tjaehnigen

tj, I read the review and the following comments on VC ( http://www.vinocellar.com ) tonight about "Citronelle failed to wow". Sorry I don't work 7 days a week. It's all cool, MS. My one experience there has got to be one of the top 3 dining experiences of my life. I very much believe that you were there helping me out with my wine selection that evening (I think it was a 99 or 00 Kistler Les Noisettiers). The other two top three experiences for me are Roberto Donna's Laboratorio and Babbo.

We dined at Palena again about a month and a half ago, and, well, it rocked again. Even my vegetarian brother was ecstatic about this place. And the service was fine. Plus, we got to see this one couple dining across the room from us. I am not really sure, but it looked like a woman who was trying to look sort of like a guy (or maybe Androgynous Pat) and the other, uh, person, was quite obviously a guy in drag who was wearing this frou-frou white dress and the biggest damn tiara I have ever seen.

Butcher The best local and very convenient butcher that I use is the Laurel Meat Market on main street in Laurel. It isn't too far from most closer in suburban MD folks and I huighly recommend them. They can also order almost anything you can imagine if you give them a day or two notice. The folks who work there really know their meat, too. Just look for the big cow sculpture on the street corner in front of the store. Question-- I am too bloody lazy to sift through all of this thread, but I'd be interested in finding a list of recommended suburban-MD farmer's markets, their locations, hours of operation and so on. I am mainly interested in PRODUCE. As for Whole Foods Silver Spring's produce section, uh, I don't think it sucks. The Whole Foods in Rockville, now THAT place does suck. But honestly, I still have yet to find a place where I can get all of my produce needs fulfilled. I always end up having to go to 3-4 places.

Interesting. I read a recent review of Citronelle over on VC that was not quite on the same page. I think it started off with 'Hate to say this but Citronelle underwhelmed us Friday night... ' My one and only trip there in May 2002 was amazing. After reading that review (and considering I really respect the opinion of the guy who wrote it, he's one serious foodie), I was seriously bummed and was starting to think that Citronelle was slipping. I have no plans to get back to Citronelle in the immediate future ($500-600 meals for me and my wife only come once in a blue moon), but, when I do get back, I seriously hope I, too, am NOT underwhelmed.

I think, I did not check, there are only three German Rieslings on the list. Isn't that just silly given the high quality 2001s that came out early this year?

That is a most excellent price. What state/city was this Home Depot in? I have a 30 bottle Haier unit that is fine, but I paid $280 for it which was the best price I could find at the time. Honestly, try to get as big a unit as you are willing to get and can store.

DC is a Federal Government town and it also hosts diplomats from around the world. Add in all the lobbyists and so on, and this is going to be a tough battle for the No-Smoking Proponents to win, IMO. I am a non-smoker and I am cool with the ban if it goes into effect, but I can see it definitely hurting businesses, especially the bars.

You lucky dog.

I am not saying that ratings and inclusion on the Top 100 list are directly related to advertising dollars. I AM saying that the whole 'list' concept is all about generating advertising dollars.

Futronic-- If I knew then what I know now, I'd be spending my time in and around Montalcino too. But don't forget Siena, that is also on my list for my return trip no later than 2008.

Free corkage fee Mondays makes it a place to go on my list. The local wine-o Crü that I hang out with went there last month and it was pretty good. But man, they need to hire a few more waiters. I know it was a Monday and all, but two waiters to wait on all tables was a little thin if you ask me.

I had this again in August and just tonight. I definitely stand behind my 93 pt rating. Quality stuff, no doubt about it.

We all really just make it up as we go along. One TN I posted once said, I think, 'steely, waxy bacon fat'. I call it like I see it.

Thanks for the TN. This reminded me of my recent trip to Italy, and we dined in Volpaia. Man what a view and man what food and man what wine. Holy Cow.

Just what I was going to suggest.

WS's list is really all just about advertising dollars. Plain and simple.

I often tap TNs into my Blackberry -- quick, easy, emailable, cut and paste-able.

Writing tasting notes is a fun way to express yourself about a wine. Plus, if you do drink stuff regularly, and especially if you drink lots of different bottles and offerings, you can easily see differences in different wines. Try pouring 4 different wines one evening, even of the same varietal, vintage and region, and you will be able to sense differences. Honest.

Whenevr I am ready again to go cough up a lung for dinner at Citronelle, I will make sure to touch base with Mark beforehand. heh heh heh Nice write-up

2001 Bender Bissersheiner Held Sylvaner Eiswein Pfalz Tasted at the November 2003 DC Crü gathering This was nice, but too simple and sweet to be really good. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but it was a little cloying, especially on the finish. Still, a nice way to finish the evening off. It would’ve gone great with some fruit/berries, IMO. Worth maybe, ??86-87?? TJ points. (Jaimetown’s TNs)-- I felt this wine was too primary (sweet without complexity) for me - perhaps it was too young. (Fred’s TNs)-- excellent dessert wine very sweet and syrupy. Big tropical fruit, pinnaple - pear. very good. vision hazy at this point, TN's gone.

