New Year's Eve 2009

Chicago IL
Tasted Thursday, December 31, 2009 by MatthewF with 855 views

Introduction

New Year's Eve dinner with a few friends.

Flight 1 - To start off the evening. (1 Note)

Served with Kumamoto oysters with Meyer Lemon Mignonette

  • NV Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

    France, Champagne

    2 bottles opened with consistent notes. Crisp green apple and lemon on the nose and palate. A firm and focused, yet still round, giving palate with great acidity and a good finish. Very nice.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

Served with Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with Cheese Agnolotti, Zucchini, Cream, and Crispy Baby Artichokes

  • 2006 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Very light color. Mostly yellow citrus on the nose with some white flower and wet stone in the background. On the palate, very giving ripe lemon flavors. Not a ton of wet stone/rock notes on the palate, but the mineral backbone is still present. Nice acid with a moderate finish. Very good wine.

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  • 2004 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bourgogne Blanc

    France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc

    Ripe citrus aromatics with wet rocks, and some subtle spice. Rich, fruit forward palate of juicy lime. Very nice minerality with great acidity throughout. A bit shorter than I would have liked on the finish, but still a great showing in my opinion.

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Flight 3 (2 Notes)

Served with Escargots in Garlic and Parsley Butter.
The Meo was a last minute add in after the poor showing of the Richebourg

  • 1990 Thibault Liger-Belair Richebourg Flawed

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

    Something was not quite right here. From multiple previous experiences with the wine, I did not expect tons of fruit, but there was almost none on the nose; just a very faint hint of dark berries and earth. Slight hint of cork in the background so it was put to the side to come back to later. The cork smell did not get stronger (even on the next day), but it still was totally lifeless.

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

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

    Popped and poured. Sappy, dark berry nose with beautiful spice that kept getting more and more pronounced as it opened up. Dark fruit and spice on the muscular palate; very firm with great minerality and acidity. Some nice grip to the moderate plus finish. Great wine.

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Flight 4 (2 Notes)

Served with two Roasted Earthshine Farms Heirloom Chickens, Pan Roasted Carrots, and Balsamic Glazed Pearl Onions

  • 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

    Opened roughly 6 hours before serving. Powerful, seductive nose of dark red and black berry fruit with elegant spice, floral, and mineral notes. Fruit forward palate with great structure and outstanding balance. Savory spice throughout and nice grip to the finish. Another great showing for this Echezeaux. This is in a very nice place now, but will easily last.

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  • 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux

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

    Opened roughly 6 hours before serving. Served alongside the 2001 Echezeaux. Like the same comparison I did about 2 month ago, this shared many similar characteristics to the Echezeaux, but with more stuffing in reserve. Darker red/black fruit with firmer structure and more presence of oak right now. Will be great with more time.

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Flight 5 (1 Note)

Served with Soy and Balsamic Glazed Grilled Quail, Frisee, Baby Greens, and White Truffle, Brown Butter, and Soy Vinaigrette

  • 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche

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

    Opened roughly 6 1/2 hours before serving with a total of about 2 hours sitting in a decanter. Very seductive aromatics of firm red berries, violets, clove, anise, and a touch of orange peel. At first not very giving on the palate, though by the end of evening it opened up magnificently. Beautiful baking spice thoughout the very long finish. Has everything going for it. I hope to try this again in another decade or so.

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Flight 6 (5 Notes)

Served with Black Truffle Rubbed Beef Tenderloin encrusted in Puff Pastry with Goose and Duck Liver Mousse, Mushroom Duxelle, and Shaved Fresh Black Truffle

  • 1989 Château Mouton Rothschild Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Unfortunately mildly corked. Mature aromas of red currant and plum with cigar box notes still come through. Medium bodied and fully ready to drink.

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  • 1995 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Red currant, cassis, and plum aromatics with cedar, tobacco leaf, and some coffee notes as well. Very firm on the palate and took a good hour plus to really start opening up. The same firm, dark red fruits on the palate with a mineral backbone and still quite a bit of tannin remaining. Long finish and has the materials to last for years.

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  • 1996 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Firm, dark red fruit aromatics with cedar and tobacoo leaf. Palate was somewhat less giving than I was expecting from a 96 (even a first growth). Tight, dark fruit and some coffee on the palate with very firm structure. Nice body with great components and grip to the finish. Needs more time.

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  • 1999 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Big, expressive nose with coffee and cocoa in the foreground with red currant and plum following. Sweet cedar and tobacco notes as well. Very expansive and forward on the palate; much more fruit and structure than I was expecting. Medium plus bodied with a long finish. Showing absolutely fantastic. My personal biggest surprise of the night.

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  • 2004 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Big, expressive nose of dark red currants and plum with sweet tobacco, graphite, and the same coffee and cocoa notes found in the other Moutons tonight. Very fruit forward on the palate with great structure and promise for development in the future. Pretty long finish. Very young, but very open, and very drinkable now.

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Flight 7 - New Year's Eve Toast (1 Note)

  • 1990 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut

    France, Champagne

    Powerful, yeasty nose of baked apple and lemon with some nice butter sauteed mushroom notes. Great creamy texture with excellent acidity and minerality. Long finish. Absolutely delicious and a real treat.

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Flight 8 - One more treat to end the night. (1 Note)

  • 2001 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Musigny

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

    Elegant aromatics of wild strawberry and violet with beautful spice. Medium bodied on the palate with clean, pure red fruit. Outstanding length and great acidity on the finish. Fantastic wine.

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Closing

A fantastic night with great friends and great wines

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