Farewell to Chez Dalluge: A Hybrid Old Guys Lunch

Chez Dalluge, MN
Tasted Friday, May 2, 2025 by rocknroller with 147 views

Introduction

This was to the final wine event at Chez Dalluge. The plan was to have the "old guys" monthly wine lunch there. The plan was morphed to include non "old guys" for the event. We had a nice group of 10 (DD/DD, DM, LI, JP, JV, RF, CS, SS, KB). As usual Dave and Desi put on a great show, with a splendid Spanish menu featuring seafood paella and providing ALL THE WINES. Not just any wines, a remarkable, generous set of wines. Cheers to Dave and Desi! A fitting way to send off Chez Dalluge into the Wisconsin future. We look forward to sharing many more great adventures together at Chez Dalluge 2.0!!

Flight 1 (12 Notes)

NV Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut 91 Points

France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

Pale gold color. Drank a glass over 20 minutes. Welcoming wine for lunch. Always delicious and reliable. Consistent with note from 3/25/25.

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NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Édition 168ème 94 Points

France, Champagne

Light gold color. Drank a glass blind over 30 minutes plus. Had this side by side with the 2006 Krug. The 168 is youthful and a tart, lots of citrus, apple and minerality with a line of oxidative character it seemed very likely Krug MV. The '06 is simply wicked good. It was wonderfully toasted, full bodied, with layer upon layer, pear, candied lemon, sleek minerality, almond, brioche, and a seamless personality. Not even a hint of oxidative character had me thinking a great vintage of Dom. 93+ to 94pts.

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2006 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 96 Points

France, Champagne

Light gold color. Drank a glass blind over 30 minutes plus. Had this side by side with the Krug 168. The 168 is youthful and a tart, lots of citrus, apple and minerality with a line of oxidative character it seemed very likely Krug MV. The '06 is simply wicked good. It was wonderfully toasted, full bodied, with layer upon layer, pear, candied lemon, sleek minerality, almond, brioche, and a seamless personality. Not even a hint of oxidative character had me thinking a great vintage of Dom. 96+pts.

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2018 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 93 Points

France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

Pale gold color. Drank a glass double blind next to the 2019 Fevre Les Clos. Both if these seemd tight and less well defined than expected for Chablis. That does make some sense given the relative youth. Yet in hindsight, it seems more obvious given the mineraly character and lemon notes. But a distinct lack of salinity and more ocean character made one question themself. The '18 was touch bigger and less giving than the '19 was at present. By the time of the reveal, the '19 was starting to come into its own and show more classic saline and oyster notes.

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2019 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 94 Points

France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

Pale gold color. Drank a glass double blind next to the 2018 Fevre Les Clos. Both if these seemd tight and less well defined than expected for Chablis. That does make some sense given the relative youth. Yet in hindsight, it seems more obvious given the mineraly character and lemon notes. But a distinct lack of salinity and more ocean character made one question themself. The '18 was touch bigger and less giving than the '19 was at present. By the time of the reveal, the '19 was starting to come into its own and show more classic saline and oyster notes.

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2014 Paul Pernot et ses Fils Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 93 Points

France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

Light gold color. Drank a glass double blind over an hour next to the '14 Batard. Lovely from the start, and showing well, this had the grip and energy, lime, saline, lemon, and tart lemon zest. Deep with lots of river rock. The BM was other worldly, offering a sumptuous perfume of orange blossoms, fresh cut tangerines and Meyer lemon, intense, great cut, rich and creamy texture with a load of ocean character. Very long and giving, it was the best showing of the BM yet. BBM 93+ to 94pts.

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2014 Paul Pernot et ses Fils Bâtard-Montrachet 96 Points

France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

Light gold color. Drank a glass double blind over an hour next to the '14 BBM. The BBM was lovely from the start, and showing well, this had the grip and energy, lime, saline, lemon, and tart lemon zest. Deep with lots of river rock. The BM was other worldly, offering a sumptuous perfume of orange blossoms, fresh cut tangerines and Meyer lemon, intense, great cut, rich and creamy texture with a load of ocean character. Very long and giving, it was the best showing of the BM yet. Love this vinatge, 95-96pts.

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2010 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Echezeaux Les Rouges du Bas 95 Points

France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

Very dark red color. Drank a glass double blind next to a 2011 Guigal La Landonne. How this could be overshadowed is hard to believe, but a stunning LaLa, made this gorgeous wine almost an afterthought. I did say almost :). The Meo was expressive and nuanced, though it seemed to take a bit more time to get up to speed. Largely consistent with my recent note it had the perfume and lovely red berry fruit to go with a streak of dark cherry. 94+ to 95pts.

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2011 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 97 Points

France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

Very dark red color. Drank a glass double blind next to a 2010 Meo-Camuzet Echezeaux. This was a total head turner. Explosive nose with charcoal, creosote, cigar ash, perfumed with leather, pretty red and black berries, crushed purple flowers and dried prosciutto. Beautiful, resonant and long. Oh my, this was an easy choice for WOTN. #drinkmorelalas.

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2009 Château Figeac 95 Points

France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

Very dark red color. Drank a glass double blind over an hour, side by side with a 2010 Ornellaia. This proved to be a confirmatory tasting of our bottle at Chateau Figeac last September with the imitable Madame Blandine Manoncourt. As a reminder, this was the last vintage of Blandine's father Thierry. Thought provoking and filled with gorgeous dark cassis notes, mocha, incense, leather, pencil, earth and spice with acccents of truffe. Lovely texture and definition. Can't wait to see how all of our bottles evolve. 95(+)pts.

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2016 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia

Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

Very dark red color. Drank a glass double blind over an hour next to a 2009 Chateau Figeac. Lots lurking in the depths, but this qualifies immediately as a "not ready for primetime player". Rather tight with plenty of black fruit, dried herbs, but a lot of oak and tannin that really needs to come together. A tough nut to crack comparing it to the stellar '09 Figeac. Good, score reserved. Give this several years or some serious air.

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1990 Château d'Yquem 95 Points

France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

Medium amber color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. This was really consistent with the last bottle a year ago: Brown sugar, orange, spices, orange spice cake, ginger, carrot cake, savory, apricot, honeyed. As good as this still is, I personally preferred bottles I had 10 years ago more. Just a preference of where I like my Sauternes; with a bit more brightness and verve.

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