New Year's Eve 2009-2010

Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)
Tasted Thursday, December 31, 2009 by jrobs7777 with 727 views

Introduction

New Year's Eve. Is there a better occasion to explore some cellar gems and simply enjoy wine? I do not think so! The wines lived generally lived up to their billing. Only one or two disappointments on the night. Overall, this was an extremely impressive line-up. We started with live lobsters, antipasto and moved on to some "caviar" cheese and fruit. Excellent stuff!

Flight 1 - Small production Champagnes (3 Notes)

These were all sourced from Chambers Street Wines. All are smaller. The Marguet was an absolute surprise here and one to keep an eye on.

Flight 2 - Premier Cuvees (3 Notes)

Salon - Krug - Cristal. Tough to top that trio on New Year's Eve!

  • 1996 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 96 Points

    France, Champagne

    This is absolutely outstanding. Green apple, sourdough and yeast dominate the intoxicating nose. Great development and complexity on palate. Sweet and spicy with mouth tingling and mouth watering sensation. The finish keeps building and building. This is so young and fresh and has such a long time to go. The problem is that is that it is so good today. A knockout.

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  • 1995 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 89 Points

    France, Champagne

    I did not love this wine on this night. Two bottles are held in storage. Hopefully they will show better. Oxidized character on nose was a bit surprising. Apple cider vinegar. Red apple. Round and full. Nice mid-palate development. Reminded me of an aged white Burgundy, but lacked some of the weight and concentration that I expected. Moderate finish.

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  • 2002 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 95 Points

    France, Champagne

    A real bruiser of a Champagne. Almond, red and green apple. Tremendous nuttiness on the nose. Very nice complexity. Good weight. Mouth watering. Wave after wave of development. Building finish. The 96 Salon barely edged this. Should be interesting to see how this ages.

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Flight 3 - Older Miscellaneous (2 Notes)

  • 1970 Château Palmer 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    This is very good but (this bottle at least) may be on its last legs. A bit oxidized. Leather, tobacco and red fruit on the nose. Good acidity and red fruit on the palate. Very interesting development here for 40 year old wine. A slight bit bitter at the back end of the palate. Moderate finish.

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  • 1997 Sine Qua Non Impostor McCoy 97 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    What a stellar wine. Saline, blood, pepper and green pepper on the nose. Salted meats as well. This is absolutely amazing on the palate. Dense and concentrated dark berries with nice subtle oak. This just keeps coming at you with big, but balanced fruit, sweet spice and saline. The finish builds and crescendos. A delight.

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Flight 4 - Young Cult Napa Cabs (3 Notes)

I'm on the mailing list of all three and had never tried any of the Cabs, so this was a great opportunity. I'll definitely stay on the Rudius and Ovid lists. I'll have to think long and hard about Seven Stones in the future.

  • 2006 Rudius Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    What a remarkable QPR. At $60, this is an absolute steal. While it finished 2nd to the Ovid in the Cab flight, it is an outstanding wine. Black cherry dominates the nose with spice and darker fruit. A nip of heat that integrates after a second or two. Very rich and smooth on the palate. Mocha. Fine dusty tannins. Nice solid finish.

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  • 2005 Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    This is very good, but compared with the Ovid and Rudius, it was 3rd and does not justify the $175 price tag. Dark fruit. Chocolate and mocha on the palate. Very nice dark fruit concentration and chocolate on the palate. But it lacked complexity and did not have the big finish we expected.

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  • 2005 Ovid Red Wine 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Remarkable. Blackberry, spice box and dark fruit on a dense and pungent nose. The spice is amazing. It dominates the palate with outstanding milk chocolate that keeps building. Almost painfully intense. The tannins are so refined and so well structured. Among best I've ever experienced. A minor nit here is a small gap in the back of the palate or right at the start of the finish -- it tails off for a second before coming back and finishing exceptionally well.

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Flight 5 - Dessert! (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Château d'Yquem 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Not a bad wine, but a below average Yquem. Honey and nut on the nose with some saline and vanilla. Nice concentration on the palate, but lacked the acidity I prefer and it felt a little lighter on the palate. Very nice finish that keeps going.

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  • 1963 Graham Porto Vintage 91 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Remarkable for a 40+ year old wine. Bright youthful red color. Nice plum, sweet spice and secondary notes on the nose. There is heat here which is noticeable, but this comes together well on the palate. Mocha and red berries. Nice finish. This bottle, at least, is probably past its peak but this should continue to drink well for several more years.

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