A Potpourri of Great Wines at Alma

Seven of us gathered at the newly revamped Restaurant Alma to drink what turned out to be a splendid det of wines. While the wines are always generally very good. We had a couple tonight that make really giddy with wine joy. Food was pretty good too!

• NV Fallet-Dart Champagne Grande Selection Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  This was pretty interesting out of the gate. Lots of sweet cream and vanilla on the nose, vanilla custard, cedar, green apple. Consistent on the palate. This had a pleasantly different profile than a lot of Champagne. A nice twist.

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• 2004 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Présidence Vieilles Vignes 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Ooh, this was good. Had high hopes based on experience with other vintage wines from this producer, but you never know. This had me from the nose with a perfectly delicious toastiness, but boy was this light on its feet. Pear, cream, creme brulee, crustacean minerality, brisk acid and crisp on the palate. This was so focused and lively. Loved it. 92+ to 93pts.

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• 2007 Faiveley Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. It's not often that I disagree significantly with Chablis28, but this would be one of those times. I was pretty captivated by this wine I thought the nose was amazing with great focus to the citrus fruits, plenty of lemon, tangerine, and lime with bristling briny minerality. Yes, there is oak here. Is it your quintessential Chablis with no or very minimal oak treatment? Nope, but I find it complimentary as opposed to distracting. I might have a different opinion if this was 4 or 5 years old, but at 9 years now, I find the oak offering more interest than not. Sure, one of the things I love about Chablis is that crisp expression of the grape and the terroir. But like anything else, I appreciate some variety and this was a hit for me. I found the palate to be very racy and filled with a landslide of tart lemon and tart orange, with a zest and precision. The classical briny ocean minerals are there in spades too. Long and bright fruit with oak influence noted, but not in my opinion heavy handed. I wish I had more. 94+pts.

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• 2013 Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 40 minutes. This had some laser beam acidity and tightly wound citrus, lemon, lemon zest, mineral palate, zingy, oak, youthful, but bright. This has a nice future.

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• 2000 Domaine Bruno Clair Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Medium dark red color. Slow O for 90 minutes, drank 1 glass over an hour plus. This was in great shape, expressive nose with a dank (in a good way) earthiness, red cherry, and an exotic mix of spices that features a distinct cinnamon note. The palate is medium bodied with distinct Gevrey minerality, an exotic spice mix, dower cherry, dank earth, and a sleek texture. This was quite good and likely at peak.

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• 2006 Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques Domaine Louis Jadot 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Medium dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. The first thing that comes to mind with this wine is young. Youthful and showing great promise. Very nicely spiced red fruits and some yet to resolve oak. The pedigree is there I expect this will really shine in another 5 years or so. 91(+)pts.

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• 2001 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Dark red color. Double decanted and then an additional 90 minutes or so of air in bottle. Drank 1 glass over an hour plus. At the risk of piling on, I'll add my praise to the Chablis28's bottle too. This really has a fantastic nose, simply gorgeous. There is an intriguing mix of dried herbs, raspberry, cherry, star anise, rose hips and oak spice, very high toned. The palate is lifted, with a silky texture that has this featherweight feel with amazing intensity. Sauvage, dried herbs, mixed spice, high toned red fruits, mineral, and deliciously firm round tannins. A beautiful bottle, thanks for sharing Craig!

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• 2006 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. The next in a series of wonderful wines was this beauty. Very nice depth and concentration, dark cherry, earthy, violets, oak, luscious tannins and a long finish. This is just coming into prime time drinking. I'll echo Chablis28's comments as well. Spot on. 93+pts.

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• 1998 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 96 Points

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

  On a night when the great wines just kept coming this was right there at the top. I've never had a '98 that really blew me away, but this bottle certainly changed that When Clos des Papes is on, there are few CDP's that excite me more. There is that great immense perfume on the nose, garrigue, flowers, spice and juicy red fruits. The palate is medium full bodied, showing more dark fruits as well, intense and finessed, great balance and very long. As much as i loved this, it wasn't quite where the '95 has been the last couple times I've had it. But based on this bottle, i guess i underscored those and maybe will have to go back and revise them. Did I mention I love Clos des Papes.

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• 1998 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. I'm not sure why, but by the time we get to the '98 Ducru my note taking seems to fall by the wayside. Well, nonetheless, this is a winner in an under appreciated left bank vintage. Pretty red fruits, cedar box, and cassis are highlights on a classy medium bodied chassis. Drinking well on a PNP and better with some additional air.

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• 2005 Alain Voge Cornas Cuvée Vieilles Fontaines 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Cassis and dark fruits, ripe, gravel, tar and some meat notes, still a bit of oak and tannin that will fold in more. This was getting progressively better in glass. Ideally a couple more years or a bit more of a decant and this should deliver even more. 91+(+)pts.

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• 1995 Martinelli Gewürztraminer Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Deep gold color. PNP, small pour. There wasn't a lot left to identify this as Gewurz. Oxidative with apple, sour apple, and some wiley lychee notes, some sweetness, and not much in the way of floral notes. A bit of spice is added on the medium weight palate. Drinkable, but but probably long past prime. Interesting and fun to try anyway.

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