OpusOnecomes to NYC

Dennis and Dorthe were visiting NYC from Denmark and we were lucky enough to convince them to join us for dinner at our house. Thanks again guys for your EXTREME generocity.
Another HUGE thanks to Frank and Louise for the great food and company.
and Tom - well he is family by now :)

the atendees:
My wife and I
My mom
Frank Deiss and his wife Louise
Tom Devine +1
Dennis (opusone) + Dorthe

i made the blinis together with my wife. This was fun since it was the first time i was making these alone. I used to make them with my grandfather when i was younger. i think they turned out well - thin and tasty but i'll elt the others comment.

• NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Tradition Brut 89 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  cherries and aple cider on the nose, long finish and nice acidity. apples and muscat tones. delicious.

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Sveta, my wife, loves to play with salads. Chunks of blue cheese - Gorgonzola and St. Laurant(?) were added to fresh spinach and slices of pears. the combination was lovely. went well with the wines.

• 2001 Weingut Robert Weil Riesling 88 Points

  Germany, Rheingau

  complex nose of petrol and orange. very masculine wine. kirshlike on the finish. seems a bit closed - may need more time because the acidity seemed low untill the last sip - and that last sip was much better balanced. amaing what a great producer can do at this level - its just a simple QBA.

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Frank cooked this beauty. the sauce was great - the grits were a revelation and for me - the fish was amazingly well cooked. Juicy and delicious. Thanks Frank

• 2001 Albert Mann Pinot Gris Hengst 90 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Lots of sweetness on the nose and pallate, almoust VT level thickness and RS. nice alasacian bitter note on the finish. acidity came back after about 30 minutes - this needs time. Peaches and tropical fruits.

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• 1996 Château Sociando-Mallet 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Sweet on the nose... damp earth, plums and belle peper. with time - some chocolate and tobacco. The fruit is amazingly pure - cassis and red berries galore. Still powerfull tanins will alow this wine to age further. This is great!
  Day 2 (about a quarter was left and stayed in the fridge) tanins still strong. delicious fruit - same as above. Chocolate and tobacco coming to the front and cassis retreating.

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• 1997 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio All'Oro 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Too young. very rustic and powerfull tannins. Sour cherry, leather on the pallate.
  Day 2. (1/4 of a bottle as well) - now we are getting there! Lighter, more fruit(red) on the nose. still powerfull tanins. more refreshing now.

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there is nothing like juicy rare piece of lamb to go with red wine.

• 2001 Celler Marc Ripoll Sans Priorat Closa Batllet 93 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  IF YOU HAVE THIS - DECANT
  the powerfull oak dissapates with time and the wine blossoms. red berries, gorgeous nose, excellent balance and concentration and amazingly refreshing.
  Long finish. this is an amazing value.

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• 1999 Mas Doix Priorat Costers de Vinyes Velles 93 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Sweet on the nose. this is still way too young though. A touch of heat that dissapeared with time. spicy and with lots of pure blueberries. lots of muscle and great depth. may i have another glass? :)

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• 2000 Château Lynch-Bages 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Buttermilk? amazing nose. that slowly was replaced by black and red berries and pine needles. Chocolate arrived later. tannins are very powerfull.
  loong finish. lots of depth and fruit. this was my WOTN.
  2nd Day - closed. lots of tobacco and sweet fruit but less giving - we'll see later tonight.

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The pear Tart Tatin, made by Louise, was perfect. and it matched the kracker. Thanks - can you belive that its the first time i have tried this?
The Blueberry and sourcream tart is great - Sveta is really making strides in deserts and that matched the PX well. And yes - we finished almoust all of the desert - i couldnt walk though...

• 1998 Alois Kracher Chardonnay TBA #9 Nouvelle Vague 95 Points

  Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

  YUMMMMMMMMM. amzingly rich, layers and layers but the razor of acidity keeps this fresh - and thus should age and gain finesse. This is very simmilar to Tokaji - 6 putt. Lots of carmel, apricots and honey. is drinking such a wine a sin? although more than a glass would be impossible to finish.

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• 1971 Bodegas Toro Albala Montilla-Moriles Don PX Gran Reserva 92 Points

  Spain, Andalucía, Montilla-Moriles

  motor oil. nuts figs and raisins. Too hot on the first day - i should have opened this way earlier. The heat was gone on the second day. This is what great PX should be - pure delight. went well with the food. delicious wine.

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Thanks again - to everyone. The evening was a pure pleasure - an oasis away from the terrors of everyday routine :) Seriously - it was a great day and i hope we can do this again. and soon!

NOW I MUST go to Denmark. :) as soon as i get enough wines to bring with me.