a rather fabulous lunch

[Ken Gargett]

caught up with a few mates for what we call the 1/4ly lunch (supposed to be every quarter but has been about two years since we had one - max 8 people, but a late pullout - understandably, i was supposed to be at another today but it wiped me out). at alto - love travelling up the river on the hovercraft ferries to get there, beautiful day, wind in your face, bruce in your ear. 

i've missed a couple of the wines but this is most of them - some seem likely to be on their side. as usual, no idea why. i got there early as there were a couple i wanted to look at more formally before the troops arrived. 

great way to kick off. not sure champagne gets better than this. 1996 Salon 

fascinating follow-up. new one. karma 2015. reminded me of an old fashioned Bolly. 

this was a backup but a fantastic one. perrier jouet belle epoque 2012. 

 

a pair of brilliant Aussie Chardies from Cullens, tiny production stuff. wonderful. 

and an old classic, a Tyrrells Vat 1 Hunter Sem from 1994.

then the best bracket of the year. a couple of stunning Burgs. 

a glorious Musigny - 

and the wine of the day - the DRC Richebourg 2005.

next bracket promised much but didn't deliver as one might hope. 

the 1945 Latour - in about as good a condition as i am today.

biondi santi Riserva 1971 - had huge hopes for this. it was okay but past best days. 

best of the bracket, the wonderful Vega Sicilia Unico 1999.

a few backups. this probably the pick. 

an all time classic Yquem, the 2001, winding things up. 

for those still standing a decent port but a bit out of class here. 

not a bad day. just need my old stamina! 

[smokeyjoe01]

Sounds like a great day & looks like that vino sent you sideways! 

[Russell]

My favorite lunch, the liquid kind

[GoodStix]

Wow!  Fantastic wines.  @Ken Gargett you sure you didn't just nod off in yer chair and dream this?  😉

[Hypersomniac]

Do the doctors have you on a liquid diet?

[Chas.Alpha]

The '45. My dad was flying around Australia that year, maybe a bit North...

[patrickamory]

Wow. You had me at the de Vogue Musigny. Then the Richebourg. Then it just got nuts!

[SirVantes]

I know you were excited about the Biondi-Santi @Ken Gargett and I didn't want to dampen expectations, but I had the '71 riserva a few years back, ex-cellar (in fact with the Biondi-S rep presenting) and it was very tired.  That cooled my ardour for Biondi-S.  I'll stick to Piedmont for '71.  Bet the burgundies made up for the disappointment.

[Ken Gargett]

36 minutes ago, SirVantes said:

I know you were excited about the Biondi-Santi @Ken Gargett and I didn't want to dampen expectations, but I had the '71 riserva a few years back, ex-cellar (in fact with the Biondi-S rep presenting) and it was very tired.  That cooled my ardour for Biondi-S.  I'll stick to Piedmont for '71.  Bet the burgundies made up for the disappointment.

the burgs made up for a world in crisis! 

always a good chance but i got it at about a third of the going price and it was in good condition, it seemed, so worth a shot. also a friend had one not so lomng ago and raved (he imports many of the great Italians so has a good idea of what he is on about). 

i think we had 14 bottles on the day. for two to not step up, will take that hit rate. prefer all of them though. 

[JohnS]

7 hours ago, smokeyjoe01 said:

Sounds like a great day & looks like that vino sent you sideways! 

Indeed. Thankfully all is upright now! 

[Ken Gargett]

9 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Indeed. Thankfully all is upright now! 

thanks John. much appreciated.

wish i was. 

[BrightonCorgi]

That's some line up.  Quevedo is a real nerdy port.  I know Oscar Quevedo and friend works there.  Way up near Spain and high altitude.

[Ken Gargett]

40 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

That's some line up.  Quevedo is a real nerdy port.  I know Oscar Quevedo and friend works there.  Way up near Spain and high altitude.

it was a good day. a few of them backed up again yesterday. beyond me. i have met him briefly, just at a large tasting, so had no chance to chat. we don't often see hos ports. and to be fair, by that stage in the day, any attempt at judging it was well beyond me. 

[Chas.Alpha]

I think he might have gotten to my bottle of rum. I got home from work and it was empty and I am almost certain I didn't drink it! Was I on the Zoom last night?...🤔

[El Presidente]

1 minute ago, Chas.Alpha said:

I think he might have gotten to my bottle of rum. I got home from work and it was empty and I am almost certain I didn't drink it! Was I on the Zoom last night?...🤔

We missed you yesterday 

[Chas.Alpha]

33 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

We missed you yesterday 

I hope there's a Zoom next week. I'm off Thursday because it's Thanksgiving here in the states. I wouldn't suppose they celebrate it in Australia? I mean, ours is a reflection on when the first settlers landed in the new world. Yours would have been somewhat different... 🤔

[westg]

Drooling on insta as well. Soldier on KG

[BrightonCorgi]

13 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

it was a good day. a few of them backed up again yesterday. beyond me. i have met him briefly, just at a large tasting, so had no chance to chat. we don't often see hos ports. and to be fair, by that stage in the day, any attempt at judging it was well beyond me. 

His ports are not well distributed in the States either.  Very select markets.  Been trying to get them distributed here for over decade.  Their colheita ports are their specialty.