Wine gathering at RJ's
South Carolina
Tasted Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - Friday, April 7, 2023 by dcwino with 358 views
Introduction
Four of us traveled from DC to South Carolina to visit RJ who recently relocated to the Lowcountry. RJ and hist lovely wife, Kate, built a beautiful house with breathtaking view of May river. We spent four days drinking incredible wines and eating great food while enjoying RJ and Kate's southern hospitality.
Flight 1 - 4/4/2023 (11 Notes)
RJ kindly picked us up from the airport. We had a nice lunch at the clubhouse. We headed back to the house and rested for a bit while enjoying the beautiful house and the scenic nature.
RJ cooked dinner for us. He served us three day marinated fillets and chickens which were exceptional, so tender and flavorful. We were having so much fun that the party didn't end until midnight. We showed some moderation as only 11 bottles were drunk. RJ generously served the Pappy 20 as the nightcap.
Flight 2 - 4/5/2023 (14 Notes)
The dinner was held at the River House at Montage Palmetto Bluff, a beautiful property overlooking May River. We were joined by William Court, the architect who was instrumental in RJ and Kate's dream home coming to fruition. William was quite passionate about wine and dining hence he fit right in.
RJ closely worked with the GM, Damien Olsen, and Floor Manager, Mark Reza for the dinner and they graciously situated us in the "Bourbon Room".
The head sommelier, PJ, provided exceptional wine service. He used to work in DMV area. His passion and knowledge in wine was quite evident. The dishes were all very good to excellent. Our server, Carina, provided an exceptional understated service.
The bun/brioche was excellent. It was rare to find the proper butter service. The duck confit and the black truffle risotto were to die for.
Flight 3 - 4/6 Lunch (3 Notes)
RJ graciously arranged a boat ride to Hilton Head, and it turned out to be a perfect day to be out on the water. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Fishcamp restaurant, where we shared many dishes of fried seafood that were all very good.
Flight 4 - 4/6 Dinner (7 Notes)
RJ arranged a car service to Bluffton to The Bluffton Room, a modern American restaurant situated in the heart of old town Bluffton, a beautiful brick building. The old town strangely reminded me of the downtown Greenwich.
We were greeted by Tonja and Cory Hughes, super energetic and friendly couple who are the proprietors along with the chef Jeff Congdon.
The ingredients were top notch and perfectly executed.
Excellent Baked Oyster
Duck Duck Goose, incredibly decadent and original
This was one of the best duck breasts I had in the states. If you are in the downtown Bluffton, you owes to yourself to try it.
My sincere gratitude goes to the team for the great experience.
Flight 5 - 4/7 early drinking (2 Notes)
We weren't quite done yet. We opened the 47 Lafleur and the 09 Le Moine Clos St. Denis.
Closing
Our sincere gratitude goes out to RJ. As expected and usual, he had gone above and beyond to provide an incredible experience for us.
2008 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut Rosé 97 Points
France, Champagne
(4/4/2023)
Pale pink. Slightly coiled sharp nose displaying subtle red and yellow fruit, subtle strawberry, cherry soda, peach, lemon curd, rose, cedar, brioche, saline, sweet spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, shy but concentrated red and yellow fruit, very fine generous mousse, exceptional energy and precision, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a long subtle red and yellow fruit driven finish with a hint of cedar and brioche at the end. With air, it becomes a bit more expressive. This is another coiled example that doesn’t display the 08 elegance.
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2017 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
(4/4/2023)
Expressive nose displaying pure white fruit, pear, lemon curd, lemon oil, strong flint, sweet and spicy spices and crushed rocks. Excellent concentration, very finely layered concentrated white fruit, beautiful detail, purity and balance, good acidity and strong limestone mineral and a seamless long pure white fruit driven finish with a hint of flint at the end. Justin mentions slightly lacking acidity which I agree. The strong limestone mineral expression and pure white fruit help maintain excellent balance and precision. Although youthful, drinking incredibly well.
