Last night, Saturday the 25th January 2020, some of us winos got together for dinner at Sagana because Jojo is currently in town from Vancouver. Naturally, a lot of wines were involved.
With several shared appetizers, a lovely, vibrant, rather brisk, bright, notably well focused and pure 1998 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs (a magnum, from Abe)…
…and a decidedly ripe, fleshy, broad 2003 Dom Pérignon (from Barnaby). DP’s 2003 has never been a favourite of mine; far from it, actually. I just find it lacking in freshness and lift. I wouldn’t/won’t buy it; but, will drink some if offered by a friend (as in this case).
With the escargots à la bourguignonne & the terrine of duck foie gras in particular, I much enjoyed the rather svelte, nicely fresh, clean-lined, discreetly minerally and self-possessed 2012 Maison Louis Latour Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru Château de Blagny (from J-Lab).
With our respective main courses (magret de canard for me), an impressively well-preserved, nicely rounded and layered 1990 Château Troplong-Mondot & an equally impressive, deep, concentrated, ripe 1997 Peter Michael Les Pavots, both from Alex); a silken, elegant, discreetly sanguine/ferrous and earthy 1978 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou (a special treat from Jojo); and, a young, decidedly ripe/modern, forward, opulent, still primary/oaky, massively structured, concentrated, and full-bodied 2005 Château Angelus (from me) which, just for fun, I served blind…
…which Jojo expertly nailed. Way to go, Jojo!
Cheers!
Of course, after dinner, we wound up in Alex’s place for premium Cuban puros and (way too much) fine single malt Scotch whiskies. As always, Alex was exceedingly hospitable; so much so that I awoke past 10am the next day still feeling tipsy. Not a bad Saturday night at all.
Sounds like a fabulous evening!
Good fun, for sure. I struggled through the usual Sunday lunch at my in-laws though; and, after, had to drive back to Alex’s place to pick up my card case (wherein I also keep my driver’s license) which I had inadvertently left there during the subject evening. At 54, recuperating from these boozy nights takes a lot longer.
Ha! Add a decade and you’ll know where I am! Honestly, I don’t like to be drunk, and never drink more than a single bottle (split with my wife) and even then rarely feel like drinking on the 3d night in a row. Maybe a glass. I’ve turned into such a wimp!
Oh, I don’t like being drunk either. Never have. I do enjoy (a lot) being tipsy just at the brink of drunkenness though. However, I have yet to master the art of just staying there.
I’ve had to slow down a lot though. Time was I’d do evenings like this 3-4 times a week; but, after an incident back in 2010, per doctors’ orders, I had to cut it down to 1-2 times a week. These days, it’s more like once every couple of weeks.