Impromptu lunch with B&E 2

Ben agreed to return my Burgundy glasses and, from this most non-eventist of actions, we hatched a plot for a late lunch/early supper. Estella chipped in with a superb mushroom quiche and, as it was my working from home/cooking day, I had put together a lamb shank and chorizo stew that we could also tap into. I also took advantage of the opportunity to show off my newest favourite toy; the Coravin.

new world vs old world (again, sigh)
matched with a simple, but beautiful, mushroom and bacon quiche and green salad.

• 2012 Pirramimma Chardonnay French Oak

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  slight peach, quite muted. Hmm.

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• 2007 Château de Puligny-Montrachet Chassagne-Montrachet

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet

  Tapped this a few times from Coravin and finally popped the cork. Lemon and citrus notes, almond meal, quite muted but very pleasant...lovely with mushroom quiche and salad.

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• 2001 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Corton Blanc

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  From Coravin. Zesty and still fresh but a little lighter that my earlier recollection. Not sure it's dealing well with the needle. Hmm.

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• 2011 Thomas Allen Chardonnay Mango Tree

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Peach, stone fruit, plentiful oak, butter...on the nose and palate. Lovely in that Yankee old school way. Straddles the Pacific as it's actually an Aussie. Very sunshine in a glass.

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matched with lamb shank and chorizo stew...both of the wines shone but the Tinto probably pipped it because of the spicy richness of the stew. marvellous.

• 2006 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  plums, figs, spice and vanilla, rich, quite rambunctious and broad and thick. almost chocolate notes as well on the palate. rather splendid

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• 2004 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  From Coravin. Matched with Lamb shank and chorizo stew. Notes of meat, vanilla, red berries, fine tannin. Rather lovely.

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A lovely afternoon on the balcony supping wine and yarning about nothing of any import. Lots of wine winners - Ben rather liked the Thomas Allen Charddy, and Estella and I were both enamoured with the Chassagne Montrachet. The two Tempranillos were harder to separate but, under pressure, we opened the Tinto Pesquera.