Old guys luncheon

This is an old guys luncheon that meets regularly (although this my first time). Was nice seeing old friends and enjoying good food and, of course, good wine!

There were a few, but I only managed to taste 1 before they were gone!

• 2013 Domaine Roulot Bourgogne Blanc 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc

  Very nice Chardonnay showing lots of pear, stone fruit and citrus with a nice dose of limestone and flint. Very Burgundian (obviously!) but by that I mean no big fruit or oak treatment, and shows off the limestone terroir. Drinking quite well at 10 years old! (and showing no signs of heading downhill) Definitely drinks much better than its release price, but not as well as its current WS price of $250. Solid 92 for my palate.

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• 1973 Patriarche Père et Fils Grands-Echezeaux 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru

  PnP - Decanted upon arrival and consumed shortly thereafter.
  
  This was a wine I picked up when visiting Burgundy in November. The winery released this 50 year old gem to commemorate its half century birthday! (the wine's, not the winery's!) I was surprised this wine was not only alive, but not even on life support, i.e., I could still taste some fruit! Because I have a few friends that have palates for older wines, I thought this would be a treat...I mean how often do you get to drink a 50 year old Pinot?
  
  Color was brownish rust and not too clear. Based on color, I probably would have stayed away from this wine if I had not tasted it at the winery and knew the provenance. Nose was slightly perfumed, with dried flowers, which gave way to more earthy notes. Palate showed some sour cherry and dried plum and loads of earth, mushroom, forest floor and tree bark. Always a treat to taste these older wines, and even more so when they are a good bottle! For me this wine is heading on a slow decline, but still drinking well, especially for what it is. It is not on life support yet, but will certainly not improve. Solid 93 and a fun wine to taste!

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• 2011 Matello Pinot Noir Souris 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Not familiar with this producer, but a nice wine, especially for 2011. Unlike some of my friends, I am not a fan of the 2011 vintage in Oregon, but this wine was much nicer than I expected. My expectations with 2011 is always thin wines with not a lot to offer. This wine was leaning on the thin side, but did have some substance, and was actually a good follow up to the 1973 Patriarche GE. This wine has typically Oregon cherry notes and quite a bit of earthiness/mushroom with hints of leather. A nice wine and makes me want to seek out a 2010, 2012 or 2015 vintage! 91+ for my palate and a pleasant surprise!

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• 1994 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  I guess I was more smitten by this wine than other CTers! This was a great bottle and an excellent wine! It paired quite nicely with the tenderloin and horseradish cream sauce!
  
  Everything you expect in a nice Syrah! This is in the zone for my palate, i.e., that perfect place where the fruit and tertiary flavors are in balance and singing in harmony! The wine shows a nice mixture of sweet and tart cherry, and some dark plum notes which are all offset with forest floor, leather and earth with hints of tar and anise. My co-WOTN (along with a 2009 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia). What a great way to celebrate the holiday season! 94+ for me!

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• 2009 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This is only the second Barolo I have ever had that WOW'd me! Still not convinced to load up on Barolos, but this one makes a pretty good case on why you should! Drinking remarkably well for such a relatively young wine! Still, in a great spot for my palate! Leaning slightly on the fruit side of the spectrum (which I love), but still showing tertiary flavors in spades! I.e., the fruit is more prevalent, but does not dominate the palate, you still get that tertiary goodness!
  
  The wine shows mostly red fruit (cherry) and some black raspberry with some dusty earth notes, dried herbs (mostly tarragon) and rose water, coupled with hints of anise, forest floor and tree bark. Drinking quite nice now! I would definitely have a hard time keeping my hands off this (and would not feel an ounce of guilt, as it is drinking that well right now!) 94+ for me, and my co-WOTN! (with the 1994 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle)

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• 1995 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos Mézes Maly 93 Points

  Hungary, Tokaji

  A nice way to end a party! Paired well with an apple tart. This was nice with lots of tangerine and apricot marmalade, lots of honey and a fair amount of fig with hints of butterscotch. Leaning a little on the sweet side as either the acids have faded some or were never there to begin with, but still very pleasant! A little more acidity to counter the sweetness would raise the score a couple points, but as is, still a 93 point wine and delicious! Literally, a sweet ending to a very nice luncheon!

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Everyone was in a festive mood (go figure!) and occasions and get-togethers like this are always a treat! Hope everyone reading had a joyous and healthy holiday! Cheers!