The Wine Cask, Santa Barbara, CA
Tasted Saturday, March 11, 2006 by Winetex with 1,432 views
After the Wine Cask Futures tasting a group of winos came together for the Third Annual eat and drink everything in sight at the Wine Cask. We started off with what I immediately noted in my mind as the Champagne Hour of Power. After a period of enjoying these fine 1996s we went in for dinner.
Lots of champagne and champagne-friendly nibbles including raw oysters, crab and tartlets.
The soup overpowered the Silex and disregarded the Kongsgaard. It was difficult to match with wine due to the curry and lemon involved.
With shaved vegetables and olive tapenade.
With wild mushrooms, artichokes and oven dried tomato. Great foie gras.
With lentils du pey, tangerine and pancetta roti.
With balsamic lacquered, caramelized onion-potato puree and stilton gratine with bordelaise sauce. With a 1991 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon (in mag).
Also with a mystery wine that was a 1974 Concannon Syrah.
With roasted fruits and star anise.
Wow, there was so much good wine at this dinner. And great company and food. And eventually cigars. And .... Thanks to Davidn for pulling off another fantastic dinner and tasting.
1996 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 95 Points
France, Champagne
This champagne is just so good it's hard to stop drinking them.
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1989 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 94 Points
France, Champagne
A stellar magnum; This wine is drinking perfectly right now. The color, mousse and flavors were wonderful. Krug out of magnum is a great experience. That said the 1989 is not quite the champagne that the 1988 and the 1990 are.
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1996 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 95 Points
France, Champagne
Actually a 95+. This may be one of the best 1996s I've tasted (and I've tasted many 96s). Very complex in a classy style - this is not a blockbuster on the first taste but it sneaks up on you and stays in your mind. A superb finish. Outstanding.
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1996 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart
France, Champagne
This was undeniably quality champagne but seems very young. It was difficult to get a read on the personality of this champagne but I believe this is due to its relative youth. Only time will tell how much better it will get.
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1996 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame 94 Points
France, Champagne
This was champagne in a bold style - the most yeasty and mushroomy of the 96s tasted in its flight. The best drink of this was after it sat in my glass for about 10 minutes and its complexity was revealed. Scrumptious but needs time like the good 96s do.
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