothschild (96+) • La Mission Haut Brion (97) • Larcis Ducasse (98) • Latour (96+) • L'Eglise Clinet (100) • Margaux (98+) • Montrose (95) • Pape Clement (98) • Pavie (98+) •Le Gay (95) • Troplong Mondot (99)

The Best of South America

Thursday, October 86:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Cost:$185Member’s Price:$170Limited to 38

Four years ago, EWS offered The Best of South America to expose attendees to the amazingly high quality wines being made by the visionaries of Argentina and Chile. That evening was memorable for the number of outstanding wines we tasted. South America has arrived! In terms of quality, that tasting significantly raised the bar in our minds as to what can be achieved.

Since then, the top wines from Argentina and Chile continue to muscle their way into the cellars of collectors, who have come to recognize their status as world class wines. As we did in the first version, we’ve gathered 14 wines to represent The Best of South America in this tasting. We’ve also included an encore highlight wine from the first tasting.

Here’s the lineup:

Argentina
2006 Achaval Ferrer Malbec “Altamira” (96WA, 91+IWC, 96WS) • 2003 Achaval Ferrer Malbec “Mirador” (94WS, 97EWS) • 2005 Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon (92WA, 92IWC, 93WS) • 2005 Catena Zapata Malbec “Argentino” (97+WA, 94IWC, 95WS) • 2005 Cheval des Andes (94WA, 91+IWC, 92WS) • 2007 Goulart Malbec Reserva (Terrific value!) • 2006 Viña Alicia “Cuarzo” (Petit Verdot) (95WA - Neal Martin) • 2006 Viña Cobos Malbec “Marchiori Vineyard” (99WA, 91IWC, 93WS)

Chile
2005 Almaviva (94WA, 95WS) • 2005 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon (94WA, 96WS) • 2004 Sena (94WA) • 2006 Casa Lapostolle “Clos Apalta” (94WS) • 2005 Viña Montes “Alpha M” (93WA, 95WS) • 2005 Viña Montes “Folly” (94WA, 92IWC, 94WS)

Focus On Spain - Ribera del Duero

Thursday, October 226:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Cost:$215Member’s Price:$195Limited to 38

One of the highlights of our 2007 food and wine journey to Spain was the time spent in Ribera del Duero. The winemakers we met, the vineyards we walked through, the wines we tasted were all world class. This region is filled with dedicated, talented people determined to compete with anyone. The proof of their success can be found in every glass of great wine from sun-kissed Ribera del Duero.

For this tasting, EWS has selected 15 wines from Ribera del Duero to drive home the point in the most pleasurable way. Wines range from classic “oldies” to new releases. If they read the script, any one of these wines alone could be worth the price of admission.

Bonus: A selection of Spanish cheeses will accompany the wines.

1994 Pesquera “Janus” (97WA, 96WS) • 1994 Pesquera “Reserva Especial” (96IWC) • 1996 Teofilo Reyes (92WA) • 1998 Vega Sicilia “Unico” (98WA, 96IWC) • 2004 Alion (92IWC, 96WA) • 2004 Arzuaga Reserva (92WA) • 2004 Astrales (92+WA, 92IWC, 94WS) • 2005 Emilio Moro (92WA, 92WS) • 2005 Aalto (95WA, 93IWC) • 2005 Aalto “PS” (98WA) • 2005 J. C. Conde “Neo Punta Esencia” (96WA, 94IWC) • 2005 Alonso del Yerro “Maria” (95WA) • 2006 Atauta “Llanos del Almendro” (93+WA, 94+IWC) • 2006 Condado de Haza (92IWC) • 2006 Pingus “Flor de Pingus” (94WA, 93IWC)

Grower Champagnes

Tuesday, October 276:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $190Member’s Price: $175Limited to 38

Guest Speaker: Terry Theise, Importer,
Terry Theise Estate Selections

"You should drink Grower Champagne if you’d rather have a wine expressive of vineyard, and the grower’s own connection to vineyard, than a wine “formed” by a marketing swami who studied to the nth degree what you can be persuaded to “consume.”

Terry Theise

We are delighted to welcome back long-time friend and hero Terry Theise to host another tasting for EWS. In the past, Terry has provided memorable tastings in the two other areas where he is well established as a major influence on the American market: German wines and Austrian wines.

For this tasting, we’ll focus on Terry’s newest all-consuming passion, Grower Champagne. The fact is that Terry has a near monopoly in this area, having amassed a portfolio of the finest grower Champagnes in the way the Yankees sign top players. Terry will guide us through a tasting of Grower Champagnes representing 15 of his “greatest hits.” We’ll even throw in a special 16th “Mystery Champagne.”

