Alinea for Elena's Birthday
Chicago, IL
Tasted Saturday, May 14, 2005 by AndrewSGHall with 695 views
Introduction
The much-heralded opening of Grant Achatz's Alinea caused the convergence of six diners spanning the nation to help celebrate Elena's birthday.
NV Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Brut
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Straightfoward and honest champage, no dosage and good crispness. Good body, but not complex. Well matched for lighter foods.
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2002 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Haut-Lieu
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Light in colour and on the nose with petit floral notes. Suprisingly direct on the palate with a viscous body and well-attenuated sweetness. Good depth with mineral component as well. Very good with foods.
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1970 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Bosconia
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Yowza. Light nose with cherry and leather notes, fading into brick. Beautiful colour of faded rubies. Started a bit dark and brooding with sour cherries and clay. Mid palate leather and sweet notes. Long finish with intensity and more leather and dried stone fruits. Still in its youth, but a delicious and fantastic wine.
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NV Carlin Champagne Brut Rosé
France, Champagne
Pretty colour, but a bit cloying and sticky on the palate. Nice acidity, but not well balanced or interesting.
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1991 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Serious earthy-mushroom funk on the nose. Good colour, tending to dark. More funk on the palate, blackberry fruit and earth and compost on the finish. A power core as it opened up, but still struggled to pull itself up. Never came around to what it should.
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1970 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Grappe des Papes
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Good solid fruit on the nose with slight must and cedar. Good fruit, soft tannins with smooth feel. Medium finish with mild tobacco and dimming fruit. A very pleasant, pleasing and well-rounded wine. Good, but completely lacks any form of typicity.
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