By: Philip Robert
Last night we hosted a special gathering for the birthday of Don Nelson and a celebration of our hostesses’ visit to Lafite in 1982. Main event wines were served with guests only knowing that one was Cali and the other was Bordeaux. We were lucky to have in attendance with us two of Dallas’ finest Chefs – Dean Fearing of “Fearing’s Restaurant” and Kent Rathbun of “Abacus” along with Kent’s wife Tracy who partnered with Dean’s wife Lynae to create “Shinsei”. Our own Derrick Paez created some fabulous bites to go along with the wine.
Some quick notes
Opener:
00 Comtes Lafon Meursault Clos de la Barre - Wow, this was excellent. Tons of minerality and cut, lemon zest and citrus fruit. A real treat.
79 Leoville Las Cases - Brilliant expression of Bordeaux, beautiful on the nose, dark fruits and smokiness. Lots of life ahead.
97 Chapoutier Cote Rotie la Mordoree - Bacon and iron on the nose, didn’t get to spend much time with this one as things got rolling. Nice and pleasant to drink and good expression of Cote Rotie.
Main event:
82 Dom Perignon - This was absolutely beautiful with a little toasty hazelnut on the nose. Tart green apple and zest on the palate, delish.
First Reds:
70 Lafite Magnum - Opened, tasted and recorked one hour prior to serving. Classic older Lafite and unmistakably Bordeaux. Hint of cocoa powder and dusty soft black currant.
74 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon - I was really surprised at how much life this had in it. Dusty red and black fruit and a bit of leather. I preferred this initially to the Lafite, but it fell off in the space of an hour while the Lafite gained momentum.
Everyone was able to discern between the two.
Round two:
88 Mouton - This was opened 2 hours prior to serving, and it was nice and dark dense and brooding. A powerful muscular wine still with fine tannin and ripe currant and plum. A fine showing.
84 Opus One - A big disappointment and it didn’t show nearly as well as the rest. Eucalyptus and mint on the palate with dried fruit and a little thin.
This one fooled some people but the eucalyptus notes gave the Opus away.
Round three: a little twist
76 Dom Perignon from Mag - This had an amber color to it and just a touch of honeyed oxidation, but showed beautifully with brioche and a bit of yeast. Complex notes and really showed well. A real treat.
59 Pichon Lalande - Wow..just wow. Guesses around the table ranged from late 70s to early 90s Bordeaux. When revealed everyone was stunned. Still nice and dark with a touch of bricking around the rim, but so fresh and lively on the palate. Dark dusty plum, graphite and tobacco flavors. One of my favorites of the evening.
With the end of the formal tasting out came some treats to have with cake!
80 Dom Perignon from Mag - This was my favorite champagne of the evening, it just blew me away. Danced on the palate so vibrant and fresh. Just kept going back to it again and again. Exquisite.
86 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill Mag – This had a little oxidative characteristic and was complex with almond and hazelnuts. A treat.
66 Ducru Beaucaillou - Dark and dense in color, classic St. Julien with earthiness, dark red and black fruits and nicely balanced. Excellent
99 Monbousquet – I only got a small pour of this as it was the end of the evening, a little oak and cocoa.
What a super evening and many thanks to all those who came and celebrated a couple of special occasions – especially Carol who generously pulled many of these wines from her cellar.