Thursday Night Tasting with Tim and Friends

Tasted Thursday, August 11, 2016 by Force5 with 292 views

Introduction

A mutual friend had introduced me to Tim McCracken online a few months back before traveling to Europe, and I received an unexpected invitation to join them for cheese and hors d'oeuvres when Tim was briefly in town last week. Very nice to meet in person and to share good food and wine with "work friends" who I don't normally get to socialize with like this. All wines I brought were cellared since release.

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

  • 1994 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Completely outperformed my impression of the vintage. Wide open, fresh, great balance, almost creamy, fully resolved, fully mature. Very mildly oxidative notes, does not distract. $39 price tag is still on the bottle. My WOTN.

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  • 1990 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    The whites ruled tonight. The previous bottle from this case 4-5 years ago was somewhat tired so I wasn’t expecting as much as this delivered. Similar state of evolution as the Raveneau. Hugely aromatic. Spicy and fat, a point, just enough buffering acidity to keep this lively and interesting.

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  • 2010 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Cuvée J

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Probably not the right time to be drinking this but I grabbed this on the way out the door more as a conversation point for Tim visiting from Europe to try to show a good Burgundy-styled new world pinot. Still some high-toned vanilla-oaky aromas always in this wine on release, a little tutti-fruity with a strong note of watermelon (!) that dissipates over 2 hours revealing more of the earthy-structured character that suggests Burgundy to many reviewers. Not flawed but simple now, hoping for more interest when opened with 2010 Burgs in 15 years.

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  • 1993 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs 88 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

    Most of these ‘90s d’Angerville wines come across to me as a bit rustic and clumsy. Better than ’93 Taillepieds earlier this year but not nearly as good as the ’96 Ducs a few weeks ago. Mature slightly stewey nose, could use more acid and focus. Will last but I don't see it improving. Decant next time, fine sediment in the last half of the bottle was distracting.

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  • 2001 Domaine Arlaud Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Millandes

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru

    Surprisingly undeveloped color and medium-bodied flavors for 15 years old, neither showing very much. Still loads of fine-grained tannin. This is still fairly closed but probably needs more acid backbone in order to age well. Interesting wine not flawed but I can’t get a good read on it tonight.

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  • 1990 Louis Jadot Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Domaine Louis Jadot 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

    Nose is kaleidoscopically "wow!" with a touch of sur maturite. In the mouth, the tannins are fully resolved but this is still quite primary and almost plummy, needs some time to become more interesting. Tightened up some in a good way over the course of the evening. Very good potential, one bottle left. 92+ tonight but expecting a bit more later.

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  • 1996 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Classic graphite-minerally-black fruit aromas. Good, understated balance. I would guess that this only just started drinking nicely but I’m thinking this is a bit simple and direct, like 10 years from optimum drinkability. Just for now and for me, good not great, with potential to improve.

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Closing

The whites dominated the reds this night, and I really should do a better job cellaring a few more interesting whites like this.

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