Black Salt Dinner

Black Salt restaurant - Washington DC
Tasted Monday, October 20, 2008 by madeiradog with 787 views

Introduction

For this dinner (thanks to Randy for setting it up!) we were batting about whether it should be an all white wine dinner to accompany the seafood specialty of Black Salt. While that would have been very interesting, I think I was glad to have some reds in the end.

Flight 1 - Champagne (2 Notes)

These were a great way to get started.

  • 1996 Pol Roger Champagne Brut Rosé 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    Wonderfully delicious - floral nose with light strawberry on the palate. Refreshing acidity with some yeastiness on the lasting finish. And yes I would like another glass please..

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  • NV Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    Headier and sweeter than the Pol Roger Rose, this champers had a lovely and lasting finish that can be summed up in one word: yummmmy! Palate coating fruit with a touch of hazelnut and lemon oil and uplifting acidity.

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Flight 2 - Chablis (4 Notes)

Flight 3 - Cali chards (3 Notes)

  • 2002 Kongsgaard Chardonnay 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Zesty but fading fruit with firm but pleasant touch of oak that is well integrated. If juicy fruit gum were toned down by hauge factor with a pleasant sweetness that would be this wine. I also found a trace of heat in the finish.

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  • 2003 Kongsgaard Chardonnay 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Good fruit but perhaps dragged down by the butterscotch oak flavors that I do not believe will get better with time. Did not get as much heat as the '02 on the finish.

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  • 2002 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Holding up slightly better than the '02 Kongsgard (in my opinion - others at the table may have differed) this had bold, almost spicy exotic fruit with an oaky roundness that was a good match to the fruit. Very yummy.

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Flight 4 - Older burgs (2 Notes)

  • 1997 Domaine Trapet Chambertin 89 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

    A real sappiness to the fruit in this wine but also a perception of woody tannins. Nose of forest floor with good body and structure to the wine.

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  • 1983 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Vigne de L'Enfant Jesus 88 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

    Again with the forest floor but this had even more of a pine needle thing going on. Firm acidity with no noticeable tannins, an elegant wine but I got little fruit but more of a leafy and unripe wild strawberry on the palate.

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Flight 5 - Younger burgs (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

    Again a real sappiness to the fruit in this wine. Great structure and long finish. Quite delicious and interesting contrast to the other flight of red burgs.

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  • 1999 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Latricières-Chambertin 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru

    I thought this was opening up very nicely and outshone the Clos de Lambray as being more approachable but ultimately I think the Lampray is a better wine. Still, this is pretty good with some nice complexity and baking spice on the finish.

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Flight 6 - Stickies (2 Notes)

  • 1997 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont 86 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

    My first impression is upon the color - very dark for a white wine. I am overwhelmed by the taste of apples in this wine - sort of a combination of apple cider and carmelized apple. Lacks some acidity that would contrast the sweetness. A bit plodding and cloying.

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  • 1988 Château Raymond-Lafon 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Came off as a very simple sauterne but with great balance between sweetness and acidity. Very one-dimensional fruit (for me) that did not hold your attention very long.

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Closing

Great to see everyone again and looking forward to the next one!

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