Birthday Celebration

• 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne Rosé

  France, Champagne

  Based on my previous experiences with this Champagne, I decided to serve it at cellar temperature rather than straight from the refrigerator. It was much more giving right from the start, both aromatically and on the palate. Red raspberry with some lighter cherry note as well. Crushed rocks and notes of rose petals too. While the warmer temperature helped this soften up a bit, there is still quite a mineral backbone that will allow this to age quite awhile. Great acidity and a long, mineral driven finish.

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Most of us did the "Fauna" menu to go with the wines we brought in. There was an added risotto and Australian Black Truffle course that may have been the best dish all night and went great with the Burgundies

• 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne

  France, Champagne

  Identical to the bottle opened a few days ago. A delicious mix of lemon peel, red apple, brioche and minerality. Lots of energy. A great vintage for Dom Perignon.

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• 2001 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  From the same case as the bottle had just under 2 months ago. No question that one was an off bottle. This was much more exciting and full of life. A highly aromatic profile. Ripe stone fruit and pear on both the nose and palate with crushed rocks, yellow flowers, and a touch of toast. Great density and concentration with great acidity to give it a energetic left. Medium body with a long finish.

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• 2007 Marquis de Laguiche (Joseph Drouhin) Montrachet

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

  Opened 30 minutes (at most) before serving. Powerful, ripe aromatics right from the start. Yellow citrus, ripe orchard fruit and toasty/grilled bread. A mix of white and yellow flowers too, intermixed with wet stone. Quite lush and giving on the palate (for an 07) with the same ripe orchard fruit coming through. The acidity showed itself on the back of the palate and provided for a long, energetic finish. If I had a bunch of these in the cellar, it would be hard to keep my hands off them right now even though I know its got the stuffing to age. Simply delicious!

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• 1998 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Opened an hour before serving, but not decanted. Just as I remembered it from last year. Great aromatic profile of dark red cherry and berry intertwined with mineral, darker floral and brown spice. Medium bodied palate with a lengthy finish. Great balance. Probably what struck me the most the past three times I've had this over the past 14 or so months is the way the fruit interacts with the minerality. It is a very delicate wine, but full of power; kind of hard to explain exactly. I almost imagine a very porous rock with red wine flowing through it... I'm sure this will continue to hold, but I really don't see this getting much better. Unfortunately my last bottle.

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• 2002 Domaine Jacques Prieur Echezeaux

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Opened an hour before serving and poured alongside the 02 DRC. The aromatics erupted from the glass while the wine was still being poured. It was almost like a mix of cherry pie and blueberry pie filling with an amazing array of brown spices with clove and allspice in the forefront. Some savory herb notes as well. Very dense and full of power on the palate. Lots of richness with some structure poking through, but overall a very giving, hedonistic style of wine, while the DRC was more restrained. My wine of the night.

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• 2002 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Opened an hour before serving, not decanted and served alongside the 02 Prieur. This was much more restrained than the Prieur. Crushed red berry and floral on the nose with some dense brown spices and notes of soy. Firmer red berry fruit on the palate with finely ground brown baking spice. Dense and well structured palate; if I had any in the cellar I'd probably give it another couple years based on this bottle. Medium body and finish.

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• 1998 Domaine Joseph Roty Charmes-Chambertin Très Vieilles Vignes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Opened about an hour before serving. Densely packed nose of sour black cherries, wet earth and meaty dark spices. The same dark cherry and berry carried through on the medium bodied palate. Fairly structured with great acidity providing a nice lift on the long finish.

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• 1998 Joseph Drouhin Griotte-Chambertin

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Opened about an hour before serving. Even more structured than 2 months ago. Black cherry and crushed stones dominate the nose and palate with some darker spice notes poking through. If I had some in the cellar I'd either hold for a couple more years or give an extended decant.

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• 1981 Château d'Yquem

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Ripe stone fruit, mostly apricot and yellow peach, with honeysuckle, orange peel and vanilla. The same flavors come through on the palate. Great rich texture, but with plenty of acidity to keep it balanced. Delicious finish to the evening!

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A great birthday for sure! Thanks Deanna, Cory and Debbie!