The second Viking dinner
Undisclosed location then Morton's at Reston town center
Tasted November 16, 2019 by dcwino with 217 views
Introduction
The most rewarding aspect of having passion in wine is the opportunity to meet so many interesting and generous people. I have been lucky to make a few lifelong friends. This was the second Viking dinner hosted by the generous friend. This time it was only two guests and the host. Since he is a perfectionist and a perfect host, he lined up the sacrificial bottles by the theme.
Vertical of La Tache
Red Burgundy
Rayas and other Rhones
Bordeaux
More Bordeaux
Giacosa
The guest of honor, aka Viking, was feeling generous and didn’t pick one of the La Taches.
The victims
Flight 1 - Salon (1 note)
As we arrived, the 96 Salon was waiting for us. There was also a beautiful spread of h'orderves. After about an hour, we proceeded to Morton's at Reston town center.
White - Sparkling
1996 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
France, Champagne
Initially, a bit cold and coiled. With air and as gets warmer, expressive nose displaying ripe dense yellow fruit, lemon curd, granny smith, cool mountain stream, candied ginger, light caramel, honey and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated sweet yellow fruit, generous fine mousse, rich yet very focused, bright acidity and strong limestone mineral, and a seamless long concentrated yellow fruit driven finish. This bottle is drinking beautifully in a youthful way.
Flight 2 - Roulot Perrieres (1 note)
I am liking Roulot less and less. This was showing well but not worth the current auction price.
White
2012 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
Initially thinking a hint of TCA. Very reductive nose displaying dense ripe yellow fruit with a hint of white, lemon curd, lemon oil, sugar glazed apple tart honey, saline, a hint of oak and crushed rocks. Exceptional concentration, packed concentrated yellow fruit, dense and rip yet also nicely focused, bright acidity, excellent mineral expression, and a long sweet ripe yellow fruit driven finish. This clearly expresses the ripeness of the 12 vintage yet remains nicely balanced.
Flight 3 - Rousseau (1 note)
Although not as enjoyable as upon release, this still flirted with perfecton. Excellent pillage!
Red
2010 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Absolutely gorgeous nose, perfectly ripe blackberry, sugar glazed blackberry tart, rose, mocha, Vosne spice, musk, light caramel and crushed rocks. Perfectly balanced palate, layers upon layers of finely layered black fruit, silky, polished and beautifully detailed, perfect amount of acidity and strong presence of mineral, and a seamless long sweet black fruit driven finish with Asian spice at the end. There is a hint of very fine tannins. This shed the youthful opulence but remains perfectly balanced. Although perfectly enjoyable, another decade of cellaring is recommended.
Flight 4 - Mouton (1 note)
The 82 Mouton is so consistent!
Red
1982 Château Mouton Rothschild
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Youth yet perfectly mature nose displaying ripe slightly dry black fruit, crème de cassis, black plum, lead pencil, leather, tobacco, cedar, caramel and earth. Perfectly integrated palate, layers upon layers of concentrated slightly dry black fruit, remains rich and unctuous yet also silky and polished, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, still noticeable but very fine tannins, and a seamless long sweet black fruit driven finish. The 82 Mouton is very consistent and has never shutdown hard.
Flight 5 - Masseteo (1 note)
This was a bit too pruney.
Red
2004 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
I really loved the 04 Masseto upon release. The bottle from two years ago was very ripe and slightly pruney and this is similar. Very ripe slightly pruney nose displaying intense ripe black fruit, crème de cassis, blackberry jam, chocolate covered cherry, licorice, smoke, baking spices, leather and earth. Incredible concentration, layers upon layers of intense very ripe black fruit, unctuous, opulent and rich yet silky and polished, bright acidity, medium mineral, nicely integrated tannins and a long intense very ripe jammy black fruit driven finish. This has a hint of Dal Forno recioto like richness with being sweet. It will be fascinating to follow how this evolves.
Closing
A great time was had by all! My sincere gratitude goes to the chieftain who sacrificed greatly!
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