Aged Bordeaux, Champagne, Chef Toby Joseph and a few miscellaneous wines

One year anniversary of our quarterly wine dinner met where it all began. The theme was Champagne and Aged Bordeaux, but a couple additional wines made it into the tasting.

4 great appetizers were presented to taste along with 3 Champagnes:
- Summer Lobster Rolls with Yuzu Sauce
- Sugar Cane Skewered Barbequed Quail
- Prosciutto Lollipops
- Mushroom Duxelle Crustini

• NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Réserve 88 Points

  France, Champagne

  A fine NV Champagne with all the aspects you would expect from this style, but suffered from being consumed next to two vintage cuvees.

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• 2002 Drappier Champagne Grande Sendrée 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  A surprise for me. I’ve enjoyed Drappier’s NV wines in the past, so I picked up this bottle and was thoroughly pleased. Reminded me of a better version of Vueve Yellow Label. Fresh and fruity on the nose with notes of honey, nougat and flowers. Slightly aggressive bubbles in the mouth. Very nice Champagne.

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• 2000 Louis Roederer Champagne Vintage Brut Rosé 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Champagne of the night for me. The lightest rose I have ever come across, just looked like a spritz of red wine was dropped in the glass. In the mouth, suave bubbles with some biscuit and a touch of strawberry. Great texutral feel in the mouth and pleasant on the palate.

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3 wonderful courses paired with a flight of 7 aged Bordeaux wines:
- Seafood Bouillabaisse with Shrimp, Scallops, Mussels in a Lobster Broth and Saffron Aioli on Crispy Ciabatta Bread
- Confit of Duck Leg and Long Island Breast of Duck on a Bed of Carmelized Endive and Drunken Cherries
- Grilled Prime Strip Topped With Shaved Foie Gras Torchon and Served with Porchini Mushroom Risotto and Creamed Spinach

• 1966 Domaine Diaud Lelande 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Never heard of this producer and the label and fill were impeccable. Biggest surprise of the night, unknown producer and a 54 year old wine, but the wine was very tasty. On the nose, herbal bell pepper (prominent upon opening, fading over the evening) and some cassis. In the mouth, silky smooth and some nice fruit. Overall enjoyable wine.

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• 1982 Domaine Diaud Lelande 82 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Just like the ’66, label and fill were perfect. Earthy tart nose showing signs of age. In the mouth, you could definitely tell the wine's age. Not very enjoyable to me.

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• 1995 Château Montrose 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  The most tiresome nose of the evening. I think this wine suffered from poor storage because like the LB the capsule would not spin on this bottle and the cork showed some seepage. On the nose, caramel and some herbal earth. In the mouth some charming fruit that belied its nose. At the end of the evening the wine displayed some enjoyable tartness if that makes sense.

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• 1999 Château Lynch-Bages 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  This wine started off slow and got better over the evening. Charming nose of toasty oak and minerals. In the mouth, was a little tired but showed some nice fruit. For me, this wine showed the most improvement over the evening. For what it’s worth, the capsule would not spin on this bottle and the cork showed some seepage.

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• 1999 Gracia 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  This wine was ready to drink right out of the bottle. In a perfect drinking window and turned out to be the Red WOTN for me. Rich ripe black cherry, raspberry and a touch of toasty oak on the nose. In the mouth, some structure still there (not over the top) gives way to a plethora of fruit and powdered chocolate. Delicious! 95

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• 2002 Château Haut-Brion 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  The most reserved nose of the night. A touch of minerals and red fruit on the nose. The thickest looking red wine we had tonight. In the mouth, really great texture - smooth as silk on the tongue, but showing brute force on the gums. A very interesting dynamic. I think this will improve, would be interesting to see in 5 years.

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• 2003 Château Margaux 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  The sexiest most appealing nose of the reds. This wine might turn out to be the best of the bunch, but I don’t think we did it justice tonight. The nose showing toasty creamy oak with minerals and rich red fruit. Big, big wine in the mouth that didn’t show as much as it did on the nose, but you can tell the best is yet to come.

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3 Light and Fresh Desserts with Château d' Yquem, does not get any better than this. The Lewis came after dessert:
- White Tropical Sangria
- Mango Mousse Gelee
- Pineapple Shortcake

• 2001 Château d'Yquem 100 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Off the charts ethereal nose of tropical fruits, sugar candy, orange peel and on and on and on - just gaining complexity for me. Stunningly delicious in the mouth. Seamless with precision and grace just begging to be consumed. I could smell this wine all night and be happy! Impeccable finish and nose! What a treat for Chris to bring this out. The wine of the evening for me and what a 100 point wine is supposed to be like. The first time I've assigned this score to a wine.

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• 2005 Lewis Cellars Cuvée L 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  The biggest bruiser of the night. Huge wine, massive structure, the first thing this wine reminded me of (from a mouthfeel perspective) was a 2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano we had at Chris and Sandy's wedding. This needed to be decanted for 24 hours, but all the stuffing is there. This suffered from a pop and pour, which is different than the treatment for the rest of the wines. I had the regular cuvee from this vintage two years ago and it was more ready to drink then, but the"L" will definitely be better in time. Sorry for encouraging you to committ infanticide here Chris. My tasting notes are limited because this was the last wine of the night for me.

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It was a wonderful evening with lots of things to enjoy. Hats off to the hosts Mr and Mrs Covolo for creating a wonderful evening of food, wine, friends and fun.