Tasting Group Dinner

Another fantastic gathering of our regular tasting group in Brad's kitchen. In attendance were Dave Dalluge, myself, Brad England, Chris Palm, Chris Larson, and Craig Vanderah.

We tasted through these while Chris Palm cooked up risotto.

• 1990 Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Third time I've had this. Delicious, and a little doughier/yeastier than previous bottles. Toast, citrus, and roasted nuts. Really clean and well-balanced.

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• 1976 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé Vintage

  France, Champagne

  Amber/caramel color. Heavily maderized. Flavors of stewed strawberries, blood orange, and caramel. Almost no bubbles. I thought this was over-the-hill, but others liked it much more.

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• 1979 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne Flawed

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Murky, opaque maroon color. Reticent nose that eventually gives up some mushroom and funk. The palate is very funky and swampy, with some Burg-like cassis and rhubarb fruit in a lightweight frame. Fully resolved tannins without much structure. This was a recent delivery and likely heavily shaken up in transit. I was not a huge fan of this, and don't think it was a representative bottle.

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• 2001 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières 93 Points

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

  Intense, deep golden color. Initially very oaky, but with some air this settles down and reveals a big, broad swath of butterscotch. Quite intense on the palate, with terrific precision and minerality and a long finish.

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Served with grilled ahi tuna, roasted tomatoes, and a mushroom/red lentil stew.

• 1978 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche 97 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru

  Second time I've had this; from the same case as the previous bottle. Intense, perfumed smoked meat, earth, and wonderfully layered red fruits on the nose. As with the last bottle, the palate fell off a touch, but much less so than before. The flavors are an enchanting, elegant, beautifully integrated blend of red fruits, earth, mineral, and mushrooms. Wonderful silky texture. Fully integrated tannins. This bottle seemed to be at its peak of maturity.

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• 1990 Domaine Leroy Pommard Les Vignots 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard

  Fresh, very intense dark cherry fruit. Really ripe on the nose, with somewhat obtrusive oak. Dense, fruit-forward, and intense on the palate. This is good, but lacking in Pommard typicity. In fact, if tasting blind I would probably have pegged this as a Bordeaux or CaliCab.

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• 1990 Remoissenet Père et Fils Chambertin Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  A bottle that I picked up at a local retailer. It had been sitting in a non-temperature controlled back room for many years. Funky mushroomy nose. Pruny, ripe, stewed red fruit flavors. Smooth texture. Not especially pleasant. A cooked bottle.

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• 1996 Moillard Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  Corked.

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• 1999 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 92 Points

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

  Medium weight. Delicious, expressive fresh red raspberry fruit, with some meat, tobacco, earth and fresh herb flavors. A "masculine" Burg with a lot of finesse -- really classy. Opened up beautifully with air.

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• 2002 Hospices de Beaune Corton-Cuvée Docteur Peste Maison Louis Jadot 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  BIG, ripe, almost Californian in style. Rich red fruits, iron, coffee, and blood. Wild. Showing a lot of toasty new oak. Very tannic. Needs more time.

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• 1991 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Served blind. I was sure that this was a Pauillac, and guessed 96 Lafite. Wrong again! Beautiful stuff. Intense pencil lead, cedar, and black fruit on the nose. The palate is silky smooth, showing concentrated dark cherries along with chocolate, earth, and black licorice flavors. Terrific structure. Well-integrated oak, with gorgeously ripe, fine tannins on the finish. Fantastic and still youthful. One of the best California wines I've ever had. Thanks Dave!

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Thanks so much Brad for sharing these. The 61 La Mission Haut-Brion may be the best bottle of wine I've ever had.

• 1961 Château Calon-Ségur Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Opaque, cloudy maroon color. VA on the nose. The palate is cheesy, showing sour cherry, rain water, tea, and mushroom flavors. Seems tired and very over-the-hill. A strange showing for this, and as Brad suggested, likely a bad bottle.

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• 1961 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 100 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Served blind. Oh my goodness. I guessed 61 Haut-Brion. Scintillating, dark youthful color. Incredible nose -- smoky meat, scorched earth, dark fruit, and flowers. Textbook Graves. Wave after wave of perfume and fruit. The palate is equally enchanting and complex, offering up a cornucopia of dark fruit and earthy/tarry flavors. Unreal, silky, lacy texture. Supple and full of finesse. Not a hint of heaviness. Perfect harmony and balance. Endless finish. A riveting bottle of wine -- utterly perfect. Thanks Brad!!!

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• 1955 Château Cheval Blanc 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  A Vandermeulen bottle. A hint of VA on the initial nose that never completely blew off. Rich, lovely, high-toned red fruit on the nose. The palate shows medium-weight red fruit, coffee, mushrooms, brown sugar, and sweet light caramel. Silky, butter-smooth texture. Mature. A great match with caramel brownies, believe it or not.

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