Be prepared to be dazzled by Terry’s wit and charm as we taste these seriously good Champagnes:

René Geoffroy “Cuvée Volupté” (92WA, 93IWC) • Marc Hébrart Brut “Cuvée de Reserve” • Jean Lallement et Fils “Brut Reserve” (93WS) • Jean Milan Blanc de Blancs “Grand Reserve 1864” • Varnier-Fanniere Brut Rosé • 1999 A. Margaine Blanc de Blancs • 2000 Gaston Chiquet “Special Club” (92WA, 91IWC) • 2000 Pierre Gimonnet “Special Club” • 2000 Vilmart & Cie “Coeur-de-Cuvée” (93WA) • 2000 Pierre Peters “Les Chetillons” (95WA, 93IWC) • 2002 Henri Billiot (92WA, 92+IWC, 92WS) • 2002 Chartogne-Taillet • 2002 Goutorbe “Special Club” • 2002 Vilmart & Cie “Grand Cellier d’Or” • 2004 Jean Milan “Selection Terres de Noël”

1999 Red Burgundies - The 1er Crus

Thursday, November 56:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Blind Tasting
Cost:$315Member’s Price: $295Limited to 18

10th Anniversary Retrospective

A list of our all-time favorite red Burgundy vintages would surely include the magnificent 1999s. From the first wave of 1999s to hit our shores, we loved the ripe fruit, precision, balance, and sheer deliciousness of the best wines. Furthermore, they have aged very well, drinking beautifully along the way, seemingly never having gone through a “dumb” phase.

Now, at age ten, many of the best 1er crus have reached the plateau of peak drinking years. It seems like a wonderful time to “check in” on their progress. We are optimistic that this group of 1999 1er crus, from a wide range of appellations, will give participants the thrill that only great Burgundy can provide. (We’ll taste the Grand Crus next spring.)

Here’s the lineup:

1999 Beaune 1er Cru “Clos des Ursules” (Jadot) • 1999 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Amoureuses” (R. Groffier) (93IWC) • 1999 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Charmes” (G. Barthold) (92IWC) • 1999 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “La Combe d’Orveau” (Perrot-Minot) (92+IWC, 92WS) • 1999 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Lavaux St. Jacques” (D. Laurent) (92-95IWC) • 1999 Morey St. Denis 1er Cru “Vieilles Vignes” (H. Lignier) (an EWS favorite!) • 1999 Nuits-St.-Georges 1er Cru “Les Vaucrains” (R. Chevillon) • 1999 Pommard 1er Cru “Clos des Epeneaux” (Comte Armand) • 1999 Pommard 1er Cru “Clos des Epenots” (Courcel) (93IWC, 92WS) • 1999 Volnay 1er Cru “Clos des Chenes” (M. Lafarge) (92+IWC) • 1999 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru “Les Beaux Monts” (Leroy) (93WA, 91-94IWC, 93WS) • 1999 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru “Les Suchots” (M. Noellat) • 1999 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru “Les Brulées” (Meo-Camuzet)(93+IWC, 94WS)

The Cabernet Open: 1998 - 2002

Thursday, November 126:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Blind Tasting
Cost:$190Member’s Price:$175Limited to 38

Over the years our “Open” format of blind tastings have become quite popular. While we have taken this approach with many grape types, both red and white, we have always concentrated on young wines, primarily new releases.

For this exciting new version of The Cabernet Open, we’re trying something different, concentrating on wines made primarily or exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon, but with some bottle age, having been made in the five year period between 1998 and 2002.. How will these wines compete after spending time in the cellar? How have they changed? Will they be easier -- or harder -- to identify?

These are some of the questions that will be answered on November 12th as EWS has raided cellars looking for desirable Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines 1998 - 2002 that are likely to be drinking well right now.

From an intellectual as well as hedonistic point of view, this should be an epic tasting. Just look at the awesome lineup:

1998 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion (Pessac-Léognan) (93WA, 92IWC, 96WS) • 1998 Wynn’s “John Riddoch” (Coonawarra) (93IWC - an EWS favorite) • 1999 Andrew Will “Sorella” (Washington) (94WA) • 1999 Sammarco (Castello dei Rampolla) (Tuscany) (93WA, 92WS) • 2000 Chateau Lagrange (St. Julien) (93WA, 92+IWC, 93WS) • 2000 Chateau Lynch-Bages (Pauillac) (95WA, 92IWC, 96WS) • 2000 Giusto di Notri (Tua Rita) (Tuscany) (95WA, 91WS) • 2001 Chateau Montrose (St. Estephe) (91WA, 92IWC, “better than that” EWS) • 2001 Pride (Napa) (95WA, 92+IWC, 93WS) • 2001 Quilceda Creek (Washington) (98WA, 95IWC, 94WS) • 2002 Beringer “Private Reserve” (Napa) (94WA, 94IWC) • 2002 Chappellet “Signature” (Napa) (92WS, winner of several EWS blind tastings) • 2002 Leonetti (Washington) (95WA, 92+IWC, 92WS)

1999 Northern Rhônes

Monday, November 236:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Blind Tasting
Cost:$425Member’s Price: $395Limited to 18

10th Anniversary Retrospective

In 1999, Mature Nature blessed the vignerons of the northern Rhône with a near problem-free growing season and an ideal harvest. Winemakers worked with ripe and healthy grapes - always a cause for celebration in the northern Rhône - to produce some of the best wines of modern times in the esteemed villages of Cote Rotie and Hermitage.

