Couples dinner on a cold, breezy fall night.

Aaron and I helped a woman inventory and pack up her wine cellar for sale and bought some bottles to drink together.

With a slice of canned foie gras.

• 1994 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rotenberg Vendange Tardive Flawed

  France, Alsace

  My first taste of this was amazing... the TCA in this grew more and more noteiceable as the night went on. This would have been the wine of the night no doubt about it... had that 95-96 feel to it which is well documented below. Bummer.

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• 1998 Château Guiraud 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Very similar to last bottle other than the fact that the wine was still alive and well the next day. In the zone!

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With a classic French onion soup.

• 1995 Domaine de Trévallon 91 Points

  France, Provence, Vin de Pays des Bouches-du-Rhône

  Very light color, hints of brown at rim. Aromatically still young and vibrant being very cab like on nose with raspberry and hints of currant... some dried herbs/old oak aromas in there. You really feel the syrah on the palate which is full and expansive with extremely fresh acidity and well integrated tannins. Next day still going strong so I would be tempted to hold on to these as it has the depth of flavor and acid to improve.

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• 1996 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Moderate depth of color, brick hints at rim. Aromatically very cote rotie being very elegant and perfumed with olive, red and dark fruits, some background new oak smells in there along with quite a bit of earthy moss. On the palate very structured with a firm tannic backbone that has yet to integrate though I’m not sure it has the depth of fruit to do so. Food helped the texture quite a bit.

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• 1998 Domaine La Bouïssiere Gigondas La Font de Tonin 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Moderate to deep color. Aromatically this was quite closed most of the night despite an aggressive decant. The next morning it was not still not showing much. The wine has an old vine, intense, and structured feel to it but just isn’t showing its stuff right now. The cooler climate of Gigondas made for way more balanced, structured, interesting wines in ‘98 for me than Chateauneuf. I wouldn’t touch another one of these for 3-5 if I had more... if this opens up it could be grand!

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• 1999 Domaine La Bouïssiere Gigondas La Font de Tonin Flawed

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Badly corked.

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With a braised Wagyu brisket and parsnips.

• 1984 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  One of the best wines of the night for sure… visually appeared quite a bit younger than 28 years in age… very interesting nose of mint, raspberry, baking spice, cedar, mushrooms… on the palate very vibrant and fresh with very well integrated tannins and a fleshy, chewy midpalate. Kills the 85 and 87 of this.

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• 1985 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Lightly corked but the wine underneath would have been quite nice... a chunky version of the '84 that proceeded it.

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• 1987 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Weird nose that was both vegetal and sour at the same time. On the palate the underripeness persisted and the tannins were still noticeably stemmy and green which hurt the texture a fair amount. Greener than Kermit the frog!

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With a fresh berry apple pie... the Spatlese at least.

• 2007 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay

  I have had about 5 or 6 of these now and continue to have the same impression of the wine... stylistically it is a generous and easy to like Old World pinot that has offers some minerality and classic Burgundy structure for those who like their PN old school and some fruit intensity and flesh on the midpalate that pleases those New World PN fans. I agree with BurgAndy it isn't particularly Volnay right now and is as much 09 as 07 with all the charm and fruit intensity. I still think if it were blind on an exam I would call it Old World based on its palate which is for me at least, is distinctly Old World because of its firm and minerally palate shape (the aromatic intesnity of fruit and charming style I suppose point to the New World a bit). Over the past 6 months the wine has been opening up aromatically so I think it won't peak for another year or so.

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• 2006 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese 91 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Really, really nice right now… aromatically a very nice mix of lime, lemon, stones, petrol, a hint of stone fruit. On the palate very lemony, zippy acids… pushes the limits of medium sweet (45 g/l) for me but that acidity carries the RS so, so well… Great finish that is all about focus and clarity of expression. Great wine that beginning to end is spot on.

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Really fun night... lots of political talk which kept the night lively and interesting...