Eight wines at Michelin Star Dinner with friends

Yesterday attended a dinner with friends at a Michelin-starred restaurant, and we selected a lineup of wines with the sommelier beforehand. The evening was unforgettable. Below are structured notes and impressions from the evening.

1. Robert Moncuit Les Chettillons 2015 (Blanc de Blancs)
   This grower Champagne opened the night with notable presence. The oxidative style showed through clearly with dominant autolytic character—yeast, brioche, and nutty tones layered over preserved lemon and green apple. The texture was creamy, with racy acidity balancing the leesy richness. Score: 92 pts

2. Schäfer-Fröhlich Felseneck Riesling GG 2021
   Highly concentrated and structured. The palate delivered crystalline acidity with focused notes of lime zest, white peach, crushed slate, and saline. Very linear but with tremendous depth and persistence. A benchmark for dry Riesling and one of the clear highlights of the evening. Score: 95 pts

3. Domaine Didier Dagueneau ‘Pur Sang’ 2019 (Pouilly-Fumé)
   Textbook precision from this estate. Flint and smoky reduction on the nose alongside grapefruit pith, lime blossom, and green melon. The mouthfeel was tactile with a fine phenolic structure supporting the weight. Seamless integration of fruit, minerality, and acidity. This reinforced Dagueneau’s reputation for elevating Sauvignon Blanc to a near-Burgundian level of complexity. Score: 96 pts

4. Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru ‘Abbaye de Morgeot’ 2019
   Initially reductive, with prominent struck match and flint. After adequate aeration, the wine evolved to show lemon oil, hazelnut, and subtle oak integration. The palate had a firm core of acidity and stone-driven minerality. Quite structured and still tight, suggesting it will reward further cellaring. Score: 94 pts

5. Arnoux-Lachaux Bourgogne Pinot Fin 2019
   A disappointing entry-level Burgundy from a top producer. Thin on the palate with muted red fruit, a touch of earth, and lacking in both mid-palate weight and length. For the price point and pedigree, this failed to deliver complexity or structure. Score: 86 pts

6. Château Branaire-Ducru 2016 (St-Julien)
   A robust, tannin-driven Bordeaux still showing clear signs of youth. Blackcurrant, graphite, cedar, and tobacco leaf were present, but the components remained disjointed despite a 2-hour decant. Structure is there for long-term development, but at this stage, it paired more successfully with lamb than it did on its own. Score: 90 pts (with aging potential)

7. Château d’Yquem 2017 (Sauternes)
   An iconic wine and a personal milestone bottle. Deeply layered with apricot preserves, candied orange peel, saffron, and acacia honey. The balance between richness and acidity was exemplary, offering both unctuous texture and lift. The finish was expansive and persistent, revealing secondary complexity already. Score: 97 pts

8. Krug 171ème Édition
   An unplanned and generous contribution from the sommelier to end the evening. He joined us at our table as the last remaining group in the restaurant. This edition—based on the 2015 harvest—was bright and taut, with notes of lemon zest, toasted almond, white flowers, and subtle smoky complexity. Still youthful, with considerable precision and tension. Will no doubt develop further complexity over the next decade, but already compelling. Score: 94 pts

Conclusion: This was an evening where wine and context aligned beautifully. The top performers—Dagueneau, Schäfer-Fröhlich, and d’Yquem—demonstrated world-class quality. Most other wines held their own, though the Arnoux-Lachaux was clearly outclassed.