Pool Boy Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I noticed that in the April 5th wine column, they asked people to email in if they'd like to participate in a wine tasting with WP Wine guy Ben Giliberti. So my wife encouraged me to email in and I did and they picked me. Anyone else going to be attending this? It's on April 19 at 6. I think they said it'd be 8 people. Just wanted to know if any folks here'd be there, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.R. Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 So this is how they select the panels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 So this is how they select the panels? No idea. Usually it seems it's only been 2-4 people, but this time it is eight. I'll report back after I attend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinwiddie Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 TJ, Have fun tonight and make the DC Crü proud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted April 21, 2006 Author Share Posted April 21, 2006 It was a lot of fun. 2003 Bordeax. 10 of them. Some good, some not. Not sure when the article will run, but I'll try to post some TNs later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinwiddie Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 Great picture TJ and congrats on nailing the favorite. Seemed like an interesting group. Nice plug for the DC Crü too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Slater Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 It's interesting that Chateau Fombrauge wowed everyone. I was in Bordeaux in January and tasted 160 wines from the 2003 vintage. St. Emilion and Pomerol were by far the tastiest wines. The wines from the Medoc and its satellites were hard, opaque and unyielding almost across the board. The fact that the French agriculture ministry allowed the Bordelais to acidify the wines for the first time in history is curious. Instead of luscious, forward wines, they made backward tannic monsters. Only the Right Bank wines showed immediate charm. BTW, 2002 Ch. Fombrauge is still on the market and is also quite delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe H Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 Paul's and MacArthur both have the '03 Chateau Fombrauge with Paul's selling it for $29.99-no case discount. C/W does not carry it. Paul's has a limited amount left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted May 6, 2006 Author Share Posted May 6, 2006 It's interesting that Chateau Fombrauge wowed everyone. I was in Bordeaux in January and tasted 160 wines from the 2003 vintage. St. Emilion and Pomerol were by far the tastiest wines. The wines from the Medoc and its satellites were hard, opaque and unyielding almost across the board. The fact that the French agriculture ministry allowed the Bordelais to acidify the wines for the first time in history is curious. Instead of luscious, forward wines, they made backward tannic monsters. Only the Right Bank wines showed immediate charm. BTW, 2002 Ch. Fombrauge is still on the market and is also quite delicious. Mark, I'll have to post my full tasting notes then. Maybe you can make sense out of it for me. I think I only rated three wines at 90 or above. What was interesting to me about this tasting was the wide range of scores. I hate score inflation myself, so I try to keep it real. I think I rated the Fombrauge a 91 or 92 and thus it was the highest rating I gave the wine. Many of the other wines were middling in the mid 80s with a few in the mid to upper 80s and a few duds that I think I was too generous with my scoring (I think the lowest I scored any of them was an 80). But, TN decripttors I shall add soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe H Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 I bought a case of the Fombrauge from Paul's yesterday-they are almost out of it and MacArthur is the only other store that I am aware of that has it. Four of us tasted it. All four agreed that it needed at least an hour or more before it "softened." Initially we were all very disappointed with strong notes of leather (for lack of a better description) and found it tannic and rough. But after an hour it smoothed out quite a bit and we enjoyed it. I also opened a bottle of 2000 Gruard Larose (yes, I know a totally different wine) and it was. Even the Fombrauge after an hour was night and day from the former. In retrospect I am probably inclined to agree with the WS and WA ratings of 90 and 91 for the Fombrauge and the WS was 95 for the Gruard Larose which is really drinking beautifully now. Having said all this I'll put the case I bought away for three or four years and will probably find this was an exceptional wine for the price. But for me, not now. Frankly, I was quite disappointed in it. I should also note that I am probably alone in this since virtually every internet site that said they had it for under $35 was sold out. Obviously someone likes this wine-a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted May 9, 2017 Author Share Posted May 9, 2017 Man I cannot believe this was ELEVEN YEARS AGO. It was a lot of fun, I must admit. The pictures are long gone but linky and linky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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