Monday, July 9 – California’s Finest Chardonnays
Monday, July 16 – A Special Tasting of Pax Syrahs
Monday, July 23 – 2002 White Burgundies
Monday, August 6 – 2009 Red Burgundies: Part I
Monday, August 13 – Climens & Yquem

Monday, May 7, Tasting Cost: $225Limited to: 18Event: 6:30 – 8:30

10th Anniversary Retrospective

Coming immediately after the much hyped 2001s, the 2002 German Rieslings have since proven, in quite a few instances, to be even better than their predecessors, as they have emerged from a youthful period of bashful restraint to become mature beauties.

From late August to mid-October, 2002 was looking to be a modern 1971, a legendary great German vintage. Then Mother Nature decided to throw a monkey wrench into these expectations with rains occurring into November. Botrytis never had much of a chance to develop, so there were very few BAs and TBAs.  However, when all was said and done, must weights, acid structure, and dry extract turned out to be first rate in 2002.  Many fine Spätlesen and Auslesen were made by scrupulous growers who knew how to manage the rains and pick at just the right times.  It took about 5 years for the best 2002s to show their stuff.  Now, at age ten, they are drinking beautifully!

For this 10th Anniversary Retrospective we have assembled 15 outstanding 2002s for your enjoyment and evaluation. We even uncovered a superb Beerenauslese from a vineyard that bucked the trend by developing botrytis. We think that you will love these 2002s as much as we do.

Special Bonus: Talented amateur chef and EWS regular Ed Kasselman will cook a few dishes to be enjoyed with the Rieslings. Menu includes Pan Crisped Soft Shell Crabs with Grilled Corn Relish, Terrine of Rabbit, Morels and Black Garlic with Lingonberry Coulis, and Pecan Wood Smoked Chicken and White Boudin with Grilled Spring Vegetables.

Please join us as we’ll be pouring:

Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Spätlese (Schönborn)
Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #12 (Willi Schaefer) (94WA)
Keidricher Grafenberg Riesling Spätlese (Robert Weil) (92WA, 94WS)
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spätlese (H. Donnhoff) (97WA, 92WS)
Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Spätlese (H. Donnhoff) (97WA)
Rudesheimer Klosterberg Riesling Spätlese (Leitz)
Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese (Zilliken)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese (J.J. Prüm) (93WS)
Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese “Goldkapsel” #9 (Fritz Haag) (94WS)
Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Auslese #50 (Karthäuserhof)
Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese (Willi Schaefer) (98WA, 92WS)
Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Auslese (Reinhold Haart)
Ürziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese (J.J. Christoffel)
Ürziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese (Dr. Loosen) (91WS)
Nackenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Beerenauslese (Gunderloch) (95WS)

Monday, April 16, Tasting Cost: $495Limited to: 18Event: 6:30 – 8:30

Sassicaia was established by Mario Incisa della Rochetta at Tenuta San Guido and is considered the seminal “Super Tuscan.” The wine originated in 1948 using Cabernet Sauvignon vines reputedly sourced from Château Lafite-Rothschild. From 1968, internationally renowned consultants were engaged to improve the production, such as Giacomo Tachis and Émile Peynaud. Small commercial quantities were not released until in the mid 1970s.

At a 1978 Decanter tasting of “great clarets,” a panel including Hugh Johnson, Serena Sutcliffe and Clive Coates awarded the 1972 Sassicaia victory over a field of 33 wines from 11 countries, and established the wine’s international reputation. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, Tenuta San Guido cultivates fruit from several plots scattered around Bolgheri extending 190 acres, with a grape variety distribution of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.

For this special tasting, EWS has gathered 14 of the most successful vintages for Sassicaia spanning a 30-year period. Included is the famous 1985 Sassicaia, widely considered to be among the greatest wines made in the 20th century – from anywhere.

