We started with 7 different champagnes. I do remember not liking the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and the 1997 Feuillatte vintage champagne. Both seemed light and short on the palate. The Ruinart rose and a 1996 vintage champagne were outstanding, but a 1998 Dom Perignon was not living up to my high expectations. It had a strange nose that I couldn't get past. The last two champagnes were tasted, but I can't remember anything significantly positive or negative about them.
We had a sip of a Chablis (I don't remember the vintage or producer) that I thought was really "fat" and ripe and really not my style. I like my whites on the lean side with crisper characteristics than this Chablis displayed. I would still say though that I can see that some folks would like this a lot.
On to the reds. We started off with a 2005 H Boillot Volnay "Les Fremiets" Burgundy (my first 05 Burgundy) and wow...this is so good already and drinking like a dream. I have no idea how long our host had decanted this gem, but it is a wine that's worth loading up on.
The next set of wines were progressively bigger reds, starting with a 1999 Scavino Barolo "Bric del Fiasc" which was popped and poured. Another beauty that was drinking well already. Strawberry seems to be the best descriptor for this wine along with leather and tar. Loved this one, as well.
From there, we went on to drink a 2004 Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage "La Guiraude" which I thought was fantastic. Clearly a wine that is made in a very feminine, super dry style that emphasizes terroir. It has loads of licorice, dried herbs, earth, and floral notes. Really my favorite Crozes Hermitage producer and a wine that I would always want to have more of.
The next wine in our lineup was the stunning 2001 Argiano Solengo, which once again blew me away. This is so profound, it's almost silly. The funk in this wine is remarkable because it enhances the aromas and the texture of the Solengo is otherwordly. I don't know if the wine was decanted, but I am not sure the end result would be much different either way.
We then moved on to a bottle of 2001 Leeuwin Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon from West Australia (Margaret River). I have long been a fan of Margaret River Cabs, and especially those of Leeuwin and Moss Wood. This one did not disappoint either. Really a Bordeaux-like character to the wine with tons of currant, leather and a wall of tannins that will make this last for a long time.
The 2000 Faugeres that followed the Leeuwin was equally good. A really dense wine that also still had a bunch of tannins to resolve, it showed tell-tale St. Emilion flavors of plum, tobacco, and coffee, and I think this will do much better with another few years in the cellar.
A 2001 Finca Dofi from Spain rounded out the reds, and it did so in spectacular fashion. This Priorat drank extremely well and had been decanted for more than 6 hours. I loved the pure fruit without being jammy or over the top. Just a great wine.
I skipped the various dessert wines that followed including a 2001 Climens and 2003 Coutet.
Let me know if you can chime in on any of the wine above. They were all fun to taste.
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