Dinner with Friends

M/M slipstitchpass allowed us to crash their date night and invited us to their home for some warm up Champagnes before joining them for dinner at Giant.

• 2002 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Brut Paradoxe 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Courtesy of M to start the evening. Relatively deep color with a short mousse and fine, if not persistent, bubbles- definitely showing a bit of age in all appearances. Performs more like a very fine still wine than sparkler, which doesn't bother me in the least bit. Apple and orchard fruit notes with a soft nutty undertone and also honeysuckle and floral qualities. Very pretty and elegant. Apple on the palate with a caramel/nutty edge and a lingering finish. A May 2006 disgorgement. For my palate this was a perfect example of a mature Champagne at peak. 93+ pts.

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• 1996 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame Flawed

  France, Champagne

  Aggressive but short mousse. Nutty apple notes, perhaps some toasted hazelnut too. Absolutely lifeless on the palate though- no fruit, nuts, dough- nothing. Could be a case where very slight TCA taint strips the wine of its character but doesn't display the telltale cardboard, I don't know, but regardless of what caused it, I am certain this is not a representative bottle.

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Giant's corkage policy allows two bottles with a tiered corkage fee of, if I recall correctly, $25 for the first and $35 for the second...not the most friendly policy, but it still beats huge restaurant markups (speaking generally, not of Giant in particular) on wines that are much too young to be properly appreciated & enjoyed. From what I recall, Giant's list carries fairly standard markups and has quite a few decent/interesting options.

• 2008 A. R. Lenoble Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Millésimé 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Enjoyed at Giant with M/M slipstitchpass. Pale color with a lingering mousse and fine bead. Limestone, apple and ginger notes. Flavors of lemon, pastry cream, and pear with a subtle doughy quality too. Long finish. Very rich for a blanc de blancs. I should have bought more than four bottles. Damn.

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• 2016 Arnot-Roberts Rosé 90 Points

  USA, California

  Off the wine list at Giant. No formal note was taken, but I recall a very pretty bouquet of strawberry and peach blossoms. Bright acidity. Strawberry and melon flavors on the palate with perhaps a citrusy edge in the finish. Bright and lively with terrific balancing acidity.

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• 2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 96 Points

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

  Popped and poured, given a few minutes in the glass to open up. Dusty garnet in color showing a little bit of age. Aromas of dark fruit, red currants, spice, roasted game, rose and floral notes. I could have spent the rest of the night with my nose in the glass except that the lamb ragu with gnocchi and pecan-smoked baby back ribs had arrived at the table. Tannins have almost completely integrated. Red berry fruit, pepper, spice and rare beef flavors. There's a garrigue-like element that develops with a bit more air and the beefy/iron quality on the palate deepens a bit as well. Long finish. Impressive depth and balance throughout. Simply an awesome bottle. 96 pts for Domino and 96-97 pts for me.

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Thank you M/M slipstitchpass for a very fun evening.