A Fantastic BYOB Evening - Vega Sicilia, A Conterno, Mouton, La Mouline, Gaja, Masseto & More!

Peter invited to a BYOB dinner with a demanding requirement - all was to bring a red wine that would make the other attendees go WOW!

And it really became a WOW evening. All wines tasted blind except the one I brought and the 91 Dow.

We started with four bottles of Champagne and some nice seafood dishes.
2008 Camille Savés
This is a 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay blend and it has a open, fine nose with notes of Lilies of the valley, red apples, road dust and vanilla ice cream. A touch light but very yummy.
The taste is young and elegant with notes of red grapefruit, pear, some bread and minerals. A long, structured finish. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2014/10)

2008 Pierre Peters L´esprit
A ripe, bready nose with notes of model clay, sea shells and yellow apples. Good but a tad anonymous.
The taste is fine and creamy with a high acidity and notes of yellow apples, crushed rocks and almonds. There is some bitterness in the end of the taste. Still young, could come around.
87p   (tasted 2014/10)

2008 Andre Clouet Millésime
I tasted this a year ago and even though it didn´t perform at same high level, it still is a really fine bottle of bubbly. The nose is deep and elegant with notes of dried strawberries, chalk, flowers and a touch of bonfire.
The taste is young and focused with notes of ripe lingonberries, chalk, red grapefruit and some smoke. Long and fine with a fine acidity. Needs some more years in the cellar.
90p   (tasted 2014/10)

2008 Drappier Millésime Exception
A steely, racy nose with notes of lime cream, white currants, salt bank and freshly washed clothes. Very refined, almost aristocratic. This is fine.
The taste is pure and intense with notes of lime and lemons, dried flowers, gravel and a salty note that is fantastic. A long finish with a high, mouth cleansing acidity. Great.
92p   (tasted 2014/10)

2005 Agrapart Venus Brut Nature
A extra Champagne hits the table, and what a wine! A young, searing, intense nose with notes of ripe yellow apples, wet cement, dried flowers and a hint of gun powder smoke. Very, very deep and concentrated.
The taste is young, tight and complex with notes of white currants, grapefruit, chalk and dusty earth. Very long and persisting finish with a gorgeous purity. A stunning wine!
94p   (tasted 2014/10)

2011 Lioco Pinot Noir Klindt Vineyard
As an interlude before the main course and main wines we were poured this beauty. The nose is very expressive and deep and full of ripe Pinot fruit in the shape of sweet strawberries, forest floor, liquorice and some root vegetables. A touch of smoke after a while. This is fine.
The taste is young and tight with a great combination of sweet raspberry fruit and a taut structure with a high acidity and a long. long finish that ends dry. Needs some years in the cellar.
93p   (tasted 2014/10)

2006 Valbuena 5, Vega Sicilia
A big, earthy nose with notes of ripe red and black fruit, a porty touch to the fruit, some maturity and lots of warm herbs. There is a old fashioned feeling over this, in a good way. A little restrained.
The taste is big and meaty with lots of sweet black fruit, a touch of VA, scorched earth and some foursquare tannins in the long finish. Very old fashioned, and very good.
90p   (tasted 2014/10)

2001 Barolo Granbussia Riserva, Aldo Conterno
Aaah, what a nose! It is deep and highly strung in a great way, with notes of fresh red cherries, rosehips, dried ceps and new, expensive leather. Very, very fine. Still rather young though.
The taste feels even more young than the nose with lots of ripe tannins and a gorgeous red fruit in the shape of red cherries and red currants. A very long finish. A touch of mint in the end of the taste.This will need another 10 years before it is remotely mature.
94p   (tasted 2014/10)

1998 Château Mouton Rothschild
I tasted the 98 Mouton seven years ago, and then it performed on the same level as the 1982. Not on this night, but it was far from being a slouch! The nose shows of notes of ripe black currants, fresh stables, ginger bread cookies, graphite and tobacco leaves. Deep and complex. Has started to nature ever so slightly but this is still young.
The taste is intense and concentrated with an almost jammy note alongside other components, like tobacco, autumn leaves and a touch of mint. The finish goes on for over a minute. Very polished tannins. Great stuff!
94p   (tasted 2014/10)

1998 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, Guigal
And things kept getting better... Within the last year I have been lucky to taste the 98 La Landonne and 98 La Turque. And now the La Mouline! This is usually my favourite of the three. The nose is a wonder with its notes of white pepper covered raw meat, moist earth, fried herbs and some bonfire aromas. Very deep and hauntingly beautiful.
The taste is the proverbial "iron fist in a velvet glove" with glorious sweet red and black fruit, leather, bonfire and crushed white peppers. The finish is looong and impressive. Still on the upside maturity wise, I would love to drink this nectar the coming 15+ years.
97p   (tasted 2010/14)

2003 Darmagi, Gaja
A big, ripe nose with notes of black cherries, black currants, cold coffee, earth and some sweet oak notes. Big and brawny, but in a good way. A very fine warmth to the fruit.
The taste is big and steady with sweet black currants, graphite, tobacco and scorched earth. A long, warm finish with some bruising tannins. This is a big boy of a wine, and not completely harmonious, but I like it!
92p   (tasted 2014/10)

2001 Masseto
When I will do my Most memorable bottles of the year list, there will be another Masseto eager to do that list, the 98.  The 2001 is as good.
The nose is deep and intoxicating with the ripest black cherries imagenable alongside notes of plums, pipe tobacco, burning autumn leaves, Zegna leather and a hint of a vanilla pod. Stunningly beautiful!
The taste is very concentrated and focused with notes of black cherries, Cohiba cigarr, new leather, cold coffee and warm tiles. The finish goes on forever as it seems, and ends with a fine dry twist. Still young, but drinking just great tonight.
97p   (tasted 2014/10)

1991 Dow´s Vintage Port
The 23 year old Dow has a deep, intense nose with notes of toasted almonds, cooked black cherries, figs, fried red peppers and Christmas Spices. Some maturity. Very, very good.
The taste is big, sweet and tight with notes of black cherry jam, licorice, figs and assorted nuts. A long, warm finish. Ripe and almost ready to go. Very fine.
90p   (tasted 2014/10)

2007 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, C. H. Berres
It may be that I´m to weak, but TBA wines are normaly to much for me. And this was no exception. A big, big, overly sweet nose with notes of sugar cooked oranges, a hint of rubber and some VA. Very deep, I give it that but not my cup of tea.
The taste is very sweet, very viscous and very intense with notes of ornage marmelade, overripe peaches and a hint of licorice. The finish is very long, and there is a high amount of acidity but the parts doesn´t really act together. Maybe 20 years in a cold cellar would do the trick?
85p   (tasted 2014/10)

2008 Château de Fargues
This on the other hand, is right up my alley! A creamy, complex nose with notes of ripe peaches, apricots, almond paste, glue and some detergents. A nice amount of botrytis. Very, very fine.
The taste is young, ripe and concentrated with notes of dried apricots, almond cookies, saffron and a hint of glue. Very long and intense. This is really good and will become even better in 8-10 years time.
92p   (tasted 2014/10)


More impressions here.