Birthday Bonanza

Fun to come up to NYC to celebrate a good friend’s birthday. Theme was birth year wines. Not the best of years (although not as bad as say my own birth year). These all showed quite well and a few were truly special.

Straciatella
Apple, prosciutto, parsley

I always get the soup or the crudo but decided it was time to switch it up a bit

• 1979 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut

  France, Champagne

  Still one of the top champagnes. We had two bottles. The first one was perhaps a bit fresher but the second one was more evolved and I think perhaps even a bit more interesting. This is a wine that tastes pretty great even with a touch of oxidation. It’s really nice.

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• 1979 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs

  France, Champagne

  Not quite the Cristal and in stiff competition but I think this was still good. It seems perhaps a touch more tired if you want to split hairs. Still though a bit nutty and kindof a burnt caramel style. Drinks well.

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Fusilli
Wild boar & pancetta ragu, softrita, fontina fonduta

• 1979 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  One of my favorites of the evening and definitely the biggest surprise of the evening for me. I know that old Diamond Mountain wines can be great but this was just bright and vibrant and dark almost blackberry and mineral and graphite and spice and really you’d never guess it’s 40+ years old. Long way to go for a year that wasn’t perhaps the best in Napa. Great showing.

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• 1979 Angelo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva Speciale

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This was a favorite of a lot of ppl at the table. For me it was totally fine but overshadowed on the one side by the Diamond Creek and on the other by the Margaux. It’s aged Nebbiolo with that extra acid and hints of tar and a bit floral in style.

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Cervo
Roasted venison loin en crepinette, quince, celeriac, dandelion greens, amaro jus

• 1979 Château Margaux

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  One of the top wines of the night for sure. This was open and ready from the get-go and really overwhelmed a lot of the other reds (except for the Diamond Creek which really impressed me). Soft and velvety and dark red fruits and while it’s not perhaps the best Margaux it is one of the better wines of 1979.

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• 1979 Château La Mission Haut-Brion

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Overshadowed by the Margaux served alongside. This is a good old Bordeaux. Cigar box and a bit more of that secondary style but drinking well.

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Torta di Cenepleanno
Chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, chocolate ganache

Off menu but should be on because this was just delicious

• 1979 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  One of the bettter version of this wine that I’ve had. Normally it comes across as much more tired but this was drinking pretty well. Misses the new world fruit but I think that’s always true of the old Georges de Latour.

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• 1979 Vieux Château Certan

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Drinks pretty well. Not the Margaux level or Diamond Creek but maybe my third favorite of the reds. Solid and dried fruits and secondary notes and a good wine.

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Great evening with good company and lots of laughter and just a nice chance to catch up with people I don’t see enough. Top wines were the Cristal, Diamond Creek and Margaux but everything showed well.