A Year Later in Vero...

Vero Beach
Tasted Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - Sunday, March 21, 2021 by MC2 Wines with 225 views

Introduction

One of our last trips before all of the lockdowns and craziness started was a wine weekend with some good friends. We'd bubbled with folks in the past and decided with half of the group vaccinated it could be ok to create a slightly bigger bubble again this past weekend. It was really lovely to be surrounded by such good people with laughter and good wine and friendship. The light is at the end of the tunnel (although we're fully back in the tunnel again).

Flight 1 - Opening night (7 Notes)

Started with some evening champagne on the beach and then moved to some burgers outdoors. The CR was pretty amazing and always great to find those with that level of age, but overall a fun night and the Texier was the surprise for me since I haven't had as much of that producer but really liked it.

  • NV Ruinart Champagne Brut Rosé

    France, Champagne

    (3/17/2021)

    Always very reliable and tasty as a rose. It's easy to drink and fresh berries and just all around solid.

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  • NV Canard-Duchêne Champagne Brut Rosé

    France, Champagne

    (3/17/2021)

    Part of the pre-dinner bubbles parade. Very easy to drink. Not as light as I remember it being from the last time I had it. Definitely a brighter pink shade. Brings to mind more tropical red fruits.

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  • 2018 Terredora di Paolo Falanghina Irpinia Corte di Giso

    Italy, Campania, Irpinia

    (3/17/2021)

    Wine is often about time and place and this was enjoyed on the beach with some good friends who were some of the last folks we saw before the whole lockdown started. To be all together again was lovely and this was a nice easy sipper for that time.

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  • 2017 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Côtes du Rhône Villages Inopia Blanc

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

    (3/17/2021)

    I was really excited to get to try this as I tend to love Rhone whites, but I think it got a bit overshadowed between a rather long pre-game/bubbles time and then some great reds. I remember thinking this was on the heavier side even for a Rhone white, but didn't pay it nearly enough attention.

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  • 2005 Eric Texier Côte-Rôtie Vieilles Vignes

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (3/17/2021)

    This was just lovely. I don't think I've done much with this producer (one of the first times I remember trying) and in some tough company I found myself heading back. There's a lovely elegance and still power that for me is the hallmark of a good Rhone. Reasonable acid. Still quite young and needs more years, but it's a lovely wine. Will have to keep an eye out.

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  • 1995 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny

    (3/17/2021)

    My WOTN but it's not really fair because I just love this producer and I'm sure that skews the way I view it as well. This is just delicious. Definitely more bell pepper and spice and maybe even a hint of smoke. It's elegant as well, but also a bit more 'dirty' for lack of a better word. No real fruit. But it's constantly evolving and still quite young and just drinking very well. Glad to see we have another bottle.

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  • 1990 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (3/17/2021)

    It's amazing how well Randy's wines age. Even the Napa. We popped the cork on this a few hours in advance and paired it with burgers which was just right. It's a nice, still some black fruit, some leather. More old world in style. Drinking nicely, but many years left.

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Flight 2 - BBQ night (7 Notes)

The official BBQ night which included just about everything that could be BBQ'ed and a lot more large formats of wines (L'Oree, Tig, and Roagna were all mags).

  • 2002 Lanson Champagne Gold Label Brut

    France, Champagne

    (3/18/2021)

    Went incredibly fast, but this was very nice. Still on the young side which I think is generally true of the 2002 year. It's got good backbone though and enjoyable to drink.

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  • NV Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Le Rosé

    France, Champagne

    (3/18/2021)

    Served slightly chilled but not fully which I like because I think it let's the rose show a bit more. There's kindof a combination of red fruits and a hint of spice cabinet. Very enjoyable. I think this is a wine that would be happy with contemplation, but it was also ok in this instance to be more of the background sipper.

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  • 1999 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (3/18/2021)

    From a magnum. Always a truly delicious wine and one that benefits a lot from air. We probably opened it a bit late and the original pours were all pnp. Going back to it later in the night it had softened in with honey and maybe an orange blossom petal. Really tasty.

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  • 1998 Antinori Tignanello

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    (3/18/2021)

    Opened and was decanting when we arrived so at least had a few hours before we started drinking. It's still quite young, but the oak has integrated and the wine is softening. Very well made.

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  • 2008 Roagna Barbaresco Pajè

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    (3/18/2021)

    This is the wine I kept coming back to throughout the night. Also from a magnum. I think I ended up drinking quite a bit of the bottle. It's got the classic Luca elegance. Some red fruit. Some rose petal and maybe a hint of tar although I don't have the same reaction some folks have. Opened over the course of the evening and certainly has many more years left.

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  • 1998 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Méal

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (3/18/2021)

    This was a pnp and it was ready for business right from the beginning. Drinking incredibly well. All gamey and a bit smokey and just a background of black fruit going. Really enjoyable.

