Del Posto Ristorante

85 10th Ave,

New York, NY 10011

Tel (212) 497-8090

This was another delicious dinner at Del Posto. Executive Chef Mark Ladner and his team did a fabulous job with this tasting menu. The Wood-Grilled Lobster is one of the signature dishes at Del Posto, and it was once again amazing on this night. In my opinion it is one of the very finest dishes on the menu. The Stinco di Vitello was also sublime. The Risotto and Pansotti were tasty, but if I have one critique of Del Posto it’s that the portions can sometimes be on the small side. That wouldn’t be an issue in and of itself, but with this many wines, a little more food wouldn’t bad a thing.

Two vintages of Krug Collection whetted the appetite nicely. The 1985 Krug Collection is a gorgeous wine to drink now. It is fully mature, soft and flat-out delicious. Pretty notes of ash, smoke and truffle added complexity on the burnished finish. I wouldn’t cellar bottles too much longer, but for now the 1985 remains a beautiful Champagne. The 1989 Collection was quite a bit simpler than the 1985. Subtle layers of fruit graced the feminine, lithe mousse.

The 1982 Mumm Rene Lalou, from magnum, was breathtakingly beautiful. Rich, smoky notes emerged gracefully from this vivid, textured Champagne. The wine turned increasingly generous and creamy in the glass, with hints of graphite and minerals that framed the finish. What a bottle! I have had the privilege – and I do mean privilege – of drinking the 1975 Dom Pérignon Oenothèque (2007 disgorgement) on many occasions and it has never been less than thrilling. Generous layers of fruit flowed effortlessly to the kaleidoscopic, hugely inviting finish. This was another great bottle. Krug’s 1981 Collection is another Champagne perfect for drinking over the next few years. The 1981 was relatively understated, as has been my experience with this vintage, but it showed beautifully in an understated style. The bouquet alone was pristine.

I loved Trimbach’s 1990 Clos Ste. Hune. The 1990 is a huge Clos Ste. Hune, and clearly a bit atypical, but I loved the sheer richness and opulence of the wine. This dramatic wine impressed for its balance and captivating personality. It was dazzling from start to finish.

The 1998 Guigal Cȏte-Rȏtie La Landonne was a stunner. Impeccably layered, sweet and voluptuous, it flowed with the essence of blueberry jam, leather, spices and scorched earth. The wine’s inner perfume and overall sense of balance were sublime. Chapoutier’s 1998 Ermitage Le Pavillon was tight and structured. It revealed very little on this night. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 2001 Echézeaux opened with a fragrant bouquet that melded into a seductive core of fruit. Sweet spices were nicely layered into the finish. This is one of my favorite wines from the Domaine for current drinking. The 1991 La Tâche was strikingly beautiful, even if this wasn’t the very finest bottle I had ever tasted.

We finished with two legendary Piedmont wines that didn’t quite live up to their promise. Unfortunately they were both from my cellar! So it goes. Both the 1985 Barolo Monprivato and 1978 Gaja Barbaresco have been far better, and both bottles came from cases that have offered spectacular bottles, but that was not the case on this night. The wines were outstanding, but not profound.