Birthday Dinner part 1

I shared all the wines with a close group of friends and wine lovers. The idea was to look deeper into Musigny and Barolo - namely Serralunga and Monprivato. I got lucky, as no bottles were corked or flawed.

Focus on two extreme ends of the Musigny vineyard. Prieur from La Combe and Drouhin from the other end of Les Grands.

• 2007 Domaine Jacques Prieur Musigny 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  At opening, bit of unintegrated oak on the nose. I opened this and the Drouhin together and you could tell from the get-go that the wines were cut from the same cloth. I had it at three phases. At opening, then first round pre dinner and during dinner. Definitely behind Vogue and Drouhin for me but still drinking extremely well. But ahead with the Vogue 1er cru for me.

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• 2007 Joseph Drouhin Musigny 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  At opening, I thought this was good to go, so I left it in the fridge. At second pour, it was tightly coiled up, more so than at pop n pour. With the DJP Musigny, this looked paler and older. At third pour this was rocking finally. Most delicate and elegant out of all the Musigny’s tonight. For me and for most others, the Vogue takes the crown at this tasting.

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The focus was to compare old vines vs young vines from Vogue.

• 2007 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  At opening initially after I poured this and the Vogue Musigny next to each other for quick tasting. The Musigny had this glorious sweet notes on the nose and this was muted. This was longest decanted burg of the night to coax it out. I would say finally that it was only hair behind the DJP Musigny.

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• 2007 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  This was glorious from the get go, sweet perfumed nose in the beginning, which didn’t for long but what gave away to it was fantastic. Probably the most consistent Musigny of the night as well. For all three pours, it drank magnificently. Most at the dinner picked the Vogue over the Drouhin.

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Comparing arguably two best vineyard in Serralunga which are also monopoles of the respective owners.

• 2000 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 97 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  I opened 9 bottles of wine this evening and none can be classified as flawed or corked, although Giacosa was advanced. This was the bottle I was looking forward the most. Once I realised this wine wasn’t corked, I took a small pour and sat down to savour it. And it almost had everything I want in a wine. It had this perfect combination of sweetness that helped to overcome the tannic expression of unruly Nebbiolo, even at first. For the second pour, it gained this beautiful VA and blackberry liqueur nose that was so intoxicating. It only improved as the night wore on and was probably best on its last and third pour. It was beautifully poised and delivered on its merits. Probably the best wine tasted this year.

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• 2000 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  In Magnum. Had a few Giacosa to choose from today but decided to go with the Magnum with perfect fill as thought it would be safest choice in the Giacosa roulette.
  Poured a small glass to taste with Monfortino and the monfortino had so much personality , suave and sexiness. I could barely taste anything in this wine on the first pour. It got better as the night wore on but definitely an advanced bottle. I think it saw some heat at some point in its life but it wasn’t stewed just advanced. Probably the only disappointment of the evening.

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Comparing the Lampia vs Michet wines from the Monprivato vineyard.

• 1996 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Ca d'Morissio Riserva Monprivato 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  First bottle opened as I read the notes beforehand and knew this would need the most time. Immediately poured into a decanter and took a small pour. Wall of massive tannins made it undrinkable. I took two small pours before the guests arrived and still tannic but started to show fruit and other aspects of the wine. Thankfully once the guests arrived and the first larger pour, it was already showing beautifully and by the end of the clearly showed it’s pedigree and the reason it has been my bucket list wine for a very long time. This wine was made I believe from Michet vines that were planted in 83 and 88. So definitely young vine with tremendous depth and concentration. Wonder what it means for young vine vs old vine conversation. I would say for me personally Monfortino was a more complete wine of the night.

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• 1996 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  The second Bottle opened on the day as soon as I smelled the cork, and it was fruity instead of cork or stewed. Relief! Old barolos are always notoriously variable. It drinks incredibly similar to the Riserva in a way, so it is a wine that also needed time in the decanter. It was beautifully elegant, whereas the Riserva was way more masculine. I wonder if some Rose in this wine that gave it, it's prettiness. I am unsure when Mascarellos uprooted their Rose vines, but I believe they still had it in 96.

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One for the road!

• 1997 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Final wine for the night. No relation to others opened. Drinking so pure and sexy. I absolutely loved it.

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It's probably the very best lineup of my life. Looking forward to part 2; coming Friday when the guests share their bottles.