Burgundy Dinner

Celebratory dinner with tasting group and +1s (partners and a sibling) after fellowship match and to finally open some expensive stuff who knows when we would open otherwise!

A white and a red flight with an imposter to compare.

Apps and bread

Bread and olive oil
Escargot with garlic herb butter
Leeks with Dijon aioli

General consensus - non-wine nerds preferred the Chablis (n=3); everyone else was mixed.

• 2021 Martin Woods Chardonnay Koosah Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Electric/ripping acidity that is decently balanced (though, a touch higher than my preference). A pale yellow color. Lemon zest, slaty/stony minerality, and a great chablis equivalent from the new world.

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• 2018 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Pale yellow color. Some malo, no oak, a beautifully crisp and refreshing white with a mineral backbone and mild acidity. Lemon peel, green apple, some flinty mineral character as well.
  
  A great QPR and something to be on the look at for. Consider aging yourself for the best bargain but even 7yo wine for <55$ is a great deal!
  
  For some who prefer more acidic examples of chardonnay, this is not for you. For those who prefer more body and texture to their chardonnay but do not want all the Diacetyl of the new world, look no further.

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• 2004 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Domaine 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  A golden color with bronzed rim. A remarkably complex nose with truffle, butterscotch, Parmesan cheese. The palate confirming the nose with a lovely body and still containing a great amount of further fruit characters including bruised apple, bruised peach, and sour lemon candy.
  
  One of the most remarkable wines I've had in my life; a wine like none other I've had the pleasure of trying.

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Vegetable Cassoulet
Veggie pizza
garlicky haricots verts

Other diners enjoyed duck, variety of fish options, and beef.

Toss up given the age disparity. Most agreed the 2017 is the "better wine" but the 2004 was so in its peak that it is hard to say it wasn't showing better.

• 2017 Louis Latour Romanée St. Vivant Les Quatre Journaux 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

  Another insane wine in this lineup. Needed more time to open up and would benefit from significant more time in bottle and at least a couple hours in a decanter.
  
  Classic pinot color and nose: ruby with no sediment; rose petals, dirt/earthiness (sous bois), cherries and cranberry. On the palate, a magnifience balance of those fruit and non-fruit characters with a lovely body, a touch of acid, and an out-of-this-world length.
  
  95++ (expect this to sit 97 or above in 5-10 years).. too bad I don't have any more

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• 2004 Henri Jouan Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos Sorbé 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru

  Wonderful aged pinot. Double decanted to remove sediment and in bottle 1.5hr before serving.
  
  Color: brick-orange rim with a rusted ruby center. No sediment
  Nose: dried mushroom, dried rose petals, dried berries, a hint of smoke
  Palate: confirmed nose and included a perfect balance of acid to lift the finish but not distract the fruit which is very much tertiary but present as ever.
  
  Still has a bit of room for aging!

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A fabulous once in a lifetime tasting with excellent food and company. Plan to do 1-2 more of these before we move away to different parts of the country come summer 2026.

Each taster had a different WOTN which was a win!

Parts 2/3 TBD.