Celebrating a Milestone: My Journey to Becoming an Attorney
I am thrilled to share that I have officially joined the ranks of licensed attorneys in the District of Columbia! To mark this significant achievement, my girlfriend and I decided to celebrate in style last night at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle, nestled in City Center. This restaurant holds a special place in my heart, as it was the venue for my law school graduation celebration just a few months prior.
To elevate our evening, we indulged in some exquisite wines: a 1996 Dom Perignon and a 1996 Chateau Mouton Rothschild. These selections not only represent the oldest and most premium champagne we’ve ever enjoyed, but they are also our second encounter with a remarkable vintage from 1996. The experience was nothing short of exceptional, reaffirming the wisdom of wine enthusiasts regarding the unparalleled quality of vintage champagne.
Accompanying our main selections was a delicious Royal Tokaji dessert wine, potentially the 5 Puttonyos Aszú, which paired beautifully with Del Frisco’s famous butter cake. While I cannot recall the exact vintage, it reminded us of young Sauternes and provided a sweet finish to our celebratory meal.
Tasting Notes
Dom Perignon (1996)
Upon pouring, the nose greeted us with oxidative notes, rich in nuttiness, reminiscent of sweet almond and liquified marzipan, alongside a hint of toasted almond syrup. I was pleasantly surprised by the wine’s vibrant acidity, which showcased its youthful spirit despite being nearly 29 years old. The palate revealed refreshing notes of Granny Smith apple, pear, and underripe fruits. My girlfriend detected a lovely hazelnut aroma with flavors of white peach and green mango coming through. This delightful champagne reminded us of Krug NV, highlighting the unique styles of each house. It had a medium to long finish and paired perfectly with our salmon rainbow roll and freshly baked house bread. My rating: 97 points.
Chateau Mouton Rothschild (1996)
Before sampling this exceptional wine, we decanted it for about 30 minutes. The nose was captivating, presenting strong dark chocolate aromas intertwined with ripe black fruits, with subtle earthy herbaceous notes making an appearance. On the palate, ripe raspberry and bright red fruits like cherry and strawberry opened the wine’s profile, with black currant and cassis becoming more pronounced as it evolved. A delicate earthiness ran throughout, complemented by seamlessly integrated tann