Nice lunch at Quality Italian

A few of us gathered at Quality Italian for a quick lunch during Paulee weekend.

2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

Wide open and ready for business, with beautiful lemon curd, stone fruits, and lightly toasted brioche. The palate had crisp acidity and some white peach and citric cream, and the finish was very long. In some years the Salon will likely surpass this wine but not today.

2013 Salon Le Mesnil

Incredibly tight but coiled full of potential. A hint of lemon zest on the nose, and the palate revealed a tiny bit of citrus and stone fruits alongside massive acidity. The finish was long. Visit again in 5-10 years.

2011 Francois Raveneau Le Clos

Initially a bit reticient on the nose, but demonstrating pretty white peach and honeysuckle. Some flint and crisp acidity on the palate, which was also tight, but opened up with some time in the glass. Very long finish. Excellent pairing with oysters and prawns.

2013 Francois Raveneau Le Clos

Wide open; I’ve been a huge fan of 13 Raveneau and this was no exception. Some lemon curd, hay, and eggshell on the nose, with saline elements on the palate and a brisk core of acidity. Finish was a bit rounder but very pleasant.

1990 Emmanuel Rouget Cros Parantoux

This was tremendous. Supposedly made by Henri Jayer in this vintage for his nephew, this was a showstopper, with haunting aromatics of ripe red plums, baking spices and soft forest floor and vibrant morels. The palate was supremely elegant and soft with weightless power and depth. The finish was eternal. Whether or not this was a Jayer wine, it was absolutely delicious.

1996 Meo Cazumet Cros Parantoux

This wasn’t done any favors by being opened next to the tremendous 90, and had a little bit of an off putting medicinal underripe ocean spray note on the nose along with some wet leaves. The palate was very pretty and the finish was long, but it was hard to get past the bouquet.

1999 Trapet Chambertin

Incredibly fresh, with beautiful aromas of red currants and soft loam. Restrained classic burgundy on the palate with more red fruits and crisp acidity. Finish was incredibly long. This was not a huge wine, but had great tension and structure with beautiful fruits.

2000 Trapet Chambertin

Hint of VA which quickly blew off. Some darker fruits and earth on the nose. Not quite as fresh as the 1999, but vibrant acidity and fruit on the palate transitioned into a punchy finish. Very nice.

2009 Mugnier Musigny

Like other 09s this was joyously open, generous, and exploded from the glass with red currants, soft dark earth, and some fall leaves and a hint of cloves. The palate was super lush, with crisp acidity and rounded core, with a super long finish. There was much more mid-palate intensity and depth. This was unapologetically powerful and beautiful, great wine! As I’ve said, I’m very high on 09s now. This didn’t have any of the mid-palate lightness that the 17 Mugnier Musigny had, so we’ll see how that does in time.