Chef Nita's Tasting Menu

Craig's House
Tasted Wednesday, October 27, 2010 by Siggy with 912 views

Introduction

Thanks to Craig, Joe, and especially Nita Vanderah for an unforgettable evening of friends, food, and wine!

Flight 1 - Champagne (4 Notes)

Paired with homemade potato chips with pan-fried onion dip and a variety of cheeses

Flight 2 - White Rhône (1 Note)

Paired with butternut squash soup

  • 2004 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Réserve 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Beautiful, rich golden color. Just on the edge of being oxidized at first, this pulled itself together nicely in the glass. Montrachet-like weight and texture. Flavors of bitter orange / orange peel (how much Marsanne in the blend?), peaches, honey, nuts, with a finish that loses a bit of lift and freshness. This is tasty but a bit soft and unfocused at the moment, and may be going through an awkward stage, as so many white CdPs do. I would like to revisit this in a few years.

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Flight 3 - White Burgundy (2 Notes)

Paired with crab-stuffed shrimp with a lemon vinaigrette friseé

  • 2002 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault Désirée 90 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

    I did not take detailed notes, but this was a lovely, middleweight village Meurasult that is quite marked by new oak at this stage of evolution. Really classy and well-proportioned, with moderately intense (almost understated) fruit. Lafon's village wines are, to my palate, almost always 1er Cru quality and this bottle was no exception. This has future upside if it does not succumb to premox.

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  • 2007 Domaine Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux 88 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    No detailed notes taken. Nicely intense palate, but missing some of the zing and complexity of other 2007 Chablis I've tasted.

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Flight 4 - Red Burgundy (2 Notes)

Paired with coq au vin

  • 2004 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée

    Murky, cloudy, muddy color. Having tasted through multiple bottles of this, I continue to be impressed by the intensity of flavor and lack of 2004 "greenies". Dense, ripe, and complex, with expansive fruit flavors and forest floor / iron / mineral secondary nuances that are already well-developed. Definitely wins the "ugliest-looking / best-tasting" combo award. WOTN for me.

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  • 2002 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 92 Points

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

    Initially totallly closed on the nose, and never really opened up fully in the glass. Abundant hints of this wine's stellar pedigree and future potential abound, however: spicy cherry aromatics, silky texture, and elegant, weightless intensity of flavor. Some flavors that I more typically associate with young Vogüés (buttered popcorn?) -- which really just speaks to this wine's youth and need to integrate its oak. Revisit in a minumum of 5 years.

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Flight 5 - Interlude (1 Note)

Paired with lamb meatballs

Flight 6 - Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2 Notes)

Paired with "The Dubuquer" (sliced roast beef on bread w/mashed potatoes and gravy)
Not tasted: 2006 Stéphane Vedeau Hermitage Arena Mica

Flight 7 - Dessert (1 Note)

Paired with homemade profiteroles and coffee ice cream

  • 1997 Clusel-Roch Côte-Rôtie 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    First time I've tasted this since visiting the domaine in 2006. Gorgeous, classic Côte-Rôtie -- so smoky and bacony. Intense smoky red fruit, earth, and minerals, framed by suave, ripe tannins. Added complexity in the glass. Really nicely structured and balanced.

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