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Celebrating 60
The NoMad
Tasted February 12, 2020 by MC2 Wines with 217 views
Introduction
Always fun to celebrate friends as they hit milestones and this night was no different.
Flight 1 (3 notes)
Tuna tartare and some absolutely delicious brussel sprouts
Rosé - Sparkling
2006 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé Rosé
Who doesn't like pink bubbles as a way to start the meal. Compared to the other two in this flight these were more 'easy' and less complex but certainly also very tasty. Good red fruits and nice quality of bubble.
White - Sparkling
2000 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
Just starting to tell that the age is coming here and this is a producer that I've always enjoyed with more age. Prob a touch more on the fresh side and touch less on the complex, but still quite tasty. And perfect for where it was in the evening where everyone was gathering and it was more on intros and catching up and less of a focus on the wine.
White - Sparkling
1985 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon
WOTN for many people. This was just drinking perfectly. In that spot between having the age and the complexity that comes from that and more caramel and slightly toasty flavors to also still having all of the vibrancy. Love this wine.
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Flight 2 (5 notes)
A nice hamachi crudo with green apple and some jalepanos (the later of which I avoided)
White
2012 Château-Grillet (Pinault) Château-Grillet
Not a producer that we've gotten to have a ton of although I've always enjoyed the ones we've had. Rounder style although I think they keep enough acid to keep the wine interesting. We've got a bunch of these so looking forward to seeing how it does with age. My impression is the fatness might be a bit more in this year and so not sure how that will go. More white flower petals and almost a juicy white fleshy fruit note.
White
2004 Y de Yquem
One of my favorites of the flight. It is the dry form of D'Yquem which means you get all of the complexity and interest without all of the sweet. That works pretty well for me. Again more of a bigger white and to me a white wine that is made for a red wine drinker's palate (more complex, more full bodied).
White
2006 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc
Again that rounder style of wine (a theme in this group of whites). Very chave blanc which to me somehow seems more pulled together than the red version. More round white fruit and a nice heft to it.
White
1982 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu
Was very unsure how this would show given the fairly significant age and the fact that I just haven't had a lot of viognier with a lot of age. I'm happy to report that the answer was quite well. Still very youthful. Honeysuckle and round white fruits. Enjoyable.
White
1978 Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo
Probably the wine where I most tasted the age in the whites. This was a little bit more tired and perhaps a bit more funky with the age. Not a bad wine, but I didn't think stood out as much as some others in the flight.
Flight 3 (4 notes)
NoMad chicken which is one of my most favorite things plus some black truffle risotto
Red
1960 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único
This producer is just pure consistency. Not the easiest birth year to buy for and I think when that is the case it's also almost always the case that Unico is a safe bet. In a nice drinking window where it's more open and spicy and red fruits and overall quite enjoyable.
Red
1988 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
This might have potentially been a tough off or if not off then it wasn't strutting it's stuff quite as well as the other two. Came across as a bit more tired. And while I love the traditional wine making I think sometimes the downside of old oak is there can be a touch of funk to it and this had some of that.
Red
1990 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
Drinking very well. Still quite youthful and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up going for many more years. Well balanced and integrated. This would have been a standout except it was right next to the Burlotto Monvigliero which just totally awes me every time.
Red
1994 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero
Love love love this wine. It's got this more herbal and almost slightly green note which I suspect comes from the full cluster. Fruit in the background. Lovely brightness. A wine that just really stands out to me. So unique and so delicious at the same time.
Flight 4 (3 notes)
A very lovely steak which was prob overkill at this point in the night but also quite delicious and well seasoned.
Red
1995 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage
Not sure why, but this came across as a bit less all over the place than some Chaves. Like the more rocks-style, brine, etc. that it has going on. Enjoyable.
Red
1996 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux
My favorite of this flight and reminded me a touch of the Monvigliero from the previous flight in that very herbal and almost spicy character as the dominant flavor. Background of black fruits. One of my favorite wines.
Red
1997 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Last wine of the night and overshadowed by the Clos Rougeard because it's rare to get to drink Clos Rougeard with any age. I remember thinking though that this was quite tasty and enjoyable.
Closing
The truth is there was an embarrassment of riches from a wine perspective. Number of folks called the '85 DP their favorite and I'll agree that it was just rocking. But I was incredibly impressed with the Burlotto Monvigliero and the Clos Rougeard. Really no bad wines and so I'm splitting hairs here. Also an excellent meal. And great company. So a successful all around night.