Like so many wine lovers, we have been enamored with the best 1999 northern Rhônes since the first time we tasted them. There’s good reason why the current Wine Advocate vintage chart gives a “95” rating to the 1999 vintage. Rich, powerful, complex, leathery, and oozing with flavor, the best 1999s are major wines by any standard.

Here’s our compelling lineup of fourteen 1999 northern Rhônes, all “wine of the vintage” candidates:

Cote Rotie “Les Grandes Places” (Gerin) (95WA, 93+IWC, 94WS) • Cote Rotie “Chateau d’Ampuis” (Guigal) (95WA, 94IWC, 94WS) • Cote Rotie “La Landonne” (Guigal) (100WA, 97-100IWC, 98WS) • Cote Rotie “La Mouline” (Guigal) (100WA, 96-99IWC, 99WS) • Cote Rotie “La Turque” (Guigal) (100WA, 95-98IWC, 99WS) • Cote Rotie (Jamet) (96WA, 93IWC, 95WS) • Cote Rotie (Ogier) (95WA, 93IWC, 94WS) • Cote Rotie (Chateau de St. Cosme) (95WA, 93WS) • Cote Rotie (Tardieu-Laurent) (95-97WA, 93+IWC, 91WS) • Ermitage “l’Ermite” (Chapoutier) (96WA, 93+IWC, 95WS) • Hermitage (J.-L. Chave) (96WA, 95+IWC, 95WS) • Hermitage “Les Bessards” (Delas Freres) (95WA, 93+IWC)
• Hermitage “La Chapelle” (Jaboulet) (93+IWC, 91WS) • Hermitage “Cuvée Emilie” (Domaine de Remizieres) (96WA, 92+IWC)

2004 Barolos & Barbarescos: Part II

Tuesday, January 12, 20106:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Blind Tasting
Cost:$230Member’s Price:$210Limited to 38

“These are wines of extraordinary elegance, balance, and finesse...Quality is outstanding from top to bottom. A number of producers have made their finest wines yet.”

Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate, Issue 174

When we began to gather top Barolos and Barbarescos for our first tasting of the 2004s, we realized early on that it was impossible to limit ourselves to just 13 wines. At that point, Part II was born. In reality, scheduling the sequel was inevitable as there are dozens of brilliant successes in 2004.

As Mr. Galloni noted: “I have never tasted young Barolos with this level of sweet, perfumed fruit and silky, ripe tannins.” This is indeed a special vintage. The style is more elegant and refined, especially compared with our other favorite recent vintage, the powerful 2001s.

Unlike your father’s Barolos and Barbarescos, the 2004s represent the modern “user friendly” interpretation of these wines. The best are already amazingly delicious, as we learned from Part I! We suspect that the sequel will be just as good! Our luscious lineup is listed below.

A medley of Italian cheeses will be served to accompany these magnificent wines.

2004 Barbaresco (Gaja) (93WA, 92IWC, 95WS) • 2004 Barbaresco “Asili” (Produttori del Barbaresco) (94WA, 90-93IWC) • 2004 Barbaresco “Bricco Asili” (Ceretto) (94WA, 92+IWC, 94WS) • 2004 Barolo (B. Mascarello) (95WA, 93+IWC) • 2004 Barolo “Arborina” (E. Altare) (95WA, 93IWC, 92WS) • 2004 Barolo “San Rocco” (Azelia) (95WA, 95WS) • 2004 Barolo “Cannubi Boschis” (L. Sandrone) (98WA, 95+IWC, 95WS) • 2004 Barolo “Giachini” (G. Corino) (95WA, 93IWC, 95WS) • 2004 Barolo “Monprivato”(G. Mascarello) (96WA, 91-94IWC) • 2004 Barolo “Cannubi Boschis” (L. Sandrone) (98WA, 95+IWC, 95WS) • 2004 Barolo “Brunate” (R. Voerzio) (97WA, 95WS) • 2004 Barolo “Cascina Francia” (G. Conterno) (97WA, 91-94IWC) • 2004 Langhe “Sperss” (Gaja) (96WA, 93+IWC, 99WS)