A great evening with good friends and good food…

• 1988 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
  This opens up with a big blast of saddle leather, spiced meat, bacon and smoky tobacco aromas and there’s little doubt that this is a mature northern rhone syrah. Complex, interesting, and with good intensity to the aromas, this has a medium bodied palate that’s integrated, soft and balanced. With air, this shows a ting too much acidity for the fruit but the sheer complexity and interest on the nose makes up for it. Beautiful but drink up. (92 pts.)
• 1999 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  Young and tight on the nose, this 1999 is still a young pup with a long life ahead of it. The nose shows rich black cherry, new leather, garrigue and graphite notes but it’s not singing either and takes some coaxing. It does deliver on the palate though and is medium to full bodied, concentrated, pure and long. The purity to the fruit is notable as is the depth on the mid-palate and the length. This opened up with air but should flesh out and show more complexity with air.  (94+ pts.)
• 1995 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  Rich and meaty, this is another pup that needs another 10+ years in the cellar to show all that is has. The nose is rich, balanced and interesting with raspberry and earthy, meaty notes that lead into a medium bodied palate. Balanced, structured and long, this has rich fruit, a solid mid-palate and a long finish. Give it another 5 years and then drink it over the next 10 to 15.  (92+ pts.)
• 1986 Château d’Yquem - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
  Soft, smooth and amazingly drinkable this has subtle apricot, vanilla custard and brown sugar aromas on the nose that lead into a full bodied palate. While I thought this lacked a little complexity, the palate was beautiful with full body, perfect balance, a smooth, lush texture and a long finish. Just stunning and the damn bottle was empty before I knew it. (96 pts.)

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