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Gathering at Brian's
Brian's Home
Tasted November 3, 2018 by James Kim with 236 views
Introduction
Ten people gathered at Brian's home, which he graciously hosted with Bruce and Monica. Truffles was on the menu and the food was fabulous all around. A particular highlight was a simple buttered pasta with salt and white truffles. Fantastic! There were a plethora of great wines but could only take notes once we sat down. So unfortunately, most of the whites are from memory/impressions and with some completely missing. Also didn't get to try all the reds either and there was a 1967 Fontanafredda Barolo that I also only had impressions of. But regardless, a fantastic evening with great food, wine and people.
Flight 1 - Sparkling and White (4 notes)
With starters- mostly cheese, charcuterie and crackers.
White - Sparkling
2002 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François
90 points
From memory. Yeasty/brioche with citrus and some herbs. Nice weight. Seems coiled and not showing as much. Perhaps needed more air. Paled in comparison to the 2008 Cristal afterwards.
White - Sparkling
2008 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut
92 points
From memory. Apparently opened 45 min before everyone arrive. Beautiful concentrated apples, citrus and unripe pears and brioche aromas. Palate has more apples, citrus and unripe pears complemented by herbs, minerals. Still coiled and holding things in reserve. Excellent concentration and weight. So enjoyable now but will be fantastic when the wine opens up. Would love to try this again in another 10 years.
White
2016 Maison Leroy Bourgogne Blanc
90 points
From memory. Tart apple, mineral and flint aromas. Palate had nice concentration of flavors that followed aromas with a hint of saline note added. Nice weight. Definitely young but excellent for Bourgogne blanc and will most likely be better in a couple of years.
White
1999 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia
92 points
From memory. Decanted for 1.5h then back into bottle to Brian's place. Waxy and creamy yet with bright acidity in the mouth. Lemon curd, nuts, minerals and herbs with a nice long finish. Lovely.
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Flight 2 - Reds (7 notes)
Various reds - almost all with the main meal that came in 3 courses.
Red
1967 Fontanafredda Barolo
90 points
From memory and just an impression. Tart red cherries with some roses, leather and tar and a hint of volatile acids. Medium weight. Still fresh and lively. Not that complex but still enjoyable.
Red
1990 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Bricco Rocche
90 points
Aromas of roses, earth, crushed cherries with a hint of balsamic vinegar. Palate continued the tart cherry theme with added leather, earth, bitter herbs, tar and tobacco. Finishes with prominent tannins and lots of bass note earthy bitterness. High toned but the bass notes are simultaneously prominent. The prominent, borderline harsh bitterness on the finish decreased the enjoyment of a very nice wine for me.
Red
2000 Damilano Barolo Cannubi
Balsamic vinegar, high toned cherries and hint of herbs on the nose. Palate is smooth and creamy with vanilla oak, ripe cherries, some dark chocolate and leather. Felt sleek and modern and well made for the style. Just not my type of wine, though.
Red
2011 Ceretto Barbaresco Asili
90 points
Mild balsamic aromas accompanied by roses, more flowers, high toned candied cherries and herbs. Palate has more ripe cherries , tart, flowers and a whole heap of tannins. Obviously really early and too young but pretty given its youth. Would like to try this when it's mature.
Red
2000 Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Superiore
91 points
Hint of balsamic vinegar on the nose with cherries and strawberries, herbs, and flowers. Black cherries, earth, dark chocolate on the palate. Very nice acids really lift the wine leading to a finish of dark cherries, coffee, and earth. Nice balance here.
Red
1995 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia
92 points
Double decanted 1.5h prior to bringing it to dinner was open for another hour. Candied cherry aromas with dark bitter chocolate, earth, and bark. Palate showed lifted black cherries, dark chocolate, earth, and herbs. Moderate tannins on the midpalate. Still very youthful with nice acids lifting the wine on a lithe and elegant frame. Still has years ahead.
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Red
2009 Montevertine Toscana IGT
91 points
Shy aromas of cherries, raspberries, and flowers. Nice lifted palate of strawberries, cherries and flowers with excellent concentration and acids. Balanced by moderate tannins. The wine definitely tastes young but gives joy with every sip.
Flight 3 - Sweet wines (3 notes)
With dessert.
White - Off-dry
2001 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
90 points
Ripe peach aromas with hints of slate and minerals. Palate showed more with ripe peaches, pineapples, some herbs with a creamy mouthfeel on medium bodied frame. Very good acids lift the wine but was given the age and vintage, was hoping for more acid and complexity.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2009 Kerpen Bernkasteler Bratenhöfchen Riesling Eiswein
90 points
Very shy aromas and took some vigorous swirling. Hints of ripe peaches and pineapples with maybe some herbs. Honeyed pineapples on the palate with herbs, some blue cheese. Palate is marred by a metallic taste that extends into the finish. The metallic taste definitely detracts from the experience. Viscous mouthfeel but with excellent acids keep this from getting flabby. Don't have much exposure to eiswein but I suspect that this is way too young. Perhaps revisit in another 10 years?
White - Sweet/Dessert
2001 Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Blaulack Eiswein
93 points
AP 26 026 005 02. Tight aromas with hints of pineapple, citrus, and botrytis. Ripe and persistent pineapples, honey, herbs with a hint of bitterness. Excellent and intense concentration of flavors but with fantastic acids keeps the wine juicy and never flabby. Still feels young as judged by its intensity but lovely on this night.