Really good wines this weekend in spite of a dismal football game last night (USC somehow defeated Vandy) and no good wine associated with that. But we did have a nice dinner party Friday evening, starting with Heidsieck Monopole (Blue Top) NV. First time I've had this wine in several years, but it was clean, refreshing and on-point! The Moet Imperial for once showed its "extra-dry" underbelly, but still was nice (probably should have served in reverse order). Then on to a '05 Alphonse Mellot '05 La Moussiere, Sancerre. On the verge of decline, but still with plenty of zip, nicely integrated oak, and pleasant acidity that paired well with boiled shrimp and a chopped tomato garnish. We threw in a '09 Latour Pouilly-Fuisse to go with a wedge of iceberg salad with fresh tomatoes, again, very nice. On to the main course of herb-encrusted tenderloin. Started with an '03 Segla (second wine from Rauzan-Segla, 12.5% ABV). I was most impressed and worried that my '04 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Leognan (12.5% ABV) would have trouble keeping up. It didn't! The HB rose to the occassion to achieve 93-94 points, if one is scoring). It is drinking beautifully now, with a 2 hour decant.
Tonight, with grilled dove, potato salad, and baked beans (you would have to live in South Carolina to understand why this is so good), I decanted an '06 Jean-Luc Dubois Beaune Bressandes, 1st Cru. Chilled after about an hour in the decanter, this was singing. Best showing yet for this wine. I'm afraid it is my last bottle. Not the first time I've made this mistake, though we thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautifully perfumed nose of ripe plums, raspberries, mushrooms, and earth, just what a 1er is supposed to deliver.
Overall, a very memorable weekend. Some weekends are better than others.