Christmas Eve "Eve" or Twas the Night Before the Night Before with Some Really Great Wines

St. Genevieve, Mpls, MN
Tasted Wednesday, December 23, 2015 by rocknroller with 517 views

Introduction

This was a very special night indeed. We were celebrating Leo's B-day, our mini-group holiday party, and the opening of Steven Brown's latest venture, St. Genevieve. Everything came together perfectly with a bevy of simply splendid wines and a menu that was inspired, tasty and paired so nicely.

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 2009 Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris Muenchberg A360P 92 Points

    France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

    Pale gold color. Drank 1 glass over 40 minutes. I loved this, and found it to be very aromatically complex. The nose is powerful with a wealth of almost lusty fruit, orange, lemon, peach, and something a bit more exotic; passion fruit comes to mind along with white flowers. The palate mirrors the bright fruit, nicely layered with orange, peach, meyer lemon and tropical fruit, lifted with crisp acid and long finish. I don't drink a lot of PG, but I love it when you get a really good one, and this qualifies nicely. 92+pts.

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  • 2007 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Pale green gold color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Wow, this was gorgeous, ocean air nose with classic lemony citrus. The palate delivers a wow experience, a blast of citrus, amazing purity and intensity of minerality on the palate, oodles of dry extract that is just mouth wateringly pleasing -tangy does not do this justice. Well balanced and a nice spice note on the finish. 93+ to 94pts.

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  • 1990 Domaine Fabien Coche Meursault 1er Cru Gouttes d'Or 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

    Light-medium gold color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. This was just another pristine bottle, recently acquired, that drinks like it was about 5 years old but with the depth and sheer beauty that comes with age. The nose shows lemon, lime, citrus zest, florals and mineral. The palate is intense, powerful, but very elegant and focused with spine tingling minerality and bright citrus fruit. This was right there with the '90 Charmes from a week ago, maybe a very slight preference to the Charmes. 94+pts.

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

  • 1993 Jean-Pierre Mugneret Nuits St. Georges 90 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges

    Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. This was in good shape, though I suspect the fruit has given way somewhat. Lots of dried earth, soil, mineral, sour cherry, dry, the tannins still have grip, some briar. 90+pts.

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  • 1996 Louis Jadot Echezeaux 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

    Dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. This was in great shape, and I just wanted to savor it. Complex and layered, funk, darker fruits, black cherry, black raspberry, and hints of plum, savory with soy notes, sour cherry, iron, some nice stem character, long finish. No rush with these.

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  • 1991 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour plus. Another older bottle that was in fantastic shape. Drank next to the '96 Jadot Ech. The nose has a dry forest floor, damp earth mixture, cherry, almost candied in character, savory, hints of molasses. The palate offers candied cherry, kirsch, raspberry liqueur, high toned red fruits, savory, mineral, brown sugar, spicebox, long finish, integrated tannins. Thoroughly enjoyable and a special treat to drink with age on it.

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Flight 4 (1 Note)

  • 1982 Château Léoville Barton 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Very dark red color with a 5mm transitional bricked margin. Slow-O for 2 hours and double decanted for 2 hours, then had another 2 hours open before serving. Drank 1 glass over an hour. This was heavenly, a superb bottle, recently acquired and simply marvelous. A stunning nose with pencil lead, floral perfume, cassis, dark berries, funk, earth, cigar, dried herbs and spice. The palate is wonderful as well, the fruit is so lively with bright cassis, dark red and black berries, layered, complex, really earthy, leather, spice, pencil, tobacco, integrating tannins, very long finish. There was nothing missing here, age, beauty, finesse, life and love. It doesn't get a lot better than this. This would appear to be at or near peak now, may improve a bit, but should drink well for 15+years. 96+pts.

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2009 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Lovely deep ruby red color. This had been slow-ox'd for about 11 hours, drank 1 glass over an hour. Oh my! Gorgeous, wow, what beautiful purity of red fruit here, the nose sings like a great aria. The red fruits of cherry, currant, and raspberry are so elegant and pristine, silky texture, briar, spices, focused, layered and deeply flavorful, it finishes long and pure. So good now, I can only imagine where this goes. 94(+)pts.

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  • 2012 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

    Dark red color. Slow-O for 2.5hrs. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Nice red berries, crushed rocks, great texture, raspberry, sou bois, youthful.

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Flight 6 (1 Note)

  • 2010 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Very dark red color. I think this got a couple hours of slow-O; plus a 90 minute decant. Drank 1 glass over 30+ minutes. I'll echo most of what Chablis28 said. With this producer, I usually find that it really needs significant age to shine, and then when it shines it really shines. Lots of garrigue on the nose with black fruit, herbal, green, spice. The palate is also dense, black fruits, cassis, green, herbal, licorice, very firm tannins, good length. This was in a better place than the '12 I tasted last week, but still an infant. Mine will have to stay tucked away for now. Needs 3-5 years.

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Flight 7 (1 Note)

Closing

A remarkable night, one of the best among many "best" nights. Thanks to everyone for sharing your wines and company, it is truly treasured. And a big thanks to Steven Brown, Brie and the staff at both St G and Tilia for always welcoming us and taking great care of us.

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