COUPLES NIGHT - The Bristol - Chicago, IL (5/27/2016)
The Senn’s were back in town visiting from Lima so we got together with them and the Snitow’s for a fun night of catching up over some great food and wine. Thanks to the team at The Bristol - great service and food. Also, thanks to Charles for breaking out the saber for some celebratory champagne. It was a very fun start to the holiday weekend.
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2005 Luneau-Papin / Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Le “L” d’Or - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine
This had been opened for 24 hours. Super fleshy and candied with a very distinct lanolin note. I found this pretty disjointed. The wine didn’t change at all over the 24 hours it was open FWIW. (81 pts.) -
2012 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru En Caradeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru
Great purity and balance. Had some waxy lemon, butter and subtle oak flavors on the nose. The palate was streamlined and pure - great fruit (lemon/lime) with nice acidity and minerality. I’d be a buyer of this, for sure. (90 pts.) -
2001 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
“This was open for business” is a phrase I’m not accustomed to saying with Gouges (shame on me for low exposure to their older stuff…) but this was showing very nicely. The nose was gorgeous with bright cherries and strawberries with leafy and earthy undertones. The palate was all red fruit and roses. Nice acidity and structure, but this was all about the purity and the elegance of the palate. Great bottle. (93 pts.) -
1996 Bernard Faurie Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Hard to take your beak out of the glass on this one. Great nose of berries, soot, spice, and something akin to sausage. The wine was soft and elegant devoid of any sharp edges. Great florals, dark fruit, with nice spiciness. Drinking very well for a 20-year old Hermitage - probably at peak. (94 pts.) -
2001 Bernard Faurie Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Drank alongside the 1996 Faurie and the difference was striking! This one seemed very closed (at first) compared to the other bottle with far more acid and tannin. Really nice core of dark fruit and earth, and after 90 minutes of air this became far more accessible. The floral notes really took off and gave this a bit more elegance. (91 pts.) -
1964 Château Gruaud Larose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
At first, this aromatics were very funky - nail polish, wet leaves. After giving it a taste, I was confident that the aromas were just some bottle funk. GORGEOUS palate of earth, smoke, dark fruit, and violets. A touch of nuttiness was there on the finish, too. Really enjoyable. (92 pts.) -
1970 Château La Mission Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Loved the elegance here. The nose was deep - earthy, dark cherry, smokey, & spicy. Thought this was in a great spot as it had all the wonderful aged Bordeaux aspects going on while still feeling energetic, almost edgy. This was probably my WOTN. (94 pts.) -
2007 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Decanted for about 90 minutes before serving. Still a baby, but there’s a lot to like about it already. The tannins were pretty stiff and the fruit firm, but it all had an elegance to it that was noticeable. I think that had, mostly, to do with the beautiful floral notes throughout. Yum. (92 pts.)
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