Holiday Champagne Gala

Thank you, Don, for once again organizing and hosting.

• 2000 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  In 00/02/04/06 vertical. Easily my favorite of the 4 vintages tasted. Apple and lemon, nicely fresh, delicately floral, all wrapped in a bright, minerally package.

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• 2002 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  In 00/02/04/06 vertical. The richest of the flight, possibly still tight and not fully forthcoming, but less pleasure right now vs 2000. That is the only bad thing I could say, this is big and powerful. Easy to enjoy, a Champagne to cellar without worry.

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• 2004 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  In 00/02/04/06 vertical. I continue to like this wine, but for me it is the laggard of the wonderful flight, with the oxidative character more pronounced here than in the other 3 vintages, detracting from the brightness on the long finish. Still, certainly very good.

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• 2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  In 00/02/04/06 vertical. Powerful, ripe and fleshy, there is so much here to enjoy, even if less perfectly harmonious tonight vs previous bottles. But still lots of pleasure tonight, while certainly cellarworthy.

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• 2002 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  From magnum. So much fresh and baked apple, with pear, lemon, floral and savory spice notes interspersed throughout. Great length and depth.

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• 2000 Dom Pérignon Champagne 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  In Dom Pérignon flight. Very fun and balanced with good weight, just on the simple side amongst the Dom Pérignon in this flight. Time to drink up. P2 tasted next was really shining tonight.

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• 2000 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  In Dom Pérignon flight. Apple throughout with toasted baguette, lots of power and very layered flavors and textures. Very exciting now, this should easily drink well for another decade+.

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• 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  In Dom Pérignon flight. Apple, quince, lemon curd supported with sultry spice in the background, this has so much power and brightness. This wine has almost always shown this amazingly well. For me, this was a big step up vs its P2 counterpart tasted next, which has not typically been true.

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• 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  In Dom Pérignon flight. Lots here, but taut and lean and not fully harmonious or forthcoming right now. This is the least exciting bottle of this wine that I have typically found to be thrilling.

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• 2004 Dom Pérignon Champagne 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  In Dom Pérignon flight. Richer and ripe orchard fruit that I have typically recalled for this wine, so a very good bottle. Dense throughout, with a long, balanced finish. Very good now.

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• 2010 Dom Pérignon Champagne 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  In Dom Pérignon flight. Apple, nut butter, nicely spiced with good weight, very good balance and length. I do not see this ever getting to the level of the great vintages of this wine.

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• 1990 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame Flawed

  France, Champagne

  In magnum. No fruit or effervescence remaining.

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• 1996 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame Flawed

  France, Champagne

  I found this angular and uninteresting, some thought it also too oxidative.

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• 1995 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  In 95/96/02 vertical. Great richness and density, but getting tired.

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• 1996 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill Flawed

  France, Champagne

  In 95/96/02 vertical. First of two 1996s, this was shrill and lacking fruit.

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• 1996 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  In 95/96/02 vertical. Second of two 1996s, this was intense and vibrant, with great richness showing some berry, both tart and sweet apple, along with a baked note that made me think of a great apple rhubarb pie with a complex pie dough. Great right now.

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• 2002 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  In 95/96/02 vertical. Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay seem to shine here. Great and bright textures, very good length.

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• 1995 Mongeard-Mugneret Clos Vougeot 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  Fully engaging aromatic start of mature red cherry, berry, earth, sweet and savory spice that made this seem so "Vosne." Same red fruit and earth on palate, but also very firm, just screaming "1995."

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• 1990 Georges Noellat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 86 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  Certainly lighter weight than the typical 1990 1er Cru, and ever-so-slightly dirty.

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• 1992 Louis Jadot Clos Vougeot 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  Shockingly wonderful for the vintage. Asian five spice and fully mature red fruit, complemented with just enough earth and mushroom notes to make it more interesting. Very good balance, even if not quite Grand Cru density, but a huge success for a 1992 at this stage.

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• 1990 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  From magnum. One of those intriguing/ frustrating 1990s that simultaneously seems both overripe and underripe. There is both a fat and off-center fruit core with a nearly bitter green pepper note. But powerful and dens at the same time. Not a thrilling wine.

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• 1993 Jean-Pierre Mugneret Echezeaux 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  From magnum. Exceeded expectations. Very rich, spiced, enticing aromas with bits of earth, truffle and slowly cooked mushroom. Palate shows a similar profile, but lacking Grand Cru density for me. Charming, but lacking what I expect from the best 93s.

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• 2003 Louis Jadot Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  From magnum. This does not have the "Domaine Louis Jadot" indication on the label, so is the Jadot negociant cuvee. While not quite as great as the Domaine bottling has shown in the past, it is still wonderful. Lots of concentrated black fruit with meatiness, this is classically "Gevrey" with Grand Cru density, finishing with a slightly earthy and woodsy character.

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• 2010 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Le Corton 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  From magnum. Opened a few hours before serving. Complex red and black cherry on nose and palate with subtle spice, very bright textures. Not the most heavyweight version of a Corton, and that's both good and bad, but gives a lithe and elegant character to this charmer.

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• 2004 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Small glass, brief note. An absolutely massive wine, and while I understand why some people enjoy this style, it just comes across as top-heavy and so unbalanced to me.

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• 2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  A big step up vs the 2004 and 2001 Sunspot, but still more fleshy and flashy than what I would prefer. Still, lots here with very good concentration and nearly balanced. Wine of the Night for some.

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• 2001 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon 25th Anniversary SunSpot Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Incredibly rich and hedonistic, I found this just a bit too sweet. So much here, and this is also a wine I almost understand why others enjoy, but I find it to excess.

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• 2016 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Small glass, brief note. Black plum, currant with cassis and subtle notes that manage to emerge because of the wine's fundamental balance. I prefer this more moderated version of Hillside Select vs the versions of the early 00s. Very good.

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• 1985 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Pristine bottle well cellared since release. Mostly mature black plum with and Old School Napa style from the days when I still liked Napa wines' more balanced style. Layered and complex, very charming with good enough weight.

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• 2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Small late night taste, brief note. Much like the 2004 from earlier, but slightly more balance, so slightly more drinkable.

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• 2009 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Small late night taste, brief note. Also just too ripe and one-dimensional for me.

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• 1995 Château Rieussec 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Small glass with foie gras course, brief note. Dried apricot with traces of smoke and sweet spice, but overall simple, while certainly well balanced.

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• 2001 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Small glass with foie gras course, brief note. Floral and rich with layers coming through in my 2-3 sips. I am typically a fan of Tour Blanche, and this bottle did not disappoint. This will have a long life.

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• 1995 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Small taste. Something was off here.

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• 1995 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Small late night taste, brief note. Fun mature black fruit with a charming mint note. Good length, weight and balance.

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• 2005 Colgin IX Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Small late night taste, brief note. Floral and well spiced with reasonably balanced black fruit, very good concentration and enough structure and energy to keep this restrained. Very good now.

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