Small Tasting & Dinner with Friends

R&D's friend EK was visiting from Oregon so they organized a small tasting and dinner. Many thanks to R&D for hosting another fun evening.

• 2007 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  Double blind. Deep yellowish brown color- a bit oxidized, but there's still some fruit underneath the butterscotch qualities.

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• 2019 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Double blind. Light straw yellow color with notes of lemon, mineral and toasty oak. Full-bodied, with flavors of coconut, pear and lemon oil. Domino called it as PM, though I didn't think it quite had the richness I usually think of in Peter Michael chards. Very nice- my favorite of the warm ups- just a touch on the young side...I'd give this a year or two.

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• 2019 Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Ma Douce 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Fort Ross - Seaview

  Double blind. Light straw yellow color with a subtle green tint. Lovely fruit- pear and dried peach- along with coconut, vanilla and jasmine notes. Full-bodied. The palate mirrors the bouquet, with just a kiss of oak spice in the finish. Could use another year or two as well.

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• 2012 J. Lassalle Champagne Premier Cru Special Club 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Light color with a medium mousse and lingering bead. Notes of lemon, apple, vanilla crème and blanched almond. Fine texture. Flavors of green apple and citrus. Excellent and drinking very well at the moment, but with plenty to go- no need to rush.

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• 1997 Keegan Pinot Noir 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  First of two of a recent winebid purchase, the color and cork were both in excellent shape. Gently double decanted off its sediment and poured about ninety minutes later. Lovely cherry and macerated strawberry notes. The fruit has held up quite well on the palate too- nicely balanced and elegant. A special moment to be able to taste this with the winemaker.

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• 2014 Ribbon Ridge Winery Pinot Noir Ridgecrest Vineyards 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  Double blind. Opens with a subtle weedy/vegetal note that blows off to reveal dark berry fruit, plum, licorice and root beer qualities. Flavors of raspberry and nutmeg have me guessing pinot here. Develops a smoky barbecue sauce-like quality that makes me think this could be a GSM blend of sorts. There's decent acidity as well- perhaps Châteauneuf? (R&R)

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• 2021 Peter Michael Pinot Noir Clos du Ciel 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Double blind. Deep color. Aromas of brown sugar, herbs and black raspberry with a nice perfumed overtone. Full-bodied. Flavors of raspberry, currants and plum with a touch of spice in the finish. Guessed grenache. (R&D)

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• 1990 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Blind. Deep inky crimson color. Aromas of burnt embers, iodine, black fruit and iron. Full-bodied with abundant black fruit on the palate. Soft tannins. Balanced, with a lingering finish. With air this develops a subtle bell pepper quality. I could smell this all night. I swore up and down that this was a La Mission Haut Brion.
  
  This had been double decanted off its sediment two hours before the flight was poured, and it lost nothing over the ensuing four hours. I couldn't believe it was our 1990 Togni- when the flight was poured I looked at the color of all the wines and even remarked to Domino that none of our bottles were in the first flight. A stunning example that fooled everyone at the table. As good as this was, I could see it gaining even more complexity from here...hold a few years and drink through 2034? Sadly, this was our only bottle. 96 pts for Domino.

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• 2014 Cardinale 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Dark color. Notes of chocolate, plum, mint and dried herbs. Full-bodied, with medium tannins and flavors of black fruit that linger on the finish. Plush and velvety; excellent. 93+ pts.
  
  This had been opened about two hours earlier and decanted for about forty five minutes. (R&D)

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• 2013 Joseph Phelps Insignia 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Deep color. Chocolate, black raspberry, licorice and cherry cordial aromas. The palate follows the bouquet. Full-bodied, with fine but somewhat firm tannins and flavors of black fruit, plum, licorice and mocha. Lengthy finish. (R&D)

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• 2021 Hamel Family Wines Grenache Moon Mountain District

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Moon Mountain District

  Double blind. Light color. Aromas of cherry, rhubarb and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, with lovely red fruit and spice qualities. Nice underlying acidity. Medium+ finish. Excellent. (R&R)

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• 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Blind. Dark color. Plum, blackberry, chocolate and mocha aromas. Full-bodied and nicely integrated, with flavors of blue and black fruit, coffee, plum and chocolate. Notes of saddle leather and sage emerge with air. Velvety texture. Lengthy finish. Gorgeous, and showing nowhere near old as it really is.
  
  This was double decanted off its sediment three hours before the flight was poured. An absolutely pristine bottle, cellared since release, the cork wasn't even stained to 1/8". Improved throughout the remainder of the evening.

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• 2013 Knights Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Double blind. Inky garnet color with aromas of herbs, blackberry, cassis, plum and chocolate. Full-bodied and tannic, with flavors of plum, soy, chocolate, barrel spice and blackberry. Fine, firm tannin. Picks up a red dusty quality, almost Rutherford-like. Excellent, albeit young. (R&D)

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Keeping things very casual and simple, R ordered a couple of pizzas and D provided a rich and very delicious caramel pie- I would call it a caramel chess pie. RP made a batch of her wonderful kolaczki for good measure.

• 1995 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Le Corton

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  Our last standard bottle which unfortunately had not held up. Notes of tea leaf and earth with just the slightest, softest hint of cherry underneath. We revisited it later on in hope that time may have helped but there was just nothing there.

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• 2001 Lewis Cellars Syrah 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  From magnum. Deep inky color with notes of mocha, vanilla, blue fruit and barbecue sauce. Rich, with loads of black fruit across the palate. Hints of pepper as well. Excellent. (R&D)

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• 2005 Château Pape Clément 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  A taste from a bottle opened the previous evening. Very much Pessac with notes of black fruit, asphalt and iodine. Still a good bit firm and tannic, with flavors of black currant, plum and iodine with good underlying acidity. Generally speaking, it seems these '05s are evolving at a glacial pace. (R&D)

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• 2015 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  A taste from a bottle opened the previous evening. Abundance of red berry fruit on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied. Rosemary and white pepper notes with just a slight hint of raisin in the background. Excellent. (R&D)

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• 2016 Peter Michael Au Paradis

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  A taste from a bottle opened the previous evening. Even 24 hours later this is still quite dense and chewy, dominated by its tannin and structure. Plum and red fruit tones. Patience is required. (R&D)

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• 2003 Château Suduiraut 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Half bottle. Darker color as many '03s show. Apricot syrup and pear with a hint of spice on the back end. Typical Suduiraut richness. Lovely. (R&D)

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• 2009 Château d'Yquem 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Half bottle. Light golden yellow color. Aromas of pear nectar, honey, orange blossom and stone fruit. Rich, but with plenty of acidity to keep things fresh. Apricot, peach, pear and spice flavors with a long finish. Balanced. Lovely. 94+ pts. (R&D)

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