Fake wines at auction
I saw
this article yesterday, which reminded me of
this discussion from the Mark Squires archives.
I think that if this goes through, it is just the beginning of a trend. If 9% of wines at high-end auctions are fakes (and I assume they are the big ticket items), that is just too much money chasing those wines. I think buyers will demand better tracking, which will drive retailers and auction houses to support more technology.
I think wines will eventually be monitored by individual RFID tags, that will be able to tell secondary buyers the story of the wine.
Labels: auction, fake wine, wine
My birthday dinner at Pizzaiolo
I thought of this birthday dinner as a warm-up for my 30th birthday next year. I have been setting aside birth year wines, but I didn't want to crack into that stash yet. But I did want to bring some older wines, so this is what happened. We ordered the whites off the menu, but the rest of the wines were brought. Pizzaiolo was excellent again - their pizzas are delicious and they did a good job handling a big group. Their corkage isn't cheap ($18), but they have a big table that is good for groups (~16-18 people). This was dinner with non-wine geek friends, so I didn't take notes. This is what I remember:
- 2005 Fattoria La Rivolta Taburno - Italy, Campania, Taburno (3/9/2007)
This wine didn't do much for me - it had a floral nose and lots of tart citrus aspects. I think it is a food wine and it needed something to provide balance. The finish was a little disjointed. I would not order this wine again.
- 2005 Roland Lavantureux Chablis - France, Burgundy, Chablis (3/9/2007)
Nice minerality and balance. In comparison to the Taburno Falanghina, the Chablis was cleaner and less tart on the palate. It had a nice finish, and it worked well with food. I would drink this wine again, but I would not rush down to Kermit Lynch to buy a bottle because it doesn't have a lot of complexity.
- 2003 Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (3/9/2007)
Really great value Cabernet - this shows that it is easier to find value when you travel from Napa to Washington. Warm palate with lots of chocolate and dark berry fruit. I would recommend as a great value Cab.
- 2005 Siduri Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills (3/9/2007)
A very rich California Pinot - I like the profile of Santa Rita Hills pinots... dark in color, the fruit is dark but vibrant. There is an earthy espresso and spice in the background that I hope will become more pronounced as it ages. This is a nicely balanced Pinot, though clearly new world in style. I am not sure if I am a major buyer at $50 per, but this experience supports my preference for Clos Pepe among the Siduri profile.
- 1979 Château La Tour Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (3/9/2007)
I suspect this wine was flawed. Initially, it had a very musty nose and the upfront palate was not very fruity. After a couple hours, it had a fleshier fruit nose and dark cherry fruit on the palate. The finish was short-to-medium, but it clearly improved with some air. I'm not sure if it was corked, really musty, or just old... I have another bottle so it will be nice to try again. NR (flawed)
- 1970 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (3/9/2007)
The color on this older Bordeaux was more purple and not much bricking. The nose had a clear spice to it - my friend Chris said paprika and I think he was on the right track. The palate had fleshy plum and dark fruit. This bottle tasted lightly oxidized but still had life to it.
- 2003 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (3/9/2007)
Just a small taste at the end of my birthday dinner. Rich with botrytis and tropical fruit. Lots of pineapple on the nose, for me. Not cloying on the mid-palate - I was able to taste an older Bordeaux after this, without palate fatigue. Long finish - I think this wine will age even though it doesn't have much acidity.
Labels: birthday, Bordeaux, Pinot Noir, wine
