New Years 2009

New Year's dinner with friends.

Canapes

• NV Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

  France, Champagne

  Bold but firm, focused flavors. Crisp apple notes. Very young. Enjoyable.

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

Chilean Sea Bass with Cheese Agnolotti, Zucchini, Baby Artichoke, and Cream

• 2006 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Clean, crisp young citrus flavors. Not quite the mineral component I'd expect. Firm, with some green notes on the finish. Nice clarity. Solid showing.

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

• 2004 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bourgogne Blanc

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc

  Fat for an '04, with none of the green character the vintage sometimes has. Some orange notes. Somewhat front and fruit-heavy, but enjoyable and a very good pairing.

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

Escargots with Garlic, Parsley, and Butter

• 1990 Thibault Liger-Belair Richebourg Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  Some red fruits and iron notes, but muted. Consensus was slightly corked.

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

• 2001 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  Deep, sappy plum and dark fruit notes with a great spice component. Forward, precise flavors. Well structured; firm finish. Very nice.

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

Earthshine Farms Organic Heirloom Chicken

• 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Really pretty, sappy, sexy red and black fruits. Forward and surprisingly open; firm structure, but somewhat in the background with young, open fruit the most dominant component. Very good DRC Ech.

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

• 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux

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

  More stuffing but much more restrained than the '01 Echezeaux. Darker, more masculine styling. Firmer, grainier tannins; with more evident oak. Clearly a lot in reserve and some very nice components, but needs time.

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

Soy and Balsamic Glazed Quail with Frisee and Baby Greens

• 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru

  High-pitched red and orange fruits - spice and floral perfume notes. Big, complex aromatics. Patrician styling. Showing less on the palate - fruit up front but angular, and quickly gives way to a firm, tense structure. Great components. Should really be special with time.

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

Puff Pastry Encrusted Beef Tenderloin with Goose and Duck Liver Mousse, and Black Winter Truffle

• 1989 Château Mouton Rothschild Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Dark fruits and tobacco, medium body and resolving, but some cork taint clearly evident.

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

• 1995 Château Mouton Rothschild

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Red fruits, coffee grounds. Medium bodied, but big, firm structure takes over quickly. Opened up dramatically after an hour or so - more bold, darker, characteristic Mouton flavors. Very nice.

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

• 1996 Château Mouton Rothschild

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Dark fruits, tobacco, coffee notes. Finer tannins but very nice balance and clearly capable of much improvement. Medium bodied. Very nice wine.

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

• 1999 Château Mouton Rothschild

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Big, forward coffee grounds with red fruit undertones. Surprisingly open. More background structure. Maybe not the promise of the '95/'96, but very nice now.

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

• 2004 Château Mouton Rothschild

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Some young grapey notes. Coffee grounds. Forward fruits; firm, crisp, but not unyielding structure. Classic styling. Very nice.

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

New Year's Champagne

• 1990 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut

  France, Champagne

  Bold, rich baked apple and citrus. Yeasty. Big wine. Firm and focused flavors. Characteristic Krug richness. Deep and complex. Well balanced mousse. Great precision. Really good.

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

One more

• 2001 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Musigny

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  Strawberry and spice, with woodsy (not woody) undertones. Streamlined, medium bodied, and well-balanced throughout. Elegant. Really nice.

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

Expertly prepared meal with wonderful hosts and guests - really great time and end to '09!