Champagne, Barolo, Bordeaux, and Cali Cab. What else could you want!?

You know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when all your close friends come together…? Well, if they all bring the heat like they did last night it become a bonfire!

Last nights wines were simply magical! We started with a trio of Champagnes beginning with a 1990 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame which was in a great window of drinkability. The nose showed peach, pear, limestone, and a hint of brioche.

Next was my favorite, a 1976 Dom Perignon! This is the wine that made me fall in love with aged Champagne… The wine was layered like a delicate candy bar with drizzled caramel, crunchy toffee, dollops of honey, and a nougat of sultry grilled peach. The wine had a beautiful core of acidity that was still holding up after 44 years in the bottle. Long on the finish and extraordinary complex. Wow!

Then came the 1976 Lanson magnum for a compare and contract to the 76 Dom Perignon. The Lanson was much fresher, as you would expect from a magnum. With white floral notes and a crisp lemon/lime zest that cut through the effervescence like a hot knife.

Next was a duo of Italian studs, the 1988 Gaja Sperss Barolo and 1978 Scarpa Barolo. We opened the Scarpa first and I knew it would be hard to beat reminding me of rolling around in a haystack situated in the back of a well-stocked barn. Then the 88 Gaja was popped and it was the exact opposite. The fruit was fresh, dark, and ripe with notes of plum, blackberry, and black currants. The tannin was still massive and gripped my palate in an iron fist.

After the fun Barolos came the 1978 Musar. This is the second time I have had a wine from Musar in just a few weeks, and if blinded I would still call it very good Bordeaux. The 78 was decanted for 90 minutes before service and it was somehow still a powerhouse. Earthy aromas with dried cherries, and worn leather were prevalent on the wine. Next was the 1984 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill. I always love Dimond Creek, I think they are one of the top producers in Napa and I am proven right time and time again. The 84 still had moderately ripe fruit on the edge of drying out. Hints of blueberry, acai berry, mingled with tanned leather, smoke, and sandalwood. 

Notes on the 53 to come later…

#dallaswine #champagne #Bordeaux #barolo #gaja #domperignon #diamondcreek #veuve