1992 Retrospective Dinner

We were invited to a friends house for the weekend with a few other couples to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. They hired a French chef to cook dinner on Saturday night and our friend supplied all of the 1992 wines that we drank that evening. Here was the menu:

Hors d'oevres- endive filled with bleu. brie and other cheeses and garnished with roasted peppers and walnuts
First course- creamy cauliflower and leek soup
Main course- filet mignon with a green peppercorn sauce. Side of baked tomato topped with herbs and panko and artichokes stuffed with sauteed mushrooms.
Cheese course- aged gouda, Ossau-Iraly sheep's milk and port salut
Dessert- buche au chocolat with grand marnier and creme anglaise

Here are my notes on the wines:

• 1992 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 88 Points

  France, Champagne

  Opened by Mark. This was a golden yellow color. It was the oldest Dom I have had at 20 years of age. In my opinion this was starting to show it's age. I thought it lost a lot of it's bead rather quickly and was not as fresh as I like. Some sherry notes but still had a solid core of fruit. I've had at least a dozen Dom's including the 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002 and besides one flawed bottle this was my least favorite but still a very interesting bottle with character. 88 points.

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• 1992 Hiedler Weissburgunder Spätlese Ried Schenkenbichl 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal

  Opened by Mark. We drank this Pinot Blanc before dinner. Light to medium yellow color which did not give away it's age. This was showing very well for it's age. Not petrol notes and rather fresh. Medium to full bodied. Notes of apple and slate. 90-91 points.

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• 1992 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Opened by Mark. My favorite white of the night. A spectacular wine. I had the 1991 vintage of this wine about 4 years ago and did not care for it much. What a different animal this wine was. Lively and complex. A full bodied wine with notes of rye, waxy white fruit and a hint of cotton candy. Rich long finish. 94-95 points.

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• 1992 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Opened by Mark. I've had the 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2007 Alexander Valley vintages but only the 2001 Napa bottling before. I liked the 2001 slightly more than this bottle. This was holding up very well and still had plenty of ripe fruit. Decanted for about 1 hour before we drank it. Not much sediment. Dark ruby color. Notes of currant and smoke. What held this wine back from scoring better for me was that I detected a slight medicinal nuance and thought it was a little gritty (perhaps some sediment got stirred up). 89 points.

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• 1992 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  Opened by Mark. Never had a wine from this estate before. Another wine which could have passed for a much younger vintage. Medium bodied. Solid red without any bricking. Decanted for an hour before drinking. Notes of charcoal, cassis and dusty red fruit. 90 points.

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• 1992 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Opened by Mark. Not decanted but opened about 2 hours before we drank it. I drank this with the dinner and was glad i did since this is more of a food wine than the other 1992 Cabs we drank. Smoother with silky tannins. The only other Private Reserve I had before was the 1997 which I found to be overly oaky and astringent. This was not and I liked it much better than the 1997. Notes of cherries, earthy red fruit, cedar and leather. Old world in style compared to the other 1992 cabs at this event. Drinking very well now. 92 points.

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• 1992 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Opened by Mark. Not decanted but opened 2 hours before drinking. Never had the Cask 23 before but did have the 1997 SLV and the 2001 Fay. This was better than either of them. Crimson red color. Medium to full bodied with solid tannins. I drink this with the green peppercorn filet. Notes of currant, pencil lead and tobacco. Liked the character of this wine very much. Long finish. My 2nd favorite of the 5 1992 Napa Cabs at this event. 92-93 points.

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• 1992 Joseph Phelps Insignia 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Opened by Mark. Very excited to try this wine as it was a vintage of Insignia I hadn't had before. I've had the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004. This was among the best of them with only the 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2004 approaching the same quality. Not decanted. Rich red fruit with a creamy texture. Full bodied with no signs of fading at present. Notes of berries, raw meat and light oak. 93-94 points.

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• 1992 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 93 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Opened by Mark. From 375ml. This 20 year old port was still a baby. Not decanted. We drank this with dessert of Buche au Chocolat with creme anglaise and a cheese course. Dark crimson. Rich and voluptuous. Notes of raisins, brandy soaked cherries and medium toasted oak. No rush to drink this. Still has room to improve and integrate. 93+ points.

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