Brief notes of excellent wines at Christine and John's

Wellington, New Zealand
Tasted Wednesday, May 28, 2014 by HowardNZ with 533 views

Introduction

Christine and John invited us for a lovely Saturday night dinner, where they served exquisite food and excellent wines. The wines were served blind, largely in matching pairs. I took no notes on the night so these brief TNs were written from memory later (Andrew, thank you for your thoughts).

Flight 1 (9 Notes)

  • NV Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cuvée de Réserve

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    The Champagne was recognisably both Non Vintage and Blanc de Blancs. It had brioche and nuts on the nose, and was fresh with attractive, delicate acidity on the palate. Quite a fruit-driven Champagne with good fruit weight and complexity. A grower Champagne, good value for money, John said.

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  • 2010 Domaine Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Les Chaillets

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    I did not recognise this excellent Cuilleron Vigonier, despite enjoying it several times at tastings and home. It has an expressive bouquet of honey, peach and lemon, and on palate is unctuous, with very good texture and mouthfeel. The Cuilleron is quite structured with dense fruit weight. Andrew thought it was perhaps a little broad and lacking some acid cut, but I thought it had sufficient acidity. An excellent Viognier from a very good vintage, I prefer it to the upper tier 2010 Cuilleron Vertige.

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  • 2008 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

    The first of an excellent pair of white Burgundies, each perfectly showing the characteristics of its climat. The Boillot was quite lean and a little austere compared to the Roulot. It was elegant and precise, but powerful with excellent fruit weight, complexity of flavour and length. As well as reflecting the house style, the Boillot also showed the 2008 vintage with sparkling, attractive acidity I liked very much.

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  • 2008 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

    We all picked the Roulot as a Meursault. A broader, richer expression than the Boillot, with a lovely, silky texture. It possessed real volume of fruit, structure and length, but to me seemed the more primary of the two wines. At this stage, I much preferred the Boillot of the two wines.

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  • 2001 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Served blind with the Chapoutier, the Chave was also quite primary (we guessed much younger than 2001, from memory). A gorgeous nose of dark cherries and other red and black fruits, game meats and warm earth. Tight on the palate with real mid palate tension, provided by gorgeous acidity, with suave, fine grained tannins. Excellent structure, fruit weight and length, with a very complex flavour profile. Ideally this wine needs another 10+ years to unwind. Good fruit and the lovely acidity meant that it paired beautifully with the perfectly cooked venison rack. Majestic, my WOTN.

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  • 2001 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    The Chapoutier had an expressive bouquet of red cherries and plums and a whiff of black pepper. It was in a broader, more developed style than the Chave, with the fruit showing well. In the mouth it seemed a little soft to me, with flavours of old plums and spice, the tannins integrated and rounded.

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  • 1999 Domaine du Clos de Tart Clos de Tart

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru

    The Clos de Tart had some of that Morey gaminess, animale and underbrush. On the palate it was rich and full to the point of over-extraction, quite chunky but with lots of power. An intriguing wine but, to me, put in the shadow by the Potel ...

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  • 1999 Nicolas Potel Bonnes Mares

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

    The identity of the Potel was a surprise, both as to house and climat, we picked it as a Chambolle. Aromas of delicate black berry fruits, a fine structure with refined acids and a very long finish. The oak seemed well matched to the dense Grand Cru fruit weight and well integrated. Drinking very well now, the rich, complex flavours would develop with further time in the cellar, I'd imagine. Very impressive. By some margin, the best Potel I've ever had.

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  • 2001 Château Rieussec

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    The first comment we made was that this wine was clearly not a Rieussec. It did not have the brown sugar and baked apple components typical of that house. We mistook the wine for a Suduiraut or a Barsac. On the nose and palate the Riessec showed both orchard and some topical fruits, with absolutely lovely balance, framed with fine acidity. An outstanding Sauternes from an excellent vintage. Drinking beautifully now but years ahead of it of course.

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