notes from y’all will be nice.

I’ll be waiting for BOTH your scores and reviews! Laid Back Friday re: Dominus Dinner

Tomorrow night I will pop open a Dom just to enjoy the comments. 😉

Why I wonder?

All depending on what food i will be served today I might do the same with the 1992 Dominus I aquired a week ago.
I know it sounds really posh to be served, but in my household we have an agreement. I take care of thursday dinner and the love friday.
Yesterday I served a tomato based Borlotti bean soup with shalottes and fresh basil, followed by fettucini with a sauce on smoke-cured loin of pork, cabbage and aivar relish. For dessert there was a choice between blueberry or robarb cream.. Beer to the soup, finished of last weeks Delas les Laune Crozes-Hermitage to the pasta.
C’est la vie en Suède 🙂

Great review! That takes care of Thursday dinner but was hoping to hear more about “Love Friday.” 😉

That’s what I’m talking about re: Love Friday! Boef Stroganoff is delish done the right way and I’m sure you Swedes have it down to an art form.

Cheers!

P.S. I’m guessing “blonde”?

Actually, I’m contemplating leaving work early to buy some Bogle PS and the Mark West pinot everyone was raving about last night on DG. Maybe throw down a nicely spice-rubbed flank steak on the grille?

He didn’t, but that would have been very nice

A Night with Christian Moueix and Dominus Estate
Alexander?s Steakhouse, San Francisco
Wed. June 8th

7:00 pm: Pre-dinner reception where Louis Roederer 2004 Cristal Brut Champagne is flowing and hors d’oeuvres are passed: Crab croquettes, sushi, grilled cheese and truffle on crostini and a few other items.
8:00 pm: We are ushered downstairs to a private dining room. There are approximately 4 round tables seating 10 people. TP and I are seated at Table 1 with an interesting group of folks that included the Director of Dominus Estate in Napa (Julie).

Christian Moueix addresses the group to talk about his wines.

On the table in numbered wine glasses we start with:
1. 2004 Hosanna, Pomerol ? Christian stated that this was a tough year for this wine. (retail $99) Sniffy sniff.. beautiful, fragrant nose.. In fact, I liked the nose better than the wine? Good, not great $99 per K&L price list. Taste: Woody, plum, mocha, some green note – pepper? Probably just too young. According to Christian, the ?09 is fantastic if you can find it. The ?10 sells for $200.
2. 2008 Certan de May, Pomeral ? Easier to drink. I would have guessed this one was the older of the two. Sniffy Sniff: Cedar and lush berry fruit. Taste: Velvet, dark fruit, elegant. Lovely and well-balanced.

First course: Roasted Quail. (I?m not a fan- no comment).

Next round of wines poured:
3. 2006 Dominus Napa Sniffy sniff: Cedar, cherry, bright fruit. Taste: rich, bright cherry and dark fruit, some oak. Luscious, plush wine. TP was able to finagle a bottle for our table. Thanks, TP (umm, what happened to the rest of it after I left?) ?
4. 2001 Dominus Napa Elegant, refined, Bordeaux-like, some spice. I don?t remember sniffy sniff, per se, but I loved it. Wine explodes with steak on my palate. Spice, spice and more spice! Julie from Dominus agreed with this description. She says it will continue to drink well for up to 10 yrs. Lovely wine.
5. 1996 Dominus Napa An intriguing wine. The nose was very odd compared to the others. I didn?t like it.. The nice chap next to me agreed and thought there might be something wrong it. Taste: The wine redeems itself. Whew! Heavy, wood, tannic, tobacco, dark fruit, powerful wine. Drinks younger than the 01!

Dinner entrée: Dry Aged NY Strip Steak (with a few herbs on top).. Interestingly, there were no side dishes to be had (no vegetables, salad or starch, except bread on the table) The steak was very good.

At this point, Christian asked us to vote on our favorite of the above three.. Then he asked K&L co-owner, Clyde Beffa, to give us each a bottle of our favorite wine. I voted for 2001. What a nice gesture. Very impressive! Will arrive in about a week. TTFs: Party at my place. ?

Finale:
6. 2008 Napanook, Napa: Nice. Not as complex as its big brother, Dominus, of course, but lovely wine. Sorry, I don?t remember much else. Memory fades here. However, Christian remarked that he doesn?t know why people refer to it as his ?second label? since he puts as much care into this wine as with the others. Nice.
7. 2008 Dominus Napa – Drinks well for a young wine. I predict this will be fabulous in 5-10 yrs. Beautiful nose.. Young, bright fruit, oak, well balanced and rich.

Last course: Preserv de Montana & Fort Sainte Antoine Comte ( two slices of wonderful soft and hard cheese and crostini with berries)

Thank you, Tennispro, for telling me about this fabulous event and for your wonderful company. And thank you Dominus for the pre-party educational prep about Christian, Hosanna and Certain de May. I appreciate it.

Cheers TTF. xoxo

and if not a laid back couch anything would be cool. Hell it’s summer time, I’ll take a laid back hammock.

Colonel said the same thing. (2 months I think he said)

What a night Lisa. It’s a wine lovers dream. Thank you for sharing.

