Celebrated Christmas with friends and family. These are the wines served:
1-1996 Bollinger Grand Annee Pale Gold. Fine bubbles. Nose of yeast and citrus, but seemed a little closed. Taste was also a mix of lemon, grapefruit and toast. Good, but it seems a bit closed 91/100
2-1996 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Pale yellow. Nose filling citrus and a hint of yeasty bread. Mouth with of citrus brightness, refreshing, and a hint of toast. Yum, and blew away the Bollinger tonight. 94/100.
3-2001 R. and V. Dauvissant Chablis Les Clos Yellow. Nose initially full of bottle stink, but it blew off with airing. Opened and opened with time. Citrus, herbs, and a touch of oak in the nose. The citrus came through in the mouth. The mouth also opened with airing. Good. 91/100- some rated this higher. I would decant for an hour or so prior to serving.
4-2004 Peter Michael Point Rouge Chardonnay. Yellow. Rich nose of vanilla, lemon, lemon curd, tropical fruits. Mouth was filling with the same as the nose, with a hint of oak at the end, but subtle. Delish! 96/100.
5-1997 Shafer Hillside Select. Deep garnet. Touch of VA on the nose gave me the suggestion that something was off here. Nose otherwise was of rich black fruits. Taste was a hint of VA, black fruits, mellow. We couldn't point to a specific flaw, and it was commented that if someone had never had a HSS before they would enjoy this as an aged Cal Cab. But we know better. 91/100 tonight, which is disappointing for a HSS.
6-1990 Angelus. Garnet. Nose told me upon opening that THIS is why I age wine. Just roomfilling nose of a spicerack, some black fruits. I could have smelled this wine all night. Tase was a wonderful mix of black fruits, cassis, blackberry, cloves. Finish held on for over 1 minute. Absolutely the best this wine has shown EVER. 99/100 Some called it a 100 point wine.
7-1982 Docteur Parce Domaine du Mas Blanc VT,VV. Tawny port color, nose and taste. Very good, I wasn't sure what to expect, but this was good. 91/100.