samos offline

[brappy]

Once again, we had a wonderful time at Samos in Baltimore. It was my turn to take notes. A duty in which I kept forgetting I had. So the notes are more impressions than they are notes.

In attendance, we had Jane(Wonders), Michael Rutledge and soon to be wife Cindy, James(big time poster over on Garr's wine site) and Jeannette(his better half) Roscoe, and Hattie and myself.

The food was great as always. Michael got the kitchen tastes on everything, so hopefully they didn't mind us closing down the place.

The wines:
1. Sparkling Wine .... "Sofia" made by Coppola winery. Lots of fruit, good acidity, reminded me of an inexpensive but tasty Cava.

2. Cautivo Rioja blanco '06..... Have no idea what the varietal is here. Great fruit, tropical with a creamy overtone. The palate adds some serious acidity on the finish.

3. Carr Pinot Gris '06 ... This wine was served blind. Not one of us even came close to calling the grape varietal, region, etc., etc.... My guess was either a Rhone white or a very pleasant Chablis. Even after being told this was New World, I was lost. Very nice summer quaffer.

4. Pazo Senorans Albarino, '03 Rias Biaxas ... Great complexity, dead ringer for a white Rhone, Heavier body than traditional Albarino, Great wine.

5. Planots, Priorat, '05 ... 50/50 blend of Garnacha/Carinena. Big, bold, tons of fruit. Only those that don't like flavor will not like this wine. Great, long finish with perfectly balanced acid.

6. Clos Erasmus, '03, Priorat ... Unfortunately, mildly corked.

7. Chateau Bertineau St.-Vincent Lalande de Pomerol, '98 ... Totally corked!!

8. Chateau Lachesnaye, Haut-Medoc, '90 Old, past its prime but not quite dead. livened up a bit after some air contact, but still.....

9. La Bastide Dauzac, '00, Margaux ... Not a bad wine but not exciting either. No weight to the wine at all. Good balance if not a touch too much acid.

10. Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino '97, ... Could a wine get any better? This wine has aged itself right into perfect balance.

11. Vina Valoria, Rioja, '94 ... I didn't expect this wine to turn out as well as it did. Tha nose and palate showed great balance with the red cherries and acid. Just enough oxidation to let you know the wine is ageing beautifully. I looked for another when I returned home..... I was disappointed.

12. Noe, Pedro Ximenez, 30 years old ... A beautiful ending, wonderfully smooth with that nutty, sweet flavor. Great balance.

I may have missed a wine or two. Like I said, I kept forgetting I was supposed to take notes. We have a great time every time we go to Samos. And every time gets better.

Hopefully, others will get to join us for the next one.

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