Here’s the once-in-a-lifetime lineup of Sassicaia:

1982 (90WS)
1985 (100WA, 99WS – sells for 4 times the price if this tasting!)
1988 (90WA, 97WS)
1990 (94WA, 93WS)
1995 (92WA, 90WS)
1998 (90WA, 94IWC, 95WS)
2000 (95IWC, 93WS)
2001 (97IWC, 94WS)
2003 (93WA. 93IWC, 92WS)
2004 (93WA, 97IWC, 94WS)
2005 (93WA, 90IWC, 94WS)
2006 (97WA, 95IWC, 94WS)
2007 (95WA, 91IWC, 93WS)
2008 (96WA, 94WS)

All EWS tastings take place at New York Vintners, 21 Warren Street (between Broadway and Church Street) in Tribeca.

Monday, April 2, Blind Tasting Cost: $250Limited to: 38Event: 6:30 – 8:30

“It did not take me long to realize that the 2008 vintage was dramatically better than I had expected. It had all the qualities that make an excellent and in some cases, a great vintage so special: exceptionally dark opaque colors, gorgeously ripe fruit, stunning purity almost across the board, great freshness (because it was a cool year), slightly higher acids than normal, and remarkable density as well as concentration. Moreover, one of the significant keys to evaluating quality is the maturity of the tannins. In 2008, the tannins are unusually velvety.”  Robert Parker

While a damp and cool summer did not bode well for 2008 Bordeaux, it was a warm and dry September that yet again saved the vintage.  The warmer weather arrived and ran right through into October, allowing the harvest to take place under very favorable conditions.  The result is an excellent vintage, with at least a few superb wines from most appellations.  At the highest level, the wines are thrilling, and we have filled this tasting with prime examples.

For the 2008 Bordeaux vintage evaluation, EWS has gathered 13 “wine of the vintage” candidates, both Right Bank and Left Bank, while avoiding the wildly expensive First Growths.  We’re big fans of the 2008 Bordeaux vintage and hope you can join us for what promises to be a great tasting.

Here’s the lineup of Chateaux:

Ducru Beaucaillou (St. Julien) (95+WA, 92IWC, 92WS)
Haut Bailly (Pessac-Leognan) (96WA, 92IWC)
La Conseillante (Pomerol) (95WA)
Le Gay (Pomerol) (94+WA, 92IWC, 92WS)
Leoville Poyferre (St. Julien) (94WA, 91IWC, 91WS)
L’Evangile (Pomerol) (94WA, 91IWC, 93WS)
Malescot St. Exupery (Margaux) (93WA)
Montrose (St. Estephe) (95WA)
Palmer (Margaux) (94WA, 93IWC – great showing at recent EWS Palmer vertical)
Pape Clement (Pessac-Leognan) (96WA, 97IWC)
Pontet Canet (Pauillac) (96WA, 94IWC, 92WS)
Pichon Baron (Pauillac) (95WA, 93IWC, 91WS)
Troplong Mondot (St. Emilion) (93-95WA, 94IWC)

All EWS tastings take place at New York Vintners, 21 Warren Street (between Broadway and Church Street) in Tribeca.

Monday, March 26, Tasting Cost: $495Limited to: 18Event: 6:30 – 8:30

10th Anniversary Retrospective

As we look back at Burgundy vintages from 1990 onward, the 2002 vintage stands out for the remarkable elegance and finesse of the best reds.  The impeccable balance was evident early on and is even more apparent as the wines finish their first decade.  It is rare to find a vintage in which all the important aspects of the wines – fruit, tannin, acidity, minerality, and alcohol – are in such perfect harmony.  The 2002s we have tasted recently have been superb.

For this 10th Anniversary Retrospective, we have assembled what we believe to be a stellar group of sixteen 2002 Red Burgundies representing a cross-section of appellations.  These include ten Grand Crus and six outstanding Premier Crus.

