At the suggestion of a board member, I`ve re-stated the TN theme:
This has been a good week and it`s not even Friday night yet. Last Sunday was a WS Top 100 tasting, Monday was a tasting/ dinner of 20+ wines from 1970, Tuesday was my birthday and we opened some good ones and Thursday our dinner group met and that is what this post is about. We were seated in the semi private dinning room at the fine, local Santa Barbara Italian ristorante, Olio e Limone and we shared the following wines:
NV BOLLINGER ROSE- the last time I had this was at the Champagne Bollinger over a year a ago; I liked it then and like it as much now; nice sweet cherry flavors in a soft, luscious mousse which improved over the evening; medium body and lingering fruitiness enhances the experience.
NV JACQUES SELOSSE BRUT- not nearly as ready or good as one I`d had recently; this had some minerals and chalkiness with a little salt and pepper and had some funk in the nose which carried on through into the mid palate.
2002 DOM PERIGNON- bracing acidity; there was a biting sensation on my tongue and palate with each taste; tight at first, it opened up with more of the citrusy notes; it seemed that it has the stuff to develop into another fine Dom, but it needs a lot of time to integrate.
2004 PIERRE PETERS LES CHETILLONS BdB- after their stunning 2000 and 2002, I figure this has to rock; it didn`t; way too young and not integrated, it shows the makings of eventually moving into a good if not very good bubbly; some minerals, orange/ lemon, chalk, salt and pepper; the components are there; visit this in 10 years plus.
2007 JJ PRUM WEHLENER SONNENUHR SPATLESE RIESLING- absolutely fabulous; big and enticing bouquet followed up by more of the same honeyed pear and apricot in a thick, oily texture all of with a welcomed long finish.
1999 KRACHER WELSCHRIESLING TROCHENBEERENAUSLESE- 375ml; another simply incredible riesling; in a nut shell, this could be called “apricot dream”; more of the same thick, oily texture which coats the palate nicely and a lingering finish to please.
2005 DONNHOFF NORHEIMER KIRSCHHECK RIESLING SPATLESE- I`ve had better bottles; this had some salt and minerals, sweet citrus notes of grapefruit, lemon and lime, but not with the complexity and structure of previous bottles.
2005 LUCIEN LE MOINE CORTON- CHARLEMAGNE- my goodness, here`s some more oily, viscous liquid only this is a Grand Cru white Burg; after the wood in the nose, it moves into a slightly sweet lemon/ lime with some depth and complexity; wonderful wine.
2002 VINCENT GIRARDIN CORTON CHARLEMAGNE- Ive had enough of this to think this was a bottle variation on the bad side; it appeared as if it had been cooked although with premox, it may have just moved on; certainly it was way off; I
ve got to open one soon and determine if there is still life left.
2005 LOUIS MICHEL LES CLOS CHABLIS- of Grand Cru fruit, it was chalky and dry with some mineralization and not a lot of fruit; some unexpected herbal and grassy notes.
2005 AUBERT REULING VINEYARD SONOMA CHARDONNAY- strange bitterness here, kind of a weird nose with a lot of minerals; I never got the fruit profile defined and just kind of moved on.
2008 JADOT BONNES MARES- somewhat closed down now, there`s some vanilla and butter in the nose and in the mid palate along with some raspberry and cherry; just OK at this point; would have benefitted from decanting.
1993 PIERRE DAMOY CHAMBERTIN CLOS DE BEZE- from a not so good vintage where I`ve actually had some good red Burgs, this was not one of them; muted nose, it was of light weight, thin and minimal fruit.
1998 PAOLO SCAVINO ROCCHE DELL ANNUNZIATA RISERVA BAROLO- again, I found this to be underwhelming; muted nose, tart and dry over ripe pruny fruit and astringency.
1997 PIO CESARE ORNATO BAROLO- soft, smooth and delicious with blueberry and blackberry fruit and complexity and structure that promises more of the same and better for years to come.
2009 JAFFURS VERNA`S VINEYARD SYRAH- upfront good ripe fruit; serious juice and a constant delight from this fine producer.
We had more wines, all from a Napa winemaker in attendance. As per his request, no notes will be published even though I really liked the wines.
Cheers