Lazy Sunday group Holiday dinner

The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown
Tasted Sunday, December 22, 2013 by dcwino with 928 views

Introduction

This was our last lazy Sunday dinner of the year. Eight of the usual suspects got together to drink some great wines. Justin was able to source two 4.5 ounce white truffles which we generously sliced in a number of dishes. The chef was very accommodating and kindly prepared scrambled eggs, scallop carpaccio, cauliflower soup and risotto.

The dinner started at four but lasted until ten. We then proceeded to the roof deck and smoke cigars that Justin kindly brought.

Flight 1 - Mostly Champagnes (4 Notes)

It was my first time trying the VV Francaises. Although it was unique and exceptional I preferred the Salon.

  • 1996 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 97 Points

    France, Champagne

    The 96 has been showing beautifully lately. Gorgeous sweet nose, ripe sweet yellow fruits, lemon candy, flowers, lime stone and honey. This particular bottle, although very youthful, also displays sweet dense yellow fruits. Excellent concentration, fine mousse, good acidity and lovely sweet finish. It is interesting to compare the 96 Krug, Salon and Dom. This time, I slightly preferred the Salon. Nevertheless incredible showing. The great vintages of Dom need time to develop as demonstrated by the 90 and the 96. I have been also impressed with the 02 as did Antonio. For the current price, I highly recommend the 02 as well as the 96.

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  • 2004 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Cracker jack, caramel, ripe yellow fruits and good mineral presence. Dense palate, sweet yellow fruits, mineral, good acidity and noticeable alcohol. Your rating may be higher if you enjoy big scale domestic Chardonnays.

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  • 1996 Bollinger Champagne Vieilles Vignes Françaises 97 Points

    France, Champagne

    Very vinous nose, sweet red and ripe yellow fruits, sweet spices, mineral and brioche. Delicate yet decadent palate, intense yet airy, ripe fruits, brioche, good acidity and long finish. A quite unique champagne, especially the palate, that reminds me Selosse Substance although more delicate and not so oxidative. It seems more ready than the Salon and Dom. It definitely improved with air.

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  • 1996 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 99 Points

    France, Champagne

    Stunning showing from the get go, incredibly fresh and precise. Citrus, green apple, honey and mineral. Intense, fresh and precise. This particular bottle is flirting with perfection.

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Flight 2 - Montrachets (2 Notes)

The 82 was a pleasant surprise.

  • 1982 Delagrange-Bachelet Montrachet 98 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

    I picked the lightest color bottle and it truly paid off. The color is as light as the 02 Boillot with only a hint of light gold. Smoke, seashell, saline, delicate yellow fruits and cream. Airy palate, weightless and creamy. Interesting to note the similarity with the 02 Boillot version. Not a big wine but quite complex. A lovely fully matured Le Montrachet.

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  • 2002 Henri Boillot Montrachet 97 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

    Still a youthful and big scale wine. Intense yet cool nose displaying lemon curd, lemon oil, white pepper and limestone. Intense yet airy palate with sweet yellow fruits, good acidity and long finish. Very impressive showing once again.

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Flight 3 - Barolos (2 Notes)

The Cavallotto rocked!

  • 1971 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe 98 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    A stunner! Expressive nose of perfectly ripe cherries and strawberries, rose, tar, dry cherries, kirsch, raisin and baking spices. Excellent concentration, intense sweet yet cool fruit expression, silky palate and nicely integrated tannins. This is an opulent forward fruit driven wine with very clean palate. Still quite youthful but drinking perfectly.

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  • 1985 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 92 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Certainly displaying a lot of Monfortino typicity like iron, blood, leather and etc. There is a hint of oxidative note and the fruit is muted. Still displaying a lot of structure. It seems a bit advanced.

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Flight 4 - Vogue Moose (1 Note)

It showed incredibly well.

  • 1991 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 97 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

    This bottle is incredibly expressive. Intense bright red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, caramel, cream and truffle. Excellent concentration, intense sweet fruit palate expression, beautifully layered fruits and nicely integrated tannins. Generous opulent fruits. Expressive and hedonistic.

