Friday Night Dinner @ David and Ali's
Tasted Friday, June 25, 2010 by tooch with 743 views
Introduction
Many thanks to David and Ali for hosting us - it was a great evening with a collection of great wine. The superstar of the night were the crabcakes...hands down!
1986 Renaudin Champagne L'Espiégle Brut Rosé 91 Points
France, Champagne
Extremely vibrant in the glass with a beautiful gold meets light pink hue. Drank quite well out of the magnum which may have played a role in keeping this wine so fresh. Great minerals throughout this wine with really luscious star fruit, mango, and pineapple components as well. Excellent bottle.
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1979 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 93 Points
France, Champagne
Great experience drinking this wine. In the glass, the color was of light straw with few, if any bubbles remaining. Nose had some intense french toast, hints of maple syrup, rich honey and some mustiness - a really exciting, intense nose. The wine itself definitely seemed to have some oxidated characteristics to it, but most agreed that it wasn't bothersome in any regard. Creamy brioche with some toffee and creme brulee made this a fascinating wine to drink. Without the bubbles, it drank more like an old chardonnay.
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1999 Gosset Champagne Brut Grand Millésime 90 Points
France, Champagne
I thought this was a very nice bottle of champagne. Compared to the 1979 Ruinhart and 1986 Renaudin, the youth of this bottle was dramatic. Very fresh and clean with zipping acidity and notes of golden grahams, seashell, and an attractive slight mustiness. Intriguing glass that I'd be interested in revisiting down the road - definitely has the chops to become a classic brut.
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1996 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
I loved the nose on this bottle. Good doses of smoke, seashells, toffee, dominated the nose. A real treat. I thought the palate was a bit flabby as it lacked much in the way of acidty. Regardless, the body of this wine was big a burly with nice amounts of lemon peel, and watermelon rind adding to flavors of charcoal and toast. Really beautiful wine.
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2000 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Some expressed concerns that this might be PREMOXed before opening, but luckily this didn't show any of the classic signs. Phew! Lovely dark yellow color in the glass, with a bright nose of honeysuckle, wet stones, and peaches. Many at the table really enjoyed the balance of this wine - combining the supple flavors of peaches, acacia flowers, and peaches with ripping minerality and acidity - and I have to agree. Really classy wine that unless upset by PREMOX down the road will continue to shine for a number of years.
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2000 Louis Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Beautiful light straw color that had zippy meyer lemon and wet stones on the nose. Palate was full of sexy tropical fruits in addition to some really dense pear flavors. This was a very nice bottle of chardonnay.
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2006 Verget Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
A very young supple Chablis that is drinking very well in its youth. Didn't possess the steely minerality that I love seeing in chablis, but the tropical fruits and subtle smokiness were quite nice. Despite being a bit rounder than I hoped for, the producer was able to find a balance that I quite enjoyed. I don't know the history of this producer when it comes to claims of PREMOX, but if you own some of these, be assured that they're well in their youth...
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1990 Faiveley Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Very strong aromas of underbrush, wet leaves, and holiday spices on the nose with very little, if any, fruit. With time the nose opened up to reveal some faint strawberry and sour cherry flavors. The acidity was very evident on this wine and without much in the mid-palate it was a hard wine to really enjoy. Sadly, I think bottle is either running out of steam, or in a dumb phase.
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1990 Domaine Thomas-Moillard Corton-Clos du Roi 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
I found this wine to be quite enjoyable, and the style of pinot that I find quite enjoyable. Delicate cranberry and tilled soil on the nose with lithe strawberry, and an acidic kick at the end. Could see this wine going very well with roast duck or a wild boar ragu. Very nice bottle of pinot that's probably within its peak drinking window.
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1998 Louis Jadot Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Domaine Louis Jadot 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
Of all the wines of the night, this one had the most evident red and black fruit component. The melange of wild berries was seamlessly integrated with strong tannis giving most of us at dinner the indication that with about another 7-10 years this will enter its peak drinking window. Still a baby, I am going to do my best to find a bottle or two of this for future enjoyment. Great effort by Jadot here.
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2002 Jean-Claude Boisset Volnay 1er Cru Les Brouillards 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
The unassuming Volnay sure crept up on many of us at the table. It didn't have the big fruit the Jadot had, nor the intoxicating nose of the Leflaive, but what it did have was a very evident elegance. Subtle aromas of coffee, cherry, tree bark, leather, and sexy florals. Really nice wine.
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1997 Château Nairac 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Quite dark for a 1997 with a very sexy dark brown color in glass. No meaningful notes taken.
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2000 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl 92 Points
France, Alsace
This was a good way to end the night. Great acidity combined with luscious pears, apples and a tropical fruit melange. Great balance, and structure. Definitely built for the long haul.
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