Christine's Bday: Lynch Bages, Prieur Lichine, Aubert, Krug, Hiedler

Yesterday was Christine Huang's birthday so we had her over along with our friend Christianne and Kirk. Kirk's a vegetarian so Traci made a wonderfully rich mushroom/vegetable lasagna, we also had frisee salad with poached eggs and lardons (for the carnivores), and I made molten chocolate cakes with caramel fillings. A terrific evening of conversation, food and wine...

• 1995 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Everything you want in Champagne. Bold, acidic, toasty, melon, smoke, honey, lemon...it's rich, it's sexy and ooohhh soo good. Funny I drank a pretty crisp Gruner Veltliner before this and came back to the Gruner after a glass and the Gruner felt positively flabby after sucking down some Krug...

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Hiedler Grüner Veltliner Löss 88 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal

  Terrific, crisp, spicy, melon...drank while cooking.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  this was rocking after about 1 hour in the glass. Lemon curd, honey, tropical fruit, nice acidity, full bodied..terrific.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Château Prieuré-Lichine 85 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  As good as the Lynch Bages was, this was a disappointment. Lots of graphite/pencil lead, some sweet tannins but very lean through the midpalate. Not sure if air or time will improve this wine and add some weight...good to very good but nothing more.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1994 Château Lynch-Bages 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Popped and poured this was a very nice Bdx from a mediocre/poor vintage. Notes of pencil lead, cedar, with sweet black currant/blackberry fruit. Silky texture, medium weighted with a nice complete palate presence. Not dense enough to merit the big scores but drinking extremely well and went very well with the mushroom lasagna.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Royal DeMaria Cabernet Franc Icewine

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA

  popped to accompany a fruit tart and molten chocolate/caramel cakes - very nice, with sugary strawberries and a hint of spice. Not very thick which was a welcome relief...a nice way to end the evening.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE