Impromptu Wine Gathering

Got a email from Nate...."hey, you available to drink some wine tonight".

"Well, kind of...if we can do it at my house"

So, with no advanced planning, a nice get-together with both Nate and Matt. As usual, some interesting bottles, most notably Nate's Rose. Also as usual, a late night visit to the cellar to pick a sacrificial lamb.

I really liked each of these, though the Matrot really isn't ready to drink. Rating for unique experience, the Jaboulet wines this hands-down for me.

• 1985 Domaine Jaboulet-Vercherre Puligny-Montrachet 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet

  Another ridiculously good bottle in line with previous note. Perfectly aged, elegant in a delicate way. Not a blockbuster, but a great example of what well-stored humble white Burgundy can become.

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• 2004 Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay The North Slope Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Decanted this, and it really helped soften the oak and butter. This drank a lot like the '96 Verget Bougros from a few nights ago, though I don't think it's got the structure to last as long.

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• 2005 Domaine Matrot Puligny-Montrachet La Quintessence 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet

  After a few other aged white Burgs, this came across as very young. Lively acidity on the palate that isn't close to being resolved. I think good bottles of this will last many years. I don't think there's a good reason to touch another of these until 2012-2013.

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I put the Rose in this category because a) I was too lazy to go back and create another flight, and b) if I closed my eyes it drank a lot like a red. The Cerasuolo wins this flight on the basis of its unique character. We never quite figured out what the right food pairing would be for this, though duck confit was thrown out as an idea and its a good one.

• 2003 Azienda Agricola Valentini Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo 92 Points

  Italy, Abruzzi, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo

  A nice find by Nate. Rich and gamey on the nose. A resinous sweetness provides a counterpoint on the palate. Very full bodied. Not your run of the mill summer quaffer. One of the most unique Rose wines I've had.

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• 2005 Fernand & Laurent Pillot Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru

  Clearly the best of the red Burgs opened. The other two were both '04s and showed lean in comparison. On the nose, rich red fruit and a touch of game. The palate packs ample acidity. I think this would be well served by some additional time in the cellar.

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• 2004 Domaine Bernard Morey et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos St. Jean Rouge 86 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  No detailed notes. Pretty simple, a bit lean. Not much going on at present, and probably not a significant upside.

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• 2004 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru

  Not as good as the bottle I had a week or two ago, but still much improved over earlier tastings. I continue to think that BH might be right in tagging this with a "start drinking 2014".

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• 2006 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 90 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara

  No detailed notes. Among the more "New World" pinots on the table, but not in a heavy or overdone way. More obvious fruit and a slightly fuller palate than all of the Burgs, save the '05 Pommard. Fell off the cliff Day 2 - tired and flat.

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• 2003 Walter Hansel Winery Pinot Noir The South Slope Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  I know we had this, I know I liked it. That's about all I've got on this one.

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Well-behaved as we were, there was only one late night casualty. I was actually looking for a '92 Anderson Conn Reserve but couldn't find it (later the next day, I found it in about 3 seconds).

• 1986 Château Haut-Brion 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  No detailed notes...a late night sacrifice. Overall impressions were a) resolved and ready to go, b) quite complex / secondary. Aside from that, all I know is that there was nothing left in the bottle to save for the next day. The last few bottles have been good, not great. This one was back on track. 95 pts.

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Great guys, great fun. With a lot of great wines and conversation, 3am came pretty quickly.