TN's: Champagne/White Burgundy/Red Burgundy/ 1961 Mouton

WINE TALK
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Last night I had the pleasure of tasting a few wines at a dinner for Michael B.
Happy Birthday Michael.

Some great juice.


Champagne

Selosse Contraste

A pale pink color. The nose is a mix of reddish fruit, nuts and some element of baked bread. The palate is full in the mouth. There is very good length here. An interesting finish that is hard to describe. At once rich but with a real lift. This is a fascinating champagne. Thanks Michael.

1996 Billecart Salmon Clos St Hillare

Lighter color. More citrus on the nose and palate here. Lighter in the mouth. There is significant complexity here on the finish with aeration. Vibrant. I love the fine bubbles here. It adds significantly to the experience for me. Fabulous stuff.


White Burgundy

2007 Raveneau Chablis Blanchot

This is painfully young. The nose is almost herbal at this point. Very bright fruit. Rowdy said it was almost like Sauvignon Blanc. I agree at this point. There is not much complexity yet. The acids are well out in front of the fruit. This needs some major time. It is vibrant however and should be nice with time.

2005 Jadot Chevalier Montrachet Les Demoisselles

A primary nose at this point. Very bright fruit. Intense. Not much in the way of complexity yet. The palate is full in the mouth but has so much life. There is a burst of complexity on the finish. This expands with aeration. Terrific stuff. Thanks Rowdy.

Red Burgundy

1996 Robert Arnoux Vosne Romanee Les Suchots

The nose is PERFECT Suchots. A very refined and focused red fruit. Elegant. Some element of earth that is also quite elegant. Integrated spice. The palate is wonderful. Full in the mouth but it dances. The finish lingers. This is very close to Grand Cru in intensity.

2002 DRC Vosne Romanee 1er Duvault-Blochet

This is very tight on the nose and palate. With coaxing there is a rush of complex herbal and mineral notes that suffuses the perfectly ripe fruit. The herbs are a combination of stem inclusion and Vosne spice. The finish is special. Goes on and on. Here again there is almost Grand Cru intensity on the finish. It takes some coaxing however.


1961 Mouton Rothschild

Served blind. I thought I was being tricked. This is a wine with a nose of age but a palate that was so youthful. There is the older wine smell on the nose. Very elegant dark fruit, truffle and some minerality to tell you the truth. Just stunning. The palate is full and very focused. A riper vintage that makes you almost think aged California Cabernet and then the finish. So much complexity. This is still youthful to me. A treat. Thanks John. You are very kind. I thought this might be an a pointe Cali Cab from the 1980’s . I was very wrong. This has tons of miles left.

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Terrific lineup and notes Don.
Sorry to have missed you guys last night, just been too busy lately.
Happy Birthday again to Bowden.

How was the Omakase?

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Dennis,

I thought it was tasty.

The only dish that I didn’t understand was a mixture of octopus, shrimp, giant clam and mackerel that had some kind of
sweet soy on it.

The nigiri was fantastic as was the sashimi. I love toro and this was “A” quality stuff.

At the end we ordered some noodle dish that was killer. Taka made the noodles from scratch. It might have been the best dish of the night.

John LIotta or Michael will know what it was.

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It was a really fun night. All of the wines were really good.

Don, the noodles were Udon with pork.

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I think it was duck.

Great night and thanks to Don for taking some notes.

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You’re right. I ordered pork and then he came back and said it would be duck. It was tasty.

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You really know how to drink Don…Selosse, Raveneau, Jadot Demoiselles and Mouton…All my favorites… Good work!

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Rowdy’s video:

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Nice lineup! Thanks for sharing.

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Thank you, Don for the notes. Question regarding 2007 Chablis: I keep reading mixed reviews on the 07’s. What is your early call for those you have tried? Best, John

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Exceptional!
This was the first I have had that was a little lean with the acid out front.
The Dauvissats are spectacular.
Hope you are doing well. It has been a while since we got together.

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Just a fantastic lineup. What beautiful balance and variety between styles, ages but all quality expressions. Thanks for sharing the notes on the 61 Mouton. While I haven’t tasted 28s, 45s 47s and 61s, there appears to be a common sense of density and richness to their fruit on the palate which is decidedly youthful, but with a lithe and mature nose. This appears to be the hallmark of the superlative Bordeaux vintages, and perhaps 05 and 09 will be there in due time. However, I am perfectly content with the B list vintages of age that don’t have that tremendous richness, but still have evolved into such beautiful and delicate wines.

Thanks for sharing again.

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Personally I like them…just way young…and honestly a shame to drink.