50th Birthday Dinner Celebration
Eagle Brook CC
Tasted Saturday, July 19, 2025 by AllRed with 162 views
Introduction
In honor of my 50th birthday I invited some friends from our wine groups, many of whom I've now known for over twenty years, to join Domino and I for dinner and a few bottles from our cellar. I am very grateful for our friends- these are some of the OGs of our local groups and they have taught me so much and opened so many wonderful bottles for us over the years. I could not have imagined a more perfect way to celebrate than to spend the evening with all of them enjoying a great meal with many fine bottles.
Flight 1 - Happy Hour (16 Notes)
We ordered some simple hors d'oeuvres (meatballs and bacon-wrpped scallops) and a cheese display so that we would all have something to nosh on as we sipped.
Since we had a plan for the wines paired with dinner, and not all fit a certain theme, I used the happy hour as an opportunity to open some other fun/terrific bottles from the cellar. We were able to casually work our way through these and sip them all evening long. Aside from one bottle of the 1975 Sterling which was a bit stewed/cooked, every other bottle was clean- we were quite lucky there.
Flight 2
At this point we were seated for dinner. In the weeks leading up to the dinner I sent my initial pairing ideas to JD, and he offered some advice and helped me settle on the wines I wanted to open with each of the courses. The night of, he graciously offered to help with wine service, so he and I grabbed bottles and poured around as our service team brought out the dishes from the kitchen. Thanks to JD for his help leading up to and throughout the evening!
Flight 3 - Octopus Carpaccio, Fried Capers, Pickled Shallots, Grana Padano, Garlic Toast. (1 Note)
Chef and his team do a wonderful job with seafood and he has made octopus for me quite a few times, so he knew he wanted to prepare it for this dinner. This is the first time he has done this preparation, and I really enjoyed it. The octopus was tender, and set off nicely against the capers and shallots. Of the fifteen us in attendance, ten stuck with the octopus- the group was more adventurous than I had given them credit for. The other five ordered an appetizer from the evening's main dinner menu.
Flight 4 - Pear & Prosciuitto Tart, Honey, Balsamic, Pears. (1 Note)
Another course that I really enjoyed, with a crisp pastry dough filled with pear and prosciutto. The Dönnhoff worked really well here.
Flight 5 - Frisée, Blackberries, Red Onion, Feta, Almond Vinaigrette, Parmesan Bowl. (1 Note)
This fell a little flat as the humidty got to the parmesan bowl, and I wanted a lighter red to transition to the mags in the next course, so while the Lapierre was a good wine, it wasn't really the ideal match here.
Flight 6 - Rosemary & Garlic Infused Tenderloin, Parsnip Purée, Baby Beets. (2 Notes)
The kitchen did a really nice job here- the tenderloin was cooked perfectly. A good dish, and about as easy as it gets for wine pairing. The wines were served side-by-side.
Flight 7 - Cannoli-Filled Éclair. (2 Notes)
A good dessert, being just sweet enough that it held up just fine with the two Sauternes, served side-by-side.
Closing
Again, I am just so grateful for everyone who came out to celebrate with me, and also to the team at EBCC, who put in a lot of work in planning and executing this event, and especially the dishwashers who made sure we had plenty of fresh stems for each wine during dinner. A big "thank you" to everyone involved, and last but not least, to Domino, for all of her hard work and effort in putting this together for me. Thank you, everyone!
2008 Geoffroy Champagne Premier Cru Empreinte Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
From magnum, a blend of 79% pinot noir with 15% meunier and 6% chardonnay, disgorged in October 2020 at 4g/L. Medium yellow color with a somewhat short mousse and a medium bead. Red apple on the nose and palate. Shows really nice fruit- not the most complex Champagne but I like the fruit and it's a good way to really kick off the evening. Drinking quite well already in this format.
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NV Jérôme Prévost Champagne La Closerie Extra Brut Les Beguines 93 Points
France, Champagne
LC17, opened by the very generous Futronic. Crisp, with wonderful mineral and citrusy notes. Fine bead with flavors of citrus, orchard fruit and chalk. Excellent. (Fut)
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2005 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 95 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
AP 2 576 511 18 06. Medium gold color. Aromas of apricot, pear and petrol. So rich and concentrated but with a balancing vein of acidity. Terrific fruit remains on the palate; rich and layered. So friggin' good. No need to rush, and I am very happy to have two more bottles. 95+ pts.
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2007 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
The first of a couple of bottles that I purchased years ago on bin end at Binny's. What a steal- this was excellent. Aromas of beeswax, lanolin, melon and dried honey. Full-bodied, showing dried apple, melon, pear and spice on the palate. I wanted to open some high-end and unique bottles for the group, and this fit the bill nicely. Drinking very well, I think I will pull our last bottle with plans on enjoying within the next year, but maybe I'll be patient and wait until 2027. 93-94+ pts.
