WB WINE DINNER - JUNE 2025 - Q by Peter Chang, Bethesda, MD (6/2/2025)
Recent lurker, first time poster. Huge thanks to Dave E for organizing and all who came for their incredible generosity in pouring and sharing such fine bottles, and for welcoming me so warmly.
Champagne
Paired with dim sum: shrimp dumplings, soup dumplings, duck rolls, chicken lettuce cups
- NV Laherte Frères Champagne Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature - France, Champagne
Notes of brioche, nuts, and pastry that reminded me of almond croissant. The nuttiness was darker - roasted almonds rather than raw, with some cocoa powder. A bit of astringency on the palate. - NV Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée Rubis - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Nose was shy, a hint of red berry and cocoa that gave the impression of a chocolate-covered strawberry. I didn't get much else from this one. - NV Fallet-Gourron Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Non Dosé - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Nuttier nose than the BdN, surprisingly. Less detailed, but there was an ethereal sweet cream thing on the finish that I really loved. Fave of the champagnes.
Dry
- 2013 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Ried Kellerberg - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
Intense tropical fruits on the nose. Pineapple, guava, papaya - like the fanciest version of those tropical fruits in syrup you'd get for school lunch. Palate was ripe, very "yellow". - 2011 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Initial blast of menthol-esque cooling sensation on the nose, but just the sensation and no mintiness. With time and air, I also picked up some sherried dry fruit notes. Palate was super dry and austere with some tannic grip.
Reds - Non-Burgundy
- 2018 Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino di Cialla - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali
Very pale, garnet core with tawny rim. Red fruit on the nose - strawberries, herbal/medicinal, a bit sour. Very thin body, light, herbs and strawberries again. Little to no tannin. - 2015 Occidental Pinot Noir Cuvée Elizabeth Bodega Headlands - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Near opaque ruby red. Ripe red fruit, intense nose carried through on the palate. A bit of white pepper and some tannic grip.
Reds - Burgundy
Paired with peking duck
- 2012 Hospices de Nuits Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Les Sires de Vergy Cuvée Georges Faiveley - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Ruby core with tawny rim. Barnyard, tree bark, muted red fruit. Barnyard funk continues through to the palate, stemmy. - 2005 Domaine Arlaud Clos de la Roche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Tawny, pale and faded color. Dominant impression is of strawberries and yogurt. Lactic note continues into the palate, contributes to the fullness of the body. - 2005 Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Vivid ruby, slight variation at the rim but not looking its age at all. Impression on the nose is of grilled charcuterie: smoke, sausage, fennel, black pepper, very meaty and savory. Reminds me more of Syrah than Pinot. Wine of the night for me.
Sweet Rieslings
Paired with spicy chicken
- 2018 Ansgar Clüsserath Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Golden yellow. Underripe tropical fruit, fleshy, papaya and panna cotta. Sweeter and more linear than the others in this lineup. - 2019 Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett "Kugel Peter" #12 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Pale yellow, straw. Very fresh tropical fruit, not overripe, leaning towards candied. A bit of lactic creaminess. My favorite of the night's Rieslings. - 2020 Weingut Reinhold Haart Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Palest of the lineup. Sulfuric nose with a lactic note - yogurt, cheese, sweaty feet. Funk carries through onto the palate, colors the fruit with the sulfuric note. - 2020 Julian Haart Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Slightly yellow. Shy nose, delicate, fruit leaning more towards citrus than tropical.
We finished up with two Kracher dessert wines but my palate was completely cooked by then and I don't recall much other than that they were very sweet and syrupy.
If I remember correctly (very possibly not after the many pours consumed), the party was mostly split on WOTN between the FX Pichler and the Lignier.
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