Notes from a wine dinner…
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2000 Pierre Peters Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne (12/30/2010)
Tasted blind – Light to medium straw in colour. Beautiful nose of yeasty, mineral, salinity and soft citrus. Much of the same in the palate with a nice toasty note on the finish. Great acidity. This is incredibly delicious now but also very young. I guessed this to be Selosse Initiale. Patience will be rewarded but if you have a few bottles, no harm in trying one now. Excellent. 91+ (91 pts.) -
2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Valmur - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru (12/30/2010)
Tasted blind – medium yellow in colour. Dusty nose with riper citrus fruits. Austere on the palate with loads of acidity and a very long finish. Medium weight in the mouth with great focus and freshness. Can drink now but I would hold a few more years. Excellent. 90+ (90 pts.) -
2006 Jean Noel Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Maltroye - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (12/30/2010)
Tasted blind – light straw in colour. Austere nose with delicate oak treatment, soft lime and hints of butterscotch. On the palate, the oak is more noticeable with flavours of citrus and minerality. Very lean with great length. No one guessed ‘06 vintage. Needs time. Very good. 89+ (89 pts.) -
1990 Fürst Löwenstein Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Rheingau (12/30/2010)
Tasted blind – golden yellow in colour. Developed and pronounced nose of petrol, charred honey and sweet tropical fruits. Most people at the table were also getting some botrytis and dill notes but I didn’t pick up on those. In the mouth, this was surprisingly dry, and the finish was bone dry. A ton of acidity. This wine was extremely enjoyable and great style of German Riesling. A near-perfect aged Riesling nose that made you want to keep sniffing it all night. Outstanding. (93 pts.) -
1990 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (12/30/2010)
Opened 3 hours prior to serving. Orange/red colour. The nose screams Rhone with notes of smoke, dark plums, sweeter red fruits and worn leather. There is a hint of vegetal on the palate with some meaty notes as well. This bottle wasn’t as good as my bottle back in April but was still a decent showing. This one seemed a little more advanced. Excellent. (90 pts.) -
2005 Feudi di San Gregorio Aglianico Rubrato Campania IGT - Italy, Campania, Campania IGT (12/30/2010)
Tasted blind – deep ruby in colour. Youthful nose with dark ripe fruits and a good dose of oak. Soft and round in the mouth with more dark fruits. No one guessed Aglianico. Good. (87 pts.) -
1982 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (12/30/2010)
Opened 3 hours prior to serving. Medium ruby core with a brownish/orange hue throughout. Beautiful nose—classic left bank nose of cedar, ripe red fruits and spice. Softer entry with sweeter red fruits, black currants and spice. Firmer on the finish with a big doze of black currants. This bottle opened up for several hours in the glasses and while there is more maturity showing on the palate then the nose, there is no sign of this declining anytime soon. Can fully be enjoyed now or held another 5-10 years. Outstanding. (93 pts.) -
2005 Château Chasse-Spleen - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc (12/30/2010)
Tasted blind – deep ruby in colour. Lots of merlot coming through on the nose with dark plums, cassis and some oaky notes as well. Soft in the mouth with concentrated flavours of dark fruits and oak. Medium acidity and tannins. Needs 5+ years. Very good. 88+ (88 pts.) -
2003 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Moelleux - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (12/30/2010)
No formal notes. Light to medium gold in colour. Notes of honey dew and honey. Medium body. Excellent. (90 pts.)