WEDNESDAY NIGHT BLIND - JUNE 2010 - Peter Pratt’s Inn (6/2/2010)
So, the first Wednesday of June rolled around and our group gathered to eat, drink and make merry. We also gathered to bid farewell to one of our members and welcome in a new oenophile. Our long time buddy Mark Rink is moving out west, Arizona specifically. So it was sad to know this was his last dinner with us. Our newest member, Andy fit right in and was eager to join the fun. To mark this special occasion, we requested Jon Pratt to match our wines to different courses. We all emailed our wine choices for the evening and Jon matched them up to the menu he prepared for us. The pairings went very well and the food was sublime.
Introductory Wine
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N.V. Jacques Selosse Champagne Version Originale Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne
tasted blind - delicious, very yeasty, tight bubbles, concentrated, nice aromatics, really pleasant. (93 pts.)
First Course
Lobster Crepe in sweet corn sauce and tarragon over radish salad
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2005 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
tasted blind - definitely a white Burg, thick texture, notes of roasted nuts, toast and pears. Very rich and deeply complex. Really nice. Very young right now and drinking well, but will benefit from further cellaring. I guessed a Meursault. This paired ridiculously well with the lobster crepe, a match made in heaven! (94 pts.)
Second Course
Lamb Kebob over tomato, masala couscous
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2005 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Blanco - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja
tasted blind - Very tight initially, elegant texture, petrol, lychee, spices, asian pears, very well structured. I guessed a white Rhone, perhaps a Clos des Papes Blanc. (90 pts.)
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2002 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Aquilon - Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja
tasted blind - This was huge, rich, ripe, sweet fruit, a huge nose of bacon fat, blueberry and licorice. I thought for sure this was a big Washington St Syrah, perhaps Cayuse. It was very well balanced, and not over the top at all, but a monster wine. Really delicious! (94 pts.)
Third Course
Crispy Duck Confit over pear and mango salad
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2007 Kistler Pinot Noir Cuvée Elizabeth Bodega Headlands - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
tasted blind - This was huge! Sweet fruit, high octane! Lot’s of guesses of Aussie Shiraz or 07 CdP. We were really surprised when this was revealed. Loaded with ripe fruit, cassis, it was called “The Roseann Barr of wine”, it was a fat full bodied wine for sure. I liked it a lot, but wouldn’t be able to drink it on a daily basis. (93 pts.)
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2003 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
tasted blind - This was big wine with lots of fruit, but is was more subdued fruit, not flashy, it had really nice earthy undertones and nice minerality running through it as well. A very complete wine and one of my favorite reds of the evening. I thought it could have been a Super Tuscan. (95 pts.)
Fourth Course
Lamb Bolognese over egg noodles
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2006 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore
tasted blind - I decanted this wine for my friend (who bought it) for over 7hrs. It was still tight and unyielding. I really like what it offered, but think that so much more is in store for those who open this wine in 5+yrs time. This is screaming to be laid down for a good long nap. The color is dark, nearly black. Very meaty, brambly spice. It really woke up when tasted with the Lamb Bolognese. (91 pts.)
Fifth Course
Grilled prime ribcap and Porcini Mushrooms
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1997 Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
tasted blind - First whiff had me thinking Rt Bank Bordeaux, 1st sip had me really thinking Rt Bank Bordeaux. This had a good amount of fleshy fruit, cedar and fresh mushrooms. Very nice wine, well built, velvety texture. (90 pts.)
Sixth Course
Prime Delmonico Steak truffle sauce, arugula salad
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1998 Montepeloso Nardo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
tasted blind - I brought this, I poured it through a Vinturi just prior to the dinner. It was an ok wine, nothing flashy or eye catching here. Decent amount of ripe cherries, grilled meat iodine, some sage. Short finish and little weak in the mid palate. (87 pts.)
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2003 Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
tasted blind - I brought this. Decanted for 4hrs. This had big fruit, but was not overwhelming in any way, very well crafted, great structure, chewy tannins, really big juice. Some cocoa powder notes, loads of black fruit. Long finish. (94 pts.)
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2003 L’Aventure Estate Cuvée - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
tasted blind - Very interesting wine, lots of fruit, yet very earthy and restrained. The fruit was sweet but not cloyingly so. Notes of truffles, cassis and blackberries. I believe I guessed Super Tuscan. (92 pts.)
Seventh Course
Assortment of local cheeses
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1985 Rubicon Estate / Niebaum-Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
Interesting, but past its prime for my taste, damp earth, rustic, not too much fruit left but what was present was a tad dried. (86 pts.)
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2005 Domaine de Montille Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
Very interesting, light bodied, sweet strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon stick, nice wine. (90 pts.)
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2006 Château Ksara - Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
Dark color, roasted meat, black cherry, very tannic and acidic. Short finish, interesting wine. (86 pts.)
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2002 Peter Michael Chardonnay La Carrière - USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Really deep and elegant wine, cloudy. Full of complex flavors. Matched really well with the cheese course. Tart and tangy, mango, peaches, pears, honeysuckle. Really yummy. (92 pts.)
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N.V. Alvear Pedro Ximénez Montilla-Moriles Solera 1927 - Spain, Andalucía, Montilla-Moriles
Black color, raisins, very sweet, molasses, aged rum, I don’t drink dessert wines anymore, but this was a treat. (93 pts.)
Dessert was homemade blueberry ice cream.
This was a great event and a lot of fun. It’s sad to see Mark leave, but at the same time very nice to welcome Andy aboard.
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