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Going Up The Country: Suburban Bliss & Wines to Match
Craig & Nita's Place
Tasted February 9, 2023 by rocknroller with 139 views
Introduction
After the uber successful Dinner with Dad at my place with Don Saunders at the helm, the excitment of having more of these dinners was running hot. Craig decided we should follow up on that dinner soon. Hence the trip to the distant burbs for the latest edition of Dinner with Don. Craig, Nita and Joe were our hosts for the evening. Making the cross coutry trek were DM, DD, DS, KB, LI, SS, CS, to make a group of 10. Don was in the kitchen working his magic giving Nita the night off. A weird twist for Nita, I'm sure, getting to participate instead of spending the evening in the kitchen. The theme was geared to a progression of French wines that did not suck. The stops were pulled out, and the wines were truly inspiring. Matched with Don's cooking, it made for a magical evening. Thanks to everyone for sharing the converstaion and fantastic wines. Redrum!
Flight 1 - Champagne Flight (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
2008 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut
93 points
Drank a glass during social time. Didn't take any notes on it. Very enjoyable, a bit warm when I got it. Not as compelling as the last couple I've had. 92+ to 93pts.
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White - Sparkling
2008 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut
95 points
Light gold color. Drank a glass over an hour. Fresh cut pear, quince, yeast, apple peel, white flowers, stone and apricot on the effusive and complex nose. The palate is resonant with apple, pear, quince, apple peel, very tart and crisp, candied orange peel, though less distinctive minerality. Excellent length and purity. This bottle was more youthful. 95+pts.
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Flight 2 - Chablis Flight (2 notes)
White
2005 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre
97 points
Light medium gold color. Splash double decanted and recorked prior to departing. Drank a glass plus over 2.5 hours. It always makes me a bit twitchy opening these coveted bottles of wine. Will it be over hyped, off, or just not meet expecttions. Well tonight the wine gods were looking out for us. This was a magnificent bottle in all its glory, seemingly nearing its epogee. I found it gaining depth and even more complexity in glass over the first hour plus. Amazing nose, so deep and provocative, lemon, lemon oil, butterscotch, gradually filling with bursting sea air, oyster shell, kumquat, and beeswax with so much power. The palate is a study in density and penetration, lemon, lemon oil, saline, butterscotch, kumquat, oyster shell, limestone, honeycomb, voluminous and very long. Wow, this was magical, and it really seemd to be at the perfect point of evolution. I love MdT, and this one clearly had Grand Cru stuffing. 97+ to 98pts.
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Comments (4)
White
2014 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
95 points
Pale greenish gold color. Drank a glass over 2 hours. Clean and precise, youthfully acidic and driven, a classic expression of Les Clos and Fevre. There's tons of brine and swampy goodness, tart lemon-lime, white apple, limestone, with impressive intensity and length. In stark contrast to the maturity and broad expression of the '05 Raveneau MdT, this is still so youthful, but so, so good! 94+ to 95pts.
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Flight 3 - White Burg Flight (1 note)
White
2014 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Baudines
94 points
Light gold color. PNP, drank a glass over 2 hours plus. Oh the minerality on the nose, wow, so crystalline and lively, high toned citrus, spice and white pepper just dances on the nose. There's a touch of gunflint reduction but it is much more woven in and provides more complexity vesus domination at this point - both on the nose and palate. Really crisp and clean on the palate, lemon-lime, tart green apple, mineral driven, spice and pepper. Wonderful. 94+ to 95pts.
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Flight 4 - Red Burg Flight (2 notes)
Red
2005 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras
97 points
Medium dark red color with a 2mm clear edge. Slow-O for the better part of the day, but refer to Chablis28's specific on prep and his excellent note. Geez, just a wow nose, so sexy and compelling. Blood orange, roses, rose hips, an immense floral perfume, gardenia, cherry, complex dried spice box, moss, and wood spices on a high toned and lifted nose. The palate is medium plus bodied with a sleekness to the silky Chambolle-Musigny textures, bright cherry fruit, touches of cranberry, tart and juicy, soil, great acid, and so well integrated for an '05 too. Superb and blissful, a rare treat; thanks Craig for sharing.
Red
2005 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays
95 points
Medium dark red color, 2mm clear edge. Opened for 90+ minutes then recorked til serving. Drank a glass over 2 hours plus. A bit tight at the outset, this needed the air to really come around. Once it got there, a good 30 to 60 minutes, then it was singing. Earth and underbrush, raspberry, red currants, crushed rock, deep and medium plus bodied, very even handed with fine tannins and classy spices. Loved it, thanks Lonny!
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Flight 5 - Dominus Flight (2 notes)
Red
1987 Dominus Estate
97 points
Very dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over 2 plus hours. This was truly impressive as well. The pedigree is clear when a wine of this age just keeps getting better and better in the glass. Its been about 5 years since I last had this, and this bottle was truly memorable. This so my kind of nose, filled with seductive pencil and fine tobacco notes, cassis, smoke, crushed violets, black raspberry, and wood spices. The palate is full bodied and perfectly textured with plush interwoven tannins, tobacco, pencil, cassis and dark black and blue berries, gravel, scorched earth, and amzing length. Simply gorgeous, served next to an impressive '05 that has all the earmarks of becoming what the '87 is down the road - maybe even better. Thanks to Candie for shopping at the impressive Siggy's Wine Emporium. 96+ to 97pts.
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Red
2005 Dominus Estate
95 points
Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 2 hours and recorked. Drank a glassover 90 minutes next to the '87. Another wow nose tonight, pretty cedarbox out front, dried wood, slightly medicinal cherry, cassis, boysenberry, dark chocolate, layered fruit with great purity, sleek and seamless on the palate. We had this last 3+ years ago and it was really good then, even better now, but with a very bright future this could eclipse the splendid '87 in time.
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Flight 6 - Dessert Flight (1 note)
White - Sweet/Dessert
1989 Château Suduiraut
94 points
Deep amber color. Drank a glass over 40 minutes. Burnt creme brulee, golden apple, baked pear, orange marmalade, candied orange peel, a touch nutty, honey, apricot nectar, deep and spicy. 93+ to 94pts.
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