Impromptu dinner - 96 Krug, 02 Churchill, 02 Raveneau MdT, 67 Latour, 01 Mugnier Amoureuses & etc.

David W organized an impromptu wine dinner. Nine of got together at Blacksalt to try a number of interesting wines.

• 1996 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  More like the bottle drank on 11/30/2014, perhaps due to also having the same provenance. Vinous nose with a hint of pinot, red fruits, essence of raspberry, caramel, nutmeg, limestone and brioche. Excellent concentration, fine mousse, delicate sweet red fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and lovely long sweet finish. Decadent and airy. The 96 Krug went from absolute precision to delicate and decadent in a very short period of time. Drinking perfectly but it will be interesting to observe how it will transform.

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• NV Laurent-Perrier Champagne Grand Siecle 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Very Chardonnay/Chablis nose. White citrus fruit, a hint of apple, lemon, smoke, mineral and honey. Very good concentration, fat but fresh white fruit driven palate impression, slightly sharp mousse, good acidity and lovely clean finish. Lovely champagne.

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• 2002 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Very youthful nose, ripe red apple, a hint of raspberry, yeast/brioche, anise, sweet spices and mineral. Excellent concentration, generous rich yellow fruit driven palate impression, fine mousse, bright acidity and lovely long finish. Yeast but very youthful, deep and riche wine. Very impressive, need another five to ten years but still very enjoyable.

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

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  A great example of nicely mature Raveneau. It is like drinking fresh cold oyster brine. Thirst quenching. Lemon curd, mostly yellow fruits, saline, oyster shell, butter, limestone, lanoline, a slightly hint of butterscotch and flowers. Very pure, precise and cool palate impression. With air, I noticed a hint of pine needle/mint. Drinking perfectly but still can improve. Lovely showing. Will perfectly complement oysters.

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• 2005 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Starts dense and tight, a hint of lemon and alcohol. With air, lemon, saline, seashell, a slight hint of butter scotch and mineral. Excellent concentration, ripe yellow fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, mineral and sweet finish. This is a ripe and dense style of Duavissat Clos but being Dauvissat, still shows good precision. Started around 92 but definitely around mid 90s. No sign of premox so I recommend another five years of cellaring. If one plans to open one now, a few hours of decanting would be recommended.

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• 2008 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Spätlese 93 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  Good mixture of fresh whiter fruits like pear and white peach with mouth-watering lemon curd. Excellent concentration, slightly fizzy, bright acidity, layered mineral and lovely sweet finish. Still a bit sweet. Simply delicious and yummy. Will improve.

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• 2008 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese 91 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  This seems a bit riper than Kupfergrube. Ripe yellow fruits, peach, apricot and pineapple, sweet spices, caramel and mineral that gives reasonable definition. Very good concentration, ripe yellow fruit driven palate impression, good acidity and sweet dense finish. Delicious but I preferred the Kupfergrube.

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• 1967 Château Latour Grand Vin 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  I used to buy a lot of 67 FGs, CB and Ausone for under $30 in the good old Butterfields days as it is my birth year. The Latour, CB and Ausone were the best showing good concentration just not terribly complex. Lovely fully mature claret, cassis, sweet slightly dry black fruits, plum, cedar, leather, mint and earth. Despite mostly tertiary, the overall expression is straightforward. Very good concentration, slightly dry black fruit driven palate impression, leather, good acidity and fully integrated tannins. Really enjoyable but not worth the current auction.

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• 1982 Château Beychevelle 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Starts slow, some red fruits, cedar and mineral. With air, really blossoms, fresh red fruits, alos plum, flowers, mint, caraml, cedar and earth. Medium concentration, polished, a hint of dust, good acidity, fully integrated tannins and lovely sweet red fruit finish. Later, especially after the Burgundy, very Burgundian. Starts around 91 but ended 94 pts. Definitely decant or serve over a few hours.

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• 1982 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  A minor controversy/disagreement. Some thought it was corked but I didn’t notice. Noticeable damp dirty cellar smell and muted fruits, but the finish is there and not clips. I have noticed a number of the 80s Bordeaux with the similar issue. Possible heat damage. We all agree that is was undrinkable but disagree on the cause. It was a shame as this is a solid mid 90 point Bordeaux.

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• 1990 Massolino Barolo Margheria 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Very typical 90 ripeness. Dry black frits, fruitcake, dry fig/fig newton, tar, dark spices and scorched earth. Good concentration, dry dark fruit and fruitcake driven palate impression, still noticeable slightly dry tannins and medium finish with sweet dry fruit end. For my palate, old school Barolo. Very good.

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• 2001 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 94 Points

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

  Fresh sweet red fruits, raspberry, red cherry, flowers, sap, cola and mineral. Very good concentration, decadent red fruit driven palate impression, polished palate, good acidity, nicely integrated tannins and lovely finish. For me, the 01s seem to show a hint of bitterness that clips the finish and this is no exception. Similar to the last bottle, finish clips. Nevertheless this is drinking beautiful. No need to hurry but no need to wait.

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• 2005 Louis Jadot Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 92 Points

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

  Holly big wine that doesn’t want to budge. Red fruit extract, slightly dry cherries, mushroom, earth and a hint of alcohol Excellent concentration, dense red fruit driven palate impression, good acidity and noticeable sweet tannins. This is tightly coiled. Need at least ten more years.

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• 2007 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Auslese 93 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Peach, apple, apricot, pear, a hint of red fruits, honey and sweet spices. Very good concentration, a hint of fizz, good acidity and lovely sweet and sour finish. Delicious.

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• 1967 Château Climens 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Beautiful light amber color. Bright and sweet yellow pit fruits, apricot, yellow peach, a hint of red fruits, light tea, crème brulee and sweet spices. Polished palate, medium concentration, cool red tea and pit fruit driven palate impression, mineral, good acidity and lovely long clean finish. This is cleaner and purer but don’t possess the power and complexity of the 67 D’Yquem. A great aperitif for my palate rather than a great dessert wine.

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It was a fun evening.