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La Tablee: Legends Dinner w E. Guigal & after party
Daniel & SommTime
Tasted February 1, 2019 by MC2 Wines with 272 views
Introduction
This was one of those just really special dinners. All bottles from the cellar of the original Guigal importer. Some of these were unicorn wines.
Flight 1 - Pre-dinner bottle @ the bar (1 note)
Red
2011 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux
Had a break between the Cote Rotie panel and the Guigal dinner both at Daniel so decided to go to the bar and get a bottle. Originally wanted some bubbles, but it's just very hard to turn this wine down when we see it. It's wonderful. So very fresh and vibrant. Lots of pieces of the forest. A bit of spice. Approachable now, but I suspect able to last as well. Had a glass which I left till after the dinner and amazing how much it can open up with some more air.
Flight 2 - Champagne reception (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne Marie Weiss Brut
Pretty basic champagne. Got it as a palate cleanser. The Philipponnat Blanc de Noirs they were serving at the dinner was better. More interesting. But totally fine and not bad for the price point (a sub $30 champagne).
White - Sparkling
2012 Philipponnat Champagne Blanc de Noirs Extra-Brut
This was nice and interesting. Bits of apple and spices. Not super intense or crazy, but definitely nice.
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Flight 3 - FIRST COURSE (2 notes)
Flaxseed Crusted Seared Scallops
Sunchokes and Tahoon Cress
"Jus de Poulet"
White
2015 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane
Served a bit on the chilly side which actually helped it come across as a touch more balanced. This is a more intense wine. Full mouthful. Lots of honey. Some green and grassy notes. There's a hint of sharpness at the end. Drank next to the 2016 and I thought that was maybe in a better spot.
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White
2016 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane
Drank next to the 2015. This seemed like it was a bit better. More acid. A bit more balanced. More floral. Slightly less honey than I would have expected but in that vein. Lots of white blossoms. Drinking nicely.
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Flight 4 - SECOND COURSE (3 notes)
Grilled Yellowfin Tuna
Brussels Sprouts, Crosnes, Parsnip
"Sauce Financiere"
Red
1999 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde
My favorite of the flight and better than I remember from the last time we had it. It's nice. Lots of blood and iron and pretty darker fruits. Some lavender. Animalistic. And still a hint of 'pretty' as well.
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Red
1999 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis
More floral in nature. More red fruits. This was nice, but not at the same level as the Brune et Blonde. I think mostly because missing some of those animal notes.
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Red
2005 E. Guigal Ermitage Ex-Voto
Super super young wine which I'm sure could use some more time. To me, Hermitage seems to make good, but not really great wine (I know, sacrilege) and I think this wine falls into that good category again. It's a bit lower acid. More black fruits. Some slightly bloody notes. Tasty, but not quite at the level of the Cote Roties.
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Flight 5 - THIRD COURSE (4 notes)
Pan Seared Squab Breast
Sauce Salmis
(should have had wild mushrooms as well, but they were kind enough to refrain as not our favorite)
Red
1990 E. Guigal Hermitage
Appreciate what age can do for the wine. This is a bit more animal. A bit more feral. Slightly disjointed - something is missing - and yet it's still tasty.
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Red
1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Hommage á Etienne Guigal La Pòmmiere
This was a complete and total unicorn wine. Never offered more broadly. Just one barrel made. Only made in three years - this year, 1990, and 2005. Six bottles of this vintage made it to the US and we drank two of them this evening. I'll agree it's not quite the LaLa's, but it is very nice. Still quite young. There's a long life ahead. This is beautiful and elegant and restrained. Touch of that feral and also some floral and maybe a bit of darker fruit. Really special.
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Red
1978 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde
This was in a great spot right now. It's quite tasty. Still more of that animal and feral but with this underlying structure that keeps it feeling very balanced. Sweet black fruits - lots of plum. Touch of spice. Very enjoyable. Had heard it was worth looking for old vintages of this wine and I'd be inclined to agree. Another level of the 1999.
Red
1978 E. Guigal Hermitage
Here again the animal. Also get a bit of sand (not the texture, just the flavor). It's a bit lighter than the 1990. Missing the structure of the Cote Roties, but still a tasty wine.
Flight 6 - FOURTH COURSE (3 notes)
Foie Gras Studded Millbrook Farm Venison
Chestnut, Oat, Honeycrisp Apple
Black Truffle, Celery, "Sauce Poivrade"
Red
1991 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque
Wow - can definitely tell that the LaLa's take things up another notch and getting to try the three 91's side by side is pretty fabulous. This is that wonderful balance of intense and elegance that Rhone wines do so well. Lots of animal. Some spice. Really just awesome.
Red
1991 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
In a flight of 91's this was less expressive than the other two (I think fits with Landonne in general which seems to need quite a bit of time). There's some promise here. Touch of dark fruits. Touch of animal. Get the feeling this is going to be good.
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Red
1991 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
Part of a horizontal of '91 LaLas. This is just a spectacular wine. I'd say it's not even really in the drinking window yet, although very tasty. Very pretty wine. Lots of animal and floral and there's this flavor right in the middle that I couldn't quite put my finger on but seemed to jump things up another level. Added an extra interest level. Really just beautiful. Love these.
Flight 7 - DESSERT (3 notes)
Selection of Cheese by Andante Dairy
Red
1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque
There's so much power to this wine. It's great. Very young still with years and years to go. Lots of pretty and animal and all of that. It's beautiful. Darker fruits. Floral. Just wonderful.
Red
1982 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
Still super super young although this was a lot more open than the '91 we had in the previous flight. It's darker black fruits, lots of pepper, more exotic notes. Very tasty. Well balanced. Delicious.
Red
1983 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
This is a very special wine. Just lovely. It's the kindof wine that sticks with you. Perfectly balanced. Perfectly in tune. Fruit and animal and floral and some granite. It's just wonderful. Worth chasing. And yet still young. Lots of years left.
Flight 8 - Post dinner drinks @ SommTime (2 notes)
Love this place and so lucky to have it in our neighborhood. Not the crazy mark-ups you see at some places and always interesting wines on the list. Just great.
Red
1985 Domaine Jacques Prieur Volnay 1er Cru Champans
I am not a Burgundy person so take this with a grain of salt. This wine just didn't do much for me. Felt like it was a bit flat and tired. More earthy notes. Fruit gone if there was any. Totally overshadowed by the 2000 Montrose we had next to it.
Red
2000 Château Montrose
This was just wonderful. I was worried it might be a bit young, but it was singing the whole time. We opened and decanted and drank over maybe an hour or two. Everything you want in a Bordeaux. Great fruit, all of the library characteristics, tobacco. Just great. I think it has many years left, but didn't feel like a complete baby killing.
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Closing
There were a lot of incredible wines at this dinner. The '83 La Mouline and '89 La Turque were real standouts. It was amazing to get to try the Homage. Also confirmed that I am a much bigger fan of the Cote Rotie style than the Hermitage.