Ax Wine
Caillez-Lemaire
Eclats Brut Damery Champagne Blend
No notes, a quiet celebration for my wife and me as I have successfully ticked another box in the years-on-planet category today. Feeling older...I think.
Cailleze-Lemaire Eclats, Lot No. 0514; A newer bottle than what was previously in the cellar. I'll capture notes on a future bottle. Palate seems a little subdued from prior lot, perhaps more time in bottle is deserved.
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On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our Conductor Anna Rakitina (BSO’s Assistant Conductor) is leading Elena LANGER (Figaro Gets a Divorce, Orchestral Suite), RAVEL (Piano Concerto in G) and ELGAR (Opus 36, Enigma Theme). The soloist for the piano concerto tonight is none other than Jean-Yves Thibaudet, our absolute favorite pianist (or piano-player as Emanuel Ax has been noted to say because he thinks the traditional term sounds funny when spoken), a never-to-be-missed event for us whenever he plays these hallowed grounds. (In 2004 Jean-Yves served as president of the Hospices de Beaune, factoid for any wine nerds who are also classical music nerds.) — 3 years ago
Domaine Ledogar
Les Brunelles Aude Cinsault 2019
Ari ♥️
Ax 🧡 — 4 years ago
Turley
Estate Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Herbert Blomstedt is leading an all MOZART program tonight (Piano Concerto No. 17 in G) with the incredibly talented Emanuel (Manny!) Ax on piano and then concluding with MOZART (Symphony No. 41, Jupiter).
Nose is a little tight on this right now, but it is incredibly stoney, like a walk through a stone masons lot and a neighbor two properties down recently mowed the lawn.
The palate is opening, good minerality, light acidity, tropical fruit, yet showing restraint like no other CA Sauvignon Blanc I've ever experienced. Interesting stuff, likely will finish this bottle tomorrow (with updated notes) so that we can see what extended air time reveals... — 6 years ago
Domaine Sebastien Dampt
Terroir de Fye Petit Chablis Chardonnay 2019
A fantastic bottle of Chablis-adjacent, just great a year since our last bottle. Please see prior notes on the vintage. (Dehydrated apple notes are more prominent tonight.)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Karina Canellakis is leading WAGNER (Prelude to Lohengrin, Act 1), CHOPIN (Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Opus 21) with one of our local treasures, Emanuel (Manny!) Ax on piano and then RACHMANINOFF (Symphonic Dances, Opus 45). A fantastic night is ahead of us! — 2 years ago
François Chidaine
Touraine Grolleau Rosé Blend 2020
Nose has strawberry, red apple slice, red currant bunch, ripe cherry and dry earth.
Palate has cherry, raspberry, orange pith, red apple peel, light green herbs with a light tannic grip.
What a color! Nice wine, plenty of fruit to please most palates, decent finish; fun blend of grapes!
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. For Opening Night our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading an all BEETHOVEN program (Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor) and Symphony No. 5) with one of our local treasures, Emanuel (Manny!) Ax on piano.
It's been a long time coming to get on the best manicured lawn in the Berkshires, 2020 saw a full withdrawal of the in-person season because of the pandemic. Now we're back with a very abbreviated season, limited capacity grounds and shed; we've returned, all celebrating the greatest orchestra in the world! — 3 years ago
@Vanessa We paid ~$13, I'd buy this again. This was a one of one bottle purchase, as I am likely to do when tasting new rosés.
Taittinger
La Francaise Brut Champagne Blend
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. For Opening Night our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading MOZART (Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat) with one of our local treasures, Emanuel (Manny!) Ax on piano and then MAHLER (Symphony No. 5), a complex master work for which the BSO happens to be quite well practiced.
Prior notes still apply.
Baked apple, green melon, light citrus & fresh raspberry spread on toasted sourdough. — 5 years ago
Domaine Sebastien Dampt
Terroir de Milly Petit Chablis Chardonnay 2019
A fantastic bottle of Chablis-adjacent, just great a year since our last bottle. Please see prior notes on the vintage. (A touch more salty than before, but doing fine.)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Karina Canellakis is leading WAGNER (Prelude to Lohengrin, Act 1), CHOPIN (Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Opus 21) with one of our local treasures, Emanuel (Manny!) Ax on piano and then RACHMANINOFF (Symphonic Dances, Opus 45). A fantastic night is ahead of us! — 2 years ago
Vietti
Cascinetta Vietti Moscato d'Asti 2017
Just the best Moscato d'Asti money can buy, you'll never have more enjoyment packed into another bottle!
Our final bottle of the 2017 vintage.
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On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, without orchestra or conductor 😉. Three humble souls playing an all BEETHOVEN program (Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor (Opus 1, No. 3) and Symphony No. 2 in D (Opus 36, arr. for piano trio by Beethoven)) with a few of the best players of instruments containing strings, Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Leonidas Kavakos (violin) and Emanuel Ax (piano). A true delight for lovers of Classical music this evening! — 3 years ago
Ridge Vineyards
Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Baby Monte Bello, with big California Cab oomph and gripping tannins. This dark red also featured the typical fruit, earth and mineral notes that you would expect, but I just can’t get past those big, bruising tannins. Improved considerably after an hour of decanting. This 2017 vintage probably needs another half decade at least to soften and mature. Paired well with prime ribeye steak, cutting through the richness like a battle ax. — 4 years ago
Severn Goodwin
NV | Champagne
(100% Pinot Noir)
Marie Demets; Tradition
Extra Brut-Blanc de Noirs
Côte des Bar; Gyé-sur-Seine, France
Tirage 5 March 2022 / Disgorged 7 June 2023
Lot No. T-22/2
(90-92; Drink 2024-30)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra (the overly talented youth!). Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading IVES (Three Places in New England, Orchestral Set No. 1), BEETHOVEN (Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Opus 37) and STRAUSS (Also sprach Zarathustra, Opus 30...aka 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick❤️).
One of our local treasures, Emanuel Ax on piano for the Beethoven Concerto! — 5 months ago