Dinner Chez Jahnke

Invited to dinner at friends last night. Menu was:

- Watermelon Gazpacho
- Saffron Chicken Fricassee
- Orange/Rosemary Cake

With Nibbles and Gazpacho

On top of the wines below, there was also an excellent 2003 Leitz Riesling Spatlese, but I can't remember the vineyard.

• 1993 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne
  What a great way to start the evening. Yeasty brioche and apple wrapped in a zingy citrus package. Lovely bead and great wine.


• 1987 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
  Amazing wine. The sugar the young wine had once has faded and has left a wine with great minerality, focus, precision, petrol, and lively fruit. Words don't do this justice. One of the best Rieslings I've ever had and the banner wine for why it makes sense to age these Rieslings for 20+ years rather than to drink them young. Outstanding.


• 2006 Balandran Costières-de-Nîmes Les Mugues - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Costières-de-Nîmes
  Good every day drinker. When chilled, this was nice, but the alcohol showed pretty strongly as the wine warmed up. label says 13.5%, but I'm not buying that. Not my favorite and doesn't hold a candle to the Prum, but it was drinkable.


• 1999 Domaine Weinbach Tokay Pinot Gris Clos des Capucins Vendanges Tardives - France, Alsace, Alsace AOC
  Good wine, but as a dessert wine, it jarred with the Watermelon Gazpacho for appetizer. Very sweet, honeyed, and slightly reminiscent of a lighter style of Sauternes. Much better with dessert.

With Saffron Chicken Fricassee

There was a 1998 CdP, but I can't remember the producer. The unknown CdP was OK, but nothing to write home about.

• 2000 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  Not ready yet IMO. Very young and primary. Tasted blind and I guessed region and vintage correctly. Seems typical for 2000 CdP, but is still very large-scaled and slightly reductive. If I had any of this, I would give it at least another 5 years to have it show some of its polish and class. Great drink nevertheless.


• 2000 Domaine de Beaurenard (Paul Coulon et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  This is not ready to drink yet. My bottle was decanted and aerated for hours and it came out dark as night with a wall of tannin and fruit. Great balance, but seemed slightly closed yet massive. I was really concerned that this would be too new world style and oaky, but I think it wasn't either. Certainly not a wine for traditionalists, but simply a huge wine that'll need 10+ years to drink like I think it can. Right now, I got black fruit and leather with some licorice. Seems like it should have a bigger than usual Syrah and Mourvedre component. Great potential.


• 1989 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
  The real deal. I loved this wine. Still seemed young and of course, notoriously tannic, but it showed elegance, refinement, and power all at the same time. Great black currant fruit, tobacco, and a hint of mint. If more folks made this style of wine in Napa at a reasonable price these days, I'd be a buyer.


• 1994 Château Troplong Mondot - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  Drinking very nicely right now. Still good structure and some of the classic black berry, chocolate, and coffee notes that I often find in Troplong. Clearly not an opulent wine, but with dinner, this was dynamite. Great balance with good structure and finish. If you like more truffle notes in your right bank wines, I would give this another 5 years minimum to have them develop. Too bad this was my last bottle.


• 2004 Fattoria di Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
  Tasted blind. I guessed left bank Bordeaux because it seemed like an old world wine with loads of tobacco and black currant. Great wine, but (to me) atypical of the Chianti Classico region. If you're in the mood for Bordeaux, this will substitute nicely and give you a similar experience. If you're in the mood for Chianti Classico, this may not fit the bill for you.


• 2004 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Mount Carmel - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  Well made, but too ripe for me. Tasted blind and I guessed Pinot and California correctly. Tell tale California Pinot extraction and candied fruit profile. Has good acidity and balance, but this is too in your face for me.


• 2001 La Massa Giorgio Primo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  This wasn't bad at all. Again, I'm not sure I could ever pick this as a Chianti, but it's well made and went well with the food as well. Very dark fruit and some cedar notes on the finish.

With Orange/Rosemary Cake

We tried a Ca' Togni dessert wine, which was vaguely reminiscent of late harvest Zinfandel. Was good, went well with dessert, but alas, I didn't write down the vintage.

• 2003 Château Coutet - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
  Again, a reliable dessert wine. Honey, flower blossoms and some vanilla notes. Went great with orange/rosemary cake.