Wine: 1996 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil
Region: Champagne, France
Sokolin Price: $359/btl
Rating: 97+ RP
Wine: 2001 d'Yquem
Region: France
Sokolin Price: $349/half bottle
Rating: 100 RP
This past weekend we were invited to a friend's house for the most special, much anticipated dinner and wine tasting. To put it simply, the night was perfect. From the incredible spread of cuisine prepared for us, to the legendary wines poured, to being embraced in a wonderful atmosphere by a genuine group of friends, it just doesn't get any better. That night, we felt like some of the luckiest people in the world.
The evening started off early with a 1996 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil - definitely, one of the best Champagne houses in the world. It was appropriately paired with an array of appetizers that included tiny toast squares topped with fresh egg slices and caviar, prosciutto, gourmet cheese slices, and a heavenly baked scallop dish (that we must get the recipe for!). Although the Salon certainly needs more time to age, its greatness still reveals itself with its notes of wet stone and flint combined with floral aromas. The Salon's tiny bubbles are a masterpiece inside a glass. It really gives a new meaning to tiny bubbles.
We then moved on to a 1992 Domaine Leflaive Puligny Montrachet Folatiers as we still enjoyed our appetizers. While most believe that white Burgundy must be consumed within the first 5-10 years, we have found that Domaine Leflaive's higher cuvees always get better with age. The wine was incredible, full of life, had great structure and was just perfectly balanced. As always, it had the typical flint and wet stone nose.
A scrumptious second course followed that included a slice of meat pie, croquettes and a small green salad, paired with a half bottle of 1961 Mouton Rothschild, a legend in its own right. As we expected, the '61 Mouton, at almost 50 years old, was still full of life! It showed no indication of heading downward. The longevity that Bordeaux brings to us is the absolute beauty of it. Exhibiting notes of graphite and subtle dark fruits, the '61 Mouton was really a once-in-a-lifetime wine from a truly iconic vintage.
The dinner continued when our very gracious host popped open a bottle of 1997 Petrus. Even though it has the reputation of being an 'off-vintage', let us say, there are no 'off vintages' when it comes to Petrus. It showed elegance and weight at the same time. It had the classic Right Bank characteristics, and the pedigree was undeniable. If you drink any Petrus of any vintage, it is an experience. The wine was paired with the main course - savory, scrumptious beef stew over white rice cooked in a white wine. The prep time that must have gone into these dishes was no small task, that's for sure. We finished off the main course with a bottle of 1966 Cheval Blanc, which was a definite contender for wine of the night. It was another Right Bank legend that showed its muscle even with the bottle age. With hints of smoke, saddle leather and dark fruits, this wine kept everyone talking.
Moving away from the dining room into the living room many hours later, we ended a perfect night with a perfect wine - a half bottle of 2001 d'Yquem, a 100 point wine (RP 100 pts). This truly was dessert in a glass as we sipped on our d'Yquem by the fireplace. A perfect light golden color, its notes of honeysuckle and butterscotch were exquisite, elegant, and light, yet it also offered a sprinkle of power.
Interestingly, the wines we experienced last weekend seem to be appropriately timed with many recent wine news headlines centering on the surge in Asian demand for blue-chip Bordeaux. On an almost weekly basis, we are seeing the Asian market pay top dollar for top growth Bordeaux. They are bidding up prices for first growths and are surpassing the high end estimates at auction. This is making it increasingly difficult to find great Bordeaux wines at reasonable prices. Nonetheless, we are continuously searching out and acquiring amazing cellars full of legendary wines from Bordeaux with excellent provenance.
Our recommendation: This holiday season, give yourself the gift of Bordeaux. Given the surge in Asian demand, we expect to only see prices climb. Now is the time to grab any Bordeaux while you can!