The Omaha
Event Report:
Summer Stag Cabernet vs. Bordeaux Upcoming Events.
Interesting Article on the Wine Market.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2024/07/us-distributors-awash-with-wine
A reminder. Be kind, a mark of a gentleman. Reply to event invites by using the online system to accept or decline an invite. This helps the event producer immensely. Also, respond to the survey afterwards, even if you didn’t attend the event. It helps the producers and the Board hone in on what you want and enjoyed.
Some members have had trouble reading the Gazette on issuu.com, Or, they don’t want to sign in, which means you can’t even read the Gazette at all. They prefer a PDF since all you have to do is click it open. We have decided to offer it in both formats. In your email, a PDF will be sent along with the issuu.com link. The advantage of issuu.com is that you can see both right and left pages, like a paper magazine. Our PDF only lets you view one page at a time. Cheers!
Tom Murnan
With years a richer life begins, the spirit mellows: Ripe age gives tone to violins, wine and good fellows. John Trowbridge
Best of the Cockle Bur compiled & edited by Harry B. Otis, 3rd President 1973-1974
Event Report: Summer Stag Cabernet vs. Bordeaux
Written by Tom Murnan, Photos by Tom Murnan & Ron Policky
This was the first time our Branch tried out the new, improved Mahogany on 145th street. We were in a long, narrow room that handled 24 people, but I would say that 26 would be the max. It was slightly dark, and the cameras struggled a bit. Menu wise, it seemed the same as the old Mahogany. This was a stag event put on by Mark Stokes and Mike Wilke, who both provided some wine from their cellars. As always we had the best quaffing wines in Omaha, which included a Turley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021. Usually known for their Zinfandels, I was excited to try it. I found it delicious and surprisingly ready to go now. Appetizers of Fried Calamari, Dynamite Shrimp & Shrimp Cocktail were served when we sat down.
The main event, and biggest draw, was the tasting of Cabernet based wines from California and France, with the main attraction being a Bordeaux First Growth, 1. Château Haut Brion 2004. The other wines were 2. Château Lynch Bages 2014, a 5th Growth, 3. a Beringer Private Reserve Cab 2012 and 4. a Joseph Phelps Insignia 2013, both from Napa. The wines were opened by Mike Wilke at noon, and left to breathe until 3:00. They got another 1 ½ hours of breathing upon arrival at the restaurant at 5:00. This breathing is critical because otherwise, the wines are all closed in, not revealing their charms. This was not a blind tasting, we knew which wine was which. All the wines were showing nicely. I was particularly interested in the 2004 Haut Brion, since we just had a 2004 Lafite at the Salted Edge which I felt was over the hill, dull and not of First Growth quality. No problem here with the Haut Brion of the same vintage. Powerful, tannic, good color, still youthful but tight, this wine was very much alive and easily had another decade, if not more, of life left in it. It commanded the attention and respect of the other contenders on the table, as a First Growth should. This is not to denigrate the other 3 wines, which all were solid example of the genre. All my table mates agreed that the Haut Brion was best. My preferred preference order was 1,4,3,and 2.
The steak was delicious and abundant. Our Chappellet signature Cabernet 2013 was significantly better than the Caymus 2013, despite all their advertising. I have always found it a bit too sweet and lacking in structure. The sides were all good examples of Omaha steakhouse cuisine. Cheesecake was a classic New York style cheesecake. The Niepoort Vintage Port 2007 was just an OK match. Kudos to the Mahogany wait staff who attentively served us, and to our two event hosts, who organized a great meal.
2024 UPCOMING OMAHA BRANCH EVENTS
SEP
21
BRUNCH
Talus Spirits & Sustenance 10914
Cumberland Dr, Papillion, NE 68046
Joint Couples event with for the Omaha and Omaha Metro Branches
Producers: Mike & Rhonda Wilke
OCT TBD
NOV 09
TBD
Producer: TBD
NOON STAG
Lost Rail Golf Club, Gretna, NE
Producer: Dave Thrasher
DEC 15 HAPPY HOLLOW CLUB
Joint event with the Omaha Metro Branch
Holiday Event
Event Producers: Goldsteins & Wilkes
