Dinner at Palena
Palena - Washington, DC
Tasted Friday, October 19, 2012 by tooch with 611 views
Introduction
Had to visit my favorite spot in DC while I was in town. Some great wines were opened, and the food was well prepared. The Palena team took great care of us as usual.
2000 Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Comtesse Marie de France 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
The aromatics on this wine were really neat. One minute orange blossom and slate dominated the nose a minute later you'd be greeted with peach and yeast. The lushness of the nose was in juxtapose with its palate that was firm, minerally, and herbal. It had nice fruit, too, with drops of white peach and pear. Will be a fascinating wine to see age...
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2007 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
You know how kids run around the beach with open jars trying to capture the smell of the beach/ocean so they can take a whiff when they get home? This bottle of Raveneau is the adult version of that. THIS is what chardonnay is all about.
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1989 Simon Bize Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru
Rustic and earthy. Had a nice forestal edge to it that kept it fresh, and combined well with berry and spice tones.
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1990 Simon Bize Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Bourgeots
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune
The nose had a good deal of volatile acidity at first, but it seemed to dissipate with time. The palate was a bit blocky with red berries and earth - wasn't the sharpest or most refined Burg.
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1999 Nicolas Potel Clos Vougeot Flawed
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
cork city
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2006 Domaine Truchot-Martin Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Sorbes 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru
A very pure expression of Pinot from one of the great (IMHO) premier cru vineyards. Aromatics were just great. Ripe cherry was at the center, but framing it was lovely beef broth, truffle, earth, and game accents. As is the case with many Truchot pinots, the palate is so lithe and powerful - just a wonderful combination of fruit, earth and spices. A lot of people talk about this vintage generally as lacking complexity and featuring riper-than-usual fruit. For the most part, I've agreed with that but this Truchot completely bucked that trend.
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2002 Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques Domaine Louis Jadot 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Drank alongside a 2006 Truchot, this was far more broad and dense. Had great berry and earth notes on the nose with a good deal of forestal spices too. The palate was juicy and fresh with nice acidity, red fruit, subtle leather and spices. Already drinking in a great spot.
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2003 La Grange Tiphaine Touraine Clef de Sol 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine
A really nice, albeit firm Cabernet Franc. Despite the hot vintage, this was firm and more austere than I had expected. The nose had the wonderfully green aspects of Cab Franc on display with a great leafy tobacco edge to it. Very nice.
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