SAC: Evening of wines with some duck

My second event with the group and nice to join. Scott did a great job organizing and champagne showed it's range well across a number of different courses. To be fair, it was my second dinner of the evening so I didn't eat much but Decoy was tasty as always

'Pac Man' Shrimp Dumplings
Five Flavor Chicken Dumplings
Oxtail Dumplings
Arugula & Mango Salad - Yuzu Vinaigrette
Pork & Crab Soup Dumplings

• NV Vouette et Sorbée Champagne Blanc d'Argile Extra Brut

  France, Champagne

  Very much that slightly funky style of champagne where there's a bit of oxidation maybe but it means it. Sour in style. Interesting to drink and a wine that is kindof fun to see how it pairs. From a large format (champagne esp always better in big bottles).

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• NV Champagne Suenen Champagne Grand Cru Oiry Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Base vintage is 2014 so it's had a few years of bottle age. Filling in for a Chetillon which are some big shoes, but this is a wine that just has a soft spot in my heart and so I was good with it. It really does need some time in the glass to open and get a bit closer to room temp and then it's just interesting and spicy and slightly exotic fruits. I am a fan.

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Peking Duck served with Pancakes and Sauces

• 1982 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon

  France, Champagne

  The wine of the dinner hands down. It was all of the things you want in old champagne. Poured four different bottles and each unique (I didn't get to try them all) but the ones I did were all good. Slight bit of freshness but all of the age character and slightly caramel and still decent bubbles and just overall drinking great.

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Lobster with Chopped Pork & egg
Grilled Marinated Prime Rib Steak, Asparagus
Chinese Broccoli, "Superior" Shitake Flower Mushrooms
Soft & Crunchy Vegetable Fried Rice

• 1979 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare

  France, Champagne

  I had truly high hopes for this wine since that's a great vintage and the '88 Rare that I had a few months ago was awesome. I'd say this was really good. Perhaps struggled coming on the heels of the '82 DP which was just outstanding. So nice and aged and drinking well but perhaps with a bit less life to it than the other.

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• 1970 Drappier Champagne Carte d'Or Brut Flawed

  France, Champagne

  Sadly four bottles and none were right. Smelled and it was all off. Too bad. Like Drappier.

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• 1990 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut

  France, Champagne

  Served blind and I really thought it could be a white burgundy. There's like a memory of bubbles to the wine, but none actually left. And the chard as a result jumps out a lot more than normal. Color wise it's lighter though which somewhat gives it away as being a younger wine than some of the other we were drinking. Interesting to try.

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Seasonal Fresh Fruit Platter

• 2009 Philipponnat Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée 1522 Rosé Extra Brut

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  It's not really fair to go backwards on wine once you've gotten to the old stuff. The younger wines never show quite as well or quite as interesting unfortunately. That was the case here. I've had this wine - it's lovely. It just came across as more quite and simple (even though Rose). Difficulty sometimes with designing a pairing.

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The 82 DP was the clear winner for me. Just a super wine. Rest were generally all good (except for the corked but these things do happen). Overall a lovely evening seeing old friends and making new ones.