Hi everyone,
I'll be going out to dinner this Thursday night and would like to order a bottle of wine for dinner. I went through the restaurant's list and narrowed it down to these options. I appreciate your suggestions in which wine I should order. I have no idea what we will be eating for dinner. I just know that GF likes young pinot-type wines.

1) 2005 Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits St. Georges Les Charmois, $110 RC price, $45 retail. CT Ratings: 93 (8/09), 90 (7/08), 91 (3/08).

2) 2005 Régis Bouvier Morey St. Denis En la Rue de Vergy, $110 RC price, $50 retail. CT Ratings: 90 (12/08), 92 (8/08)

3) 2005 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Numanthia, $145 RC price, $50. CT Ratings in 2009: 94, 92, 94, 92, 89, 96, 88, 90.

4) 2006 Domaine La Roquette Châteauneuf-du-Pape Clos la Roquette, $75 RC price, $xx retail. CT Ratings in 2009 for the 2007 vintage: 90, 92, 91. No ratings for the 2006 vintage.

Hope the GF is more mature than the wines.
That sounds like a night of shameless Drabbing.

Aren't there any Oregon young pinot-type wines on the list?

If held at gunpoint, I'd choose the CNdP.

Based on the Restaurant vs retail prices, I am inclined to say 1 or 2. Can't go wrong with 2005.

I am unfamiliar with the wines except for the Numanthia. I tasted it last year and it is very tannic and nowhere near ready to drink. Based on that tasting I would avoid it.
I would also be leery of the '05 Burgundies. Is it possible for you to bring one of your own bottles that is in a better drinking window and pay a corkage fee?

Agree with Keeno regarding the Burgandies.
Also, if she's into PN's, jumping into a young Numanthia (while I would choose that for myself) would be quite dangerous.

I'd go with 4), the CdP. Safe choice and will likely show pretty well.

Cheers, DD, to a good evening!

I'd have to agree with Keeno and KSCO2 on this one. The only one on that list that seems like it may be drinkable right now would be the CdP, but I haven't opened any of my '06s to test that theory. I keep trying my 03 or 04 Termes and keep getting smacked in the face by a wall of impenetrable tannins.

Thanks for comments so far! Unfortunately, the place does not allow any corkage which was my first question when booking the reservation. In most cases, I move on to the next restaurant, but this place does have great views and pretty good food to make it a good venue to celebrate the GF's birthday.

I don't really see any good CA/OR pinots on their list -- 2006 Mount Eden SCM, 2005 Yamhill, 2007 Erath.

If I were to choose a pinot, their 2005 'Burgs seem to offer the best quality (for under $125) based on the 2005 I've had so far and by all accounts a great vintage. It's still a crap shoot though.

If anyone has any time on their hands, here's the link to their wine list and their menu. There are a number of items that would go really well with the CdP Blanc. And if you see another interesting wine to consider, let me know!

If it was me, I would probably go with the 2006 Pride Mountain Merlot for $75.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitey:
If it was me, I would probably go with the 2006 Pride Mountain Merlot for $75.

Second that. I tried it last month - it's a nice bottle.

Based on the menu, a light red or a white would probably be best. Agree on the CDP blanc, but I am unfamiliar with that producer. I don't know much about white Burgundy, so I won't make any recommendations. My thought would be to get 2 half bottles of the '06 Domaine Drouhin Pinot. Probably could use a little more time, but it seems like a relatively safe selection.

I like Keeno's suggestion.

Do you want some help picking out what to eat also?

i'd ge ta half bottle of a sparkling
and the '06 Domaine Drouhin Pinot
...
anything heavier and doubled will take a nap on you =)

I'm a big fan of pretty much anything coming out of the SCMs. If it was me I'd pull the trigger on the 06 Mount Eden and feel pretty good about my chances.

I second g-mans rec.

Every '06 Oregon Pinot I have tried in the last year (dozens) are drinking well, even the ones that will improve with time.

You may like it so well that you will go for an extra 1/2 after the other.

quote:

Originally posted by g-man:
i'd ge ta half bottle of a sparkling
and the '06 Domaine Drouhin Pinot
...
anything heavier and doubled will take a nap on you =)

Ha! Definitely don't want to take a nap. The real birthday present will be given when we get home.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleD:
Ha! Definitely don't want to take a nap. The real birthday present will be given when we get home.

Foot massage and Dawson's Creek marathon?

The 2005 Girardin Gevrey Chambertin Vielles Vignes is a very nice wine. That would be my choice. Here's TN for it (I believe if you click on the wine name that will bring you to others' reviews as well):

• 2005 Vincent Girardin Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin (7/15/2009)
  -- TN reflects Day 3 --
  -- Had a pour of this a couple days after it had been opened ... tasted from large paper cup --
  
  Dark fruits, spice, leather, and typical Pinot funk on the open bouquet. Medium bodied, and very darkly colored. Juicy dark berries on the palate, with notions of spice and earth following right behind. Medium length finish. Showing absolutely no signs of having been open for 2+ days. An amazing deal for $40. Better than most Burgs. I've had in this price range. Hold.
  
  No detailed score, but gut impression score = 89 - 90 points

Posted from CellarTracker

I'd avoid the Numanthia...even the 2000 and 2001 aren't anywhere near ready yet. Just a wall of tannins and oak

quote:

Originally posted by dannyk8232:
I'd avoid the Numanthia...even the 2000 and 2001 aren't anywhere near ready yet. Just a wall of tannins and oak

FWIW: While I haven't touched the '04s or '05s, I have been drinking the '03s and have not experienced this. With a short amount of splash decanting(1 hr), my bottles have been showing well.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleD:

quote:

Originally posted by g-man:
i'd ge ta half bottle of a sparkling
and the '06 Domaine Drouhin Pinot
...
anything heavier and doubled will take a nap on you =)

Ha! Definitely don't want to take a nap. The real birthday present will be given when we get home.

If it is really a special night start with the 85 Champagne Charlie and then the 1/2 bottle of Chambolle Musigny - Burgundy - Guyon - 2005, having opened it when you pop the cork on the Charlie

And whatever you do select - just enjoy

The 85 Charlie does sound good Noiregonian. I'll let you know guys what I end up picking. It may depend on how I'm doing with my Fantasy Baseball league -- hanging onto 2nd place for a $6K pot total.

The Grivot may be closed down, I couldn't say, but that is a stellar and WAY under-priced producer from Burgundy from whom I've never had a bad bottle. That is the direction I would go in.

Someone mentioned '85 Charlie. I don't see that as a choice... however, '85 Charlie is one of the best Champagnes I've ever had. Not top 3, but maybe top 5, certainly top 10. If that is an option, GO FOR IT.

I took the GF to River Cafe for a late lunch today, and we really enjoyed the meal. I ended up ordering the 2006 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc - Clos la Roquette, which was a great pairing with the food we ordered. I really enjoyed my octopus salad. My john dory entree wasn't as good as my GF's branzino which I would order again. Desserts were fine. FWIW, the lunch came to about 30% less than if it were dinner. The views during the day were much better than at night IMO. Afterwards we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and back then had some butter pecan ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

Sounds like a nice night, DoubleD. No wine for us- babysitting. We'll make up for it mañana at a wine dinner here. A 1985 Mouton will be opened.