An Evening of Fundraising

This event, long in the planning, was graciously hosted by Victor and Ingrid. A cardboard cutout of Obama allowed us to mingle with the candidate, get our photos taken (hey can you send me a copy?), and make us generally feel like we were getting our money's worth. Lisa and Errol brought crab and tofu spring roles which pared nicely with the white Burgundy. Victor and Ingrid made a stunning Osso Buco with risotto, beans, and salad. Duane and Kim most deftly procured a chocolate covered cheesecake. We all ate and drank like royalty.

• 2006 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  nose - lemon, lemon custard, citrus, butter
  mouth - tart yet with good midpalate richness

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• 2004 Château Lafite Rothschild 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  double decanted, 3+ hrs
  nose - vanilla, coconut, marshmellow (per Duane)
  mouth - very smooth, well balanced red fruit with a coconut finish. This is a well rounded wine with fine tannins, and a hint of spice. An excellent paring for the Osso Buco. This wine is all about elegance not power. Probably would do well to age for 5 more years to develop additional complexity. I am stumped that this would be a speculators wine.

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• 1990 Château Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  opened and allowed to breath in bottle for 8+ hours
  nose - cinnamon, clove, lightly smoky, and stunningly perfumed, this wine had a memorable nose. Though i smelled mostly exotic spiciness, other picked up fruit as well.
  mouth - smoky, complex Asian spicebox, good mature tutti-frutti flavors followed again by more spiciness. Long persistence in the mouth with still prominent tannins. Based on other reviewer's comments, I had expected this to come across as more porty.

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• 2002 Harlan Estate 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Allowed to aerate for ~3 hours
  nose - so very concentrated, my first impression is of iodine. Then olives, cassis, grapeskins, and oak. On the nose mildly reminiscent of grappa
  mouth - superbly concentrated, even a minute sip completely coats the palate. If you could concentrate the flavor of a case of wine into one bottle, this is what I would imagine you would get. When vigorously swished, the impressively concentrated flavors of blackberries, cassis, and chocolate turn into a fiery inferno of heat, and I cant take it anymore. Must consume small sips and savor. This wine displays a long finish with serious tannins. Victor found it too young for his taste, and honestly I see little chance this will settle down anytime soon; if so my score will be on the low side. In a word: a beast.

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• 2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  limited notes, nice complexity while still having good fruit, crisp tannins, I think i almost liked this as much as the 2004 Lafite.

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Thanks y'all for being a part of this and for sharing with me some stunning bottles of wine!