Here’s our luscious lineup of 2002 Red Burgundies:

Bonnes Mares (Lucien Le Moine) (95-97WA, 92IWC, 97WS)
Bonnes Mares (Roumier) (94-97WA, 96IWC, 97WS)
Chambertin (Armand Rousseau) (94-96WA, 95IWC)
Chambertin Clos de Beze (Louis Jadot) (95-98WA, 94IWC, 96WS)
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Amoureuses” (Robert Groffier) (94WA)
Charmes-Chambertin (Vincent Girardin) (92-94WA)
Clos de la Roche (Dujac) (93WA, 94IWC)
Clos de Tart (Mommessin) (94-96WA, 95IWC, 93WS)
Corton-Bressandes (Follin-Arbelet) (an EWS favorite)
La Tache (Domaine de la Romanée-Conti) (93WA, 96IWC, 96WS)
Musigny (J.F. Mugnier) (91-93WA, 94IWC, 95WS)
Volnay 1er Cru “Les Caillerets” (Jean Boillot) (92-95WA, 93IWC)
Volnay 1er Cru “Clos des Ducs” (d’Angerville) (92IWC)
Volnay 1er Cru “Clos de Chateau des Ducs” (Marc Lafarge) (92IWC)
Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru “Malconsorts” (Sylvain Cathiard) (91WS “better than that!” EWS)
Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru “Les Suchots” (Robert Arnoux) (94WA, 94IWC)

All EWS tastings take place at New York Vintners, 21 Warren Street (between Broadway and Church Street) in Tribeca.

Monday, March 12, Blind Tasting Cost: $250Limited to: 38Event: 6:30 – 8:30

“The 2008 California Cabernet Sauvignon vintage so far ranks among the best of the decade.  Perhaps the only hurdle it faces in reaching the apex is that it stands in the shadow of the monumental 2007 vintage.  Real differences existed between these two growing seasons, yet the end results look strikingly similar.”  James Laube, Wine Spectator  -  Vintage Rated “96”

Coming on the heels of the ever-popular 2007 vintage for California Cabernets, the 2008s were slow to gain consumer’s attention.  However, just about everyone has finally reached the conclusion that the best 2008s are comparable to the best 2007s, and the 2008s in general are great successes on their own terms.

For this exciting blind tasting, the EWS team has assembled 13 of the most coveted Cabernets from the 2008 vintage for your tasting pleasure and intellectual scrutiny.  Our lineup includes a combination of old favorites and exciting newcomers.  No lover of great Napa Cabernets will want to miss this one!

 Here’s the thrilling lineup:

Araujo “Eisele Vineyard” (97+WA, 93IWC, 94WS)
Bevan “Showket Vineyard – Double E’s Cuvée” (98WA, 97WS)
Bialla (an EWS favorite)
Blankiet “Paradise Hill Vineyard (95+WA, 93IWC – 2007 version finished 1st last year)<
Continuum (96WA, 94IWC, 96WS)
Favia “La Magdelena” (95-97WA, 92IWC, 96WS)
GTS Diamond Mountain “Seaver Family Vineyards” (97WS – Tom Seaver’s Cab)
Hundred Acre “Ark Vineyard” (97-99WA, 95IWC, 95WS)
Lewelling (96WA)
Maybach “Materium” (96WA, 94IWC, 94WS)
Joseph Phelps “Insignia” (97WA, 92IWC, 94WS)
Ramey “Pedregal Vineyard” (93-95WA, 94IWC, 93WS)
Schrader Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard “Old Sparky” (100WA – sells for 6 times the cost of the tasting!)

Monday, March 5, Blind Tasting Cost: $160Limited to: 38Event: 6:30 – 8:30

“Brunello makers agree 2006 is their best effort…I think 2006 is THE greatest modern vintage for Sangiovese, and many of the 2006s are setting a new quality standard for Brunello producers.”  James Suckling on 2006 Brunello di Montalcino

As you are probably aware, no vintage in the esteemed history of Brunello di Montalcino has ever received the mountain of praise equal to what has been bestowed upon the 2006s.  Virtually every wine critic loves this vintage, a fact that can be supported by the astronomical scores given to these wines.

The 2006 Brunello vintage is so “hot,” we’re going to need two tastings to cover all of the major wines.  For the Part I blind tasting, we’ve assembled a group of stellar “regular” Brunellos with impressive credentials.  The 2006 Riservas and late arrivals will be tasted in Part II.

If you have not as yet tasted the 2006 Brunello di Montalcinos, these wines are so compelling, you owe it to yourself to find out what all the chatter is about.  You won’t be disappointed.

