WTN: 01 ESJ Bassetti, 98 Bernard CDP, D. Chandon

We have a Greek friend who celebrates "real" Easter today -- and last night we invited him and others over for a pre-Easter dinner.

We started out on our neighbor's deck with an appetizer involving shrimp and fresh mozzarella in a tasty salad. I buy more French Champagne than CA bubbly but in the informal setting, with food, I thought the Chandon Brut would be good. It's a little sweeter than a French Brut to my palate but otherwise it was refreshing and good and went very well with the dish (the recipe was in an old Wine Spectator from about 10 years ago).

Then we came back to our dining room for the main course -- butterflied leg of lamb which had been marinated for a few hours, recipe from Julia Child, and then grilled to tender perfection by our neighbor (while we were on his deck) -- served with asparagus, rice pilaff, and my wife's version of ratatouille. Naturally I thought of Syrah and my first thought went to Chateauneuf du Pâpe. I brought up the 1998 Louis Bernard CDP and at first I was rather pleased with how it tasted. But it was oddly "out of focus" and as the meal progressed, more and more I realized that the wine was corked, it became very clear after a few minutes. So I brought out a dump bucket and explained the situation and dumped my glass and the glasses of those next to me. Some people thought it was fine and continued with the CDP.

But I had also brought up the 2001 Edmunds St. John Bassetti Syrah, and I was glad to have the excuse to open it. ESJ wines have been hard to find in New Jersey, and I think I ordered my bottles from a shop in California that was willing to ship. This wine was a "wow!" wine, walking a fine line between the rich fruit of a California Syrah and the stylistic elegance of a good Syrah from the south of France. I was very impressed, it is a delicious wine. I think I have noticed ESJ in a few more local wine shops and I will be looking to pick up some more after tasting this one.

Anyway, a nice meal, and a really good wine.

Frank

[David M. Bueker]

The 2001 Bassetti is an amazing wine. It's so good that I have polished off all but one of my bottles.

The 2001 Bassetti is an amazing wine. It's so good that I have polished off all but one of my bottles.

How typical is the 2001? If I buy more recent vintages are they likely to live up to the 2001 or is it a really special vintage?

Frank

[David M. Bueker]

I think the 2003 is not quite as good as the 2001, but the 2005 is better than 2001 & destined to be long lived.

I think the 2003 is not quite as good as the 2001, but the 2005 is better than 2001 & destined to be long lived.

I agree with that analysis. I still have 3 or 4 bottles of the 01 and it's still improving. I rarely do but I put a full case of the 05 in my cellar.

Not to mention the fact that 01, 03, and 05 were the only 3 vintages ever made.

Special editions!

I think the 2003 is not quite as good as the 2001, but the 2005 is better than 2001 & destined to be long lived.

I agree with that analysis. I still have 3 or 4 bottles of the 01 and it's still improving. I rarely do but I put a full case of the 05 in my cellar.

After you've been thrown off the wild firehose, the '03 is perfect!