Jacques and Jill vist Denver

Jacques and Jill were visiting, so a few of us gathered to enjoy some fine company, food and wine. I thought the food was excellent as always and we caught up on each other's lives and reminisced about offlines gone by. Overall the wines showed quite well.

• 2014 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs-Gain 92 Points

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

  I was quite taken by this Chassagne Montrachet, not a flashy wine but so classy and seamless and effortless. There was a top note of white flowers and vanilla that I found compelling. Great length and depth too. Young but fully in the zone at present. I don't drink enough white burg. If more complexity develops with age (a risky proposition, of course), this would climbs 2-3 pts for sure. 92-93 pts.

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• 1989 Grattamacco Bolgheri Rosso 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri

  The 89 Grattamacco was good but should be drunk soon for anyone holding. It's a Cabernet based super Tuscan that smelled a lot like a cool climate Cab but showed the acid and dry tannin of an older Italian wine that saw some wood. Quite nice but not a bunch of nuance. Better with the food. Classy, restrained, ready.

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• 1998 Château Figeac 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  The 98 Figeac was terrific, and though fairly primary, in a highly enjoyable phase. I got lots of Cabernet character on the bouquet with some mint, cedar and a hint of green, but nothing excessive. The palate had much better stuffing than a 2000 Figeac I had recently and I found the balance pretty much spot on. An earthy, dark fruit profile on the palate is excellent and harkens a bit to the Mediterranean. Very food friendly and with good upside I'd wager for 10-15 years of future enjoyment.

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• 1983 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  The 83 Lynch is a favorite of mine and it seems to have shown well for at least a decade. A very masculine, Pauillac style of wine with strong graphite, cedar, iodine, minerals and leather. The tannins are quite smooth now but assertive at the same time. Fully mature but seems like it will hold for a good long while yet. Lynch in the '80's, pretty special stuff. 93-94 pts.

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• 1995 Château Duhart-Milon

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  I didn't get much of an impression from the 95 Duhart. It seems soft and shy next to the Lynch, the are tannins completely resolved with a smooth texture, a good entry but a short finish. I would drink them sooner than later. I had a bottle a few months earlier that was more impressive.

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• 1986 Château Rieussec 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  This bottle was fully mature, sporting a deep copper color. Highly aromatic, it as the essence of toffee and caramel, with terrific acidity and length but lacking some of the complexity and marine nuances that can make mature Sauternes so compelling.

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