Still recovering LOL. But before I forget here is my recap. I’m bandwagoning this to Lisa’s post as she did an amazing job of recapping our evening! except for the post party 😉

I missed the Pre Dinner event as I was still checking into the Hotel after my “2 hour drive” which ended up taking just under 4. Oh yea the K&L stop to pick up my 3 bottles of pre ordered wine didn’t help. I had to make the stop thou as I was leaving first thing in the AM.
Got the 2007 Des 2 Freres Reserve. Never had a top notch Chateauneuf-De-Pape so I’m looking forward to these bottles.
————————————————————————-

When I finally arrived at the event and was happy to find the last sip of some Cristal in front of me – thanks Lisa for sacrificing, very thoughtful 😉 No notes or rating as I was way to rushed and settling in to be objective.

————————————————————————–
Time to drink some wine and appreciate the evening with a new friend 😉

#1 2004 Hosnna – For me the sleeper of the bunch and certainly one of the top 4 wines of the tasting. Still very young but with a soft fruit backbone that gave it a new world taste. Balanced and with a pinch of Cab Franc that gave it that old world character
Score : 91- 92 points

#2 2008 Certan de May – This wine was to soft for my palate and it lacked concentration. Flowers, spice, and red raspberries.
Score: 87-88 points

Quail was good but not great, and having to cut up that little bird in mixed company was a challenge 😉

#3 2006 DOMINUS – As with all the Dominus wines intense aromas of black cherry. The wine was fresh and young and finished with dry chalky tannins. I great mid palate with a touch of vanilla oak and focused black cherries make this wine a keeper. Needs about 7-10 years to get into it’s zone.
Score: 92-94 points. Tonight 92+

#4 2001 DOMINUS – My wine of the tasting. Great nose of dark fruit and earth notes. That classic Napa sniff sniff of high quality red wine. Reminded me of many a Stags Leap SLV’s I’ve tried over the years. The darkest purple of the wines. The mouthfeel was fruity yet restrained with hints of plum, dark cherry, dark chocolate, and earth notes. The finish was 45 seconds plus and it continued to evolve for as long as I was able to keep my refills coming 😉
Score 94-95 points Tonight with steak and great company 96+

# 5 1996 DOMINUS – A wine that got better and better as it opened up. Not as much forward fruit as the the other Dominus wines tasted. Soft berries with earth notes and hints of tobacco and leather. For sure tasted the closest to the French offerings and I liked it quite a bit. There was a hint of acidity to this wine that keep it fresh and easy drinking.
Score 92-93 points.

#6 2008 Napanook – A soft mouthfeel wine with hints of dark cherries in the mid palate. Other than that not too memorable as the finish disappears quickly. I would say of the lot the lowest rated, however I think this wine sold have been served earlier to be fully appreciated.
Score 88-89

#7 2008 DOMINUS – Dark Ruby in color with young black fruit. Not sure the structure is there for long term aging and it will need another 5 years to show it’s true potential. Like a lot of 2008 Napa cabs there is a struggle for depth or concentration in the mid palate. Hard to score as it was LATE in the tasting 😉

————————————————————————–Post party –

After saying good bye to Lisa S who had to hitch a ride with friend I went upstairs for a night cap with some other folks at the table (Todd/Lisa/Craig) These folks were very nice and we discussed wine though out the evening. Old French wines were Todd’s cup of tea and when I got there he said he had ordered something up. I said hey I’m good with chipping in on the bottle and his reply was you don’t really want to chip in on this one, I got it covered …. so I rolled with it 😉 (it was late)

A 1982 La Mission Haut Brion was popped, decanted, and poured. 100 points Parker.

My number #1 wine of the evening – Sorry Dominus.

A dark garnet/purple colored wine. On the nose rustic, musty, asphalt, tar and stones with hints of black truffles and black fruit. On the palate – super concentration and ripeness with low acidity sets the stage for a wine that monumental finish that goes on and on. Trust me I was taking the slightest of sips to relish this wine and its bouquet. An intense wine that has me online tracking my next bottle, that I will enjoy with my wife for my next birthday.

Score 100. …. Yes you can rival this wine but you can not top it – IMHO

TTF ….

P.S. I saw Lisa leaving late in the evening and after the wine was gone. I had no idea she was grabbing some desert with her co-workers. Sorry Lisa, had I known you could have reviewed too 😉

Oh…gooooooooooood and wiiiiiiiiinoooooooooooooteeeeeeeeeerrrrriiiiiiiiifiiiiiiiicoooooooo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS MOTT!

It was a pleasure to have enjoyed this show for as long as it went on, as is. Thank you for your insight and for teaching those of us who never really got into wine before you came along. I look forward to enjoying more of your antics at Daily Grape and the random winelibrarytv shows. Take Care Gary

Update. The Marqués de Riscal Rueda turned into bitter lemon water after 2 hours, so that renders 26 p minus 🙂
The others stayed true to their initial showing.

Ditto what Lisa said 🙂

Alright, everybody wake up 😉 No wine this weekend but will update you on my next pop and pour. 😉

TTF : What did you have this weekend ? Any highlights ?

We are hoping for some “random” WLTV shows but doubt that will happen. We are still here enjoying the camaraderie and discussing life’s trials and tribulations such as John_J’s comment above as to whether he should have had the tannat first? 😉

Cheers

P.S. Soooo glad the Mavs won last night.

And no shoutout from GV for Mott? Maybe he’ll do a belated one tonight?

Need to drink quick. 😉

He didn’t know it was my birthday and I didn’t tell 😉 So no shout out in DG today. I was never a fan of that anyway.

No, I don’t have HBO, but Swedish televison is often quick to send things like that and HBO seem to be willing to sell fast to.

I could not find the Bogle PS but bought the Mark West pinot which I must say is quite good for the money. Not bad.

I was going to pop the Dom but not in the greatest of moods right now so will snap out of it and open it soon.