| | Christmas Day was a relatively quiet affair... Cream of asparagus soup. 2002, despite being the more forward of the wines, was the best match here. - 2001 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
From Coravin. aromas of honey, a little lanolin, gooseberry and green apple. Medium plus intensity acidity, slight textured rasp on the mid palate, green apple and gooseberry with a little honeyed underpin, balanced, long, still quite fresh, nice.
- 2002 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
From Coravin. Honeyed, richer nose than the 2001, a little butter and cream accompanies the apple notes. Feels a little more forward, there is a little umami note here as well. Medium plus intensity acidity feels a little sharp, apple and bruised apple flavours with honey, wet stone and umami, quite tangy as well, complex, Interesting
Duck Breast, Puy Lentils with speck, mirepoix and green beans Damoy best, Latour not bad, fourrier too light, richard too big, Doudet Naudin didn't have the right flavour profile… - 2002 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieille Vigne - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
From Coravin. Smells earthy with red over black berry fruit sweet spice leather and a touch of mushroom. Juicy, slightly sour red over black fruit, long but too light for the duck. Okay.
- 2002 M. Doudet-Naudin Beaune 1er Cru Grèves - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru
From Coravin. A little bonfire, earthy, red berry and red currant, a touch of smoked bacon fat. Juicy, fleshy, wild red berries and red currant, slight burr on the mid palate. Balanced. Nice.
- 2002 Louis Latour Corton-Clos de la Vigne au Saint - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of a little caramel, touch of white pepper and plenty of spice over quite dark and slightly brooding fruit, meaty and sous bois notes in support - lots going on but none of it shouting. Savoury, juicy, quite round on the palate, elegant and balanced, the duck lends this a little freshness as well. Nice.
- 2002 Domaine Henri Richard Mazoyères-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru
From Coravin. Dense dark fruits, a little sous bois, slight cranberry underpin, meaty elements. Juicy, slightly chalky tannins, again dark and dense fruit; the impression of this reinforced by those tannins, other than those meaty notes on the nose this is still not showing much tertiary. Lovely.
Venison shank and chestnut stew with truffled polenta yeah, cunning plan fell flat on it's face with this bracket... - 1978 Château Haut-Bailly - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
From Coravin. Note form November still applies here, from a weight perspective this is a little light for the stew…probably one to open with e.g. Steak Tartare (minus the Tabasco)
- 1978 Château Calon-Ségur - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Corked. FLAW (FLAWED)
Lamb rack with asparagus this worked rather pleasingly - 1995 Château d'Angludet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Popped and poured. Starts off a little muted (unsurprisingly) but opens to show fresh Autumn berry fruits, a smidge of rhubarb, persistent drying tannins that play very nicely with the lamb rack, a little gamey and umami underpin. Great match, great food wine.
A lot of fun...Pity about the 78's |
