So, we're set at Peking Duck House for New York's latest Berserkerfest. We're going to repeat what we did in March of 2014, in that to keep things easier, each table will have a head/organizer and each table will be responsible for ordering what they want and will pay their own bill, though to make things a easier on the restaurant, everyone will be getting the mixed appetizer plate we've all come to know and love and each table will get a minimum of three ducks. Feel free to add apps, sides, entrees or more ducks if you wish. Again, each table will be responsible for their own bill.

Additionally, since we are not asking people to pay for the event upfront, please, please, please sign up only if you know if you can make it. There are a limited number of seats available and last minute cancellations will throw tables and plans out of whack and may prevent people that wanted to attend, from attending. Plus, we want to do right by the restaurant. If you are signed up and need to cancel, please give as much lead time as possible so if we end up with a wait list, someone will be able to attend in your place, but, again, please only sign up if you're sure you can make it. We had few cancellations last time with this policy and it would be great if we could duplicate that feat.

• 2010 Louis Jadot Corton-Charlemagne Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
  [Pop and pour.] Crisp flavorful. Still young. Great body and freshness. Delicious. (93 points)

• 1964 Fratelli Minuto Barolo Riserva Speciale - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Pop and pour.] Mulch and sweet vinegar. Just about dead. NR
• 1967 Oddero Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Double decanted around 3pm.] Dry red fruit and turpentine. OTH
• 1967 Prunotto Barolo Riserva - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Double decanted around 3pm.] Smokey red fruit nose. Lovely and mellow. Going over the hill, but not gone yet. Drying tannins on the finish. The best wine so far, but drink up! (88 points)
• 1989 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Double decanted around 3pm.] Still has lots of wood tannins. Has fruit, but it is fading. An unusually flat wine for this vintage. (89 points)

• 1999 Denis Mugneret Père et Fils Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
  [Slow-o'ed for about one hour.] Smokey red fruit nose. Lovely and sweet. A delicious wine that is refreshing after all the tannic wines due to its sweet fruit and lack of tannin. (93 points)

• 1996 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
  [Double decanted for 1.5 hours around 2pm.] Gorgeous tar and red fruit nose. Lovely, but still quite young and tannic. (92-94 points)
• 1996 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
  [Double decanted for 1.5 hours around 2pm.] Gorgeous sweet red fruit. Classic Santo Stefano iron ore and fruitcake. Quite complex and surprisingly more ready than the PdB Rabaja. (94 points)

• 1997 Francesco Rinaldi e Figli Barolo Cannubbio - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Slow-o'ed all day from about 9 am.] Perhaps the surprise wine of the night. Gorgeous sweet red fruit with a great sense of harmony. Just a delicious, drinkable young wine. Not at all what one thinks of as a young, traditionally made Barolo. (94 points)
• 1997 Roagna Barolo La Rocca e La Pira - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Slow-o'ed all day from about 9 am.] Wow, this is more what one would expect from a traditionalist (compared to the F. Rinaldi 97). Incredibly tannic and backward with great structure and potential. Needs at least another decade. (92-96 points)

So tasty in a pancake:

Some bones to gnaw on:

• 1996 Roagna Barbaresco Crichët Pajé - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
  [Double decanted at 8:30 AM.] Sweet red fruit nose. Loads of tannin and fruit. Just stunningly complex young wine. Expansive, a classic 1996. A great wine. (97 points)
• 2000 Roagna Barbaresco Crichët Pajé - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
  [Double decanted at 8:30am. Cork left out all day.] Smoky red fruit nose. Very sweet but also tannic and sour. Not sure if this will get better. (92? points)

• 1998 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Double decanted at 11am.] Magnum brought to Peking Duck House for BerserkerFest for John & Linda. Gorgeous sweet fruit. Classic Giacosa fruitcake and cherries. Terrific. Smells like violets and licorice. Wow. Impressive for his "lesser" Barolo. John likes it. So does Michel Abood. (95 points)
• 1998 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Double decanted at 11am.] Magnum brought to Peking Duck House for BerserkerFest. Black fruit and floral nose from the moment it was opened. Silky and with with an appealing sour cherry finish. Great length. Another terrific wine from this underrated vintage. (96 points)
• 2001 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Slow-o'ed for about 8 hours.] Maderized. Completely shot. :( (NR/flawed)

Broccoli with Garlic, Shrimp Fried Rice:

Beef with Black Bean Sauce:

Crispy String Beans with Minced Pork:

Sliced Beef with Scallops:

• 1996 Pierre Damoy Chambertin-Clos de Bèze - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
  [Magnum brought to our table by Marty Ellington.] Stunning sweet black fruit. Expansive and complex. A Burgundy that delivers. Black cherries on a long finish. A wow wine. (96 points)

• 1989 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Réserve - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
  [Brought to our table by Dale Williams.] Gorgeous, balanced, complex botrytis. Very nice finish to the evening. I have always loved this wine, and it showing no signs of decline. (94 points)

Diane, Jennifer, Marc, Jonathan.

Looking mischievous.

All original content © Ken Vastola