By: AJ McClellan
Last night was one of those nights that were spontaneous fun… We had a good group come in and start popping stunning bottle after stunning bottle. We opened around 14 bottles or so but the highlights are just too fun…
We started with a unique bottle. 1970 Dom Perignon Magnum – now 70 DP is not that unusual but the thing is this wine had been opened two days previously and kept in the fridge. We poured it just to see what was going on and it turned out really great! I blinded it as a Chenin from Loire Valley with its rich nuttiness and abundant honey notes. After finding out what it was this wine just just fun to drink. I am sure I would have liked it more freshly out of the bottle but it was still cool to try it this way…
Next we tasted a duo of Bordeaux’s. First was the 1986 Pichon Lalande which was smoking. Some of the 1986 wines are a little tight right now but this bottle was lavish and very giving with dry black fruit and generous graphite on the finish. We compared the 86 to a 1988 Las Cases which was also drinking very well right out of the bottle with bright fruit and nice earthiness. The 88 did fall off on the finish however which gave it the impression of lacking that final punch…
Next was a duo of Chardonnays, the 2002 Marcassin Three Sisters and 2001 Kongsgaard Chardonnay. The Marcassin was stunning with crisp acidity and lively citrus notes finishing with a great minerality and vanilla bean characteristic. The Kongsgaard on the other hand was a not what we were hoping for. There was still a nice banana note with some tropical fruit but the palate was slightly oxidized showing sweet honey and lacking in acidity.
Other bottles of the night were 1994 Chapoutier Pavillon, 1999 Jaboulet La Chapelle, 1998 Le Petite Cheval, 2010 Bret Brothers Pouilly Fuisse, NV Ruinart Rose, 2004 Dom Perignon, 2010 Cape Mentelle, and 1998 Chateau Cabrieres CDP.