Zachys in Chicago

EL Ideas - Chicago IL
Tasted Monday, October 28, 2013 by Burgundy Al with 686 views

Introduction

We have made some great friends at Zachys over the years and even though we can't convince them to hold a Chicago auction, a few friends got together for dinner on a Monday night at a favorite little restaurant.

Flight 1 - Welcome (1 Note)

  • 1988 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    From magnum. Really sensational Champagne, another 1988 coming across as incredibly bright and energetic at 25 yo. Lots of energy throughout, very good power start-to-finish. Great now, this should be drinking great for a very long time.

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Flight 2 - Some White Burgundy to Start (3 Notes)

Flight 3 - Older Amoureuses (2 Notes)

Flight 4 - Great Vogüé Bonnes Mares Flight (3 Notes)

  • 1998 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes Mares 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

    In a great flight of Vogue 98/00/02 Bonnes Mares. Open 4+ hours before serving, one hour in decanter. Sensational aromatic start with spice, black fruit, toasty and earthy background hints. Powerful and vibrant black fruit flavors, slightly less evolved than on the nose. Firm through middle with a slightly abrupt finish.

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  • 2000 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes Mares 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

    Served in a great flight of Vogue 98/00/02 Bonnes Mares. Open an hour+ before serving, this could have used more air. Accessible start with rounded black fruit and spice hints. Less accessible middle to end with a firm finish. Just entering its peak drinking window, so give plenty of air if opened.

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  • 2002 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes Mares 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

    Served in a great flight of Vogue 98/00/02 Bonnes Mares. Open an hour+ before serving. I was afraid this would be completely unfriendly and unforthcoming, but that wasn't the case as all. Dense, meaty and ever-so-slightly backward, this was firmly structured but also had so much ripe black fruit, density, richness and spice that everything came across as harmonious. Ok, this would have benefited from a few hours in a decanter or another decade in the cellar, but still a truly "wow" wine tonight.

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Flight 5 - Some More Good Red Burgundy (2 Notes)

  • 2006 Christophe Roumier Charmes-Chambertin Aux Mazoyeres 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Sweet black fruit with plenty of spice aromas. Lush on palate, again showing all black fruit. Slightly more Roumier than Gevrey to me tonight, not really showing the spice character or sauvage of Gevrey, but perhaps that will come with more time in the cellar. Moderate power and length.

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  • 2000 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru

    What a thrill to taste this wine again...it has been two whole days since tried on Saturday! Very similar to the previous bottle, just slightly more mature, which is neither good or bad, and slightly shorter. but very beautiful and incredibly harmonious. Others enjoyed this more than I did tonight.

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Flight 6 - An Off-Night for Mascarello Barolo (2 Notes)

Flight 7 - An On-Night for Great Vintage Palmer (2 Notes)

  • 1983 Château Palmer 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Another phenomenal opportunity to taste Palmer 1983 and 1989 side by side, with 1983 coming out on top tonight. Incredibly elegant with charming and fresh red and black cherry in front of emerging mushroom. Some licorice, cedar and woodsy spice. Very long and persistent. My Wine of the Night in a very good night of wine.

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  • 1989 Château Palmer 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Another thrilling opportunity to taste Palmer 1983 and 1989 side-by-side, and tonight the 1983 came out on top. This 1989 was more powerful meaty and dense with all black fruit and less nuance or evolved charm. Very powerful and long.

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Flight 8 - Some Sweet to Finish (1 Note)

  • 1970 Graham Porto Vintage

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Very good overall with a nutty, earthy character, hints of ripe figs and cherry. Slightly simpler than I recall vs when last opened 4-5 years ago, but maybe it was just too late to appreciate this tonight.

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