TN: A small gathering at Mark's duck house - Mostly French

WINE TALK
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A SMALL GATHERING AT MARK’S DUCK HOUSE - MOSTLY FRENCH - Marks duckhouse, Falls Church, Va (1/4/2015)

We had an impromptu gathering at Marks duckhouse to eat dimsum. It was only four of us but had blast, starting at five and stuffing ourselves for four hours.
Champagne

Lone Riesling

  • 1986 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Bernkasteler Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
    Very fresh color. Very youthful nose, a hint of petrol, smoke, yellow fruits, lemon curd, burnt sugar, mint and almond oil. Excellent concentration, citrus driven palate impression, medium acidity and medium finish. Neither terribly precise nor complex but impressively youthful and tasty. (90 pts.)

White Burgundy

Rhone Red

  • 2001 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
    Excellent provenance. Baked black fruit driven nose, blackberries, blackberry liqueur, soy, dust, charred steak, dust and noticeable alcohol. Exceptional concentration, slightly roasted fruits and fruit cake driven palate impression, dust/mineral and medium finish due to alcohol. This has to be very divisive wine, WYSWYG. I would imagine decanting will help and perhaps a few more years of cellaring. A bit awkward. (92 pts.)
  • 2003 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d’Ampuis - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
    This has developed nicely. Very ripe nose with roasted dark fruits as one can expect but not heavy, black fruits, blackberry and black cherry, charred steak, bacon fat and dark spices. Excellent concentration, intense jammy dark fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, nicely integrated tannins and good finish with intense sweet end. It is evolving nicely. A very good example of the 03 Northern Rhone, ripe yet balanced, of course YMMV. It is still very youthful and will improve at least ten more years. No need to hurry. The best showing so far. (95 pts.)

Bachelet

  • 1999 Domaine Denis Bachelet Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
    Alan S commented, he really don’t get Burgundy and this was no exception. Ken M and I smelt and looked at each other, Eureka/Hallelujah more for us. Subtle yet decadent perfectly ripe black fruits, a hint of raspberry as well, mocha, coffee, a hint of black olive, dark sweet spices and a hint of truffle. Incredibly polished palate, exceptional concentration but deceptively airy, fresh black fruit driven palate impression, airy, incredibly layered fruits, nicely integrated tannins and lovely seamless long finish. Drinking incredibly well but still young not showing sous bois yet. (96 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Sent a friend there based on RMP recs. He ws not impressed. How was the food on a 100pt scale :-}?

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I have found that Mark’s is best for weekend or holiday dim sum. Peking Gourmet Inn has better duck but not nearly as friendly with corkage which I believe is a reason people like Mark’s so much

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I grew up 5 minutes away from both, and have been going to both since before I’d heard of RMP, so they both hold nostalgia and I probably like them more than they deserve. The dumplings are the best thing at Mark’s, though there’s a Tofu and Egg dish which is very comforting. Being able to sit there and eat and drink for hours is the best part of the place. The duck at Peking Gourmet Inn (the first I ever had) is good but not great. Still, it’s an institution.

Will have to crash one of your get togethers next time I’m visiting my parents.

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If you like Peking Duck try Duck Chang’s in Annandale - http://www.duckchangs.com/ - in a small strip shopping center off of Little River Turnpike, won’t get any award points for decor. But better than either Mark’s or Peking Gourmet. Try the hot and sour soup, made with duck stock with chunks of duck meat in it. No idea what their corkage fee policy is, though.

Nothing in Charlotte even comes close. :frowning:

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Thanks for the write up, Kevin; interesting, and encouraging for me, that a '99 Burgundy, and a grand cru at that, was so pleasurable.

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I personally think that there isn’t really exceptional duck in DC area. Mark’s has good food and is pretty relaxing as we get there when they are not busy. Their speical pre-order dumplings are great, aslo sauteed veggie dishes.