Tasting Group Dinner

Craig's House
Tasted Saturday, April 14, 2007 by Siggy with 701 views

Introduction

Craig and Nita Vanderah invited our tasting group over for a Saturday evening dinner at their house. In attendance were Craig and Nita, Brad and Diane England, Jeff and Marya Samuelson, Dave and Desiree Dalluge, Chris Larson, and me. I was unfortunately solo since my wife Jennie had a nasty head cold. Nita and Craig prepared an amazing, multi-course meal that paired gorgeously with the wines. After a few too many sips, we headed to Craig's basement for a jam session... Brad and Craig took turns on the Gibson SG, I played the Telecaster, and Marya and Jeff played drums. SOTN (song of the night) had to be Brad singing "Corked DRC Blues." I believe Chris has video of all of this, so we better stop teasing him or it may surface on YouTube.

Thanks to the Vanderahs, and everyone else, for a great evening.

Flight 1 - Cheese and crackers (2 Notes)

Flight 2 - Spinach and watercress salad (2 Notes)

Flight 3 - Crab Cakes (1 Note)

  • 2003 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Much darker gold/green color. Thick, rich lemon, hazelnut, marzipan, honey, and minerals. Powerful fruit, well balanced by acidity and minerals. Well-integrated oak. Long finish. Reminds me of Aubert's Ritchie Chardonnay. Excellent.

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Flight 4 - Burnish chicken thighs with roasted sweet potatoes, parsnips, and shallots (7 Notes)

  • 2001 Bernard Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin Les Evocelles 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

    Fragrant, beautifully revealing nose. Black cherries and blackberry fruit, framed by an interesting mixture of soy and smoke flavors. Savory and delicious, with a long finish. I definitely need to seek out more Dugat-Py.

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  • 2000 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds 89 Points

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

    With some coaxing, the nose reveals black fruit and savory spices. Cherry fruit, zesty acidity, and a hint of earth on the palate. Large-scaled and dense. Probably needs a few more years.

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  • 1999 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    Plush, with cinnamon, cola, and smoky black fruits. Very big and ripe, showing candied cherries on the palate. Velvety smooth in the mouth. As I revisited this wine throughout the course, it started tasting more and more like a Russian River Valley pinot. Quite tasty, if not exactly classically styled.

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  • 1999 Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche 95 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

    Initially grapey and primal, this wine blossomed nicely over dinner. Sappy dark fruits, minerals, and a hint of earth. Deep and long. Gorgeously structured. Fantastic.

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  • 1999 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 96 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

    Oh my goodness, what a rich and expressive bottle. I thought these were supposed to be closed down, but not this time! Rich black cherries, smoke, minerals, and iron. Seamless and structured, with beautiful ripeness, finesse and power. Co-WOTN for me.

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  • 1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 96 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru

    A sappy melange of red fruit, mushrooms, tea, earth/sous bois, all delivered in ethereally light layers that dance on the palate. Medium-bodied. Gorgeously elegant. The tea/mushroom flavors reminded me of the 1966 Leroy Chapelle-Chambertin (a very different wine, obviously!). Amazing. Co-WOTN for me.

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  • 1996 Domaine Dujac Clos St. Denis 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos St. Denis Grand Cru

    Sappy, concentrated black fruits. More open aromatically than the 1999 Dujac CdlR, this wine had a gorgeous flavor profile of smoky black fruits, spices, sous bois, and minerals. Delicious.

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Flight 5 - Char siu grilled lamb chops (4 Notes)

Flight 6 - Chocolate tarte with whipped cream and strawberries (2 Notes)

  • 1988 Château d'Yquem 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Initially showing a lot of kerosene/diesel on the nose, this quickly settled down into a honeyed, nutty, deliciously balanced, classic Yquem. Gorgeous focus and precision. Better than the half-bottle we opened last month.

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  • 2003 Château Rieussec 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Another good showing for this bottle. Muskmelons, honey, tangerines. Delicious. Lots of baby fat.

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