First Simple Dinner of the Year

Jade Palace, Forum
Tasted Thursday, January 6, 2011 by Dbrane with 641 views

Flight 1 - Sweet Aperitif (1 Note)

  • 1998 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl Vendange Tardive 93 Points

    France, Alsace

    A Riesling nose with a little bit of age. I placed this at the sweetness level of an Auslese GK. However, it is not as 'bright' and clean as a German Riesling but does not detract from the overall experience and in fact adds a unique character to it. Very balanced and drinking amazingly well now. This was really something and definitely one of the best Alsace VT I've had.

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Flight 2 - Opening Reds (2 Notes)

Flight 3 - The Lone White (1 Note)

  • 2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Chevalier-Montrachet La Cabotte 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

    Creamy! Guessed this was a Chevalier as it wasn't as clunky as a Batard yet not as refined as a Montrachet. Very young still with an amazing reserve of sappy intensity all wrapped with a core of acidity in the background. The oak is quite prominent now but I have no doubt that it will be absorbed in due time. Very classy yet powerful. A great Cabotte chez Bouchard!

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Flight 4 - Trio of Cortons (3 Notes)

  • 1978 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Le Corton 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    For a 32 year old Burgundy, this was very much alive with an incredible amount of extract and power without sacrificing freshness. Completely secondary now with coffee, truffles and sous bois. Testament to the great vintage, this was extremely well balanced and in fact improved further in the glass without going down. Drinking at its peak and will continue to do so for years to come.

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  • 1985 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Le Corton 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    Very much fresher than the 1978 and testament to the great vintage, the structure was still very much intact. Dark fruits dominate the herbs, animale and sous bois nose while the palate was rich yet still well-balanced. I would not be surprised if this wine can last another 10 years at least.

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  • 1990 Domaine Michel Gaunoux Corton-Renardes 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    I understand this wine was not showing as well an hour before decanting. Very alluring nose of red Pinot fruit underneath the firm tannin structure. Very young still and almost like an early 2000s wine. Medium-bodied and rather transparent to the terroir. Plenty of potential for further aging and will probably be an outstanding plus wine in due time.

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Flight 5 - Duo of St Julien (2 Notes)

  • 1989 Château Beychevelle 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Smelly in a barnyardy way which blew off after a while. Very Merlot dominated with rich cassis and is simply a friendly drinking Bordeaux. Excellent concentration and extract yet not soupy.

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  • 1982 Château Saint-Pierre 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Very young and fresh! Only thing lacking was perhaps the complexity of a 1982. Nonetheless, this was drinking amazingly well and undoubtedly can still hold on for many more years though without much upside potential. A Bordeaux fashioned in the classic style.

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Flight 6 - Duo of Janasse (2 Notes)

Flight 7 - The Joker (1 Note)

  • 1996 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Pitch black in a ripe modern style which lead many to guess an Italian or Syrah or some combination of those. Turns out to be a well-made Tempranillo blend. A little on the sweet side but definitely not in an over the top style. This was probably only showing like 40% of the potential when I drank it. I am refraining from rating this as there was insufficient time to appreciate it fully at that time.

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Flight 8 - Sweet to End (1 Note)

  • 2007 Domaine Cauhapé Jurançon Symphonie de Novembre 88 Points

    France, Southwest France, Jurançon

    From 100% Petit Manseng. Quite yellowish. Nose resembled a Sauternes but with added notes from tropical plants. Lemony and rather distinctive. Light to medium bodied with fresh acidity and a medium length. The acidity was very slightly more prominent than the fruit but not a major complaint.
    On the second day, this maintained its zing but the alcohol seems to be more pronounced (14%).

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