The girlfriend and I decided to spend some time in Asheville this week. I used it as an excuse to pull some wines to enjoy. The weather was stunning, and it was a welcome break. Below are some notes on the wines we enjoyed, followed by a restaurant recommendation for anybody visiting AVL. Again, take my notes with a grain of salt, as I am new to collecting and structured tasting.
2010 Dom Ruinart BdB: After reading @Warren_Taranow’s Champagne vintage chart, I thought maybe I would just throw this in the trash 
Initially, a very closed nose of lemon oil and struck match. Lemon, green apple, pear, and a nice chalkiness throughout. Zippy acidity. Moderate length. This felt simply “good.” My only other experience with vintage Champagne is a small DP vertical. I’ve been a little let down by both. I think my taste leans toward a more oxidative and powerful style. Time will tell.
2022 Domaine Dujac CM: Slow-ox for 4 hours. A perfumed nose of violets and stem spice. Flavors of pure red fruit followed by a not-unpleasant bitterness. The stems, perhaps? Grainy tannins and a good core of acidity. This is bottle 1 of 6 and my third vintage of CM. I’ve loved every bottle of Dujac I’ve ever had. I will wait a while before opening another.
2018 Domaine Y. Clerget Volnay 1er Les Caillerets: Slow-ox for 4 hours. Initially presented a strong, somewhat sickly-sweet aroma of overripe strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries. I had a glass and decided to put the cork back in and revisit it the next day. It became significantly more subtle, and the fruit showed more purity. Notes of fresh cranberries, violets, raspberries, and rose petal. Silky tannins and good acidity. My second experience with 1er Volnay. It didn’t feel all that special to me. Maybe the vintage? I have two left.
NV Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Premier Cru Les Terres Fines Blanc de Blancs: Aromas of apple skin, flaky pastry, and lemon rind. An expansiveness that makes the wine texturally interesting but doesn’t take away from the fruit, which remains focused and pure. Chalky, with bright acidity. Quite enjoyable. I’ll be buying more.
Restaurant recommendation: Luminosa. I feel fortunate that I have the means and the current lifestyle to be able to eat out as much as I do, but like others on this forum, I often have a feeling of being let down when trying somewhere new. Luminosa was a breath of fresh air. Top-notch service and a phenomenal house-made pasta program. Try the rigatoni.