Raveneau and Bea @ Dan's

Palo Alto, CA
Tasted Friday, June 26, 2009 by mdefreitas with 628 views

Introduction

Dan, Rob, Kate, Scott, Joel, Beth, Penny

Flight 1 - STARTER WINES (2 Notes)

Tasted with Parma cheese and fresh fruits.

Flight 2 - A PRE-RAVENEAU GRAND CRU (1 Note)

  • 2003 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 96 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

    This seems to be at a wonderful drinking phase. Loads of "fat", as one might expect from the vintage, but there is good buffering oyster-shell tinged acidity. Spearamint, peach and citrus oils cling to the plate. Open for business and delicious.

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Flight 3 - THE RAVENEAU MONTEE DE TONNERRE FLIGHT (5 Notes)

Served with shrimp in a pastis & mushroom sauce.

  • 2000 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    A bit closed at first, but opened up with air. Classic citrus oil, mineral and herbal elements. This presents itself quite linearly on the palate, with fine focus. Lovely wine that somehow seemed to be holding something in reserve. I would opt to cellar a bit more.

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  • 2001 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 89 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    An odd wine, in that the nose and the palate seemed to be in opposition. Honey, cream and rich in the nose, but citrusy, acidic and somewhat metallic on the palate. I enjoyed it, but there did seem to be some warring factions that need to come together.

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  • 2002 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Cirtic, minerally and very well balanced. Shows all the elements that need to be present for the wine to excel, but at present it seemed to be holding back. Another wine I would cellar for a bit more.

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  • 2003 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Drinking well. A plusher style of Chablis, but not without a spine. My score reflects current pleasure quotient, as opposed to ageablility. Round in the mouth, with good "fat". Fruit driven Chablis.

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  • 2005 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Very enjoyable. A wine that I think suffered from its "baby fat". There were the classic elements of sea-shells, minerals, mint and citrus, but there were also "fatter" fruit flavors like peach and apple. You can almost taste the dry extract on the palate... a wine with corpulent fruit that I think needs to slim down with some cellar time. If this harmonizes, it will be stunning.

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Flight 4 - THE PAULO BEA FLIGHT (3 Notes)

Served with pasta w/ game, as well as braised lamb necks.

  • 2001 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco 96 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

    What a fabulous wine. Exotic, spicy, figgy, port-like... almost like a distilled essense of fruit cake. A wine that developed in the glass with layers of flavors. Orange peel, cloves... a real rollercoaster ride on the palate. The red wine of the night.

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  • 2003 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco 94 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

    Similar to the 2001, but perhaps with a riper, heavier palate. Dried fruits on the red spectrum (cherries, plums) along with mashed herbs and Christmas spices. Not quite the balance of the 2001, but that is hardly a knock. Delicious, rich and exotic.

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  • 2004 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco Pagliaro

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

    Not rated, as I felt there was something definitely off with this wine. At first I thought it was corked, then perhaps not so much as time went on. Ungiving and offering very little pleasure. Given the supposed quality of the vintage, I expected more. Very disappointing and hopefully my other bottles will show better.

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Flight 5 - CHEESES (1 Note)

Serra de Estrella, Cheddar, goat cheese and Epoisses.

  • 1994 Opus One 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A wine that I purchased years ago when I first started getting into wine. This showed a feminine restraint and cool, high toned fruit. There was quite a prominent herbal component of mint, celery seed and earth. Nothing really offputting here, but nothing to really justify this wine's price either. Medium, earth-tinged finish. Totally resolved, if not soft, tannins. Some old world characteristics, but this fooled no one in its new world inclinations.

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Flight 6 - DESSERT (1 Note)

Served with bolo de mel.

  • NV Rare Wine Company (Henriques & Henriques) Madeira Imperial Malmsey Old Reserve 93 Points

    Portugal, Madeira

    Lovely example of Malmsey, in that although there is obvious sweetness, there is a firm acidic streak that attenuates any cloying attributes. Much like the other Rare Wine Company Madeiras I've tried, there is a pleasing firmness here. Noticable volatile acidity, but not distracting. Persistant "cling" on the tangy, lip-smacking, slightly "fudgy" palate. Delicious.

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