Scott's Birthday Dinner

For my birthday, my generous wife surprised me with a dinner party on Saturday night with 13 of our closest friends. Catered by Dallas standby George Catering, the food was brilliant and the wine flowed freely from my cellar.

Tequila Cured Salmon Cone
Bacon Pops
Chicken Poblano Hash

• 1990 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Served with hors d'oevres. Nice, deep yellow color with a toasty, caramel nose. Light creamy mouthfeel with tons of nut, toast, and apple. Late maturity, this one is taking on some sherry notes and won't last much longer.

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• 2005 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc 92 Points

  USA, California, North Coast

  Wonderful, consistent sauvignon blanc. Light straw color, great acid with grapefruit, crisp apple, grass and lemon notes. This is a staple.

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Roasted Quail Soup with Pearl Onions and Truffle Butter Croutons
Texas Field Green Salad with Roasted Shallot Dressing

• 2005 Scholium Project Glos McDowell 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Beautiful, subtle wine. Closed nose at first, this one took about an hour of air to really show its stuff. Light floral nose with just a touch of petrol reminded me a little of a reisling. Great acidity and very smooth, light body. Grapefruit, apple, peach. Paired wonderfully with the quail soup and mixed greens salad. Drank from double magnum.

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Fire Roasted Beef Tenderloin and Broiled Halibut
Scalloped Sweet Potatoes and Asparagus
Beet Coulis

• 2001 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spottswoode Estate Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Wonderful bottle got rave reviews. Paired nicely with the cumin-rubbed tenderloin. Decanted for about an hour before serving. Nose was subtle fruit and berry. Good, deep color, medium body with great tannic structure. Plenty of berry on the palate, with peat, smoke, and spearmint.

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• 2002 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spottswoode Estate Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep, dark wine with intense nose of dark fruit and spice. Vanilla, sandalwood, black cherry, blackberry, and leather. Loved this one. Two bottles plus one from magnum.

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Trio of Desserts:
Chocolate Pots de Creme
Chocolate Spice Cake with Macadamia
Pinapple Envelope

• 1986 Dow Porto Vintage Quinta do Bomfim 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Wonderful Vintage Port, very good QPR. Right at maturity, this port was inky purple with a great nose of caramel and licorice. Light-to-medium body with great berry, nutmeg, and stewed fruit.

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• 2004 Radio-Coteau Zinfandel Von Weidlich 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Really good zin. This inky wine had a peppery, spicy bright nose. Perfect, balance body with complex structure that tells me I can keep the other bottles for a few years more. Syrah-like suppleness with classic berry and dark cherry notes.

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• 2004 Radio-Coteau Syrah Timbervine 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Interesting syrah. Deep purple with light, fruity nose. Balanced palate with a allspice, cloves, vanilla, tobacco smoke, dark fruit palate.

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