A Wonderful Retirement Dinner Celebration

My amazing wine friends decided not to let my plan to fade away gracefully go unacknowledged. Just some brief notes from memory, as I was focused entirely on the company, the memories and a future of many more such gatherings with these special folks. A special shoutout to our marvelous chef and his crew at Valley Piggery for yet another superb meal.

• 2012 Dom Pérignon Champagne 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  A baby but really appealed to my palate, with an intense purity of brioche and lemon along with a touch of roasted herbs. Power and finesse!

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• 2017 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Desperately needed a decant. Notes of white orchard fruit and some citrus but really came across as sound asleep, conveying an almost diluted sensation I cannot imagine truly represents the wine's potential.

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• 2014 Domaine Roulot Auxey-Duresses Blanc 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses

  Straightforward and clean, if not memorable, with lemon curd notes dominating.

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• 1991 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Vignes Rondes 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Well past peak but still offering some dark cherry and forest floor notes along with a touch of mushroom. Lacking in concentration at this point.

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• 1990 Domaine Gallet (Henri et Philippe) Côte-Rôtie 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  A gentle expression of Syrah, with the stem inclusion very evident, and to good effect. Olive tapenade, some smoke and dusty cherry flavors, with just a touch of funk.

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• 2008 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Never had a chance, with a 4-hour decant insufficient for the wine even to budge. What it did show was impressive concentration in a masculine expression of the grape. Touches of mint and licorice, but that was it.

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• 2000 Château Angélus 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Much more expressive than I feared, in fact seemingly at peak, with any baby fat shed. Powerful black fruit, some truffle and leather, with a bitter chocolate note emerging on the finish. Lush tannins. Sheer class.

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• 2013 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Formidable in every way, with the wine's power balanced by an elegant purity of flavors. Deep and glycerined mouthfeel. Red, black and blue fruit interplaying in a rich tapestry of intense flavor. Very long finish.

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• 2005 E. Guigal Ermitage Ex-Voto 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Creamy and powerful, with notes of cherry, smoked meat and exotic spice. Should hold for many more years.

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• 2015 Château Rieussec 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  A very clean, lightweight version of a Sauternes, perhaps due to its youth. The honeyed notes were muted and the texture highly polished and a bit thin, which should change in time. A touch of coconut emerged as well.

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I am beyond grateful to have shared the company of such an impressive set of friends, let alone to have been the focus of their attention for one evening.