Guys Night - Holiday Edition!

For the holidays, and because I cut back quite a bit on having these, I decided to change it up a little and provide the wines and dinner for some close friends! One nice thing was I had total control of the menu and the wines I was pairing, so needless to say, I was pretty happy!

An old story comes to mind. When I was younger, someone once told me that when you need to make decisions about things like this (what to eat or drink) in a group setting, choose something you like! He continued, that way you know at least one person will be happy with your decision!

All kidding aside, I was fortunate to have my wife help me prepare the menu (she always finds the best dishes) and my nieces to come over and prepare and serve the courses! Everything turned out quite exceptional! The wines, while they would have been good on their own, were even better with the food pairings!

It was a fun night and I was happy to see everyone! I only hope it was as memorable for everyone else as it was for me, and I hope if you're reading this, you get even a minuscule amount of vicarious enjoyment out of reading this story and tasting notes, as I did participating in the event!

Well, I was fortunate enough to have three of my nieces come over to help me with preparing for the dinner event! I let one of my nieces pick a wine to open while we prepped the food, and she picked this! Needless to say, she didn't need to twist my arm, and what a nice pick it was!

• 2007 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Not sure why others are so down on this Champagne. Yes, it's young, but it still is Salon and has that focus and creamy mouthfeel that excites the senses. The Champagne kept improving throughout the day, so yes, it will get better. I do agree that waiting (especially considering the price point) is a good idea, but I don't see any regret to opening one now and enjoying its evolution. Okay, enough pontificating, lets get down to tasting notes:
  
  Nose - Lots of brioche, sea breeze and some citrus notes. Later, some chalk and minerality and some spice notes.
  
  Palate - Lots of brioche and Yuzu. Laser focused with oyster, slate, green apple and hints of pear. Add a creamy mousse mouthfeel, and have hallmark Salon! As a side note, more complexity developed throughout the day. Holding will pay dividends, but pretty delicious now! 95+ and will score even higher with a few more years of age.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

A bucket list Champagne to kick off our dinner event! This wine paired exquisitely with goose liver foie gras served on toasted French baguette pieces with a fig jam and cornichons.

• 2006 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  Was it young? Of course. Will it get better? Undoubtably. Was it still delicious? What do you think?! Do I regret opening this? Hard to answer....but I will try....If you have this (or other Krug Clos du Mesnils), then definitely wait. I, on the other have never tasted one, and patience is not one of my virtues. No regrets opening this to taste because it was still very good! Although I will note that I will not open another one for at least a few more years....but only because of the price point and my confidence that it will get even better.
  
  Nose - Lots of yeast, sea breeze, nuttiness and citrus.
  
  Palate - One guest said creamy almond mousse, which I thought was dead-on. Lots of brioche and oyster with notes of orange peel. Very complex finish, even at this young age with a slight oxidative note offset by bright acidity. A real treat to drink and actually slightly exceeded my lofty expectations!
  
  Easy 95+ to 96 and I can't wait to taste again as it matures! Paired exquisitely with goose foie gras with fig jam and cornichons!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Oui oui...it's Chablis! Paired superbly with a Bluefin Toro Tuna Tataki Sashimi Salad recipe from Nobu's along with a delicious Yellowtail Sashimi with a Yuzu Soy Sauce.

• 2007 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  I was concerned because (especially with older Chablis) there are either good bottles or bad bottles. Fortunately, this was a good bottle! I think this bottle captured very well what a nice aged Dauvissat can taste like!
  
  Nose - Classic Chablis, with plenty of sea shell, spice, slate, citrus and hints of white flowers.
  
  Palate - Plenty of citrus (Lemon oil) and minerality (oyster, saline and slate) with slight hints of apple and grilled peach. A nice long finish that begged you to come back for more. I would have loved to spend more time with this, but it was just too good (coupled with my complete lack of willpower), it was gone too fast!
  
  Easy 94+, and that is likely conservative. Paired very nicely with the Tuna Tataki Salad and Yellowtail sashimi.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

Pinot Noir can take you far! An outstanding pairing with a Creamy Mushroom and Spring Onion Tart.

• 2016 Hospices de Beaune Echezeaux Jean-Luc Bissey 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  I am putting this note here because it is a 2016 Hospice de Beaune Echezeaux Cuvee Jean-Luc Bissey, but the producer of my bottling is Domaines & Maison Famille Picard.
  
  Prep - This was pretty much a PnP
  
  This was a pleasant surprise.. I originally planned on opening an Antica Terra Pinot, but couldn't get to the bottle due to an overcrowded cellar (I know, first world problem!) so I grabbed this bottle. I tasted it in Burgundy a few years ago, and was impressed enough to purchase a couple bottles, and I figured why not open one and share it with friends....after all, that's what wine is for!
  
  Nose - Cherry blossom, spice, some cedar and some forest floor.
  
