A Regal Lunch at Charles' Home

London, England
Tasted Sunday, June 5, 2005 by JeffGMorris with 683 views

Introduction

My travels this week found me arriving in London on Sunday morning with the rare situation of having nothing to do until the following morning. Charles Morgan and I have wanted to uncork a few bottles together for quite a while so this seemed a perfect opportunity. Charles had graciously invited me, as well as Nigel and Sophie Williams, to his home for lunch. What the London crowd calls lunch is quite a feast!

Charles is a wonderful chef and a great host. We were informed that many of the ingredients for today's lunch came from a farm ( can't remember the name ) owned by the Queen ( hence the name of the event ). Unfortunately, the Queen was not minding the farm stand during Charles' purchase as I guess she had something else to attend to!

It's been a long time since I had such a great time as part of a business trip.

Flight 1 - Getting started (1 Note)

As we arrived at Charles' home in the Kensington section of London a glass of Champagne was quickly placed in our hand.

Flight 2 - Tom Yum Soup with Skate (1 Note)

A wonderful way to start the meal with this delicious soup. Very well matched with the wine.

  • 1994 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Häuserer 94 Points

    France, Alsace

    Ligt gold in color, this was a real treat from Charles' cellar that he opened because I had never before tried it. Typical of the '94 ZH lineup, this had a great combination of power, richness and concentration. Still drinking like a very young wine ( also a characteristic typical of the '94s ) but with the slight beginnings of a petrol character adding nicely to the fruit. Full bodied with a long finish, the sweetness was limited and perfectly balanced by the spiciness of the soup it accompanied. For me, the wine of the day. 50+13+13+9+9 = 94.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 3 - Homemade Pork Terrine (1 Note)

If all terrines tasted this good I would be a big fan of them. Must be the royal ingredients...or maybe just Charles' expertise in the kitchen!

  • 1990 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Vieilles Vignes 90 Points

    France, Alsace

    Medium to dark gold, this wine opened with some odd notes on the nose that had us worried. Luckily, this blew off in about 10 minutes and the wine continued to improve over the entire time we drank it. Nice aged characteristics with the spiciness typical of this bottling and the slight grittiness on the palate that appears with age. Medium bodied with a nice finish where the spicy character really fanned out. 50+12+12+8+8 = 90

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 4 - Lamb, potatos, beans, carrots (2 Notes)

One of the most tender and flavorful pieces of lamb I've had in quite a while, and of course the perfect accompaniment to CDP.

  • 1995 Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 87 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Dark crimson in color, this was a light to medium bodied wine that was drinking surprisingly well given what I've heard of "tight" '95s. Definitely some tannins still to resolve but also very open and a good match with the lamb. I know Nigel felt this was better for current drinking than the Pegau, but the Pegau was much more to my liking, both for now and the future. 50+11+11+8+7 = 87

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1995 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Dark crimson, similar in color to the Charbonniere. Very rich and sweet with dark cherries, kirsch and some caramel notes, despite Nigel's assertion that it saw no new oak. A wine firmly in the style I enjoy now, but it also looks to have a very bright future of further development. 50+13+12+8+8 = 91+

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 5 - Cheeses (1 Note)

A wonderful runny and ripe Munster, Montgomery Cheddar, Stilton and one other I did not get the name of.

  • 1997 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Heimbourg 91 Points

    France, Alsace

    Light to medium yellow in the glass. Classic Heimbourg Gewurz in that it shows amplified versions of all the expected Gewurz aromas/flavors, as opposed to some of ZH's other Gewurz vineyards that seem to put more of a stamp of terroir on the wines. Very exotic with lychees, roses and spice. Still very rich but has also dried out. Is really in a nice place right now and is probably at peak. Beautiful with the Munster which was very runny, just how I like it. 50+13+12+8+8 = 91

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 6 - Rhubarb and Lemon Cream Tarte (1 Note)

As with all the courses ( other than the cheese ) this was homemade and really delicious. The rhubarb played off the Prum beautifully.

  • 1995 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 91 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    AP #2-03. Very pale yellow in the glass, this wine is still a baby at age 10. Probably would have benefitted from some decanting. Still showing a little of the young Prum-typical sulpher, but not to offputting levels by any means. Light and delicate but forceful at the same time in a way that Prum Auslese can be. Loaded with apples and minerals, this wine has decades before hitting it's apogee. 50+13+12+8+8 = 91++

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 7 - After dinner (1 Note)

A great gesture of opening this ( potentially ) magnificent wine to end our day together.

  • 1989 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl Sélection de Grains Nobles 91 Points

    France, Alsace

    Medium gold in color, Charles was concerned upon opening the bottle that the wine may be corked. We gave it a little time in a decanter and although Charles ( the only one in the room with experience with this particular wine ) continued to believe there was something off, the wine was still a pleasure. Apricots and a subdued sweetness in this wine that appeared to be very young. Restrained and classy. Charles said his previous bottle was much richer, and thinking about it afterwards I am agreeing that something was wrong with this bottle as the richness was nowhere near what other ZH SGNs have been. Still a treat, and I'm honored that Charles opened this bottle in my presence. 50+13+12+8+8 = 91 ( a pristine bottle would probably score 3-5 points higher )

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Closing

5 hours later "lunch" was complete and we all went our separate ways, with smiles all around. Thank you Charles for a great day. It was a real pleasure to meet you, Nigel and Sophie and I hope we can do it again soon.

×
×