Coming off an amazing 9 days in Italy and France this was a bit like gilding the lily but it was my best friends birthday.
1998 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rose
One of my favs. Consistent with the name this has a gorgeous salmon hue. On the nose and palate this offers wonderful fresh pomegranate fruit. Like no other bubbly I know. 95
2003 Phillipponat Clos des Goisses
Disgourged last November. Laser-like on the palate. Dried fruits with a suave long finish. 94
2011 Michel Bouzereau Meursault Perrieres
Having visited Jean-Baptiste in Meursault just last Monday and having tasted through his wines (2012s) for the very first time I made it my mission to source some of the currently available vintage post haste upon my return home. While not quite as pure as the 2012, this wine falls right in line with the house style which I now love. Very direct on the palate with loads of mineral and ripe pit fruit. 94
2008 M. Chapoutier Hermitage L’Ermite Blanc
Was excpecting this to be closed down but I was pleasantly surprised by how open this was. Loads of marzipan, citrus and honey with a great mineral finish. 95
1955 Chateau Latour
Well the last bottle. I have opened one bottle each year to celebrate my friends birthday who was born in '55. This may have been one of the best. Offers everything you want in old Bordeaux. The fruit is still holding court but with lots of gout de terroir. A wine to nose throughout the evening. 97
1989 La Mission Haut Brion en magnum
What a treat to be able to share this between 8 people. A true bucket list wine and in any other circumstance a 100 point perfect wine on this night. So Haut Brion it should be used as the reference for the terroir and style. But unbelievably, the subsequent wine decided to upstage it. So 99+.
1982 Dunn Howell Mountain en magnum
Patience can be rewarding is a huge understatement for this wine. Maybe because it was in magnum with extraordinary storage, but this was the wine of the night. The nose was enthralling. Such a perfume of crushed dark fruits, leather, graphite and mineral. The only thing that gives this wine away as not being Bordeaux is the core of sweetness on the mid-palate. This was perfect, maybe more then perfect. 100+++
1999 Zind Humbrecht Clos Windsbuhl Pinot Gris
Nice way to end an amazing meal with great friends. While the label did not say VT I think the sweetness was comparable. Very ripe, loaded with pit fruits. Very clean palate. 93
I love the 1998 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rose. Yumm…