1990 Vintage France Themed Tasting Dinner

A great theme — the ’90 vintage was spectacular all over France. Keith and Donna hosted this memorable potluck. There were so many good wines. Chateauneuf du Pape and the Northern Rhone stole the show in this feast of riches, but the ’90 Cos d’Estournel and ’90 Dom Perignon were also great. My top favorites were the Chapoutier Barbe Rac, Les Cailloux Cuvée Centenaire and Jaboulet La Chapelle.

Bill, Keith and Donna

• 1990 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Restrained, chalky, mineral nose; elegant, delicious, tart, green apple and toast palate, a little steely, but with great precision; medium-plus finish

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With our vol au vent, gruyeres and jumbo prawn cocktail.

• 1990 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Trie Spéciale 94 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières

  Bright green tinted yellow color; rich, big, earthy, lime and vanilla nose; rich, creamy textured, tart melon, sour cream, mineral and lime palate; medium-plus finish (WOTF)

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• 1990 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Light medium yellow gold color; vanilla and banana nut cake nose; rich, tropical fruit, almost California Chard-like, but with good acidity and minerality too, lime and tangy clarified butter toward medium-plus finish 93+ pts.

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With duck confit salad.

• 1990 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds 94 Points

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

  Dark black color; lovely plush cherry, raspberry, sous bois and soy sauce nose; lovely ripe cherry, black cherry, soy sauce palate with depth; medium-plus finish

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With bacon wrapped beef tenderloin with wild mushroom stuffing

• 1990 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Dark raspberry red color, a little bricking toward the edges; prune, black fruit, fig and tart raspberry nose; gorgeous ripe spicy plum and cherry palate with depth and mystery; long finish

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• 1990 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac 97 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Dark garnet red color; barnyard, tart cherry, sour cream and horseradish nose with high notes; tasty, tart cherry, horseradish, pepper palate, young tasting yet; medium-plus finish

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• 1990 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Cuvée Syrah 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Tight, pepper, beef jus, leather, plum, olive and clove nose; tasty fig, tart plum, leather, pepper palate, young yet, with a touch of horsemeat; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.

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• 1990 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Pepper and tobacco nose; lovely tobacco, leather, pepper, refined and elegant palate; medium-plus finish 95+ pts.

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• 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Dark garnet red color; tart plum, black fruit, fig and leather nose; gorgeous, concentrated, elegant Syrah, plum and black fruit palate with a beefy note, young yet; long finish 96+ pts. WOTF

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Cheese course

• 1990 Château Montrose 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Dark garnet red color; truffle, dried cherry and dried mushroom nose; intriguing, plush, tart plum, tar, coffee palate, young yet; long finish 93+ pts.

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• 1990 Château Cos d'Estournel 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Dark garnet red color; lead pencil, graphite, blackberry and cassis nose; lovely, balanced mocha, espresso and plum palate; long finish

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• 1990 Domaine des Baumard Coteaux du Layon 94 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

  Apricot gold color; tangy, brown sugar, maple and broiled eel nose; rich, brown sugar, cream and sweet lemon palate; long finish

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• 1990 Château d'Yquem 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Gorgeous apricot gold color; lovely, sour cream, brown sugar and sweet butter nose; rich, dried apricot, peach and caramel palate, lower in acidity than usual, with tangy long finish

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Christine and Dee