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Flight 5 - Two great Bordeaux - not today (2 Notes)

One a bit too advanced and the other, corked!

  • 1959 Château Latour Grand Vin

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Seems a bit advanced. Although the fruit is sweet and displays complex notes like cedar and leather, it is slightly off. Noticeable brett and a hint of VA as well. Nevertheless it is quite enjoyable perhaps slightly too lean. This can be a monumental wine based on my past experiences.

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  • 1982 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Bummer! Slightly corked. Exceptional concentration and intense sweet fruits. A great wine based on my past experiences.

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Flight 6 - Dujacs (2 Notes)

Both were incredibly perfumed!

  • 2001 Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche 97 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

    This must be a great Burgundy day as this is also showing so beautifully. Intense jammy red fruits, cherry fruits, sweet spices, flowers, mushroom and earth. Highly toned, nicely delineated and beautifully layered. This wine displays generous forward fruits. Drinking beautifully but will improve.

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  • 2001 Domaine Dujac Bonnes Mares 95 Points

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

    Mostly dark fruits, noticeably minty, cheery cola and earth. Excellent concentration and noticeable structure. This was mostly favored to the CDR and I was in the minority, preferring the CDR.

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Flight 7 - Two great Bordeaux - incredible showing (2 Notes)

  • 1990 Château Cheval Blanc 98 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Initially Cab Franc driven nose, ash, smoke and lead pencil. With air, intense ripe black fruits, flowers, mineral and earth. Excellent concentration, chewy, layered fruits and extremely long finish. This is an exotic and decadent wine that has a big upside potential.

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  • 1996 Château Margaux 99 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    The 96 Margaux is a great wine, a classic claret with perfect balance and harmony. Expressive nose of black fruits, cassis, lead pencil, flowers and earth. Seamless from the beginning to the end, beautiful polished fruit expression, silk and sophisticated palate and nicely integrated tannins. Still quite primary yet all the components are in perfect harmony. One of the most sophisticated classic clarets that are consistently flirting with perfection. Perhaps the Chateau Margaux version of the 90 Latour. Long life ahead.

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Flight 8 - Two rhones (2 Notes)

  • 1990 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale 94 Points

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

    Justin B mentioned that made in amarone style. Justin C initially thought possibly slightly corked. Very Amarone like with tar, sap and raisin. It masks 16.5% alcohol very well. Dry cherry, raisin, licorice, tar, leather, sap and tobacco. The palate is also very Amarone like, lots of dry impression. Very interesting wine.

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  • 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 98 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    The 90 la Chapelle pretty well be a 100 year wine! Extremely youthful, ripe slightly dry black fruits, licorice, tapenade, rare charred steak, tar and a hint of mint. Exceptional concentration, big scale, bright acidity and nicely integrated tannins. It will improve at least for another twenty years. Impressive wine.

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Flight 9 - Two RSVs (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Romanée St. Vivant 98 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

    Wow! This is so incredibly perfumed. Fresh vibrant red fruits, raspberry and cherry, smoke, sweet spices, flowers and sap. Very precise clean palate, vibrant sweet fruits, lovely mineral expression and nicely integrated tannins. This is sort of wine that gives energy. Vibrant, energetic, precise, expressive, beguiling and harmonious. Wow!

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  • 2010 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 98 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

    I love drinking young DRC RSVs as they tend to show lovely caramel note, sap and a hint of Vosne spices even at the early stage. This particular bottle shows noticeable stem. Fresh bright red fruits, fresh crushed raspberries and blackberries, black cherries, stem, sap, mushroom and Vosne spices. Very polished, precise, complex, weightless, harmonious and seamless. Impressive showing.

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Flight 10 - D'Yquem (1 Note)

We also had the 70 Fonseca which was wonderful.

  • 1967 Château d'Yquem 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    A hint of oxidative note. Crème caramel, dry apricot, raisin, dark honey, cognac and a hint of sweet madeira. Lovely airy texture that is only found in D’Yquem. This seems slightly off. Nevertheless, lovely.

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Closing

Two big truffles, great dishes and great wines. A great time was had by all.

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