The Gang of Pour

As this was to be Zinchick's and my induction into the nucleus of what is, I'm sure, one of the most respected tasting groups in Michigan, we were to say the least, a trifle nervous. Previous to this tasting, our only conversations had been through the Forum pages of the Wine Spectator web site. For all we knew, the Gang of Pour could have been a cover for a group of fanatical winos who abduct Canadians and hold them hostage in exchange for some of the wonderful wine that's made in Canada.

Well we had nothing to fear, they are just a fun bunch of guys who, like us , just wanna eat, drink and be merry. Within minutes after we arrived the cork was demurely eased from the neck of the bottle of Schlumberger and the festivities began. I was impressed with this wine, especially given the price. I am not a huge fan of wines from Alsace but this was a nice wine for an aperitif.

Zinchick and I had stopped at the Cloverleaf wine shop in Southfield, a suburb of Detroit. This is a place (there are thousands of them all across the country) where Americans can buy wines at reasonable prices in a free enterprise environment.

We picked up the Louis Latour chard because we had drank a bottle when we toured the Domaine in France last year. I love the mineral elements that are found in the wines from this area. It brought back a few memories.

While we were treated to an amazing meal, the first of several dinner wines was poured. The Fitou was a delightful surprise. Loads of cooked plummy fruit, much bigger than I imagined. I have had the pleasure many times before of drinking the Musar It harmonizes so many different flavours so wonderfully well. It was a treat.

Had I known the Vosne-Romanée still needed time, I would have opened it sooner. This was a wine I had picked up on a pilgrimage to the great mecca of vintage Burgundies, Century Liquor, in Rochester, N.Y., when our Canadian dollar had a value and the friendly licensed bandits at the border didn't seem to gouge quite as much as they do nowadays.

The next two wines for me tied as the wine of the night. Well maybe the Pagani was the tops, but the Côte-Rôtie was pretty damn close. Big, chewy, tarry and packed with a solid core of fruit.

Phew, what was I thinking, of course the Pagani was the best. It's a Zin and a Mr. Ridge no less. It was almost port like, and made certain body parts tingle as it swished around the mouth!

At this point (it was getting late), I thought it the perfect time to introduce our cunning plan. A bottle of the '95 Cave Springs Riesling might just prove to some that North of the border can make some fine wines. It was a hit; however "This Taster" mumbled something about how a burger would be a hit right now.

To conclude, the '80 Warres port was surely a hit with The Director, who upon the first sip, was hurled into an uncontrollable state of adoration for it.

A great intro to a great group of people. We look forward to revisiting the "Gang of Pour."

"For all we knew, the Gang of Pour could have been a cover for a group of fanatical winos who abduct Canadians and hold them hostage in exchange for some of the wonderful wine that's made in Canada."

Read This Taster's account of the evening.

IN ATTENDANCE 3-4-97

This Taster

The Artist

Canadian Zinfan

Zinchick

The Director

Gelbfüssler

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