Lay & Wheeler Oyster Feast

Mersea Island, Essex
Tasted Saturday, October 19, 2002 by andrewstevenson.com with 978 views

Introduction

Tasted in an oyster shed somewhere on Mersea island 19/10/2002, as part of a fabulous seafood binge that Lay &Wheeler are pleased to call an Oyster Feast.

Dozen oysters (or organic smoked salmon) to get you in the mood, then bucketsful of crab, lobster, scallops, huge langoustine, whopping prawns, whelks (really good whelks too), winkles, etc. Whole Somerset bries (could've been a touch riper) and then a crème caramel just to beat you into final submission.

Fantastic, native Colchester oysters, by the way. Big and meaty and as fresh as they possibly come.

Also in attendance were some of the wine producers - from Guilleminot champagne and from LeGrys in New Zealand.

Flight 1 (9 Notes)

  • NV Michel Guilleminot Champagne Brut 87 Points

    France, Champagne

    (en magnum)
    Very rich nose. My initial impression was that it was a decent, full flavoured champagne, lacking the elegance of the best, but very acceptable. I have to say that after about four or five glasses (glasses were constantly re-filled), it was definitely growing on me!

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  • 2001 Domaine Saupin Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie 86 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie

    Attractive lemony colour. Nice fresh nose. Light and slightly fragrant. Fresh, clean, light. Nice crisp acid. Perhaps a bit on the dull or neutral side, but it's not a bad price. For me, it felt like it could have done with a bit more lees contact.

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  • 2001 Le Grys Wines Sauvignon Blanc 86 Points

    New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

    Pale lemony colour. Big nose - v. heavy gooseberry scent. Attractive attack. Fills nicely. Lots of fruit. Nice and elegant. Good.

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  • 2000 Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis 83 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis

    Bright light gold. V light buttery nose. Nice fresh attack. Light and very clean. VG finish and exceptional length. Quite crisp and a bit slatey. Good.

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  • 2000 Fattoria Coroncino Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Gaiospino 88 Points

    Italy, Marche, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico

    And they say German wines have long complicated names!!!
    Italian whites usually fill me with something between distaste and disdain. On the showing of this, I might be converted.
    Deepish gold. Attractive, very fresh, herbaceous nose with some nettles. Notable legs - long, thin and very distinct. Remarkably full attack. Fills very well on the palate. Quite rich and buttery. I really would not guess at this being an Italian white: would probably think in terms of a new world chardonnay/chenin blend. Definitely has a touch of chenin about it. Falls away a bit on the finish and fades a little, but very fair length. Perhaps a bit in your face and upfront, but I'm definitely impressed. Very Good, verging on very Good Indeed.

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  • 1999 Michel Bouzereau et Fils Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières 89 Points

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

    Lovely elegant restrained nose. Very good attack. Lots of fruit, clean. Fills very well. Lovely buttery rich flavours with good complexity. Fair length. Pretty much a textbook young white burgundy. (that's not 100% a compliment)

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  • 1999 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Tasted at Lay & Wheeler Oyster Feast, Colchester 19th October 2002
    Fantastic deep gold. What a nose! - gorgeous! Slightly honeyed. Rather light attack. Fresh and clean, but then fills beautifully. Really rich, superbly well balanced. Super length. Excellent.

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  • 2000 Greenhough Pinot Noir Hope Vineyard 87 Points

    New Zealand, South Island, Nelson

    Fairly deep if muddy-ish purple. Very nice Pinot Noir nose - touch farmyardy & mushroomy. Fair attack. Fills ok. Bit acidic on middle with unformed tannins coming through on finish. Has a bit of complexity to it. Probably needs more age before it starts to show properly. Just a touch too astringent at the moment. In theory, it should probably have gone nicely with the brie with which it was served, but the mushroom and acid in both just seemed to compete a little too much. The Jaboulet Hermitage blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg was a much better match.

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  • 1987 Fonseca Porto Vintage Quinta do Panascal 86 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Deep youngish purple. Curiously minerally nose - almost flinty. Very odd nose. Good attack with bags of fruit. Then some spirit kicks in on middle. But finishes well. Lots of character. Not overly distinguished, but still pretty good all the same. Again, as with the champagne, it grows on you after two or three glasses.

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