Dinner @ Salil's

Vernon, CT
Tasted Saturday, May 25, 2013 by mdefreitas with 497 views

Flight 1 - THE WHITES (4 Notes)

  • 2001 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spätlese trocken Flawed

    Germany, Nahe

    This bottle seemed a bit off. Still drinkable, but flat, dull and lacking vibrancy. Perhaps a bit of dirt and perhaps a bit corked. Tough to tell on this one.

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  • 2006 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Singerriedel 95 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    Perhaps I am overrating this wine, as it was the first wine of the night and it hit me at just the right time and place. This had it all for me, opulance, sap, minerals and fantastic length. Citrus skin, apples, orange oil and a lip smaking stoniness that resonated on the finish and clung on the palate for quite some time. Fabulous showing.

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  • 2001 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhauser Riesling 92 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    Wow... are you kidding me? This is a QbA? Over a decade old? This completely surprised me, really over-performing. Still youthful and juicy with Kabinet+ quality written all over it. Elegant, lively orchard fruit and even a hint of slate complicating the palate. Lovely stuff.

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  • 1999 Nikolaihof Riesling Steiner Hund 94 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    Purchased on release, and one of the first Austrian wines I ever bought, back in 2000. When first opened, the nose was ungiving, but fortunately the palate was a forceful landslide of rocks. Svelte and lean. With air, this opened up... opened up a lot. The nose became more perfumed, with a floral and salty aroma. The palate became more fruity, but still had that rocky, stoney mineral character. It almost seemed like stone dust was adhering to the sides of my mouth. Haunting finish and superb acidic structure. Delicate, filligreed and elegant but with understated power. Still youthful and still possessing upside potential.

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Flight 2 - THE REDS (4 Notes)

  • 2001 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques 95 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

    This was just fabulous. It started out as "delightful", with deep dark cherry fruit, stones, cloves and soil tones. Lovely lift and persistence. But it was with extended airing that this was pushed into the "fabulous" zone. The perfume of exotic flowers leapt from the glass. Such a complete and complex wine.

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  • 2001 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

    What a treat to be able to try this twice within a span of a few months; on both occasions this just sang. Precise, cut, elegant and silky. High tones cherry fruit, rose petals and subtle spices. Wonderful acidity and length. A joy to drink.

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  • 1962 Château Figeac 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    While some thought this might have been a bit musty when first opened, I thought it was wonderful... and got better with air. Classic aged Bordeaux notes, with well resolved tannins and a smooth textural presence. Nice earthy, mulchy, sous bois notes, with dried fruits that sweetened up with air. Not a lot of weight but flavorful and elegant.

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  • 1961 Fontanafredda Barolo 91 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    The condition of this bottle was great, with a firm and youthful cork. A reconditioned bottle? This Barolo was clean as a whistle, with dried, pressed flowers, zesty cherry and citrus fruit and hints of orange peel. Very sleek, with palate cleansing acidity. Beautiful, youthful wine. If I had to criticize, perhaps it was a bit "too clean" and antiseptic?

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Flight 3 - THE DESSERTS (3 Notes)

  • 1934 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut-Lieu 93 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

    What a treat to taste such an old Huet. Great complexity here, with honey, hay, minerals, and dried, dessicated yellow fruits. Age has dried this out a bit, making it more of a table wine than a dessert wine. It's wonderful how these wines not only "last", but "evolve" and change, making it actually worthwhile to cellar. Lots of grace and poise here.

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  • 1989 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Réserve 1ère Trie 98 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

    Wow... what a punch to the palate this possesses. So concentrated, so rich, so sweet , so powerful, yet somehow, this manages to be in balance with lip-pursing acidity. Such a cornucopia of exotic flavors here, apricot marmalade, honey, peach preserves, orange rind, sultana raisins, tropical flowers and spiced honey. A mind boggling combination of sweet, sour and savory. An incredulous, palate-coating, lengthy finish. Perhaps a bit "slutty"? (nah...). If this had a bit more minerality, it would be illegally good.

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  • 2001 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Eiswein 'Junior' 93 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    This is what icewein should be... sleek, chiseled and low in botrytis. Clean, crisp and loaded with lemon/lime goodness. Lovely balance, but a bit more intensity would push this onto another level... perhaps why this is called "Junior"?

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