Chef's Choice Dinner in the North Loop: A Night of Burgundy

David hosted six of us at his place for a wonderful night of wine and Burgundy. Chef Dave did a great job with the menu. Cheese and smoked whitefish followed by a four course meal. Hamachi Crudo, Sauteed Atlantic Salmon with Crispy veggies and WW Vinegar, Linguine w/ Sausage & Clams, and finally Coq au Vin. The food was excellent, the wines were an equal match, and the conversations were lively and spirited! What a fantastic evening. Thanks Dave, well done.

• NV Claude Genet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. This was in fine form as usual. I always find this good, and sometimes it is really striking. Tonight was one of those nights where it seemed to be on a little different level. There was a very appealing and distinct peach note on the nose; a little less so on the palate; along with the requisite lemon chiffon and pear. This comes off very refined always. Nice minerality and yeast too. Excellent.

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

• 2009 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Medium gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. This had a very fine, aggressive bead that was seemingly ready to spring out and grab your attention. Good energy right off the bat, more weight and depth, if still a ta youthful in its boldness. There's a nice amount of chalky minerality, sour green apple, ginger snap, with some hazelnut and citrus pith on the finish. Very tasty and one has to expect this will be better yet in a couple of years. 93+pts.

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

• 2010 Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Light green gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. Oh my, this had it going on tonight and then some. This minerality just dances across the palate; more of a flamenco than a waltz :). The power and depth is quite remarkable, as the vintage shines through. Wonderful purity to the fruit with zippy lemon, meyer lemon and traces of lime. The ocean brine is classic and this has fantastic cut and lift. This finishes very long with powerful dry extract. What fun! - I have to double check to make sure this wasn't the V.V. version.

  Read 3 Comments / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Medium plus gold color. This bottle was more advanced and showing oxidation. It wasn't gone, but it was very much clouded. We drank this after the stunning poster child for Chablis, the '10 Billaud Simon MDM. Unfortunately this was a deeper, rounder and far less invigorating bottle. Lemon, lacquer, sour apple, sour lime. What a shame. Hopefully this was a one off.

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

• 2006 Domaine Dujac Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Medium red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour plus. We drank this side by side with an '07 Dujac Malconsorts. The Combottes is more introverted, not really wanting to give up a lot. It is fairly spicy with some wood and sous bois and darker fruits lurking on the nose. The palate is more of a weedy, briar patch with black cherry and dark berry, medium plus body with just a bit earth that shows after 30 minutes or more. This is good, but not as expressive as one would hope. Older notes don't really sound that much different than where this is now. Still looks to need more time. 90+ to 91pts.

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

• 2007 Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts 94 Points

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

  Light medium red color. PNP, drank 1+ glass over an hour plus. Drank side by side with an '06 Dujac Combottes and there really was no comparison. It's been just about 2 years since we last had this and I think this may be starting to peak now. Not that it is in any danger of falling off - this should be able to age for another 10 plus years. But wow, this is in great shape now. Such pretty forest floor notes, raspberry, very high toned nose of cinnamon and mixed spices, cherry and orange peel on the perfumed nose. The palate can fool you when you see the lighter color, but make no mistake, this has great intensity, power and energy with finesse and a caressing mouthfeel. Very well balanced with lovely red fruits and a long spicebox finish. This is a great example of the vintage drinking very well. 94(+?)pts.

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

• 2008 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Roncières 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Medium dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. An interesting contrast to the bottle we had about 3 weeks ago that was very reductive. This bottle showed none of that. This was showing smoky deep red fruits, wood spice, and spicy berry on the nose. Nice texture, bright, red fruits, red berry, spiced, some scorched earth, medium tannins and good length. Much more inviting and promising than the last one.

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

• 2001 Domaine Louis Remy Chambertin 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Medium dark red color. Decanted for 20 minutes and had about 3 hours open before poured; drank 1+ glass over 90 minutes. Fairly open nose with sauvage, florals, spice, red fruits. Tangy red berry and tart cherry palate, with a soil driven minerality, loam, moderate tannins yet, and a medium bodied frame. Very good, and we probably should have chilled these last couple down a tad before serving. 92+pts.

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

• 1996 Louis Jadot Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Domaine Louis Jadot 91 Points

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

  Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. This was ratcheted down pretty hard. Dense and chewy, darker fruits, firm tannins, gravelly minerals, sour black cherry and wood on the finish. This is incredibly youthful at this stage. It opens up more over the hour plus, but still doesn't really show what lurks.

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

• 2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Very dark red color. This was a bonus bottle that Craig shared from the previous night. A little warm at first pour and then a chilled pour was more vibrant. Typical mint nose with vanilla, creme de cassis fruits, boysenberry, medium plus body, tasty. I'll refer you to Chablis28's detailed and insightful note for more. 92+pts.

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

• 2009 Château Doisy-Védrines 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Light-medium golden color. PNP from 375ml, drank a small pour over 30 minutes. Another bonus bottle from David. A fine way to cap the evening, juicy nectarine, clementine fruit with hints of pineapple and spice notes. Good acid and moderate sweetness with medium body right now. A very good DV and one that I expect should be even better down the road, but drinking well in the early window.

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

There were many good wines tonight, but my nods go to the '10 Billaud Simon Chablis MDM and the '07 Dujac Malconsorts.