A much anticipated gathering got off to a rocky start. Cindy missed the train on which we were to meet and travel into the city together - she caught the next one 30 minutes later. Cheryl showed up at the wrong restaurant (I would have publicly dissed this restaurant for canceling a reservation we had made there, but they were very kind to her). I wasn't certain that I would actually be able to attend due to severe back pain that had plagued me for over a week, but I felt well enough to contend with the 2 hour journey each way.
The restaurant was Tocqueville and they seemed pleased to accomodate us with fine service and mostly good food.
A huge disappointment was our kickoff wine. 2001 Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes that was badly corked. I had two bottles of the 2001 Les Perrieres within the last year that were stupendous and I was looking forward to this one. We thought about ordering a white off the list, but felt we had enough wine without it. However, we never anticipated a second corked wine.
Second in our lineup was the 1994 Chave Hermitage and it nullified our disappointment over the corked Sauzet with its beautiful floral nose. Smoky, a touch of animal with a charming sweetness on the mid palate that ended with a silky, lingering finish. This is the wine we sipped while studying the menu and enjoying a very nice amuse bouche of salmon mousse with a swirl of pungent mustard.
Appetizers were served - a couple had the softshell crab special, and the rest of us ordered the risotto with morels and spring peas, and the risotto was delicious.
Next up was a 1996 Clos Erasmus and it was deemed slightly corked. While not as bad as the Sauzet, everything about the wine was muted, and we traded in our glasses for the next two wines with our exceptionally delicious mid course of scallops and foie gras.
1987 Vega Sicilia Unico - a wine that continued to change throughout dinner. It started out very tight with a jolt of acidity on the end, but smoothed out with time, and I thought it especially nice with my lamb entree.
1998 Bodegas Mauro Vino de Mesa de Castilla y Leon Vendimia Seleccionada - from what I understand this wine is from the same winemaker as the Unico. Leaning towards new world, some mouth coating chocolate with a sour cherry finish, it was a good contrast with the Unico and a wine that seems to have enough stuffing to go out a few more years.
There was some disappointment with our entrees, and a couple of steaks that were ordered rare were returned as they were served medium. The weakness in the entrees was my only complaint with the dinner.
Our sticky was a 1990 Chateau De Fargues - a light body showing nice honey and figs. This with a couple of delicious desserts and a cheese plate rounded out our dinner.
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