Weekend Supper with Friends

So it turned out that a few of us had no plans for the Friday after Thanksgiving. Emails went out, and plans were made for a simple holiday weekend get together with close friends. We are always mindful of how lucky we are to have such wonderful people in our life, and this was a night to celebrate that fact. Thanks M/M thelostverse and M/M Vino Me for a terrific night.

Domino and I brought a few cheeses, pates and sausages which were enjoyed with the follwoing wines before supper.

• 1990 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé 87 Points

  France, Champagne

  Golden color; very little effervescence remaining. Aromas of roasted nuts, caramel and apple with oxidative, sherry undertones. Less than pristine but has some redeeming qualities. The palate follows the bouquet, adding stone and poached pear tones. 87 for me, 89 for Domino. Someday I hope to taste a pristine example of this wine.

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• 2005 Salmon Champagne Brut Millésimé 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Opened by VM, this blend of one third each Nor, Meunier and Chard displayed notes of apple followed by cherry and red fruits with a lovely salinity mixed in. Has a creamy quality on the palate with a fine bead and good acidity. Flavors tend towards red berries. Strong finish.

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• NV Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Green apple, limestone and ginger notes. Aggressive mousse. Nice fruit on the palate- apple and citrus with hints of dough carrying the finish. Nice value.

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• 2004 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spätlese 93 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  Light color. Initial note of sulphur dissipates quickly, leaving white peach, petrol and stone fruit aromas. Richly fruited on the palate with hints of petrol as well, all balanced by a good level of acidity. A beautiful wine with a long life ahead.

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Lady VM prepared a potato soup to start on, as well as a green salad, served with a beef tenderloin roast that was smoked by TLV. Everything was, in a word, perfect.

• 2012 Sine Qua Non In the Abstract 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Opens with aromas of ripe white peach, beeswax and stone. Waxy, rich Rhone-like texture with orchard and tropical fruit and a slight nutty quality- raw almond perhaps. As it warms and opens in the glass notes of quince, star fruit and florals appear. Develops beeswax and spice notes on the finish. 92-93 pts.

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• 2012 Soliste Cellars Pinot Noir Nouveau Monde 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Opened by thelostverse prior to our arrival and poured with dinner. As I have come to expect with Soliste's high end Pinots, this is very elegant and refined. Notes of lavender and cherry with subtle clove and spice notes underneath. Flavors of red berries, cherries and mineral. Good underlying acidity provides lift and balance. Long finish. 93-94 pts.

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• 2012 Wayfarer Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Fort Ross - Seaview

  Another opened by TLV prior to our arrival and served with dinner. A much bigger, riper and darker style than the Soliste, whose style I much preferred to this. Notes of dark fruit and cola with baking spice undertones. Shows a bit of alcoholic heat on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and "hot" with dark fruit and Asian spice flavors. I prefer a lighter more elegant style of Pinot so others will certainly find more to like and score this higher than I.

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• 2012 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Decanted for one hour, returned to bottle and served with dinner four and a half hours after the cork was first pulled. Served on the cool side, a bit warmer than cellar temp but certainly much less than room temp. On opening this displayed dark fruit and spice with earthy undertones. By the time we drank this with dinner, it was much lighter and elegant, and definitely red fruited. Cherry, Asian spice, white currant, floral and mineral notes. Cherry and spice flavors with a lengthy finish; very well-balanced. Enjoyable, but will obviously reward patience. My curiosity satisfied, i will now reinstate the "no Thomas before ten" rule...drink from 2022+

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Desserts included a selection of cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake and pumpkin cheesecake. We enjoyed a couple more bottles while conversing and playing cutthroat.

• 2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Escarpa Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Opened by TLV after dinner. Displayed a buttery note when first opened that took some time to blow off. Once it did, the bouquet featured forest floor, cherry, white currants and floral aromas. Not quite as much forest or earthiness as when we tasted it with Phoebe in May, but it was definitely moving in that direction. Shows good acidity and balance on the palate. Flavors of cherry, mineral and clove with a subtle floral component. Nice finish. 92-93 pts. Give this a healthy decant if drinking now- 2+ hours, or hold until 2018.

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• 2010 Torbreck (Cuvée) Juveniles 88 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Popped and poured by VM after dinner. Dark color with notes of kirsch, mint, black fruit, licorice and pepper. Dense and firm, with flavors of black fruit, plum, pepper and spice. The oak is a little more obvious on the finish.

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