Les Degustateurs

This month it was Mon's turn to test our knowledge. He chose this restaurant in the western suburbs so some of us took the train from the city and others had drivers drive us. Knowing his knowledge of both food and wine and the time of year we were in for a great evening.

housemade charcuterie, pickles, preserves, fois gras mouse (to die for) with wood-grilled bread

• 1996 Jacquesson & Fils Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Avize 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  This was a great champagne out of magnum to start our evening. Good bubbles, tasty with some yeast, clean appearance. Just a darn good way to start the evening.

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Green acres fall squash tarte tatin, thyme, prairie fruits farm moonglow, pear mostarda

• 2003 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Trie Spéciale 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières

  Clean, good after taste, velvet smooth finish. Got better in the glass.

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• 2002 Domaine des Baumard Savennières 88 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières

  Clean color, smelled OK, got better in the glass, just not a wine I would buy or want to taste again

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• 1995 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Trie Spéciale 88 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières

  Darker color, almost amber, a favorite of the flight for many, not me. Off smell, like the beginning of oxidation.

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lardo wrapped black cod, sunchockes, brown butter, freid sage

• 2001 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Bâtard-Montrachet 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Great color, young tasty, good flavor on the palate.

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• 2000 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Bâtard-Montrachet 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Great color, young and tasty, very smooth, less flavor than the '01. Great bottle!

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• 2000 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard 98 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  WOW! Outstanding, honey like color, I identified as a Cali chard...Kongsgaard or Palhmeyer, I said it was a 10 year old Chard, great on the palate, fill the mouth with great flavor. After learning about the wine, I realized I had drunk my only bottle a couple of weeks ago.

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"smokey mountain" bourbon red trukey breast and confit leg and thigh, wild rice, preserved wild service berries

• 1989 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 97 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  WOW. Double decanted. Opened for 4 hours. Very clean, bright cherry color. Did not show the age that I thought was there. Baffled. Fruit was delicious.

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• 1989 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 94 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Great color, bright in the glass, good nose, I thought Bordeaux but it was from Spain. This is a wine to buy

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• 1989 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Dense in the glass, good color, great flavor,

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• 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Not a great bottle. Got better in the glass. Off nose, musty color, greyish tone, did not fit in the flight of spainsh Rioja's

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wood-grilled dietzler farm dry- aged (28 days) beef deckle, potao galette, roasted bone marrow, spinach and bearnaise

• 1986 Château Gruaud Larose 98 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  This wine was double decanted and left open for 5 hours. Served in a Riedel Vinum Bordeaux glass. I say this because our host poured 2 other bottles in different glasses and the effect was pretty good. Fantastic color. Palate lasting of 30 seconds. Still has the tanin and the fruit. Exceptional bottle.

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klug farm honey crisp apple composition

• NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Demi-Sec 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Sweet, not over powering, served from its own decanter, lots of viscosity on the palate, light like a cider.

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• 1988 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Yeasty, dense, good bubbles, light, enjoy now.

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This was a 5 star restaurant and to have this in the western suburbs, I am excited. The chef Paul Virant was very personable and came out several times to tell us where he was able to secure the food for each of the courses. He is talented and for those who are lucky enought to live near Vie you will not be dissappointed.