Kelly’s visit, two nights of great wines - Burgundy and Rhone

Since Kelly just flew in for the Friday wine dinner, I suggest that he should stay for another night to revisit Marks duckhouse. I ordered a scallop, chicken and crab meat dumplings ahead of time and we order other tasty dishes. All the dishes were well done and we all stuffed ourselves.

Although the Friday dinner lasted until 1 am, I played four games of softball with twenty something year old guys. Naturally I played catcher and my body was hurting everywhere. I picked up Kelly from the hotel and got to the restaurant a few minutes late. We were joined by five DC winos and we proceeded to eat and drink.

• 2002 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année Rosé 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Very little red, salmon color. The deeply toned nose agrees with the color, copper, a hint of strawberry and cherry, sweet citrus, mineral and sweet spices. Excellent concentration, intense and sweet palate, bright acidity and long seamless finish. The overall expression is round, coiled, deeply toned and sweet. It is drinking beautifully but will improve.

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The wines complimented the dumplings very well.

• 2005 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs 94 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  Sweet yellow fruits, crème bruless, anise, limestone and a hint of burnt sugar. Some spritz that blew off, oily texture masks strong mineral expression, some sweetness via layers of concentrated fruits but the finish is quite dry. It reminds me a bit of ZH Brand but a bit more mineral and a bit more dry. It would be a nice wine to try at home over a few hours, perhaps with a simple roasted chicken.

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• 2008 Weingut von Othegraven Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling Kabinett 91 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Some yellow fruits but also lemon zest, lemon curd, sour apple, honey and a hint of burnt sugar. Noticeable residual sugar, good acidity and delicious finish. Very taste wine that I would love to try with Indian curry.

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• 2007 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Großes Gewächs Flawed

  Germany, Nahe

  Noticeable spritz. Some commented secondary bottle fermentation. Something not quite right. I am no expert but I really like GGs right after release when there is so much minerality.

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• 2010 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Initially served a bit too cold, pear, lemon, honeysuckle, white flower, limestone and saline. Once again cold mountain stream that I associate with Raveneau, very mineral, bright acidity and long finish. Another lovely bottle of the 10 Raveneau.

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• 2002 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  I had the wine about a year ago which I really liked. This seems to display more yellow fruits, ie no more pear and apple, lemon zest, mint, spicy spices, seashell and almond oil. Excellent concentration, almost oily impression, bright acidity and excellent mineral expression. With air, there was a strong note of chocolate mint. Lovely wine.

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I really loved the Leroy and the Arnoux.

• 2001 Domaine Truchot-Martin Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Ruchots 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru

  Although I really enjoy soft and jammy fruit and floral expression of the 01reds, I often find a hint of oxidative note as the end note with slightly bitter finish which is bothersome. Soft warm red fruit, raspberry, flower, mushroom, dark caramel, earth and a hint of oxidative note that find often in the 01s. Medium concentration, slightly lacking fruit and austere as there is a hint of oxidative note. This is definitely more about the nose than the palate.

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• 2001 Domaine Leroy Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Initially there is a hint of wild flower note, must be a chambolle. Classic Leroy profiled, stewed fruit, light caramel, raspberry preserve and complex Asian tea like not a la VR. Excellent concentration, intensely sweet fruit driven palate, nicely integrated tannins and long finish. Incredibly delicious yet very serious wine. Long life ahead but perfectly enjoyable at the moment

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• 1995 Domaine Robert Arnoux / Arnoux-Lachaux Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  Bad crumbling cork and the last bottle had the same issue from a different source. Initially a bit angular but becomes expressive with air. Dark fruit driven, blackberry preserves, Vosne spices and mushroom. Silky round palate, noticeable sweet dark fruits and long finish. This is a beautifully matured wine with GC like complexity.

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• 2000 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  A hint of raisin, black fruits, tobacco, cola syrup and herb de provence. Round and silky palate, nice sweet fruit attack and a hint of dry tannins that is not bothersome. This seems to reach the full maturity. I am not a big fan of very ripe fruit expression but some may appreciate it a lot more. I would definitely enjoy this more in a cold night with a roasted game.

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• 2005 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  A big scale wine, dark fruits, fruit cake, port, tobacco, sweet spices and a hint of garrigues. Excellent concentration, nice sweet dark fruit palate impression, round and warm. Ready to go but will improve for another decade.

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• 2001 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Cherry liqueur, licorice, tobacco, chocolate and a hint of dry herbs. The nose expression seems fresher/less raisiny than the 00 Clos de Papes. Extremely round and silky mouthfeel, almost like a liqueur like. Very impressive.

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• 1995 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin 97 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Absolutely stunning showing for me, very floral a la lavender , perfume, raspberry, black tea, cooked blackberry, mineral and a hint of herb. What I love about this wine is that the nose remains fresh and the palate not too heavy. Excellent concentration, intense but fresh sweet fruits and noticeable but not obtrusive tannins. Great wine.

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• 2003 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Blackberry and raspberry, fruitcake and baking spices. Although there is a hint of liqueur, it is not an obvious example of the 03 CDPs. Excellent concentration, intense sweet fruit attack and nicely integrated tannins. Still pretty primary.

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• 1999 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Still so darn primary, not hasn’t changed much in two years. Blue and black fruits, blackberry, a hint of smoke and garrigue. Excellent concentration, nice round and silky palate and nicely integrated tannins. This will improve for at least five more years.

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It was a great evening of great wines and great friends. Everyone generously brought some great wines. The bill was $90 per person all in which is the highest ever but no one complained as we were all really stuffed.