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  • 2019 Vietti Moscato d'Asti

    Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti

    (3/18/2021)

    So funny because I had been thinking that it would be really nice to have one of these for the weekend. They are so light and airy and really an almost perfect ending to a big meal or long day. Low alc. Just the right amount of spritz. Just the right amount of sweet. It completely hit the spot.

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Flight 3 - A Night at the Races (10 Notes)

Appetizers served with a fun racing game which led to lots of glasses on the table which is perhaps not the best way to play the game, but led to lots of merriment.

  • NV Jose Dhondt Champagne Rosé de Saignée Brut

    France, Champagne

    (3/19/2021)

    Light and easy and really more of a bonus bottle in what was a pretty great line-up. Drank a glass before dinner and then pulled out at dinner but the aged champagnes overshadowed it. Still - for the price it's bright and fresh enough and drinks reasonably well and it's always fun to have pink bubbles.

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  • 1996 A. R. Lenoble Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Millésimé

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    (3/19/2021)

    From a mag. This was much younger than the 750 that we'd had maybe a month before. Very fresh. Can still tell there is some age, but the mag hides it a bit. It's drinking nicely though. A hint of nuttiness.

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  • 1996 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Gastronome Blanc de Blancs Brut

    France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

    (3/19/2021)

    I really like the way these wines age and glad to see that we have a decent amount more of them. Will keep an eye out. This was a bit more caramel-y than the Lenoble and it seemed a bit more aged (750 vs. mag) but there's still that nice freshness in the acidity along with the aged wine characteristics. In a perfect spot now but not going anywhere too fast.

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  • 1992 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

    (3/19/2021)

    By far the fanciest wine that we had during the weekend and I only took a tiny sip because I just don't get white burgundy and I feel like it should be reserved for those who really do. For many this was the wine of the weekend. For me, it was light and you could tell there was a delicacy to it which is appealing, but it came across as a hint bland. Thank goodness though as bank account would not appreciate learning to appreciate these wines.

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  • 1966 Château Ausone

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (3/19/2021)

    Wasn't 100% sure how this would show as the fill was a bit on the lower side of things, but I think of Ausones as very hearty and I love them and so I figured worth a shot. Wine was great. Great color. Hard to tell there had been any issue with the bottle. Good aged Bordeaux. Still some fruit to it which is amazing after 55 years. Very enjoyable.

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  • 1982 Château Lynch-Bages

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (3/19/2021)

    This wine was just rocking and rolling. We'd had it a few weeks before, but this was showing even better than that bottle. Pnp'ed and it was open for business just about right away and kept getting better through the night. A perfect example of why 82 was such a great and vibrant vintage.

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  • 1995 Château Palmer

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    (3/19/2021)

    Another favorite producer of mine and also a wine that was showing very well if maybe a bit young (compared to the older Bordeauxs served alongside). Darker fruits and a hint of baking spices. Enjoyable.

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  • 2007 Colgin IX Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (3/19/2021)

    A bit of a switch from the Bordeaux to the Cali which always takes a bit of time for me to adjust to. This is very big and bright and fruit forward but it's also Colgin and I think the quality shines through here still. Hard to believe it's 14 years old - this could have been released last year - and it is vaguely reminiscent to me of the 1982. Seems like it will have a long life ahead of it.

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  • 2008 Colgin IX Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (3/19/2021)

    I'm a bit partial to the '08 vintage from Cali and that was true tonight too. I think there's just a touch more nuance to it compared to the '07 although both were showing very well. This was perhaps a touch shy and perhaps less fruit dominant and with a bit more baking spice mixed in as well. Drinking well.

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  • 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (3/19/2021)

    Last wine of the night and writing this a few days later so from memory, but this was I think also drinking well. Definitely new world and perhaps even a bit more so than the Colgins right before it. Have really enjoyed this wine in the past and at that point in the evening was a nice more fruit forward approach.

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Flight 4 - Final evening (13 Notes)

Last evening of the trip and everyone really outdid themselves here. Just a collection of some of my favorite people and wines.

  • 1999 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon

    France, Champagne

    (3/20/2021)

    It's been a few years since we've had this wine and I'd say I was surprised at how similar it was to the ones we had even 4-5 years ago. Seems like it's gotten it's more 'aged' character and is now kindof in a plateau stage. This is a great point. It's a bit more toasty and all of that while still having great acid and bubbles. Drinking nicely.

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  • 1985 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame

    France, Champagne

    (3/20/2021)

    My champagne of the trip. It's really hard to beat this. Just all of the right vibrancy and all of the secondary and tertiary sides that champagne can get. Caramel and nuts and toast. It's firing on all cylinders. We got a few of these as well and I'm glad to see them sitting in our cellar. It's a delicious wine.

