Athens in November, Great food, some truffles and some great wine

Athens, Greece
Tasted Friday, November 18, 2011 - Sunday, November 20, 2011 by Papies with 967 views

Introduction

Annual trip to Athens for our friend's Patrick birthday always combined with great food and amazing wine.

Flight 1 - At Codice Blu ( http://www.codiceblu.gr/) (1 Note)

Very nice Italian trattoria plus, in kolonaki, good quality food and decent prices. Worth the visit.

  • 2006 Nico Lazaridi Magiko Vouno - Magic Mountain 91 Points

    Greece, Macedonia, Drama

    (11/18/2011)

    Consistently among the best the country has to offer in reds. Elegant, well made. Wine is now well round with silky tannins and drinks nicely and could well be peaking. Long, good fruit, a touch too round maybe but very enjoyable. Price reflect its cult status unfortunately soexpect to pay 70-80 euros a bottle.91-92, drink from now

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Flight 2 - Base Grill ( http://www.athensmagazine.gr/portal/restaurants/articles/1812) (1 Note)

A true gem and a must if u are a meat lover. A bit far from the centre but really worth the 20mins taxi ride. Simply amazing meat. We cannot praise this enough. Wine list is avg but it does have 100 different types of beer.

  • 2005 Nemeion Estate Agiorgitiko Hgemon (Sovereign) 90 Points

    Greece, Peloponnisos, Nemea

    (11/18/2011)

    Not as great as last time below but still a very well made wine. A touch too much oak maybe and def needs decanting at this stage. A bit on the young side and could use some more bottle age.Will not dissapoint. 90+ drink starting in 2yrs or so

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Flight 3 - Ikion, kolonaki ( http://www.giafagito.gr/restaurant.asp?lng=2&rid=2260 ) (1 Note)

Greek cuisine in good surroundings, central and very local crowd. Very nice and among the best in its style. Best for lunch around 2pm

Flight 4 - Sale e Pepe , kolonaki ( http://www.zagat.com/r/sale-e-pepe-athens-greece ) (4 Notes)

Very good traditional Italian. Good food but the gem is the wine list which is probably the best in variety and prices in Athens. November time they have white truffles too. Sister restaurant of the Mykonos sale e pepe.

  • 2004 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

    (11/19/2011)

    Mild oak on the nose, mineral, salty notes. Round, mineral, lightly creamy on the palate. Vibrant and with lots of life ahead of it. Nice long finish. 93 and drinks very nicely now

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  • 1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 97 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru

    (11/19/2011)

    Bottle #02964. No decanting although given sediment levels some careful decanting helps.
    Light, red in colour. Careful with the sediment here as the fine power sediment can make the wine cloudy.
    On the nose, oh that glorious nose, it is a journey that keeps changing from fruit dominated start, to floral and back. Such a long elegant nose that kept with the wine for the hour we nurtured this win ( or maybe it nurtured us). On the palate it's definitely alive, with good round silky tannins , balanced elegant and very long fruit driven length. As you try this wine it like ticking boxes in a long list of excellence. Definitely a great experience and although we can argue for hours if the DRC label added to the mystique and so on, this undoubtedly a great wine. 97 drink from now but it has a good life ahead too.

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  • 1990 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 96 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    (11/19/2011)

    Youthful and we would encourage decanting here to help it open up.
    Dark red in colour, glossy dark and not showing its age. On the nose it starts with liquorice notes that evolved into the typical dark cherry notes of great barolos. Some earthy note but the long dark fruit notes dominated. On the palate it feels youthful and def has a good 15yrs ahead. Big , lush yet elegant with a long presence and finish. 96 and just entering its drinking window.

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  • NV Jacopo Poli Grappa di Sassicaia

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia

    (11/19/2011)

    Very aromatic on the nose. Well made and with a long presence. Very nicely balanced and a great way to finish a nice dinner. Star power name also helps here to add that extra touch of sparkle to a great dinner.

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Flight 5 - At Patrick and Alexia's (5 Notes)

Alexi is a great cook period and nothing beats the combo of her cooking and Pat's wines. Thank you guys.

All wines were served blind and rated prior to Patrick telling us their trueidentity.

  • 2005 Olivier Leflaive Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières 93 Points

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

    (11/20/2011)

    Lemony, light yellow glossy in colour. Mineral nose, with mild oak and creamy elements. Vibrant with a Dom perignon level of focus and sharpness on the palate, with depth. Stunning. 93 drink from now but with a lot of life left.

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  • 2004 Domaine Leroy Chambolle-Musigny 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny

    (11/20/2011)

    Tasted blind. We thought is was a Gevrey Charmes-Chambertin from a 90s vintage. Needs decanting to open up too.
    The colour points to a mid 90s vintage. Fruit dominated nose with a bit of oak but def a Burgundian Pinot nose. On the palate it starts light yet then it builds into a big long lovely finish. Great for a village and apparently in this year leroy blended other vineyards into his village. 93 and drink up now.

    Very impressive as the wine starts of Gevrey style but definitely finishes like a chambolle.

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  • 2000 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia

    (11/20/2011)

    Dark dense red in colour. On the nose the oak is still dominant with some fruit but the oak is overpowering. Round on the palate but to us the overoakiness spoilt the party. Shame really. Still a good 91-92 wine. We suggest one waits for the oak to integrate and hope.

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  • 1996 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero 96 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    (11/20/2011)

    Elegance and finesse all the way here. Decanted for 1.5 hrs and were useful. Pure elegant on the nose with red fruits and still primary.
    On the palate it is vibrant, alive yet well balanced. A superb wine that is worth the hype. 96+ for now and with lots of life ahead. Gives vega Sicilia a run for its money.

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  • 1940 Château Sisqueille Rivesaltes 90 Points

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Rivesaltes

    (11/20/2011)

    More fruity than last time , a port with out the spiritness and the alchohol. Enjoyable but not grand.

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Closing

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