Dinner at Home with Friends

Two of my close friends have birthdays that are a week apart so I prepared dinner and wine pairings for everyone.

Some bubbles to start

• 2000 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut

  France, Champagne

  Fragrant aromatics of lemon and green apple with great acidity and minerality on the palate. Much better than the last bottle I had of this. Some notes of toasted hazelnut and brioche as well. Very nice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

This was paired with pan roasted Halibut served over celery root puree and bacon braised Kale.

• 2005 Maison Champy Corton-Charlemagne

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

  Light straw color. Powerful aromatics of lemon and lime peel with wet stone and white flowers. A lush, fruit forward palate with a great mineral backbone and lively acidity. Long finish. Always a great Corton Charlemagne.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Served with a slice of seared foie gras with a mango and currant chutney and warm brioche. I drizzled a small amount of vanilla simple syrup over as well to tie in with all the vanilla the '03 Yquem is showing right now.

• 2003 Château d'Yquem

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  From half bottle. Golden color. Ripe tropical fruit nose with a healthy dose of vanilla. Very lush palate of pineapple, apricot, and vanilla. Fantastic acidity on the long finish. A great Yquem.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Served with a roasted Earthshine Farms chicken, rosemary roasted parsnips, thyme roasted carrots, and balsamic glazed pearl onions.

These were served 100% blind. The 2001 Ech was drinking much better than the GE right now, but I suspect the GE will be the better wine with time. A great comparison.

• 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Opened for 5 hours before serving alongside the 01 Grands Echezeaux. Sour cherry and berry on the nose with savory herb, mineral, and lots of powerful wood spice. Fruit forward on the palate with sweet baking spice throughout and a great balance of mineral and acidity. Seemed to be in a better place right now than the Grands Echezeaux. An outstanding Echezeaux.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Opened for 5 hours before serving. A more complex nose than the Echezeaux served alongside. More intense wood spice and dried herbs. On the palate, sour cherry and cranberry, with some nice earthy notes. A lot of minerality and great spice throughout as well. While I have no doubt this will eclipse the Echezeaux some day, right now the other is showing better balance right now.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Served with sliced grilled prime rib eye and New York strip steaks, roasted fingerling potatoes, and brussels sprouts

These were served 100% blind alongside each other. Interestingly someone called the '96 LasCases a '97 Dominus.

• 1996 Château Léoville Las Cases

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Opened for 6 hours before serving. Sweet red currant and cassis on the nose with cedar, tobacco, and leather. Some wet earth as well. A fruit forward palate with great texture. A very long finish with fine tannin. Very youthful.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1997 Dominus Estate

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Opened for 6 hours before serving. Garnet color. Classic CA cab aromatics of red currant, cassis, cedar, and tobacco leaf with a touch of smoke. The same ripe red fruits on the palate with some wet earth and spice as well. Showing great balance with a seamless finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Alongside a honeycrisp apple crisp

• 1997 J.B. Adam Gewurztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles

  France, Alsace

  Light honey color. Candied orange peel and ginger nose with some white pepper. A very lush mouthfeel with fantastic acidity and mineral backbone. Great spice throughout the palate and over the long finish. Very nice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

A great night of food, wines, and friends. Happy Birthday Matt and Chris!