Acker holds an annual holiday celebration which is a large gathering
(somewhere north of 100 people, divided into tables based on the wines they
bring. The table shares their wine and people walk from table to table pouring
galsses and getting glasses poured.
First lets deal with our own table. I think the California Cabs and
Bordeaux did not get the best shake as they were not paired with foods and
therefore I probably am underscoring them, but it is what I tasted.
1.
1994 Steinmetz Braunburger Juffer Reisling
Auslese. A nose of kerosene and
burnt rubber but lemonade and bright in the mouth. Nice for a taste, but not a glass and never a bottle. I just am not a fan of Alsatians except
for dessert
2.
2000 Marcassin Chardonnay Upper Barn. An explosion of new creamy oak . Like cream soda and wood. A sip was too much.
3.
1999 Drouhin Montrachet Marquis de
Laguiche. Although it was too
warm, it remains a gorgeous wine.
Toasted oak frames the nose of crisp fruit and bacon fat and in the
mouth it is luscious with apples and peaches and long, long finish. 95
4.
1971 Faiveley Nuit Saint Georges Les
Pruliers. No nose for 20 minutes
and then it started to show. But
in the mouth it was very fresh, completely resolved, smoky, earthy and really
delightful. A treat. 91
5.
1990 Mommessin Clos de Tart. Really brought it. Best bottle I have had. Less smoky than usual but big, rich
cherry energy with peppercorns. 95
6.
1985 Lopez de Heredia Todonia Grand Reserve Corked
7.
1976 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Grand Reserve Cooked. I have not had a good
bottle of this yet.
8.
1990 Solaia. Still very tannic and young at 20. 90 minutes was not enough time to aerate so hard for me to
judge. Got cedar, pine nuts and
liqueur behind the tannins. 90-94
9.
1995 Ducru Beaucaillou. Dark ruby with a nose
dark berries and very easy, smooth and nice, but not big in the mouth. Did not
compare to the 82. 90
10. 1989
Lynch Bages. Graphite, lead
pencil, smoked meats, completely integrated, easily topped the 1990. 93
11. 1990
Lynch Bages. Richer than the 89,
but sweeter and less integrated with a slightly alcoholic finish. 90
12. 1982
Talbot. Beautiful, very young
tasting but very drinkable, dark color, a nose of black fruits tempered with
something earthy. Vibrant and very
nice. 93+
13. 1982
Gruaud Larose. A slightly musty
under-taste could not hide the fact that this is a phenomenally big, explosive
wine of great concentration and complexity. 93-96
14. 1993
Shaffer Hillside Select. Dark purple, intense, but to me it is not well
integrated. OK, but not a delight.
89
15. 1997
Quintarelli Amarone. This was a
totally different experience from my last tasting. Did not have the power or richness. Still it was very nice, well balanced
but blind, I would not have known it.
90
I tasted an additional 20 wines
from others at the BYOB as people walk the room exchanging wines and pouring
for friends.
16. 1989
Haut Brion. Jon Kapon brought this
over to the table joking it was a rebottled Lafite. The group consensus was an 85. When he told us later it was the legendary 89, no one was
sure whether he was joking or not.
It was nice but did not bowl me over as I would expect if it was the 89.
93
17. 1985
Haut Brion. Beautiful HB, elegant
like the 79, but perhaps smoother, but without the size and power of the
90. 93
18. 1990
Montrose. Huge, very concentrated,
tannins still very present but a powerful wine that can be drunk now and will
be better and better later. 95
19. 1966
Latour. Still dark and young
looking. Dark fruits and leather
and something nutty with the tannins still quite evident. Very nice. 94
20. 1990
Mortet Chambertin. This was
superb, intense fruit, well balanced and long finish. 94
21. 2001
Solaia. I think this will be
better than the 1990 eventually and was easier to perceive the power behind the
tannins. Needs 20 years. 91-94
22. 93
Meo Camuzet Clos De Vougeot. Rich,
earthy , long and totally integrated. 92
23. 1999
Raveneau Chablis Les Clos. Really
nice epitome of Chablis. Perhaps a
little tight, but crisp apples on the attack, a lush mid palate and a smooth
rich, long finish. Very
worthwhile. 93
24. 1993
Lignier Clos De Roche. I continue
to love Ligniers CDR. Class,
power, richness all combine to provide a decadent elegance. 94
25. 1993
Roumier Les Amourouses. I was
surprised at how young and tight this was, but it has bright cherries,
elegance, reasonable complexity and length. Try again in 2013. 90-92
26. 1993
Roumier Bonnes Mares. Tight, tart
and young. Earthy with black
fruits and the high acidity you expect in a 93. Try again in 2013. 92-95
27. 1988
Rostaing Cote Rotie was all bacon fat and smoke mixed with dark fruits. Very nice. 90
1984
Ridge Montebello. Really good, meaty nose with a smooth, rich taste and
luscious mouth-feel. 93
29. 1999
Mouton. Nose of coffee and espresso with dark fruits and in the mouth its
young, earthy, woody with strong tannins an needs plenty of time. 90-92
30. 2007
Hemlock Hills. This is a wine made to order for the guys I was sitting
with. I found it super sweet and
young. They were suitably offended
31. 2005
Sin qua non 2V. Cough
Medicine. 80
32. 1985
Roty Mazy Chambertin. Bright,
herbaceous and short. Same as the
bottle in my cellar. 87
33. 1984
Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet. No notes
34. 2002
Drouhin Clos de Beze. Big , rich
earthy tastes with undernote of kirsch.
Surprisingly accessible. 93
35. 1986 Yquem. Uncompromisingly
delicious. Phenomenally
concentrated, long, long, long. 98 Perfect ending.
