WTN: Many many wines at Peking Duck House

Last night I attended a big wine event at Peking Duck House. Brad was kind enough to invite me to join his table, with a nice mix of friends old and new. We had a appetizer assortment (rib, spring roll, satay, dumpling, chicken/lettuce cup, etc) and then 3 ducks for our table. A few other dishes (beef with mushroom, Chinese broccoli, green beans, etc) and a load of wines

Whites

1991 Lauer Riesling Sekt
I liked more than table. Medium bodied, citrus and a little dough, when revisited towards end of night there was a hint of petrol to remind you it’s Riesling. B+/B

2014 Sandlands Chenin Blanc.
I think everyone was surprised at the oak, though I didn’t find it as offensive as some. It was ripe, kind of lemon meringue pieish. B-

2014 Nicolas Faure “La Corvee de Bully” Bourgogne Aligote
New producer to me (I think JBTruax said the producer was 26, and had worked for Chave and DRC). Really excellent Aligote, with steely mineral acids framing a fuller fruit profile than most Aligote. B++

2007 Huet Le Haut Lieu Franc de Pied Vouvray
Maybe this was a bit tight, but I liked (Brad said he’s had better showings, but I’ve never seen this bottling). Sec-tendre, tart green fruit with some smoke and gunflint, fun to try. B+/B

2014 Rhys Horseshoe Chardonnay
Young, some oak showing but a fine citrus/mineral base, I liked more than some others. Need time. B+?

2002 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Kabinett
I’d call this Spatlese sweetness, but with crisp acids, Saar green apple and lime with some impressive floral/anise notes. A-/B+

1996 Trimbach “Cuvee Frederic Emile” Riesling (mag)
‘96 CFE in 750 has a high premox rate, but this mag was fine. Citrus, ginger, wet stones. I enjoyed a lot, but a slight lactic/cheesy note kept it from greatness. B+

Another table brought over the 1995 Trimbach “Cuvee Frederic Emile” Riesling (mag). Fun to taste side by side, very minerally, lean in a way, but the fruit is clean and it has fine length. B+

Reds

2014 Clos Roche Blanche Gamay
I’m a big CRB fan, but there’s a note to Gamay that always gets to me. Bright raspberries, herb, but also that “geranium” note I find so distracting. Everyone else loves. B-

2001 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Somehow I didn’t take any notes on this, though it was one of my favorite CdPs.

1995 Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
I’ve had this and not been impressed before, but this showed pretty well. Blacker fruit, herb, some light barnyard. B+

1998 Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Herby/garriguey, some light brett but not bothersome to me, red raspberry fruit, good length. B+

1998 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf- du-Pape
Somewhat volatile, some brett, tangy, some others liked more than I did. B-/C+

2003 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon
I generally like KL but this mag struck me as a little kirschy - others liked much more, quite popular. B/B-

1971 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon (mag)
I double-decanted before catching my train -smelled and tasted great then, but was a little worried at first pour. Seemed thinner and a touch metallic. But that seems to pass. Nice oldstyle Napa, good acids, herby notes, moderate fruit. A-/B+

1999 Jaboulet “La Chapelle” Hermitage
OK, not totally sure, thought I remembered this as 98 but scribbling looks more like ‘99. Light tannins, some leather and meat, moderate black fruits. B/B-

1970 Bodegas Palacio Rioja Glorioso Gran Reserva
I didn't even try this,. others declared dead, I sniffed from a neighbors glass and concurred. Off bottle.

Offerings from other tables
2014 Nicolas Faure “Les Herbues” Nuits Saint Georges
Nice, bright, fresh. B

1983 Vogue Musigny
Generous offer from another table, medium acids, sandalwood, nice flavors but I thought a little short. Others loved. B/B-

1996 Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva
Young, vibrant, some tannin, very good. B+/A-

1999 George Mugneret Clos Vougeot
Pretty, full, cocoa and black cherry, A-

there was at least one Cab that was proffered than was too gloppy for me, but I managed to miss label.

Dessert wines

1999 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshole Auslese
Great tropical flavors but too soft for me. B/B-

1988 Climens
Full, rich, honied with apricot and beeswax. A-/B+

1989 Foreau Vouvray Reserve
Wool, spice, orange marmalade/zest, great acids,. delicious and long. A-

1996 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
Wax, apples, spice, but more advanced than I expected. B

I’m sure I forgot something!
Fun night, fun people


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

I have a singleton of that Trimbach "CFE" 1995 and glad to see that it is still in good shape. I hope mine is not premixed. I didn't know they sometimes had that problem.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks for the notes Dale. I have had a number of the Sandlands Chenins, and I never get the oak. Other people complain about it overwhelming the wine. I don't get it.

I have singletons of a lot of the '98 CDP wines. May have to turn them into a tasting in the near future.

I didn't know Aligote could be a B++--know it only from Kir.

Most Aligote is pretty lean and best used for kir, but there are fine examples from Ramonet, Lafarge, Coche-Dury, Ente, etc.
Ponsot makes a white NSG 1er that I think is all Aligote.
I think JBT said this was 100 yr old vines.

I just learned something new from you Dale.

2014 Clos Roche Blanche Gamay
I’m a big CRB fan, but there’s a note to Gamay that always gets to me. Bright raspberries, herb, but also that “geranium” note I find so distracting. Everyone else loves. B-

I always wondered what this "geranium" note is? Could it be that your 'geranium' is my 'iodine', which is what I find on European gamay?