Mag Dinner 2021

Back at it with our annual magnum dinner with our significant others.

• 2000 Jean Vesselle Champagne Grand Cru Brut Prestige

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  From magnum (think this only comes in mag); at first this was a little disjointed and rustic, lots of apple leaning towards a cidery quality, multi grain toast, good richness and power, distinct mineral on the palate; with air this retracted in a way giving way to more refinement in texture and aromatics, loved the porcini mushroom that emerged; very good, wish I would have given this the airtime it deserved.

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• 2014 Garnier et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  From magnum; everything you want out of Chablis 1er Cru, good balance of fruit weight mineral and acid, still quite youthful, green apples, yogurt and a saline finish; yum.

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• 2018 Moreau-Naudet & Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  From 750mL; lots of sweet fruit evident on nose and follows through to the palate, candied green apple- almost Jolly Rancher-esque, for how generous this seems initially the wine tightens up and shows impressive yet caressing verve and elegant flinty minerality, really pure; still very young and should be given 3-5 years more.

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• 2013 Antica Terra Chardonnay Aurata

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  From magnum; a touch golden in color; nose shows some aged and honeyed Chardonnay fruit, lemons, apples, kiss of oak, perfectly ripe and not overdone, really pretty and Burgundy inspired.

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• 2007 Domaine de l'Institut Pasteur Côte de Brouilly Château des Ravatys

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly

  From magnum; still a good deep purple color dulling slightly at rim; definitely in the thicker Dimetap realm of Gamay, lots of purple fruit, wilting violets, fruit stepping back just slightly giving way to more Kalamata olive and mineral medicinal notes in background; would have enjoyed more but abrupt finish ends the party a bit early.

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• 2000 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire

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

  From magnum; color looks good, translucent maroon; nose shows ripe raspberries and kirsch, all fruit, still youthful, just missing that extra level of refinement or character that I'm looking for in Centenaire.

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• 2001 Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Il Decennale

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  From magnum; great nose but a bit richer and more advancement than I'd expect from PdS from this vintage and format, lacy cherry and berry complicated by a kiss of brown sugar and balsamic, tanned leather, sandalwood, wilted roses, smells heavier and tastes a bit richer but the great acids keep everything tidy on the finish, tannins are another thing I love about these wines and they showed like a caressing hug; very good.

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• 2011 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  From magnum; pretty crimson to rim; beautiful nose, all style and grace but a touch more heft from this solar vintage, candied rose petals, fresh juicy cherries and strawberry, fleshy and lifted on the palate with refined tannins, still very primary but great to enjoy more when there is a mag of it.

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• 2012 E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Via Nuova

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  From magnum; pretty crimson see through; gorgeous nose displaying a light and airy kissed by oak, rose petals, strawberries and soft cherries, velvety texture, a touch of vanilla and sandalwood gives it a luxurious robe and doesn't distract much; gorgeous wine that is tasty now and should age gracefully, but definitely too young (for my taste preference) especially given the format.

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• 2003 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  From magnum; was told this was decanted ahead of time, color looks proper, the wine was really in a good spot- not that it is a bad thing but I was expecting a darker sweeter and less developed wine given the vintage and its format, lots of red fruit with a touch of dark, red currant, leather, loamy earth, green pepper, cigar tobacco, good complexity, not a ton of weight and mouthfeel but still developing texture I'm sure; delicious.

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• 2004 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  From magnum; you'd think 17 years would get this wine to a good spot but it is still so young, purple color, purple fruit, smoke, oak, lots of cassis, no eucalyptus, primary sweet fruit and lack of secondary complexity makes this taste like it could be 2015; Heitz Cabs out of mag remind me of the formation of diamonds...

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• 2012 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spätlese

  Germany, Nahe

  Great nose of honeyed fruit, energetic peach, oily slate driven mineral; lush yet a focused core, densely packed with fruit and mineral, oily sappy yet enough zip this may lean to the sweeter side of Spatlese but this was really delicious even many red wine drinkers agreed.

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Great to be out with most of our crew. Lovely food and wine.