My 40th birthday at 67 Pall Mall

A wonderful evening with some wines i'd been setting aside for this occasion and some very generous additions from friends.

• 1983 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  This was always going to be a punt. A bottle of Moet was on standby as I had been informed that if the DP felt too evolved then some at table assemblage with its stable mate could revive the corpse.
  
  In the glass burnished gold colour - there is a hint of fizz for the merest moment before dying down.
  The noses matches the appearance - nutty but with a little grapefruit peel and sea air - a good start.
  Pretty enjoyable on the palate, some hazelnut but still has a good grapefruit cut. Good acidity and long finish. Certainly not a stellar champagne any more but a really fun experience

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• NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  First of these.
  Fresh ginger and citrus on the nose, a little sweetness “like a canned Moscow mule - in a good way” per Nick and I can’t disagree.
  The palate is perhaps surprisingly lithe and fresh, especially given the "vinous" quality to other EO champagnes, but no worse for it.
  Lovely fresh light palate but with some lovely blood orange, a favourite fruit of mine so always a winner!

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• 2014 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  First time trying this wine in this vintage.
  Lovely nose with finely balanced green apple and lemon oil.
  On the palate great tension of green apple, really tangy malic acid drops, but also some spice and a just a hint of rounded cream / vanilla. Really impressed!

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• 2014 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes 95 Points

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

  First of a case.
  Initially a very reductive nose of matchstick but with time this opens up wonderfully
  Deep rich palate that does a dance between well checked vanilla, lime oil, saline, yellow apple. Everything opens up in time to give great tension between rich flavours and good cutting acidity. Fantastic and can't wait to try more as this is just opening!

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• 1983 Château Palmer 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  I have to admit that this was rather jostled on its journey to 67PM and was a lesson to bring these in advance or double decant - apologies to my guests.
  
  Despite that this initially gave me rich dark but sweet cherry, plum, tobacco, old furniture - wonderful depth to the nose.
  Quite youthful on the palate - dark plum and cedar. Less floral than the Margaux but also a bit more structured and intense. As some of the sediment settles with time this becomes smoother and more elegant. Different but on par with Margaux this time.

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• 1983 Château Margaux 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  A very generous bottle from Ian.
  This impresses off the bat with a very correct and precise nose with dark plum, violet florals and a hint of balsamic
  Crisp and clean on the palate with blue plum, Parma violets.
  Elegant and initially a little light but puts on weight in the glass.
  Fabulously well made and impressive.

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• 1983 Château La Lagune 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  A generous late addition from Ian.
  Someone described this like the long lost price coming to reclaim a throne - it might appear humble was impressive when revealed.
  Gorgeous nose of powdery florals, plum, oud, sapid red and blue plum.
  Wonderful palate - crisp and clean and good intensity. Good acidity and long finish.
  Really impressive wine in some punchy Margaux company!

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• 1983 Château Léoville Las Cases 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  A recent purchase and a pristine bottle.
  Very clean and precise nose of red plum, a little leather and meat, very youthful.
  On the palate black tea, red plum, graphite. Very fresh and long finish with tannins still showing themselves. Perhaps a bit austere now, the structure is there to support further aging when more interest might evolve.
  Someone described it like a French restaurant where the white table cloth service is all very correct but leaves you a bit cold

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• 1990 Château Léoville Poyferré 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  A generous addition from Jason.
  In contrast to the stuffy French "Restaurant Gastronomique" of the LLC this was a full American customer service experience where the waiter is surviving on tips.
  Intense and alluring nose of red currant, black tea, cassis, then on the palate deep rich red currant, blue plum, some savoury aspects. Really polished, rich and intense. A real charmer.

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• 1983 Château d'Yquem 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  This bottle had been a gift from my best man on my wedding day so carried some hype with it for me.
  Slightly musty on the nose to begin with then giving way to saffron and barely sugar.
  On the palate there is rich and tangy tangerine, sweet lemon,
  spice. Overall very intense, rich and spicy palate but perhaps lacked the full fireworks I expected and a Rieussec from the same vintage the following night was a shade better.
  
  Despite that, this was a joy to try, and I mineswept Fussyeater's half finished glass! I have one more bottle I sourced so that drinking this wouldn't be my last!

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The evening ended with another generous share of a bottle of 2013 Burlotto Barolo opened upstairs before we were chucked out.

A wonderful night!