50th Birthday Dinner

Jcocktosten, Florida Keys Girl, and redknife (and spouse) joined my wife and I to celebrate my official entry into old age (just got sent a AARP card to prove it). My mom flew down as a surprise and joined along with my sister. A really great time, with outstanding food, company, and, of course, wine. We were truly fortunate that all the old wines showed so well and the sommelier, Eric, did a great job with helping to select the wines.

• NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  A fuller bodied Champagne with a nice balance of acidity and fruit with a yeasty finish featuring some honey and biscuits. Rounder and riper than many others.

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• 1962 Prince Florent de Merode Pommard Clos de la Platière 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard

  Lovely nose of red fruit with a little sweetness. On the palate, more body than expected (medium minus) perhaps demonstrated by the 13.5% alc level. Mostly dark cherry fruit with nice balance and the elegance and complexity that comes from aging while still showing some nice fruit, though started to lose its stuff after 30-45 minutes. All in all a very surprising experience and held its own against all other wines from the rest of the evening.

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• 1955 Château Lafon-Rochet 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Lots of funk and barnyard on the nose initially that mostly blew off over time. Red currant fruit with medium body and acidity with cedar notes on the medium length complex finish.

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• 1993 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Villero di Castiglione Falletto 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Some floral notes of rose on the nose. On the palate, a fairly silky texture, but still some tannins lingering on the dusty finish. This got better over the next half hour with air. Medium body and acidity, with mostly dried cherry fruit. Again, this seemed less mature than expected, likely due to the extra cold storage conditions that kept it from truly blossoming now.

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• 1992 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Some leather and funk on the nose and palate that blew off over time though still remained in the background. This needed almost an hour to fully open up, but it was stored under 50 degrees at Bern's which slowed down its maturation. Some sharp dark cherry fruit on a full body frame with medium acidity with some cedar and tobacco, and even a bit of mint on the finish. Lacking some of the complexity and secondaries I would have expected, and I believe this would have better now if stored at a more normal higher temp, but may peak in another 10+ years if getting from Bern's.

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• 1954 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Reserva Especial

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Surprisingly lively on the palate with mostly cherry and even a little raspberry fruit with light to medium body and medium acidity. Would never have guessed this to be a 58 year old wine as it has held up and still showing remarkably well (aided by Bern's under 50 degree cellar no doubt). The complexity and elegance you expect from a grand old wine, but also has fruit too.

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