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Our son Tom would love to own a Delorean. He's loved that car for more than a decade. I would rather have one of the more modern concept vehicles or even the electric modded car.
I am hoping for a Mazda Miata MX-5 electric two-seater- if they build a EV version. The De Lorean would be interesting - especially if converted to EV as appears to be the case with last photo.
Ah, a little sports car to relive your youth. Understood.
Sandra and Lynn are now dining in the district at Circa, the place famous for being out of the bottle you want from their wine list. Sandra asked for a bottle of the Orin Swift Machete (Petite Sirah, with a car & woman on the label), but of course they were out of that. They are at the bar drinking house wine for some reason.
House wine instead….while they wait for their tables. They will be attending the Mean Girls performance at The Kennedy Center tonight.
Time to give this baby some air. Initial impression right out of the bottle is a slightly tart cherry and firm tannins.
This looks a bit like a machine; I am trying!
I know that Christian has a bottle ready for tonight, and it also has a sailing vessel on the label.
Oh Kathleen. That looks more like a building diagram, but perhaps it was drawn with a mechanical pencil?
The 2017 Octagon should be lovely tonight.
In case Christian gets too busy with dining out tonight (he's in Vienna, Virginia right now at a restaurant called Zenola), here is the bottle he posted on Facebook for tonight's event.
I am having a 2009 Amiral de Beychevelle, Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé.
This historic château is one of the largest properties in Bordeaux. The château was constructed in 1565 by Bishop François of Foix-Candale and is well-known as the “Versailles of the Médoc” with its beautiful architecture, exquisite interior, and magnificent park.
I was there the last time in 2017. A huge renovation project underway for several years finished in 2016. We were able to visit the new facilities. For more see here:
Tour and Tasting at Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with General Manager Philippe Blanc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France http://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2018/04/tour-and-tasting-at-chateau-beychevelle.html
This bottle is a left over of a winemaker dinner that my wife Annette Schiller organized at the French Embassy in Washington DC with Philippe Blanc, General Manager, Château Beychevelle, in 2019. For more see here:
Sophie Schÿler, Owner, Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, Philippe Blanc, General Manager, Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien and Annette Schiller, Owner, ombiasy PR and WineTours, for a Winemaker Dinner at the French Embassy, Le Café Descartes, in Washington DC, USA http://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2019/03/sophie-schyler-owner-chateau-kirwan.html
I am at home for dinner!!! I was in Vienna/ Virginia for Happy Hour.
Well, I cracked the (Southern Graves) Clos Floridène 2016. This is my second go-round with this vintage, and it is usually a good wine for something slightly beyond regular drinking. The white from tis property has always been of very high quality; the red less "remarkable" as the British wine writer Stephen Brooks blandly puts it so as not to sound off-putting. That's because the wine is quite good for the price. It is dominated by 75-80% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remaining element in the blend taken up by Merlot and perhaps a few bits and pieces of other cépages to bring things up to post-modern speeds.
The wine has excellent color - almost blood-red, with little translucency. Scent is a bit closed off with smoky, stewed black currant and wet earth (loam). Entry is quite smooth, with ticklish tannins on the back palate. Finish is not particularly rich, but is decently hedonic in nature. Not a dense wine, this comes off as similar to many Cabs from Washington State of the mid-rank variety. It has a bit more finesse than say CS by Charles Smith at $20 US, but is in the same quality ball-park. We pay about $32 US for this one in Canada, you can probably get it for $25 US, perhaps even a little less. At these prices, you get a decent claret. 88-90 points; or -4.0 Glasses. It all depends on taste whether you go for the lower or the higher range, but still, all-in-all, not a bad wine. Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast rated the wine at 91 points in 2019, the time when Lynn and I made our purchases of 2016 Bordeaux.
Glad you made it here!
This is our bottle for tonight. Don't remember the when, where or from whom it came!
@SallieBob - that one came from Wegmans I bet. I saw that and the Rose version on the shelf yesterday, both for about $11. What do you think about it? I still have the Rose in the fridge.
@ChristianSchiller - "This bottle is a left over of a winemaker dinner that my wife Annette Schiller organized at the French Embassy in Washington DC with Philippe Blanc, General Manager, Château Beychevelle, in 2019. For more see here:"; you two have so many connections here and in Europe. We've been to the French Embassy in Washington DC for an Washington Ballet performance, but only as attendees, not in any way associated with organizing an event.
@BigAl The most recent event in Washington DC was: The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference December 2021 http://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-wines-of-germany-presentation-by.html
There must be quite a venue in that embassy (l'ambassade française, je suppose). I have never been inside it, but that is no surprise, having never lived in Washington DC - though I have visited on occasion, if that counts for anything).
@SteveZodiac It is always nice to have an event at an Embassy. There is a restaurant for the staff of the Embassy and the event took place at this restaurant. Here with Sophie Schÿler, Owner, Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, and Philippe Blanc, General Manager, Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien
@ChristianSchiller No doubt. Whenever I have been invited to an embassy or consulate, I have always found the experience memorable. In the US capital, which is the de facto capital of the world, many hasty comments to the contrary notwithstanding (and nothing lasts forever), there are very large diplomatic deployments, so many opportunities to meet interesting people and experience haute culture. And one should so experience, whenever such is possible.
Did everyone enjoy their wine tonight? I enjoyed the 2016 bottle but not that early tasting of the 2020 Merlot (Happy Camper). No surprise there.
Would anyone like to make a short presentation at our next Deep Thoughts event on 03 May 2022? You get to select the wine, so there's that.
Regarding the wine (Clos Floridene '16), it was more than adequate and very Bordeaux, old style. It might not completely satisfy enthusiasts of explosive fruit, however, such as may be found with a higher-end Cabernet Sauvignon from California or Australia. Although this was more a "fun" evening based upon themes not directly related to wine, it seems to me that the Beychevelle second wine (the Schiller's choice) probably proved to be the most satisfying, and from a very superior vintage for the property - apparently one of the best. I seem to recall that Suntory Distilleries of Japan owns it now, but the wine retains its elegance according to fans. I only see it in the stores here each fall when a few cases appear during the annual Bordeaux release by the government liquor stores (and one or two other key private merchants).
As for being the presentation volunteer, I confess to being weary; I just did our 2021 Canadian taxes and although the result was much better than expected, the experience rather washes everything out of you. Yes, I can easily afford the accountant to do it, but then everything is a black box and you no longer understand what your federal government is up to, which is not the kind of ignorance I recommend! I guess the economist in me keeps the interest going despite the pain.
I agree that Christian’s bottle might have been the best, but Kathleen did open a 2017 Octagon wine - a lovely wine and more fruit forward as I prefer.
Still looking for a volunteer…..
Octagon always sounds good by reputation. Not available here - in fact, pretty much nothing from Upper Dixie can be obtained here under normal circumstances.
We'll have one available for your next visit, @SteveZodiac.
I hope that is possible in a short period of time lapse.
Volunteers please come forward. First come, first served. Or something like that.
Should we go with an International Wine Night for 03 May 2022? Kathleen wants to do Croatian wine.