Craig's Retirement Party

Minikahda Club, Mpls
Tasted Wednesday, November 17, 2021 by rocknroller with 274 views

Introduction

This was a fantastic evening celebrating Craig's imminent retirement. We had a group of 13 together to celebrate in what is always a great setting (Mark, David, Leo, Jimmy, Dave, Craig, Brad, Jim/Michelene, Candace, Lonny, Siggy, Kevin). Vincent's menu paired to our wines is always a thing of beauty. What a memorable evening!

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

  • 2004 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 97 Points

    France, Champagne

    Light gold color. Drank two 55ml pours from two different bottles over 50 minutes. Since I happened to get the last pour of the first bottle, rather than put pours from 2 different bottles together, I figured I'd see if there was any difference in the two bottles. Happy to say there was wasn't anything appreciable. I love the '04. This has such a wonderful, effusive nose brimming with a mix of fresh air and sea air, floral notes of jasmine, freshly baked bread, nuthorns, pear and honeycomb. The palate is so crisp and focused, this just screams elegance, fine and lacy marine minerality, ocean breezes, fresh cut pear, sweet almond jam, hazelnut, bread dough, honey and brioche. Stunning showing.

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  • 2004 Dom Pérignon Champagne 96 Points

    France, Champagne

    Light gold plus color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. This was flying with the '04 Comte tonight. Maybe just a half step behind. The Dom has a little more weight and overall depth, though still not heavy. The nose is quite toasted and very floral with verbena and white roses, crisp orchard fruits, chalk and brine. The creamy, caressing, autolytic palate carries through the nose nicely. Wow, this is also ridiculously good.

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  • 1996 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut Flawed

    France, Champagne

    Oxidized. Quite advanced, drinkable if necessary, but strongly apple liqueurish

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  • 2002 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Présidence Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Pale gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. Citrus, very clean, good toast, white melon, hazelnut, rising dough, very crisp and laser-like. Excellent.

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Flight 2 (1 Note)

  • 2014 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 96 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Light golden color. Drank two 55ml pours from two different bottles over 90 minutes. Since I happened to get the last pour again of the first bottle, rather than put pours from 2 different bottles together, I figured I'd see if there was any difference in the two bottles. Like the Comte Champagne, there was not. This was impressive on pouring, but after about an hour, this was truly explosive and immersive. Fresh sea breeze, oyster shells, lime, lime blossoms, limestone, and then at the one hour mark, there's this burst of passion fruit along with more tropical fruit that washes over you and the entire nose magnifies by a factor of at least three fold. The palate is finely cut, lime, Meyer lemon, tons of marine character, layered and full of brine, deeply concentrated and so focused, and then that same burst of passion fruit panna cotta comes through, just knocking this out of the park with a finish that seems to last forever. This has everything you could ask for from 2014, showing wonderfully, and yet this has even more upside. Outstanding. 96(+)pts.

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

  • 2005 Domaine Ponsot Chapelle-Chambertin

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Dark red color. PNP, from magnum; followed a glass over 2 hours. This had a lot of VA on it. You could see the inner beauty lurking beneath it, and it did improve through the night. Deep, staining cherry fruit, concentrated, red currants and bold spice notes with a perceivable perfume and firm tannins. Score reserved tonight, probably low 90's by the end of the night.

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  • 2006 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes 95 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Medium dark red color. Drank a glass over 90 minutes plus. Lovely perfume and transparency, there's nice depth and body here with impressive persistence; pretty red fruits, strawberry in particular, damp forest floor, but it is the floral perfume of sandalwood, jasmine and cinnamon that permeates the senses. Love it, thanks to Craig for sharing this treasure.

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  • 2010 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Echezeaux Les Rouges du Bas 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

    Dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over 2 hours. Some sulfur at first, blowing off, and then dark fruits, cedarbox, sawdust, dried flowers, clove based spice, oak, hints of blueberry on the nose. The palate is a little tight, slowly building, showing tart red fruits, with layers of red currants and black raspberry, oak, bold spice notes and a little heat. Impressive depth and energy, will be even better down the road.

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Flight 4 (4 Notes)

  • 1979 Château Langoa Barton 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. This was a nice surprise. I have not had a Langoa with this kind of age on it. It showed really well with all the tertiary character you could ask for in a mature Bordeaux. Tobacco and cigar ash dominate, still nice floral notes of violets, cherry, blood orange, and a lot mineral notes. 92+ to 93pts.

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  • 1989 Château Gruaud Larose 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Very dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour plus. Leather, blood, rose petals, bold tobacco, dark fruits and lot minerality. This was excellent, maybe not quite as expressive as the last couple bottles. I don't think you have to worry about longevity here. 93+ to 94pts.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very dark red/purple color. Unsure about the prep here, but it did get some decant time. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. Absolutely beautiful; the nose glows with dried forest floor, an amazing sweet fruit perfume of cassis and blackberry, incense and leather. The palate is full bodied and caressing; layers of gorgeous dark fruits, dried moss, incense, leather, pencil, and long, long finish. This is drinking fantastic with a youthful core that is going to age gracefully and glacially. Thanks Brad!. 96+ to 97pts.

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  • 1983 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 98 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    A stunning bottle that is simply sublime in all ways. This has a perfusive perfume of pencil, violets, mulberry, cassis, tar, leather, and mint. The palate is all encompassing, texturally alluring, with such vivid dark fruits of cassis, mulberry, and creme de cassis, pencil, leather, tar and fine spice notes. Ultra long, head turning and harmonious, this is one that just reverberates through you with grace and charm. This is in a great place, but it should easily go for another 20 years. My WOTN in a crazy group of wines.

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

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