Berserker Fest @ Jay Hack's, White Plains, NY, 6/21/2014

Berserker Fest #7 @ Jay Hack's, White Plains, NY
6/21/2014

Jay Hack arranged this fest at his home. As Jay said on Berserkers:

Backroads Bob, a/k/a Bob Summers, is riding his motorcycle around the perimeter of the United States and will be in the NY Metro area for the weekend of June 21. We will be assembling for a back yard grill fest in our back yard in White Plains on June 21 to welcome Bob.

[I am] preparing smoked brisket with caramelized onions and mole sauce and oxymoron sandwiches - smoked pulled pork on a challah roll - with vinegar cole slaw. We are asking people to bring the best thing they know how to cook, or in lieu of that, some good grillable items in the beef, pork, chicken, lamb or other department. We will be running the BGE and at least one Weber kettle. Here are the details and rules (Rules? In a knife fight?)

1. Attendees should bring good wine. You are required to offer a small pour of each item you bring to the host, since last time there was a whole lot of really good stuff that I didn't even see until I collected the empties for recycling.

2. Food. Bring some food if you can, but it is not a requirement.

My tasting notes are informal in keeping with the nature of the event. My photos are sporatic. Brad Kane had sent me an email that morning telling me to take photos because he wasn't going to be there. I did the best I could while trying to eat, drink, and socialize.

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Tasting Notes

2010 Fritz Haag Brauenberer Juffer Sinnenuhr Spatlese. This was superb. Great balance. Elegant.

2006 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese. A magnum that I brought. Delicious from the gitgo. Sweet but with balancing acidity. Goes quite well with lightly sauced smoked pork butt. Good length. A very popular wine on this day.

1998 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This was a beauty. Ready and willing. Complex and delicious.

2004 Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche magnum. Lovely with great character, but I was surprised at how mature it was for a 2004 in magnum.

1983 St. Francis Merlot magnum. Amazing what great shape it was in for a 1983. Clearly on its downslope, but elegant and a pleasure to drink.

1985 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve. This was lovely. Fully mature and elegant.

NV (but there is a stamp on the back of the label that says 11-12-2006) Braneshty Kagor (from Moldova). This was a horror. As though a medium-sized rodent had been left to die in a Turley Zin weeks ago.

Saint Prefert Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc. This was white and a magnum. It had a lot of character and flavor, but unfortunately clashed with what I was eating at the time.

2013 Tibouren Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Rose. Elegant. Refreshing.

2009 Packin' Rosy Sine Qua Non Rose. Yes, it is surely not the same as a classic European rose, but it went really well with Arnold's fabulous ribs.

2004 Bonneau Reserve des Celestins. This was marvelous. Great balance and complexity and a great future.

1974 Ch. de la Grave, Côtes de Bourg. I really enjoyed this. Elegant, with some character and class.

2003 Weingut Familie Rauen Thörnicher St. Michael Spätburgunder Beerenauslese. A half bottle. This was something Mark G brought. If there is a vintage on this, I cannot see it from my photos. A beautiful burnt pink color. Rich, sweet, and elegant. Very enjoyable in a small taste.

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Wines Not Tasted

I never saw these or just didn't get to them:

2007 Ridge Carmichael.
2006 SQN Autrement Dit Grenache Rosé.
1997 Acinatico Amarone.
2012 Zilliken Rausch Auslese.
2012 Cuilleron Viognier Les Vignes d'a Cote.
2009 Sojourn Pinot Noir Rodgers Creek.
2004 Agharta.
1977 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville.
2007 JJ Prum Grancher Himmelreich Spatlese.
1985 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville.
2011 Romorantin Vin de France Loire White Wine.
1995 Foneseca Guimarens Port.
2011 Schild Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett.
2005 Turley Old Vines Zinfandel.
2013 Ch. Riotor Cotes de Provence Rose.
2007 Coho Headwaters Napa Valley Red.
2010 Anthill Farms Sonoma Coast Syrah.
2011 Bachelder Chardonnay Johnson Vineyard.
Antica Terra Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
2011 Ceritas Peter Martin Ray Chardonnay.
2006 Prive Vineyard le Sud.
1990 Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Grèves.
2000 Wagner Vineyards Riesling Ice Wine (Finger Lakes).
2011 Bloomer Creek Vineyard Chardonnay.
1966 Clos Fourtet.
2002 Sean Thackrey Orion Rossi Vineyard.
2000 Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza La Court magnum.
2003 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon.
1985 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley.
King Ferry Winery, Treleaven Golden Iris special cuvee in celebration of Ariel's Bat Mitzvah. (Jay's sister brought this. Ariel is her daughter. She is in her late 20s, so it's been around a while. This winery is in the Finger Lakes.)

People Photos
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Jay serves Arnold's ribs to Janice and Dan.

One of Arnold's tasty ribs and part of my oxymoron sandwich
(pulled pork on a challah roll with vinegar cole slaw).
Top right are 2 bones from Matt's delicious Kalbi.