Here’s the fabulous lineup of 2006 Brunello di Montalcino:

2005 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Les Cazetiers” (C. Serafin) (94-95WA, 93IWC)
Cerbaiona (98WA, 95IWC)
Conti Costanti (95+WA, 96IWC, 93WS)
Gaja “Sugarille” (95WA, 96IWC, 94WS)
Il Poggione (94WA, 94IWC, 93WS)
Fuligni (96WA, 96IWC, 94WS)
La Rasina (95WA, 94IWC, 92WS)
Poggio Antico (93WA, 95IWC, 92WS)
Salvioni (97+WA, 95IWC)
Siro Pacenti (96WA, 91IWC, 95WS)
Stella di Campalto (96+WA)
Talenti (94WA, 93IWC)
Uccelliera (96WA, 91IWC, 93WS)
Valdicava (95+WA, 95WS)

As is our custom, a selection of fine Italian cheeses will be available to be enjoyed with these great Brunellos.

All EWS tastings take place at New York Vintners, 21 Warren Street (between Broadway and Church Street) in Tribeca.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012  •  6:30 – 10:30 p.m.  •  Blind Tasting (by flight)
Cost: $750  •  Limited to 115

Tasting and Dinner Takes Place at
Del Posto
85 Tenth Avenue (W. 16^th St.)
New York, NY

While Robert Parker has hosted numerous wine tastings in his life, including several dozen for EWS, none of them compare to the personal and intimate “Favorites From My Cellar” tasting and dinner scheduled for Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at Del Posto in New York.

This is an affection-driven tasting, composed of 17 wines all gathered from Mr. Parker’s cellar in Maryland.  In a nutshell, this is where he “put his money where his mouth is.”  These are not necessarily what we would call “trophy wines.”  Instead, they are simply wines that he loved enough to cellar.  We are honored that he has chosen to open them with EWS for this one-of-a-kind special tasting.  He has made six bottles of each (or in some cases, three magnums) available to us.

But that’s not all.  Given the special nature of this tasting, our venue had to be equally special.  We have chosen Del Posto, whose incredible food, elegant setting, and professional service complete what promises to be a memorable experience!

We’ll start with a glass of Prosecco with passed assaggi as a pre-tasting (6:30 – 7:30) treat.  At 7:30 there will be a toast with Didier Dagueneau’s 2007 Pouilly-Fumé.  After that, we’ll proceed with five flights, each accompanied by a course (small portion) selected in consultation with Del Posto to pair with the wines.  We’ll first taste the wines by themselves, then with the food.

This tasting is meant to be intimate and fun!   Mr. Parker will turn the tables on us by serving the wines blind in five flights, giving clues along the way as to the identity.  This will be a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t want to miss.

Please note: there are only 115 seats available for this event which we know will sell out quickly.

Here are the wines with Mr. Parker’s rating in parenthesis:

2007 Pouilly-Fumé “Silex” (Didier Dagueneau) (NR)
2000 Barbaresco Riserva “Asili” (Bruno Giacosa) (98)
1999 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (Soldera) (95)
2003 Clos de Tart (Mommessin) (94)
Beaux Freres Pinot Noir (surprise vintage)
2003 Clos de la Roche “Vieilles Vignes” (Ponsot) (99)
2000 Chateauneuf-du-Pape “Cuvée Centenaire” (Les Cailloux) (96)
2003 Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Clos des Papes) (97)
2003 Chateauneuf-du-Pape “Cuvée Réservée” (Pegau) (98)
2006 Chateauneuf-du-Pape “Cuvée de Mon Aieul” (Pierre Usseglio) (96)
2000 Chateau Monbousquet (St. Emilion) (93)
2000 Chateau La Croix St. Georges (Pomerol) (95)
2000 Chateau Gracia (St. Emilion) (96)
2001 Chateau Pavie Decesse (St. Emilion) (95)
2001 Clarendon Hills Old Vines Grenache “Kangarilla Vineyard” (McLaren Vale, South Australia) (91)
2002 Torbreck Grenache “Les Amis” (Barossa Valley, South Australia) (98)
1998 Burge Family Shiraz “Draycott Reserve” (Barossa Valley, South Australia) (96)

*Note: Each participant will have 5 Riedel glasses for use throughout the tasting.

