by Jim Grow » Mon Feb 23, 2015 9:31 pm
I went to a wine dinner last nite in Athens Ohio and everyone opened some nice wines. We started off with a NV Paul Laurent Brut Champagne that was wonderfully bready like a baguette fresh out of the oven. Next up was a 1999 Phillipe Prie "Love" Blanc de Blanc that was less bready but a bit more pear fruity. Then with foie gras our host opened a 2009 Clos Borgue Petite Manseng that he hand carried from France recently. It paired well with the fois gras and was done in a late harvest style with luscious rasiny fruit, very viscous and abundant acidity. Our host was good friends with the wine maker. Then on to a locally make wine from Pleasant Hill Winery Chardonnay 2011 which was O.K. and made with Cal. fruit. With Boeuf Bourguignonne we had the 1998 Pegau Res. CndP which was very sound (a RMP 93 and I agree) and showing some bricking and paler light ruby color with nice herbal/sour cherry flavors. On to the 2000 Pichon Baron, a Bordeaux just reaching its plateau of maturity but a very long plateau it will be. Very dark and mostly integrated tannins, very excellent but maybe not a Parker 97. I have some more and will let them rest.. The 1990 Amarone Ceasari was a little volatile but had great muted cherry fruit. Probably better a few years ago as the depth of fruit was gone. 2011 Faust Cabernet from Napa was really interesting. 2011 being an "off" year, this wine showed really well, tannins smooth, with great black olive and cassis flavors. My 2009's or 2010's will need more time to show as well.2001 Mondavi "stags Leap" Cabernet was in the same flavor profile as the Faust but more integrated with no sharp edges at all. We then had a Barbaresco (sp) from the host's cellar that I cannot remember and on to the 2001 Doisy-Vedrines Sauternes. Very lush but still a touch volatile with great fruit. Needs 10 more years, I love old Sauternes. I talked the host into opening just one more wine from his cellar, the 2002 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny. My wine of the night with the Mondavi close behind. I just loved the bouquet of this wine with a fresh floral note and raw meat overtones mixed with dusty cherry fruit. Glad I persuaded him, but then he is easy. Off to bed at 2:30 PM. Great food, wine and most importantly, the attendees were a great group that even laughed at my jokes!
