Casual Dinner at Le titi

Again, a great night of wine and conversation with friends. It is highly important to note that I normally do not go to Le Titi for the quality of food but for the setting, location and service from a “lady from Provence”. However, tonight the food was extraordinary and is worthy of immense praise. I had the best servings of rabbit, veal cheek, pork belly, and venison I have ever had. The food was unforgettable along with the service but that is no surprise. It was beyond expectations.

The wines were great but some were a tad under their respective bars.

• 1995 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Color suggests perhaps something with more youth. This wine, tonight, was a bit of a conundrum. It had power with finesse and elegance all at the same time. At first the wine was closed and tight but with air gained appeal. A nice weedy tobacco profile with a scents of fresh top soil with spices that are oozing with exotic allure. I could also tell that what I liked about this wine was enhanced by bottle age. It has another decade to go but I would not hesitate on popping a cork. Well done!

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• 1992 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Best and most youthful bottle of 92 Dominus I have had to date. No bricking and youthful color. Out of the gate it had a waxy scent that was off-putting but that soon blew off. I would not describe this as Bordeaux like (unlike the 86 –same night)., very Napa nose. Palate and texture, however, was in a class by itself. Silky while broad. Notes of strawberry bubble gum, oak, black currant, subtle herbs-that then opened to a powerful dill flavor with a hint of molasses. The mouth was dry but nonetheless great. It could have used a couple more hours of air. Toward then end of the night it gained a wet salty rock component as well.

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• 1986 Dominus Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very youthful for an 1986. Also much more Bordeaux like than then the 92. Nose of toast dried herbs, bright fruit, and chocolate, and a floral component after time. The 92 was better balanced and IMHO was better today and will be better in 15 years. This was missing fruit and more tannic. Other disagreed but I will note that those that were French agreed with me. LOL!

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• 1983 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Started out very exotic but singular with a nose dominated by green olives. After it opened for an hour it was much more complex and appealing. It added aromas of cocoa powder, roses, herbs, and smoke. Balance was great and finish grew with time. Drink up but still a nice wine.

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• 1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

  Less silky and more animal than the last bottle. It had more of a raw savage beastly character than other bottles. Still a great wine but not on the same leve of other 90 beaucastels.

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• 1995 Domaine René Engel Grands-Echezeaux 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Very Very tight. Young. Almost reluctant to give a score. Bits of apple skins, soy, Asian spices, and graham crackers started to emerge but still restrained. It shows promise but please wait at least 10 years.

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• 1982 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  DARN!!!!!! I am breaking the streak of AMAZING bottles of 1982 Chave. This bottle was good but not great. Color was more delineated and less dense than past bottles (note also darker). Had a less expressive nose of pepper, pine, and sautéed mushrooms not from complexity but from age. Lacking fruit and backbone. I hope the rest from this lot will be better. Over the hill and a shadow. BTW, the 93 ponts was mostly from nose alone.

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