Twelve of us had dinner at Aquarelle last night to celebrate Rick's birthday. Food was excellent and atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. I ate Savory tart of fennel and onions followed by beef tenderloin with mushrooms.
The Wines
- 1985 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Charlie - France, Champagne
Served maybe a touch too warm, but I thought it was fantastic nonetheless. Really pure apple and surprisingly light on the yeasty notes. Finished well. Greg can always be trusted to bring a great Champagne. Our bottle was apparently disgorged in 2000, judging by the foil. - 2000 Louis Jadot Corton-Charlemagne - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Very nice with loads of minerality, oak, and fruit. Very balanced, but I thought not yet in the right drinking window. Will need some more time to shed some of the oak and develop a better taste and aromatic profile. - 1998 Kistler Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
I thought this was really nice. Fat and luscious with tons of apple, pear, and some minerality (although nothing like the Corton). This is a winner because of its fruit. Tastes similar to many Walter Hansel Chards I've had (Stephen and Steve are good friends and neighbors I understand). Very nice, but I'm not sure it's worth the tariff. - 2003 Domaine Ponsot Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvée L'Abeille - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Ready to go from the start. Unlike the Grivot, lighter color and it smells and tastes like fresh cherry pits. More in the red fruit spectrum. Delivers some underbrush along with the cherry. Terrific wine now, not sure it'll make old bones. - 2001 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Very interesting and intriguing wine. Super dark color and very much in the dark fruit spectrum with great balance and finesse. I like'em like this. Drinking so well that I'm unsure whether they need to sit any longer. - 1988 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley
Another one of my favorite wines of the night. Has the classic dill, pickle juice, and saltiness, but it works awesome together with nice cassis fruit in a medium bodied package. Will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I found it to be distinct and it roars of its place of origin. Definitely a wine that can be identified blind. - 1993 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
This was rather good, but extremely soft. Shorter finish than one would suggest and some of the complexity is missing. It does one thing, namely being an elegant food companion, but it does it extremely well. - 1995 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
The real deal. Surprisingly soft and accessible, with fantastic balance. Classic cassis, cigar box, and leather. Goes on and on, and I can see how it's easy to polish off a bottle with 2 over dinner in no time. It's that fun to drink. Obviously it can be held for many more years, but it's drinking superbly right now. - 1995 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
Very nice wine. Again, I was a little ambivalent about this. First impression was fantastic, but I got some significant brett on the finish, and that bothered me at first. It is elegant though and has real character. If I could buy this, I would. Pretty cassis, leather, barnyard and some tobacco. - 1998 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Yet another great wine. It's the cheapest of the Cote-Rotie bottlings, but it brings the thunder. Love the plum juiciness along with the bacon fat and smokiness. Makes for a great food wine that's got many years left to improve and then plateau for another good number of years. No need to drink this now. - 1999 Woodward Canyon Special Selection - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Big wine for its age and still shows surprisingly tannic and primary. 69% Cab, 25% Merlot, and 5% Cab Franc. Chocolate, cherry and cassis. Shows well right now, but it's definitely in need of at least 5 more years of cellar time. Secondary and tertiary flavors are missing and it's laser fruit only. Still seems like a baby. Maybe cellared very well? - 2002 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington
I withhold judgment on this wine. Way too young to tell where it's headed. On the positive side, I didn't think it was hot or alcoholic tasting. It was a wall of fruit puree and tannins though. My stylistic preferences are in the opposite direction. Needs 10 years+ alone in the cellar unless you're jonesing a fruitbomb to accompany a slab of ribs. - 2001 Torbreck Descendant - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Maybe my least favorite wine of the night. Just huge and although I didn't get heat, it seemed slightly medicinal in flavor to me. Tough to judge. Some will say it'll need years, but I am pretty sure I'll never like this as much as others. Lots of dried prunes, apricots, and tar. Not my cup of tea. - 2003 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese *** - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer, Mosel
Definitely liked it. Very sweet, but it has the acidity to balance it. Incredibly mineral on the palate with fresh green apple and gardenia flowers. Not life-changing, but was very solid. - 1999 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Vendange Tardive - France, Alsace, Turckheim, Alsace AOC
Suberb. Tasted a lot like a muscat to me. Very grapey and sweet. Went well with chocolate dessert. Has great acid and fruit backbone. Will last for eternity.
There were a few more wines I can't really remember...One was a Muller-Catoir Riesling Auslese or Spaetlese that was very nice, and I think I may be missing a red or two, but I did not take formal notes because it often detracts from having fun IMO. Terrific evening. Thanks to Nicole for organizing.
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