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  • 1996 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Saint-Vincent

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    (3/20/2021)

    This is a grower that I've gotten to like more and more over the last few years from the basic bottling to the nicer ones. A few years ago we had a 750 of the '90 at a restaurant in NYC that I was really impressed by. This was out of mag and my first impression is just much too young. Esp on the heels of the '85 LGD and the '99 Dom. This hasn't really gotten to secondary at all let alone tertiary. It's all freshness and crisp bubbles. I like the backbone of it. We have another mag which will continue to sleep for many more years.

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  • 2000 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (3/20/2021)

    Drank side by side with the '04 and most were digging this vintage. For me it came across as a bit more plushy which is interesting because I think that's how I've described the '04 in the past. It's got some roundness and honey and a nice balance of acid. It's just a bit 'more' all around than the '04, but both were very nice wines and depending upon mood I could have preferred either.

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  • 2004 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (3/20/2021)

    Drank side by side with the '00. Most preferred that one for sure. For me this was a bit shyer today and not quite as open and bold as it was drinking even a year and change ago. That being said, sometimes the more subdued can be interesting too so I think really depends on your mood. Both great.

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  • 1989 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    (3/20/2021)

    A definite contender for WOTW. This was opened and then given some air and then poured over maybe a few hours although it felt like the bottle went fairly fast. The first descriptor for this wine was almost always elegant which is quite different from what I'd typically think for an Aussie Shiraz. I think HoG is that more than some others, but with age you really get to see it. Drinking incredibly well. Very balanced. Blend of fruits and spices. Hard wine to improve upon.

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  • 1996 Penfolds Grange

    Australia, South Australia

    (3/20/2021)

    I think this might be a bit early to open a Grange (I know, 25 years... crazy), but we did decant it first out of the wines. Just made sense to show it side by side with the HoG '89. While that was clearly in a sweet spot, this was still younger. One of those wines that improved leaps and bounds through the evening and the last sip was the best. Would still let it rest, but it's a lovely wine.

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  • 1994 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (3/20/2021)

    Drank side by side with the '96. First time with this vintage of the La Turque although we've had a bunch of the La Mouline. Both were decanted for a few hours before pouring and possibly this could have benefited from an even longer one (that was my takeaway with the '94 Moulines we had - it just needed more time to get out of the slightly awkward phase). So here again a bit shyer and quieter although similar profile to the '96 (dark fruits and meat).

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  • 1996 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (3/20/2021)

    Decanted for a few hours and poured next to the '94. Big and vibrant and yet still so very young. At some point I heard that Guigal would say LaLa's need a minimum of 25 years and we're just at the edge of that with this wine. But it's a tasty one.

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  • 1995 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (3/20/2021)

    This was also drinking incredibly well and kindof spot on for the day. It's more gamey in style than the other Syrah that we were having (even compared to the La Turque). Power and finesse. Very enjoyable.

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  • 2010 E. Guigal Ermitage Ex-Voto

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (3/20/2021)

    Opened and decanted and drinking very well given the age. It's more bold and big compared to the other wines on the table but it's also one of the younger ones. I think ok now, but would give it some more time to grow into itself.

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  • 1999 Patrick Jasmin Côte-Rôtie

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (3/20/2021)

    A very classic Rhone style which I really enjoy. It's got a bit of that iron ore along with black fruits. Opened and decanted and certainly there's lots of life left, but it was showing well here too.

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  • 1987 Château d'Yquem

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    (3/21/2021)

    Had bought this to share with friends the previous month but had some logistical issues so brought to this event instead. I'd say always nice to end a night with D'Yquem, but my note is actually from a breakfast pour the next morning. It's not the absolute best of that producer, but all of the hallmarks are there - great balance and acid and sweetness and while maybe missing an extra depth to it, it was delicious (not sure how fair this is as the bottle sat out overnight). Still, I enjoyed the small taste left.

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Flight 5 - Bonus bottles (2 Notes)

When wines naturally slid into dinner I included them on that day, but there were a few pre-bottles that made their way out each day that eased into the evenings.

  • NV Eden Ice Cider Co. Cellar Series #4: Guinevere's Pearls

    USA, Vermont

    (3/18/2021)

    Bonus bottle to begin the evening. These are always easy and light and low in alcohol but also nice after a long day of working when most of the group was doing fun activities. Bright and dry and goes down easily.

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  • NV Eric Bordelet Poiré Granit

    France, Normandy

    (3/20/2021)

    These are some of my favorite bonus bottles for events. Last night of the weekend and gearing up for a night with a lot of really great wines, but this is a great afternoon sipper. Interesting and bright and different and quite light and easy.

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Closing

This was an embarrassment of riches and perhaps one of the best weekends we've done. I don't know that I can call any WOTW but I can say Saturday night with all of the Syrah/Shiraz was prob my favorite night.

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