Aristocrat's Wine Dinner at Joe's

Joe hosted a wine dinner that. was filled with great food, great company and, as always, great wine! Only disappointment was my wine, a 1996 Lafleur, which was corked. Win some, lose some! I can't complain too much because I have been very fortunate with wines purchased on the secondary market! Besides, when you are enjoying great wines and delicious food with good friends, it is pretty hard to feel down, even about a bad bottle!

• 2002 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  Golden color with tiny bubbles; nose shows toast and straw with hints of white flowers; palate was great with plenty of roasted pear, green apple, oyster shell and hints of chalk all wrapped in creamy mousse! Drinking very well now, but no hurry. There is plenty acidity and fruit left to hold it here for a few more years. I don't see this improving much, but I also don't see prematurely popping it open as it will keep for that special occasion you are saving it for. 95-96 points without hesitation.

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• 2011 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  PnP - Nose showed hay, steely minerality and some citrus notes; palate showed lots of pear, some lime, minerality and saline with a touch of toasty, buttery oak. Flavors all seemed well rounded and integrated with acidity and minerality at the forefront. A very nice Chablis that is drinking quite well now, and will likely continue to improve. 93-94 points, and drinking much better than a year ago.

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• 1996 Roagna Barbaresco Crichët Pajé 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Double decanted then sat in the open bottle from 11:30 - 5:30, then recorded and brought to the tasting, served at around 7:30. This wine was mine and the group's WOTN, and a big surprise for me, as I tend to shy away from Nebbiolo, but this was flipping fantastic!
  Nose showed rose petals, cherry and leather; palate was full of baked cherry, bark, leather and earth with some tobacco notes weaving through periodically. I wish I could relay more on its development in the glass, but even with a 4 oz pour, this was gone in a hurry! Easy 95+ for me, and easily the best red wine of the night!

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• 1981 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Not sure of prep for this wine other than I know it sat in an open bottle for at least 2 hours. This wine was another surprise for me, as I thought any Bordeaux from 1981 would be dead, even a long lasting juggernaut like Pichon Lalande. Nose showed bramble, earth and some dark fruit. Palate showed some red and black fruit, tree bark and earthy notes with hints of sweet tobacco and mushroom. oak was well integrated and not detectable (for me). Wine had a silky mouthfeel and showed no heat. I believe this wine is on a downhill trend, but still has plenty of life...you can wait on these, but I wouldn't recommend waiting too terribly long. 91-92, drinking well and a pleasant surprise!

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• 1990 Château Gruaud Larose 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  I believe this was decanted for 1 hour, then sat in a bottle for another 2 hours before serving - This wine is still drinking quite young! Pretty amazing for a 30+ year old wine! The only downside was that it made me ponder recent purchases of Bordeaux futures....oh well!
  Nose showed cedar, dark fruit and purple flowers. Palate showed vibrant and acidic black fruit (cassis, current and blackberry) with plenty of earth, tar and cigar box notes. This was a pleasure to drink, but will undoubtedly improve with even more time. I vacillated between this wine and the 1995 Clinet for my number 2 wine of the night....this was group's number 2, and my number 3. 93+ with no problem! Has a pretty big upside potential on top of that!

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• 1996 Château Lafleur Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Corked....what a bummer as I was so looking forward to trying this!

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• 1995 Château Clinet 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  I believe this wine was decanted for an hour and then sat in the bottle for an additional 2+ hours prior to serving - Nose was classic Pomerol with notes of violets and cherry blossom and some purple fruit (plum). Palate showed plenty of cherry, chocolate, bramble, leather and vanilla with hints of sweet toasted oak. This is drinking quite well now, and may further improve (but likely not too much) with some additional bottle age. No hurry to drink, but will likely not be disappointed opening a bottle now. 93-94 points.

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• 1990 Château d'Yquem 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  PnP - served cold (from the fridge), and needed to warm up a little - Nose showed a hint of petroleum that quickly blew off, then didn't show much until it warmed slightly, then everything you would expect started coming through, including honeysuckle, stone fruits, caramel and honey. The palate showed classic Yquem balance between sweetness and acidity, with flavors becoming more pronounced with time in the glass and the golden liquid edging closer to room temperature, namely peach, apricot and honeycomb, with hints of caramel and vanilla. IN addition, the finish lengthened with time in the glass also, going from a 20 second finish to about a 40 second finish (and may have gone longer if the wine was nursed better!) Unfortunately, I drank it all within about 15-30 minutes! Good stuff! 96+ (and that may be conservative).

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A great night was had by all! Always fun to get together with good friends and enjoy some nice conversation, drink some nice wines and eat a scrumptious meal, with every course bringing a smile to your face and a treat for your stomach! The menu was fabulous and kudos to Joe and Khem for putting together this awesome meal! Thanks also to everyone who contributed wines, and hopefully, this story will bring a little vicarious enjoyment to you!