the annual doctors' lunch

[Ken Gargett]

a good mate holds an annual lunch for around 20 of us. mostly orthopods but other medicos and a few assorted hangers-on like myself. an old wallaby or two. it was once all reds but now champagnes and reds (often magnums), then amazing rums (this year's host has the best collection of truly great rums which i have ever seen) and finishing with top cigars. 

i went up and stayed with a mate of mine who also attends and stayed with him on the thursday evening and we warmed up - 

some reds but these were the two stars.

 

 

then into the fray. very quiet the day after this lunch. very slow. and completely forgot the cousins' annual christmas party (reminded by my sister when i was back interstate and out of range. not popular). 

 

 

it might be a first world problem but don't you hate it when two guys turn up with exactly the same magnum of champers, vintage and all. must be like two women turning up in the same dress. 

this does not cover the lot but gives you an idea. 

 

this guy is one of my absolute fave makers. brilliant champers. 

 

magnum of 96 Roederer, close to the wine of the day. 

 

 

 

this guy is an old mate - those who watch tv chefs here will recognise him. met him when i was fishing in nz. he saw me hook a 10 lb salmon. alistair was not aware that there was more to fishing than hooking the fish. still had to get it in. so he jumped on my back in celebration. had i not got it in, we would not be friends. he usually prepares the day's feast for us. 

 

cracking portuguese red magnum. 

 

 

these were my pick of best red of the day. stunning. 

 

an old fave. 

 

 

 

sam neill's winery, no dinosaurs to be seen. 

 

 

super burg. 

 

this guy has the best rum collection in history!! well, my history. 

that is the santiago 50 year, which he generously opened. i fear that there was little left. amazing rum. 

 

tried one of these first up but not my thing. swapped to a CoRo and then a Monte 2. 

 

incredible rum. 

 

some of th rums which did not make for a sprightly day after. 

 

 

and this one was the wine of the day, for me. wonderful old champers. 

 

[Ej456]

Poppin bottles!!’ Good for you ken!!

[JohnS]

The real question here is; Is this the FoH post of the month or the FoH post of the year?

[Ken Gargett]

17 minutes ago, JohnS said:

The real question here is; Is this the FoH post of the month or the FoH post of the year?

john, don't know about that but it was a fantastic day. glad i have a year to recover. 

[david9985]

Amazing Ken, thanks for sharing!

[RDB]

Krug 89, SWC 12, Selosse Substance. Not bad at all. I’m sure this day required significant stamina too…

[BrightonCorgi]

Great stuff from all over the map.  How was the Vale Meao?  I have '07 Meandro that holding in there.  The top wine must be something else!  Cote Rotie caught my eye beyond all the obvious winners.  20 people would kill those wines down in no time.  The hard liquor certainly tempered the pace.

[Ken Gargett]

9 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Great stuff from all over the map.  How was the Vale Meao?  I have '07 Meandro that holding in there.  The top wine must be something else!  Cote Rotie caught my eye beyond all the obvious winners.  20 people would kill those wines down in no time.  The hard liquor certainly tempered the pace.

meao was terrific. the top red was the biondi-santi for me. cracking wine. rockford always a star. and the chambolle was beautiful. the cote rotie sadly was not served until the end at which stage a judicious assessment of its undoubted qualities might have been marginally beyond me. and the rest of us. 

[El Presidente]

Ken, can I post the text you sent me late that afternoon?

[Nevrknow]

NSFW? 😂

[benfica_77]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

Ken, can I post the text you sent me late that afternoon?

Is it in English? loll

[LLC]

Wow, great line up. We haven’t been able to get the Penfolds St. Henri here for years. When we could it was one I always enjoyed. 

[Ken Gargett]

2 hours ago, LLC said:

Wow, great line up. We haven’t been able to get the Penfolds St. Henri here for years. When we could it was one I always enjoyed. 

that is a shame and a surprise. the latest, the 2018, is one of the greatest of all. and such a bargain compared to some of their other wines. 

[Chucko8]

Rockfords Basket press. What a great drop, I understand whilst it's an old fave!

[LLC]

19 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

that is a shame and a surprise. the latest, the 2018, is one of the greatest of all. and such a bargain compared to some of their other wines. 

Upon closer investigation it does look like they had the 2017 but it would have sold out right away and I guess I missed it in their bi-weekly Vintages catalog or monthly Classics Catalog. I will keep a look out of the 2018. They do carry a large range of Penfolds including Grange (2016 and also sold out). 

[Ken Gargett]

7 minutes ago, LLC said:

Upon closer investigation it does look like they had the 2017 but it would have sold out right away and I guess I missed it in their bi-weekly Vintages catalog or monthly Classics Catalog. I will keep a look out of the 2018. They do carry a large range of Penfolds including Grange (2016 and also sold out). 

2018 st H and 17 Grange all part of the most recent release. even though 18 St H here is about $120 or less and 17 grange is $950, i'd go the St H. i think it is the better wine of these two. also suggests that the 18 Grange will be truly spectacular. 

[LLC]

Thanks Ken. I’ll get the 18 St H if I can. Don’t really need (want) to find out how much I might like the Grange. 

[PuroDiario]

On 12/19/2021 at 6:29 PM, Ken Gargett said:

meao was terrific. the top red was the biondi-santi for me. cracking wine. rockford always a star. and the chambolle was beautiful. the cote rotie sadly was not served until the end at which stage a judicious assessment of its undoubted qualities might have been marginally beyond me. and the rest of us. 

That blondo Santi is a delight, I was fortunate to have a few bottles at a friend’s bday party here in NY. Truly delightful. 

[Edicion]

This lunch is just what the doctor ordered