Background
As June turned into July in Bordeaux eighteen years ago this summer, vintners in the world’s finest wine-growing region looked nervously at the record books. This was the driest the weather had been for almost thirty years, and August was the warmest since the commencement of record-keeping in 1928. The following months remained relatively dry, although there were some thunderstorms and scattered showers in September and October. The midsummer months had been so hot, however, that many producers were grateful for the rain, as in the drought many vines had shut down metabolism with consequent arrest of grape ripening. The rains allowed the water-stressed vines to recommence metabolism and thus ripening of the grapes. When harvesting was finally over, the result was a bumper crop of ripe, healthy grapes, and history was in the making: 1990 in Bordeaux would prove to be an extraordinary vintage in the modern history of winemaking.
The Tasting
On Thursday, September 25, we will be hosting the Ninth Annual benefit “Once-in-a-Lifetime Blockbuster Wine Tasting Dinner”, this year undertaking one of the most extraordinary evenings we have ever essayed: a knockout horizontal tasting of The Vintage of the Century: 1990 Bordeaux. With a dozen different wines rated 96 or higher by Robert Parker, (including not one or two, but five that have been rated a perfect 100) the event defies description. Similar to our previous tastings of Mouton, Latour, Lafite, Haut Brion, Margaux, DRC and highlights of Burgundy, this year’s dinner you will describe with awe to your great-grandchildren.
The Wines
As Robert Parker has written, from Chateau Latour (“the wine of the vintage”) and Chateau Margaux (“the quintessential example of this chateau”), to Chateau Beausejour (“one of the greatest wines made this century”) and Château Pétrus (“magical from the first time I tasted it in cask”), you will understand why 1990 has achieved legendary status in the annals of oenophilia. But we won’t stop there! You will be greeted as you arrive with 1990 Dom Perignon champagne (“powerful, yet a picture of finesse and harmony…surpassing the fabulous 1985 and 1982”) and finish with 1990 Chateau d’Yquem (“an awesome Yquem! One of the richest I have ever tasted.”) In-between, your palate will explode with such wines as Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf (“I am close to running out of points”), Chateau Montrose (“incredible! awesomely-endowed”), Chateau Cheval Blanc (“sumptuous, compelling”) and, of course, Chateau Haut Brion (“exceptional!”).
The Dinner
Along the way you will experience a remarkable dinner, as each flight of these offerings from one of the most extraordinary vintages of the 20th century is paired with a matching gourmet dish. In keeping with the extremely limited availability of the wines (all of which, as always, are being donated), the guest list is limited to forty oenophiles. Once again we will be dining in one of the most exquisite private townhouses in New York's Greenwich Village, with a feast complementing these extraordinary vintages prepared by a renowned New York chef, and the wine will be served by the erstwhile Windows on the World sommelier staff. The evening will begin with a champagne reception (don’t miss the 1990 Dom Perignon!) at 6:30 p.m. and be followed by dinner and the tasting at 7:15 p.m. promptly.
Contribution
The contribution for the evening will be $4,000 per person to a highly respected 501(c)3 organization. Contributions are tax deductible as provided by law.
Invitations
Participation in the event is by invitation, and there are only a few remaining places. For more information, please contact us at EastVillageCoop@gmail.com.