2001 Dom. Des Roches Neuves Samur Champigny Cab Franc Tasted at the November 2003 DC Crü gathering This was a decidedly good food wine that was pretty well balanced and interesting, though not extremely complex. These TN comments are both jaimetown’s and mine as he was the only one’s who’s comments I got. Moss, twigs, Korean soy paste, cigarette ash all interlaced with some great fruit and acidity and a quite decent finish. Worth 89 TJ points. (Jaimetown’s TNs)-- A very enjoyable Cab Franc from the Loire Valley. Balanced, with floral notes, a great food wine. For $12, very nice.

1997 J. Voillot Volnay (Les Grands Poisots?) This was tasted at the November 2003 DC Crü gathering This was a nice lighter styled red. My TNs started to get pretty thin here, and so did my typing. At one point I got a bit of sweet peppers and jalapeno along with darker fruits. It had fairly blinding acidity, too. Not too shabby. Worth 87 TJ points. (Jaimetown’s TNs)-- A nice, light-bodied burgundy. (Fred’s TNs)-- Classic Burgondian PN- really a nice comforting wine. It was 180 degrees different from the Siduri, they really couldn't have been more different. It was a thin wine and that wasn't a bad characteristic. I'm not going to lie I can't really come up with anything more on this.

1979 Chateau Margaux This was tasted at the November 2003 DC Crü gathering This I only got a small taste/smell of. But it had an outrageous roasted walnuts and chestnuts nose That was quite wild. It was fairly dead on the palate though. Lots of nuttiness was hiding the fruit, which was still there, but behind the scenes. Still, interesting experience. And hey, it was free! I’d rate the little bit I had with ??85?? TJ points. I really have no idea. The nose was very kewl though. (Jaimetown’s TNs)-- Poor vintage for Bordeaux, I think. This didn't really do anything for me. (Fred’s TNs)-- Very Good but I only had a thimble full and really didn't get a ton out of it. That lady who brought it over and darn near put the bottle through the table was looped!

2001 d'Arenberg Laughing Magpie Shiraz/Viognier This was tasted at the November 2003 DC Crü event This was the mystery wine that I was responsible for bringing this time (the first bottle of perhaps a new and long tradition?). I had it as my backup for the last dinner and so I knew it’d be in the mix for this time (I brought a CdP and a Henry’s Drive (regular) Shiraz as the other two bottles we never got to). So I figured what the heck. This is a great wine. I think time in the bottle keeps making this one better. This time, I still got the pepperiness and roasted meats, but the jammy and earthy notes and retreated slightly to the background while giving way to interesting new nuances. Some of these nuances were chili powder, slate (instead of pebbles) and oatmeal with brown sugar. A faint niblet of dill was there too, at the very end. This wine is GREAT with food. This is worth now 91+ TJ points. (Jaimetown’s TNs)-- This was my kind of Aussie Shiraz. wonderfully balanced without being over the top. (Fred’s TNs)-- This was our blind tasting wine, but it didn't take long to realize that this was TJ's back up bottle from last month. I'm really glad he took this out because I was bummed we didn't crack it last time. You could tell right off it was Shiraz but it was softened up by the blend just enough to make this approachable right off instead of it needing alot of airtime. As it opened up I got a good spicy caracter that complemented the rich berry flavors. I would own a bunch of this. (Dinwiddie’s TNs)-- First wiff and Fred cried SHIRAZZZZ. Very nice wine, I think the Viognier adds to this blend. Quite elegant. Very good with the beef.

1995 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot This was tasted at the November 2003 DC Crü event This was a nice Bordeaux. It hid its secrets pretty well, though. It was still tight and only just started to reveal its inner workings near the end of the bottle. I got senses of thicket, hawthorne, licorice and soapstone. This all led me into fairly burly and tight fruits that fought me every step of the way as I tried to pin down what spices I was smelling but never could. This will be great in another 3-4 years, IMO. This is worth 90+ TJ points presently, with a good bit of possible upside. (Jaimetown’s TNs)-- Very nice St. Emilion - it could use a few more years in the bottle, but was quite approachable. (Fred’s TNs)-- This was an elegant & classic St Emillion. Took some time to open up but luckily no one was in a hurry so this just got better and better. You could notice the tannins really disapate from this wine and it really opened up with great earthy characteristics with hints of vanilla. (Dinwiddie’s TNs)-- While I liked it a lot, it is just not ready. It needs a couple of more years at least. It has nose of berrys and spice and cinnimon, lots of fruit and a long finish. In a few years this is going to be a stunner.