Open THAT Bottle - Special Edition

This was a special edition of Open THAT Bottle. It started out a while back when we were all talking about special wines and I mentioned I would like to open a Salon, which none of us had ever tasted. One member of the group, who shall remain anonymous (but it wasn't Joe nor I), thought we should do a special Open THAT Bottle tasting where I would bring a Salon, Joe would host and our anonymous person would bring a 1994 Harlan. Well, just being one member of the group, who was I to argue!?!

Needless to say, this was an epic gathering of three of us, where I actually replaced two of my benchmark wines! The 2006 Salon replaced the 2008 Cristal as my benchmark Champagne, and the 1994 Harlan replaced the 1996 Harlan as my benchmark red! An awesome tasting with generous pours, great food, and of course great company made this a memorable and epic get-together! Hope you enjoy the notes even remotely as much as I enjoyed the wines!

• 2012 Marc Hébrart Champagne Grand Cru Rive Gauche / Rive Droite Extra Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  First one of these Champagnes. I was surprised to learn it was extra Brut, as it didn't strike me as super dry. I really enjoyed this Champagne and it was a great start to a fabulous evening!
  
  Nose showed straw and minerals with some sea breeze and saline, along with hints of tropical fruit. Palate was laser focused and refreshing with lots of slate, some brioche/bread yeast and tart green apple. Nice wine and very enjoyable! Easy 93+ for my palate!

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• 2006 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  My first Salon! My expectations were very high, and this wine did not disappoint me! The richest, creamiest mouthfeel (think light, fluffy mousse) I have ever experienced with Champagne. Tiny beads erupting from within made this quite a unique experience!
  
  Nose showed some lemon peel, sea shell, animal musk (weird, but accurate) and baked brioche. Palate was steely, with lots of very creamy mousse and straw, coupled with poached pear and hints of baking spice.
  
  For me, this was all about the mouthfeel...don't misunderstand me, nose and palate offered everything one would expect from a Grand Cru Champagne, but the mouthfeel really separated this Champagne for other top end Champagnes I have tasted. 98+ and a new benchmark for me! (Previous benchmark was 2008 Cristal)

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• 1993 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  I love Dunn....not sure why I don't own more....oh yeah, because they need a ton of time and I am impatient! I do love whenever someone opens up an old one though! I think that Howell Mountain fruit holds up so well! This wine is in a very good place where there is a nice balance between fruit and tertiary flavors....squarely in my wheelhouse!
  
  Nose shows lots of earth, dark fruit, lilac and cedar notes. Palate is compelling with plenty of earth, dark fruit, tobacco and leather, with some red fruit, spice and birch on the finish. A delightful wine that paired quite well with grilled hanger steak! 94+ easily!

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• 1994 Harlan Estate 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Everyone who knows me knows I am a Harlan whore......simply the best for my palate! My previous benchmark wine was the 1996 Harlan, but this 1994 supplanted that! Not by a lot (but it is hard to improve on perfection!).
  
  OK....so when one member of our party said he was planning on opening a 1994 Harlan, I was like Pavlov's dog, just automatically started to salivate! I was extremely excited because (1) I had never had one and (2) my niece's birth year is 1994 and consequently I have had lots of 1994 wines from California, and have been impressed by all of them! My last 1996 Harlan seemed like it had lost a step, and I was slightly worried this would be even further behind. However, this wine proved there are still great bottles out there, so I am now chalking my 96 Harlan to bottle variation!
  
  OK....the nuts and bolts! Nose was very perfumed (think Margaux) with purple flowers, red and dark fruit, sweet tobacco leaf and new leather with a tinge of spice. Palate was awesome with a typical Harlan silky mouthfeel, and exuding pure elegance on the tongue with dark fruit, think creme de cassis, intertwined with juicy plum, some earthy notes, some old leather and lots of sweet tobacco. Finish was long and elegant and slightly creamy, which I enjoyed immensely. 98+ (my highest score for a red wine) and a new benchmark for me! Wish I had a few of these in my cellar! Thanks Dan!

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Wine sucked but dessert was great!

• 2009 Château d'Yquem Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Corked.....that sucked!

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Alas, all good stories must come to end! It saddens me to put this book down, but I look forward to the next one! Until then, Cheers and good health to all!