Valentine's Day Dinner Party Celebration

Any excuse to enjoy good wine and good food with close friends should be seized. We did just that on the evening before Valentine's Day. A table adorned with red roses and other Valentine accoutrements set the stage for a fun time.

Beginning with NV Paul Bara Brut Rosé and NV Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé as accompaniments to truffled brie, Saint Agur blue cheese, honeybee goat cheese and grilled shimp, we progressed to a sit-down, four-course dinner which began with lobster bisque. The main course was a trio of phenomenal grilled New York strip, filet mignon and ribeye steaks, with the meat sourced from San Diego's finest purveyor (Siesel's Old Fashioned Meats, 4131 Ashton Street, San Diego, CA 92110, 619-275-1234). A Caesar salad followed, and the dinner concluded with a homemade lemon tart that could only be described as perfection. A "sticky" was not served, as the diners were still savoring the multiple aged red wines.

• 2003 Château Giscours 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this deep red/garnet wine was double-decanted, allowing three hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleaned bottle. It was later served at a dinner party over a 3-4 hour period. It retains an intense, alluring bouquet of cassis, lavender, anise, fig and truffle. Medium-to-full-bodied, freshly acidic and with medium-weight, silky tannins, it delivers flavors mirroring the nose. With excellent mid-palate density and seamless alcohol (listed as 13%), it concludes with impressive length. This sexy wine is one of the vintage's standouts. It should provide pleasure for several more years. Drink now-2023.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Château Duhart-Milon 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  From a well-cellared bottle, this deep ruby/red wine was double-decanted, allowing three hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleaned bottle. It was then served at a dinner party over a 3-4 hour period. A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, it flaunts an attractive bouquet of cassis, anise, graphite, vanilla and tobacco. Medium-bodied and with low acidity, it is a softly tannic wine which shows no heat from its (listed) 13% alcohol. The oak is well-integrated and the middle palate is nicely dense. Closing long and smooth, this remains a joy to drink. While likely on plateau, there is enough stuffing here to ensure enjoyment for at least another five years. Drink now-2021.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2000 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Time in the cellar has helped this wine, which still sports a youthful deep ruby robe. Double-decanted, allowing three hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleaned bottle, it was served at a dinner party and serially sampled over 3-4 hours. Still with front-and-center black currant fruit, it adds aromas and flavors of dried herbs, iodine, earth and licorice. Full-bodied and with medium-to-high acidity, it wraps its flavors with substantial tannins that are finally beginning to yield. The alcohol (listed as 13.6%) shows no heat and the middle palate is solid. Albeit lengthy, the finish remains tart and astringent. Considering the challenges of the vintage, this Howell Mountain offering is a success. That said, it does not measure up to its brethren from better vintages. Drink now-2030.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Château Gruaud Larose 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this deep-to-opaque garnet wine flaunts aromas of black fruit, pipe tobacco, pickling spice and loamy earth. Medium-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (12.5%) and with soft residual tannins, it delivers flavors mirroring the nose and stays solid in the middle. Concluding with a floral, medium-length finish, it is a delight to drink. Well-cellared bottles of this fully mature Bordeaux should show well for another 5-6 years. Drink now-2022.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Château Barde-Haut 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  From a bottle purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this fully mature wine remains beautifully balanced. Deep garnet in color, it offers black cherry, spice, sage and tobacco aromas. The flavors are comparable on the medium-bodied palate. Round, seamlessly alcoholic (13.5%) and with soft residual tannins, it has good mid-palate density and closes with a polished, medium length finish. Well-cellared bottles should hold up through the rest of this decade. Drink now-2020.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This pristinely-cellared bottle was double-decanted, allowing three hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleaned bottle. It was then served at a dinner party, where it was sampled over a 3-4 hour period. Still a youthful deep ruby/red in color, it serves up an intense bouquet of plum, kirsch, anise and violets. Full-bodied, round, seamlessly alcoholic (13.8%) and with medium polished tannins, it delivers flavors that are ripe and dense, with black fruit, fig, dark chocolate and spice at the forefront. The middle palate is solid and the buffed finish is lengthy. Drinking beautifully now, this alluring Cab has enough structure to last several more years. Drink now-2023.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Relaxing in the living room with full tummies and Courvoisier XO was a wonderful way to end the evening. We so enjoyed the time with our friends and will definitely find another excuse to dine with them long before next Valentine's Day!