Dinner à Quatre at Trompette

La Trompette, Chiswick
Tasted Wednesday, April 15, 2026 by Vinumming & Ahhing with 49 views

Introduction

Lovely impromptu dinner at La T. Once again fabulous food and effortless service.

Flight 1 - Crusty Sourdough (1 Note)

  • 2018 Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Les Mottelettes 95 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Barrel fermented, 48 months on the lees. Zero dosage, Vines planted in 1961. Fabulous nose, lemon cordial, sourdough crumb, green apple, bay leaf and a couple of ppm of gooseberry coulis in the margins. Palate wonderfully dry, there is a Grape Nut cereal bass note from front to back with this complemented by grapefruit zest on entry, apple and sesame seed on the mid palate and aromatic tonic water on the finish. The ripeness of fruit here probably delivers c. 3-4g equivalent dosage sweetness. Fantastic Champagne.

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Flight 2 - Salmon sashimi, pickled rhubarb dressing, white soy, crème fraiche and pistachios (1 Note)

  • 2015 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Baudines 93 Points

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

    Decanted for 30 minutes before sampling. Second pours after two hours. Air has helped reduce the trademark PYCM reduction although my table mates correctly identify a little remains. Nose opens with lemon oil, a touch of pear skin and some planed ginger. With air some nectarine flesh and the faintest hint of white chocolate in the margins. Returning after a couple of hours there is a touch of chamomile too. Palate is beautifully lean with lime posset creaminess on entry with more of that pear skin. Some white flowers join the fray on the mid palate and the finish is marked with tart limes. Lovely acids from front to back.

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Flight 3 - Pork loin tonnato with fine green beans, Ortiz anchovies, capers and crackling (3 Notes)

  • 2012 Mullineux Syrah Schist 93 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland

    Served blind. Call this as a Syrah. Accuracy of guess work falls of rapidly thereafter. I think Cornas initially based on iron filing and olive brine characters. There is something chocolatey as well which I often find in Gonon St Joseph wines so throw this out there. Would never have guessed South Africa! In addition to the above, there is cassis and later bright red fruits on the nose. Final sniffs see some chestnut brazier and a hint of Biscoff crumb. Palate has good acids plum fruit on the front end. There are touches of Grenadine and baking spices on the mid palate and just a hint of coffee and walnut sponge cake on the very finish.

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  • 2012 Domaine Georges Vernay Côte-Rôtie Maison Rouge Flawed

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Res fruits, Rooibos tea and a persistant seam of TCA. Drat.

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  • 2012 Bernard Faurie Hermitage 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    From the list. Initially pure cassis on the nose but minimal swirling coaxes some classy olive brine, venison tartare, coffee grounds and some smoky cranberry notes. Olive character growing with air. Palate has wonderfully balanced acids and red friuits on entry, there's a touch of pepper here for me as well. Mid palate sees some feathered gaminess (no brett) and there's just a hint of Madeira cake on the finish. Tannins are beautifully resolved. A great pick from the list.

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Flight 4 - Devonshire duck and spiced leg croustillant, rainbow chard, crushed turnips, orange and pistachio (1 Note)

  • 1995 Ridge Monte Bello 95 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc. 12.5% ABV. Wow what a nose. To summarise; this balances sweet and savoury perfectly. Around the cassis and plum core there are hints of lemon oil, chestnut, Rooibos tea, rose petal and a couple of ppm of mint and chocolate sponge. Palate delivers on the promise of that beguiling nose. Some Rooibos and delicate plum fruit on entry, a touch of incense on the mid palate with some hints of dulce de leche fudginess. Finish sees some bresaola meatiness and just a touch of Morello cherry. Certain to be one of my wines of the year. Drop dead gorgeous and a treat to try.

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Flight 5 - Cheese Selection (1 Note)

  • 1989 Château d'Yquem 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Half. 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. 13.2% ABV. Not as dark as many 2001s. Nose opens with membrilla, grilled pineapple with a twist of lime juice. Something savoury too, almost like a couple of ppm of chicken roasting juices. Ripe banana too with air. Palate has papaya, mango peelings and more of that savouriness. With air a touch of beurre blanc and brown sugar.

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Closing

That Mullineux didn't surprise me with its quality but blind it was very convincingly Rhôney. Top evening and great to catch up

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