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2014 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi 93 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
There are three other couples in attendance tonight who also buy Peter Michael regularly, and while they do purchase this wine they tend to drink 'em young (though tlv has some back a few years too), but anyway, that's fine. They're fantastic young...but they age well too, and I wanted to show that. Youthful light color with a lovely perfume of citrus, pear and even gooseberry. The acidity has softened a touch with age, and it's in a good spot for my palate, married with citrus and melon fruit, finishing with good length. Excellent. I am down to one bottle which I'll likely open within the next year or two.
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2022 Nid Tissé Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
I've been telling everyone that will listen to check out Marie-Laure's wines, and with someone in attendance who is not really a fan of most chardonnay, I wanted to open this as it's the anti-California chard. Marie-Laure uses a mix of oak barrels and clay amphora and finishes the wine in stainless which gives this a brightness and cuts the typical toasted oak elements that throw off some tasters, such as our friend. This is bright and almost racy, with notes of citrus, stone, apricot pit and apple. Peach, orchard fruit and chamomile flavors. Absolutely delightful. I should have ordered more than three bottles as I am now down to my last.
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1975 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Bottle number two, opened and double decanted off its sediment immediately after the first bottle showed stewy notes, and this is a clear step up. The cork first pulled about 90 minutes before service. I got around to tasting this perhaps two hours after the cork was first pulled. Age appropriate bricking with notes of leather, black currants, spice, perfume and potpourri. Beautiful complexity and nuance. Soft on the attack, showing red plum and currant flavors with just a hint of something a little earthy/funky as well. This is really quite pretty and delightful. It held up quite well throughout the evening, about 5.5 hours from start to finish. 93+ pts.
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1989 Château Gruaud Larose 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
Double decanted off its sediment 90+ minutes before service. Ruby red with a touch of bricking. Opens with the signature Cordier funk, along with plum and red berry fruit. Medium-bodied and integrated, with flavors of red fruit, tobacco and earth. Finishes with good length. In a really nice place- an excellent example of this estate/period. 92+ pts.
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1993 Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
My one and only bottle, same year I graduated from high school, double decanted off its sediment 1.75 hrs before service, though it was probably closer to 3 hours before I got to it. Gorgeous. Aromas of herbs, mint, mixed red and black fruit and leather. Full-bodied and fully-integrated, this is showing beautifully, with an abundance of red cabernet fruit and dried herbs.
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1996 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Double decanted off its sediment 1.75 hrs before service and closer to 3 hours by the time I got around to tasting it. As Togni is, this opens with that signature "green" element underneath the red and black fruit, and I love it. Red currants and nicely herbaceous, full and balanced. Excellent, although not quite at the level of a stellar bottle of the 1997 I opened back in November. 93-94 pts.
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2008 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
Unfortunately my prep notes were written on the back of the bottle and I don't recall exactly how much air this got. My best guess is that I pulled the cork about 5 hours before service and gave it an hour in the decanter. My note would have been 6-7 hrs after the cork was pulled. Aromas of black currant, plum, chocolate and blue fruit; overall still a pretty big, brawny wine. The palate is very much Stags Leap with the velvety tannins. Satiny and plush, this fills out across the palate with waves of black fruit and plum, chocolate, leather and mocha. Long finish. Still on the young side, I'll try to hold off until 2028 for the next one. The magnums will likely outlive me if these continue to age at this pace. 95-96 pts.
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2016 Kapcsándy Family Winery Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville
I brought the leftover 1/3 bottle from the prior evening's blind tasting. This had not changed much in 24 hours, showing blue and black fruit, herb and chocolate qualities. Good, though R remarked this wasn't up to the usual standard for this wine. Hopefully our next bottles show better. Hold to 2030+.
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2016 Dominus Estate 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Our first of six, and here again, I don't recall the exact prep but it was decanted for perhaps 3-4 hours, cork first pulled about 6 hours before service. Elegant as Dominus usually is, with black currant, graphite and dried herbs. Hints of rose petal in the background. Well-balanced, with fine tannins and flavors of black currant, green tobacco and vanilla. Lengthy finish. Impeccable balance. Hold to 2031, though 2036 would probably better.
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2017 Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
I pulled the cork at 10a and decanted this for 4.5 hours before serving it in the happy hour lineup over 7 hours after the cork was pulled. There are similarities to the Dominus, with black fruit and graphite notes, but the fruit here is a bit riper and more plummy. Blackberry and floral elements emerge as well. Full-bodied and youthfully firm, with big fruit and big tannins, but quite good overall. Loads of black fruit and plum on the palate. Hold.
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2021 Afterwords Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Epilogue Sleeping Lady Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville
This received the same treatment as the Bella Oaks- pulled the cork over 7 hours before service and it was decanted for 4.5 hours. Cassis, black cherry and lavender notes with blue fruit undertones. Abundant black fruit on the palate, along with licorice, chocolate and raspberry. Long finish. Elegant, fine tannins support the fruit. Excellent, if young. Give this a couple of years yet.
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2022 Blankiet Estate Rive Droite
USA, California, Napa Valley
Another that we did not finish during the Friday brown bag tasting, so I brought it along for everyone else to try. Similar to last evening, with abundant sweet black fruit, chocolate, blueberry and raspberry. Fine tannins. Excellent, though young.
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