Francois's 70th Birthday Celebration - Kelly and Kevin's another excellent adventure
Paris and Bordeaux
Tasted Friday, February 26, 2016 - Tuesday, March 1, 2016 by dcwino with 823 views
Introduction
Francois’s lovely wife contacted a few months back inviting us to a surprise party to celebrate Francois’s 70th birthday. I certainly would not miss to participate for anything and I enthusiastically said yes. I however was so surprise as I always thought that Francois was in his late fifties or early sixties. The man has unlimited energy and vigor. The celebration was held in Bordeaux and Kelly W and I planned a four nights trip, as usual the trip was totally evolved around wine. The friends joined from all around the world!
Flight 1 - Lunch at Carre des Feuillants (1 Note)
This was the restaurant where Scott M drank all the 93 Rousseau Chambertin a decade ago. I always enjoyed the restaurant but the interior had not changed for awhile. The cooking was quite solid but my pork steak was a bit dry which was unacceptable for a two start Michelin. The wine list was still solid and some were very well priced.
Flight 2 - Dinner at Les Climats (2 Notes)
I heard a lot of good things about the restaurant. The space was beautiful. I ordered the tasting menu and it was truly exceptional. The list had some bargains. I highly recommend the restaurant.
Flight 3 - Lunch at Brasserie le Noailles (1 Note)
It was pouring down . We walked to Restaurants L’Entrecote but there was a long line. So we looked for the busiest place. Brasserie le Noailles was solid. I ordered simply sautéed Cep which was excellent. The wine on the other hand was so so.
Flight 4 - Francois 70th Birthday dinner at Cote Rue (9 Notes)
All the guests arrived, all very familiar faces. The sommelier was pouring the 96 Krug and Bollinger RD magnums. The anticipation was high as Francois was just about to arrive. We turned off the light and hoped that it would be a true surprise. As he entered, we all sang happy birthday and it became quite apparent that it was truly a surprise. The dinner lasted for a while and we were entertained by Francois Wilhelm who sang a number of songs and told the funny stories. He and Francois attended the business school together and it appeared that drinking was a bit part of their daily routine. Everyone was having fun, a lot of laughter and only a couple of tears from Francois. It was a memorable evening.
Flight 5 - Nightcap at Le Flacon (1 Note)
As we were walking back to the hotel, we accidentally passed by Le Flacon, the wine bar that we had a blast in our last visit to Bordeaux. There were a bunch of guys drinking wine at the bar. As I entered, the lady told me that the bar was closed. However Gilles, the proprietor, immediately recognized and told us to come in. He even remembered where we sat and what we drank in our last visit. We ordered a bottle of Selosse Rose for a quick nightcap. Kelly spoke to a guy at the bar who happened to be a chef and he asked us to try his place. If you are in Bordeaux, you must visit this small quaint and friendly wine bar with small but well-chosen wines at the unbelievable price.
Flight 6 - Lunch with Francois's family and friends at Restaurant Gravelier
Francois’s family kindly organized a family and friends luncheon. I got to drink alot of interesting wines, excellent Pinots from Alsace and Germany, Scheurebe, Tokaji and etc. Francois brought a wine that I have never seen before. It was made from left over juice from all DRC crus after bottling. It was cloudy. The nose was excellent, all telltale signs of DRC, noticeable stems, decadent yet pure red fruits, Vosne spice and etc. The palate was a bit rustic but quite concentrated. If this is any indication, DRC made the great wines in 2013. We discussed the future plans of Grand Jury Europeen and upcoming wine events. After a fun long lunch, we bid farewell to Francois and his family. It was a great pleasure to be a part of the lunch.
Flight 7 - Dinner at Restaurant Solena (3 Notes)
Since the chef told us to check out his place, we decided to make a reservation. The wine list pretty good and the dishes were excellent and imaginative. Unfortunately the chef, Aurelien Crosato, informed us that he sold the restaurant. He may open a restaurant in Oregon but nothing solid as of yet.
Flight 8 - Nightcap at the hotel (1 Note)
We were looking for a wine bar. Unfortunately it was a Sunday night. The hotel list very limited and pricey. Luckily we managed to find a very good Bordeaux.
Flight 9 - Lunch at Taillevent (2 Notes)
Since we were planning a dinner at La-Cagouille hence seafood and white wine, I figure Taillevent is a great choice for lunch. Even at the last minute, it was easy to book a table luckily for us. Jean-Marie warmly greeted us. The lunch is served in the ground floor dining room as usual which is understated or a bit stuffy and boring, depend on your take.
We were the last table to arrive. We took two wine menus to find the gems. Kelly suggested that he picks the white and I pick the red. As usual they had a great selection of Raveneau and we ordered the 01 Blanchots. I decided to order the 99 Camuzet Richebourg which I found out was their last bottle. All the dishes were quite solid and delicious. In case of langoustine amuse bouche, exceptional. The service was very good except being the last table, we felt bad for the waiting staff. The complimentary Calvado from 1981 was excellent.
Flight 10 - Drinks at Willi's Wine Bar (1 Note)
As it is a custom, we headed to Willi’s wine bar. The list was as solid as ever. To re-energize, we order a bottle of the 09 Ravenau valmur. BTW, they were serving the 10 Raveneau Vaillons by glass.
Flight 11 - Dinner at La-Cagouille (1 Note)
We had a great meal with great wines in our last visit. Unfortunately not so this time. The dishes and the wine were both disappointing.
Flight 12 - The last bottle at Ambassade de Bourgogne (1 Note)
The night was still young as the meal at La-Cagouille ended much earlier than originally anticipated. After getting back to the hotel, we were determine to find a wine bar for the last wine of the trip. Luckily Kelly found a quaint wine bar. As we entered, we were surprised by the selection. When we inquired if there are "other" bottles, the assistant told us that the grand crus were in the basement. The list was pretty extensive. We drank the 13 Gaudichots with Philippe, the proprietor. He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about all things Burgundy. The place is a stone's throw away from les comptoirs. If you love Burgundy, this is a must visit. What a great way to end the trip!
Closing
It was a great pleasure and privilege. Another excellent adventure of Kelly and Kevin!
2008 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 97 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
(2/26/2016)
Laser like focus and precision. Dense coiled nose displaying ripe yellow fruits, lemon curd, honey, wet limestone, white flowers and rain water. Incredible concentration, beautifully layered fruits, strong presence of mineral, mouth puckering acidity and long finish that resonates. Although it opens up a bit with air, it remains pretty coiled. It clearly reflects the vintage, producer and vineyard. Very serious wine that is very impressive now but will improve for a couple decades for certain.
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