Monday, November 21, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Cost: $250Limited to 35

We’ve hosted The Pinot Noir Open numerous times over the years and it has proven to be a very popular, totally fun, blind tasting theme. The simple idea behind this format is a friendly competition between Pinot Noir based wines from Burgundy, California, and Oregon. We’ll blind taste four desirable examples from each region in this tasting. We’ve also included an exciting “Mystery Wine” Pinot Noir ringer.

All of the Pinot Noirs in this tasting have received high ratings from the critics and/or are favorites of EWS. We hope you can join us as we taste 13 terrific interpretations of Pinot Noir. Which will be your favorite?

Here’s our luscious Pinot Noir lineup:

2005 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Les Cazetiers” (C. Serafin) (94-95WA, 93IWC)
2007 Corton “Clos des Cortons” (Faiveley) (94IWC, 94WS)
2007 Chambertin Clos de Beze (Bouchard) (93WA, 95IWC)
2007 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Amoureuses” (R. Groffier) (92IWC, 92WS)
2006 Kistler “Cuvée Elizabeth” (96-98WA, 94IWC)
2006 Marcassin “Marcassin Vineyard” (99WA)
2006 Rochioli “West Block” (91-94WA, 92IWC)
2008 Talley “Rosemary’s Vineyard” (94WA, 94IWC)
2006 J. Christopher “Appassionata” (93IWC)
2008 Beaux Freres “The Beaux Freres Vineyard” (94IWC, 93WS)
2008 Le Cadeau “Equinoxe” (92WA, 92IWC)
2008 Patricia Green “Nefarious” (93WA, 94IWC)
Mystery Pinot Noir

All EWS tastings take place at New York Vintners, 21 Warren Street (between Broadway and Church Street) in Tribeca.

Monday, November 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Cost: $250

“Many outstanding wines were made in 2007 and 2008. For those who enjoy vintage generalizations, here are mine: 2007: Minerally, leanish and austere, in need of aging. 2008: Minerally too, with greater density and richness than 2007, occasionally with a glycerol or even exotic quality due to some botrytis; a thicker and more accessible version of “classic” than 2007.” Stephen Tanzer IWC Issue 152

It has been a relatively long time since EWS offered a vintage blind tasting of top White Burgundies. There is no denying that 1995-2006 was a difficult era for Chardonnay from the Cote de Beaune vineyards. Reports of corked and prematurely oxidized wines surfaced with increasing regularity.

But the dark period for White Burgundy seems to have thankfully ended. Recently, we have had the occasion to drink numerous 2008 Whites Burgundies and feel that it is an exciting vintage, combining laser beam acidity with considerable density and length.

To lure you back to White Burgundy we have assembled what we hope and expect is a group of 2008 White Burgundies that will restore your faith in these wines. All are highly rated by Tanzer. At their best, they are incontestably the greatest dry wines made on our planet.

Here’s the lineup with Tanzer’s rating in parenthesis:

Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru (Paul Pernot) (93)
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru “Clos St. Marc” (Jean-Michel Pillot) (94)
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Caillerets” (Domaine Ramonet) (93)
Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru (Michel Niellon) (95)
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (Bouchard Pere et Fils) (95)
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (Vincent Girardin) (93)
Meursault-Genevrieres 1er Cru (Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey) (93)
Meursault-Perrieres 1er Cru (Thierry & Pascal Matrot) (93)
Meursault “Les Tillets”(Patrick Javillier) (92 – an EWS favorite!)
Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Clos de La Mouchere” (Henri Boillot) (93)
Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Folatieres” (Lucien Le Moine) (92)
Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Referts” (Domaine Fichet) (93)
Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Combettes” (Domaine Sauzet) (93)
Saint Aubin 1er Cru “Derriere Chez Edouard Blanc” (Hubert Lamy) (93)

All EWS tastings take place at New York Vintners, 21 Warren Street (between Broadway and Church Street) in Tribeca.