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2014 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Domaine 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
(4/4/2023)
Expressive nose displaying concentrated rich white and yellow frit, lemon curd, apple, lemon oil, a hint of cream and crackerjack, sweet spices and strong limestone mineral. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated white and yellow fruit, rich and oily but also good purity and balance, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long concentrated white and yellow fruit driven finish. I love the Bouchard wines especially the whites which often get panelized for being Bouchard.
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2018 Comando G Rozas 1er Cru 94 Points
Spain, Madrid, Vinos de Madrid
(4/4/2023)
Pale red. Expressive nose displaying delicious pure bright red fruit, pomegranate, strawberry jam, animal, mint, pepper, tobacco, spicy spices and strong iron mineral. Very good concentration, finely layered pure red fruit, cool and precise, medium acidity, strong iron mineral and a long bright red fruit driven finish with a hint of animal and strong black pepper at the end. This cool interesting Grenache brings back a fond memory of trying a few excellent cool Grenaches at Cinc sentits during our family trip to Barcelona.
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2009 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 97 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru
(4/4/2023)
Expressive youthful nose displaying super concentrated black fruit, blackberry concentrated, black cherry, mocha, rose, Chinese herbal medicine, Vosne spice, caramel, tree bark and earth. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated opulent ripe black fruit, rich and intense but also fluid and weightless, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, sweet tannins, and a long intense black fruit driven finish with Chinese herbal medicine and caramel at the end. This is evolving slowly. Although really enjoyable with the opulent fruit, this can easily improve for a couple more decades, perhaps becoming a perfect Burgundy one day.
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2017 Faethm / Fingers Crossed White 93 Points
USA, California
(4/4/2023)
Fully mature nose displaying very ripe sweet yellow fruit, peach, apricot, lychee, lemon curd, orange rind, cream brulee, sweet spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, rich ripe yellow fruit, rich and warm and creamy, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a medium to long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with caramel and orange rind at the end. Although there is a hint of heat, it retains a very good balance.
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2012 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Ceras 94 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
(4/4/2023)
Nice mature domestic Pinot nose displaying generous black fruit, black cherry, blackberry concentrate, a hint of sous bois, grilled fat, a hint of Vosne spice, sweet spices and mineral. Excellent concentration, generous ripe black fruit, rich yet showing good balance and harmony, medium acidity and mineral, and a long concentrated ripe black fruit driven finish. This is drinking really well with very generous black fruit.
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1995 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire 95 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
(4/4/2023)
Pale color with noticeable brown. Fully mature complex tertiary dominating nose, dry red fruit, cherry liqueur, dry cherry, fruitcake, licorice, strong tobacco, brown sugar, garrigue, root beer, strong ginger, cinnamon and other baking spices, and earth. Fully integrated palate, subtle dry red fruit, cedar, silky and fluid, sweet tannins, and a medium to long dry red fruit driven finish with tobacco at the end. I mentioned to Justin this is a Rayaesque with garrigue and dry cherry. He mentions lacking strong black pepper which I agree. The fruit has faded and the expression is mostly tertiary which is really fascinating.
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2006 Marcassin Pinot Noir Three Sisters Vineyard 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
(4/4/2023)
This particular bottle lost most of the concentrated fruit expression. Unlike the Centenaire, it doesn’t show much tertiary notes which makes it just too simple and straightforward. If I were to own a bottle, I would sell.
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2005 Domaine des Chezeaux Griotte-Chambertin 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru
(4/4/2023)
Medium expressive nose displaying ripe red and black fruit, blackberry, cherry, grilled steak, dark spices and earth. Excellent concentration, slightly coiled concentrated red and black fruit, rich and warm, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a long concentrated red and black fruit driven earthy finish. Based on this particular bottle, this needs another decade of cellaring.
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2009 Barrett & Barrett Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga
(4/4/2023)
Expressive nose displaying “cultish” ripe black fruit with a hint of red, crème de cassis, blueberry jam, blackberry concentrate, cherry pie, strong vanilla/oak and caramel, mocha, espresso bean, dark spices and earth. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated black fruit, rich and intense, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a long concentrated black fruit driven finish with mocha and oak at the end. This is a big scale wine showing luxurious oak.
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