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Really late lunch – blind esoteric and not so esoteric wines at Q by Peter Chang
Q by Peter Chang - Bethesda, Maryland
Tasted December 17, 2017 by dcwino with 379 views
Introduction
Christy, my friend and also point of contact at Zachys, was in town so a few of us got together. For various reasons, we decided to start at 3 pm. This is the flagship restaurant of Peter Chang, the former chef at the Chinese embassy. The peaking duck was the best I ever had in the states.
Flight 1 - Champagne (1 note)
White - Sparkling
2008 Georges Laval Champagne Premier Cru Brut Nature Cumières
88 points
A hint of oxidized fresh apple juice, cinnamon, mostly red fruit, medium fine medium concentrated mousse. Natural wine impression. According to Amy, a bit off, the last bottle was much fresher.
Flight 2 - White (5 notes)
White
2008 Weingut Keller Hubacker Riesling Großes Gewächs
93 points
Ripe succulent yellow fruit, peach, crème brulee, steely mineral and limestone. Excellent concentration, ripe and oily, bright acidity and strong mineral. Paul put in a Barolo shape bottle. Clearly a Riesling. My guess is Pichler.
White
2014 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon
93 points
Initial guesses are mostly Burgundy. Paul correctly points to Rhone, then Viognier, then suggests possibly Marsanne/Roussanne. He then comes back to Viognier and guess a high end producer. Amy and Paul both correctly guesses George Vernay Coteau de Vernon. Just like the 14 l'Enfer, riper and deeply toned than I would have expected. Peach, a hint of lychee fruit. Not as expressive as the 11 or 13.
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White
1997 Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek
94 points
Initially oxidized apple peel, steely, wet sox and mineral. My initial guess is Coteaux Champenois like Saran. It is cool but also ripe and oily. A bit of herb, anise, sour apple, peach and steely mineral. Paul suggests a cool climate German Riesling. It darns on me that it may be Nikolaihof. As usual, really unique showing, cool and steely, good herbaceous nose.
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White
2012 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard
94 points
Beautiful ripe yellow fruit and mineral driven nose, pineapple, citrus, vanilla, light caramel, sesame and wet stone. Beautiful balance and harmony, most guesses as a ripe year Meursault and Puligny. I know Greg’s cellar so I correctly guess but thinking 2008 or 9.
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Flight 3 - Sherry (1 note)
White - Fortified
1970 Bodegas Tradición Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Oloroso Anada
95 points
Intense and very complex nose, nutty, dry fruit, a hint of luxurious cognac. Very rich and round, strong acidity and mineral and a long deeply toned nutty finish. My guess is an old sherry. It could also a dry style Madeira. With air, incredibly complex, sweet cognac nose. This will go incredibly well with aged comte or parmesan.
Flight 4 - Red (5 notes)
Red
2005 Domaine Denis Mortet Clos Vougeot
94 points
Very ripe yet pure red and black fruit, raspberry, blackberry jelly, black cherry, dark spices, tree bark and earth. Initially most think Rhone, Paul mentions top end Cote Rotie or Hermitage. Excellent concentration, pure and powerful, true to the style of the domaine. I find Mortet style similar to Leroy but not as opulent and a bit more masculine. Still needs another decade to reach the peak.
Red
2013 Mauro Veglio Barolo Castelletto
93 points
Red and black cherry, dry cherry, fruit cake, tar, rose and strong iron. Very good concentration, packed red and black fruit, warm, elegant and round, a lot of iron and a long dark fruit and tar driven finish. Certain from Italy, either the top end mount etna or piedmont. Paul mentions Gattinara. I boldly and foolishly suggests "young Monfortino". Very nice Barolo that is open for now.
Red
1973 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva
90 points
A bit tired, stewed tomato, stewed cherry, a hint of Madeira and iron. Old Barolo. I wonder if this was't served blind, if I would have liked it more.
Red
2013 Radio-Coteau Zinfandel Lemorel
93 points
Expressive, totally different, new world. Ripe raspberry fruit, cherry pie, a hint of oak and earth. Very grenache and new world, my guess is top priorat. I just didn't imagine anyone had Zinfandel in their cellar. Very modern and opulent but not hot.
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Flight 5 - Van Jaune (1 note)
White
2004 Tissot (Bénédicte et Stéphane / André et Mireille) Arbois Vin Jaune Les Bruyères
92 points
The bottle shape gives it away. Almond paste, nutty as usual,a hint of citrus, dry sherry and strong mineral. Medium concentration, warm and round, medium acidity which is surprising and a medium to long dry apricot and almond paste driven finish. Relatively young Chateau Chalon.
Closing
I had to leave at 6. It appears that the guys were hanging with Peter Chang after I left. A great time was had by all.