A small gathering at Prequel

Jim wanted to share a few treasures from his cellar. Four of got together to drink these gems. Chef Hamilton Johnson did an excellent job preparing the tasting menu.

• 2002 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Brut Rosé 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Pretty consistent with the last bottle. Really clean shy red fruits, cherry candy, strawberry and rhubarb pie, a hint of crushed pepper, cooper and mineral. Very much mineral driven palate, cooper and limestone, shy mousse, medium acidity and long clean finish. It is more mineral driven and displaying lesser fruit than the Dom rose. My guess is that it will always be more about mineral than fruit. It will eventually develop delicate red fruit like essence of raspberry. It still needs ten more years of cellaing.

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

• 2007 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Réserve 96 Points

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

  Pop and pour, subtle citrus fruit, lemon oil, almond and a hint of lanoline. As it opens up, honey suckle, yellow fruit emerges and sweet spices. Excellent concentration and balance, strong presence of mineral, oily yet cool citrus fruit driven palate impression and long clean finish. For my palate,lemon oil, strong presence of mineral and high alcohol reminds me a young Aubert. However, there is no tropical fruit and bright acidity. It hasn’t shutdown yet and remains very youthful. This will develop for at least thirty more years.

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

• 2001 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 97 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Pop and pour, incredibly expressive, fully mature nose displaying perfectly ripe intensely sweet black and red fruits, blackberry jelly, a hint of raspberry, Asian spices, sous bois, dark flowers, limestone, a hint of black truffle and earth. Excellent concentration, beautifully layered dark fruits and spices, silky and polished, perfect amount of acidity, no noticeable tannins and beautiful long finish with decadent black fruit and spices at the end. I love the elegant yet intense palate impression of Rousseau and this is no exception. Really serious yet incredibly delicious. This is the most youthful example of this wine. Drinking perfectly at the moment.

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

• 1995 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 98 Points

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

  Unbelievably youthful expressive nose displaying intense extremely ripe black fruit, black cherry, cherry brandy, strong presence of wet tobacco, a hint of cigar ash, a hint of licorice, dark spices, lavender, garrigue and tapenade. Incredible concentration, unctuous yet silky palate, intense kirsch driven palate impression, strong presence of acidity and mineral and beautiful seamless finish that ends with smoke and dark spices. This wine displays so much youthful fruits without compromising the complexity. The nose constantly morphs and evolves. It is drinking incredibly well but will develop for a few more decades.

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

• 1986 Château d'Yquem 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Very youthful mineral driven nose displaying yellow pit fruit as well as a hint of red, peach, dry apricot, burnt sugar, red currant, tea, crème brulee, spicy spices and honey. Cool and precise, noticeable mineral, bright acidity and seamless long mineral driven finish. This is a very mineral driven and tight example. Though the color is amber, this will improve further with cellaring.

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

Another great night with the fellows!