Celebration Dinner

Inovasi, Lake Bluff, IL
Tasted Tuesday, June 22, 2010 by MatthewF with 813 views

Introduction

A group of 12 of us got together to celebrate two birthdays.

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • NV Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

    France, Champagne

    Great as always. Vibrant citrus nose, creamy lemon palate with great acidity. Beautiful Champagne.

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  • 1996 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil

    France, Champagne

    From Magnum. Started off with a very mineral and lime driven nose. Firm citrus on the palate with a tense mineral backbone. As it opened up over about a half hour, it became somewhat creamier and began to show off the typical Krug toasty nut and brioche aromas. The lime turned to more lemon. Very long finish and great acidity throughout. Interestingly, it seemed to be much more giving than the regular '96 vintage Krug which I had last about 6 months ago. An absolutely outstanding Champagne, and one I look forward to watching evolve.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 1999 Marquis de Laguiche (Joseph Drouhin) Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

    From magnum. Pure, clean aromas of lemon, white flowers, and crushed stone. Great texture on the medium bodied palate; very long finish with a firm mineral backbone. Wonderful acidity on the finish.

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  • 1999 Louis Jadot Le Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

    Very ripe yellow stone fruit aromas with a bit of creme brulee and wood spice. Rich fruits on the palate that coat the entire mouth. A good bit of vanilla on the palate. More evolved than the last one I had, but still very good. Moderate plus finish.

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

Flight 4 (3 Notes)

Flight 5 (1 Note)

  • 1993 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    From Magnum. Dark red berries, earth, iron notes, tar. Beautiful floral; rose petals. Bits of smoke. Red cherry and cranberry on the palate. Medium body with great acidity throughout. Good structure remaining. Gripping finish.

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Flight 6 (4 Notes)

  • 1970 Château Lafleur

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Red plum and cocoa notes on the nose with smoke and some dried floral. Palate still had some nice fruit remaining, but was starting to dry out. Still a nice glass of wine and glad to be able to try it. Gorgeous aromatics.

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  • 1985 Château Lafleur

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Beautiful aromatics of red plum and cherry, black truffle notes, cocoa, some leather. Ripe fruit on the medium bodied palate. Nice acidity with a long finish. Fantastic.

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  • 1985 Château Haut-Brion

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Highly perfumed aromatics of red cherry and currant, flowers, and spice. Has the same seductive tobacco leaf note as last time I had it. Palate was slightly more dried out than the last bottle though. Medium body with a shorter finish.

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  • 1966 Château La Mission Haut-Brion

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Dried red fruit notes (cherry, cranberry, plum) with dried tobacco leaf and some cigar box aromatics. Good fruit remaining on the palate. Medium bodied with nice texture and fully resolved tannins. Long finish. Nice showing for this wine.

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Flight 7 (3 Notes)

Flight 8 (1 Note)

  • 2005 Peacock Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Ripe, dark red fruit aromatics with some toasty oak aromas. Same dark fruit carries through onto the full bodied palate. Gripping tannin on the legthy finish. Nice wine that needs quite a bit of time to soften up.

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Flight 9 (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Château d'Yquem

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    750ml. Intense aromatics of apricot, ripe peach, vanilla, and honey. The palate is rich and full of the same ripe stone fruits. Fantastic mineral backbone with outstanding acidity. Medium body with a very long finish. A fantastic wine that has a very long life ahead.

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  • 2003 Sine Qua Non Chardonnay Mr. K The Noble Man

    USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

    Golden amber color. Ripe apricot and honeyed peach aromatics with rich vanilla and smoke smoke. Very rich fruit on the palate; over the top in fact. Lush mouthfeel with a long lingering finish. Unfortunately lacking in acidity or this could be a really great wine.

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Flight 10 (2 Notes)

  • 1977 Graham Porto Vintage

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Powerful, ripe aromatics. Deep blue fruits on both the nose and palate. Some nice savory herb notes as well. Full bodied with a long finish. Tannic. Great wine with quite a bit of time remaining.

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  • 1960 Graham Porto Vintage Flawed

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Unfortunately showing some cork taint, but some spicy blue fruit comes through. Medium plus bodied with a long finish.

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Closing

A great night. Thanks everyone.

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