  Palate - Surprisingly smooth with a velvety mouthfeel that showed savory, earthy notes, dark and red cherry, some blackberry and hints of tar and black pepper all wrapped in soft tannins. This was another complex wine that showed soft, but definitely present tannins with a fair amount acidity.
  
  Will definitely improve, but pretty darn good now! Pretty easy 95 for my palate! Paired very nicely with a mushroom and spring onion puff pastry tart!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

The WOTN in this two horse race, was a 1997 Hill of Grace. Some may disagree and think I'm full of malarkey, because the other horse was a 2013 Shrader's Old Sparky! These wines were ideally paired with a Veal Tenderloin served with an Onion Jam, and a Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce and Fondant Potatoes.

• 1997 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace 98 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  This wine was purchased at the winery in 2016. I had my fingers crossed, because I really wanted to drink a Hill of Grace with appropriate bottle age. On a side note, while I was at the winery, I asked if they had any aged HoG I could taste....ironically, they said they had opened this wine earlier, but it was flawed, so they decided not to serve it. I begged for a taste, and they very reluctantly allowed me to sample the wine....it was not good, i.e., definitely flawed (badly corked). Nevertheless, I purchased this bottle! Well, as you can see from the score, it rocked! Bob far the best Syrah/Shiraz I have ever had! Also, it ranks up with the best wines period, I have ever tasted!
  
  Prep - (Magnum) Decanted at 4:00 and poured at around 8:00 - 8:30 (I didn't look at the clock)
  
  Nose - Continually changing with different scents taking center stage, and at times, sharing the stage, including scents of some florals, black fruit, mint, cedar and spice.
  
  Palate - Lovely integration of tertiary and fruit flavors, in perfect balance for my palate. Dark fruit, including dark cherries, blackberries, and cassis, paired with earthy notes of wild mushroom and forest floor, perfectly integrated with some very moderate amounts of eucalyptus, anise and spice.
  
  This was my wine of the night amongst some pretty amazing wines! 97+ to 98 and ranks with the very best red wines I have been fortunate enough to taste! This bottle definitely did not disappoint! Paired well with Veal Tenderloin with Caramelized Red Onion Jam and Sherry Vinegar.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2013 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  I figured I had never had one of these, why not pop one and see what all the fuss is about! Happy to say that it did not disappoint!
  
  Prep - Decanted at noon and poured at around 8:30 - 9:00ish (didn't look at the clock...sorry...could have been even later) Note: I think this wine was decanted for the appropriate amount of time - you could do more or a little less depending on preference, but for my palate, it was in a great place and still showed evolution in the glass throughout the dinner course. For what it is worth, I think this wine is deserving of its accolades!
  
  Nose - Perfumed dark fruit, cedar and spice with some notes of new leather.
  
  Palate - I confess, I expected a big extracted wine, but this wine showed more elegance and finesse making it a very pleasant surprise! Yes, plenty of fruit, but not extracted in any way. The fruit was dense and gorgeous, but remained elegant and polished, consisting mostly of dark black and blue fruit, with hints of red currant. Tertiary notes of some earthiness, cocoa dust, tree bark and sweet toasted oak added to the pleasure.
  
  I think this wine will improve with additional bottle age. I would be in no hurry to open this, and would recommend a long decant if opening soon. I have one more bottle and will likely wait a few years before even considering opening it (of course, the best laid plans....) Definitely a 96 now for my palate (which is most peoples 98, since 98 is as high as I have ever gone on a red wine) This paired with with Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce and Fondant Potatoes!

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

1959 was great year at Chateau Gilette....that year they made their Crème de Tête! Paired very nicely with a homemade Colorado Peach Frozen Yogurt.

• 1959 Château Gilette Crème de Tête 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  First, this is my first birth year wine and I was super psyched to taste it. Of course, any time I get to taste any very old wine, I feel extremely privileged! So saying that, I was somewhat disappointed with this wine. Why you ask? Because of my unrealistic expectations that this would be an ethereal wine experience! Well it was good....it was fun....but it was not ethereal!
  
  Nose - Burnt sugar, caramel, some petrol, orange rind and spice.
  
  Palate - Nice creamy texture, not overly sweet, i.e., good balance, orange marmalade, peach rind, creme brûlée and a touch of sherry.
  
  Very nice Sauternes that's probably held up better than I! Easily 95 (but I expected more...being my birth year, I figured it should be at least as spectacular as me! (j/k!....not really!) As I said, always a treat tasting older wines, especially ones that are still drinking quite well! A delicious wine that won't disappoint those who have a different birth year! :)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Another story ends. I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful and/or entertaining! Remember, it doesn't get much better than sharing a bottle of wine with friends and family! And if it does, tell me because I will want to do it too!

Thank you for indulging in this story and I wish each and every one of you and your friends and family a very happy holiday! Cheers!!!