Community Tasting Note
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JohnMcIlwain Likes this wine:
February 4, 2023 - Indecision determined this pull and pour as much as anything. Roasted local chicken, Judy Rodgers’ red wine lentils and a very cold night called for something with some age and yes, some comforting familiarity. The wine fridge seems loaded for braises and red meats from a Burgundy standpoint, and as I’d be sacrificing 1/3 of the bottle to the lentils, nothing “trop cher” obviously. And as I was just about to punt and move on to Tuscany, I spied this bottle of 2011 Clos du Fief. Not sure when I grabbed from storage, but this is just the ticket (if it isn’t marred by that 2011 asperity). A pull of the cork and the bottle is intact and doesn’t appear to be overly green. Pale ruby robe with some bricking on the meniscus. Strawberry, cranberry, and a bit of blood orange peel on the nose with game and bramble/herbal notes lingering on the periphery. This welterweight Juliénas is mostly resolved but remains more Gamay than Pinoté, with mostly resolved structure and enough red-fruited tang to cut through the richness of pre-dinner pâté de campagne, while showing enough gras to pair wonderfully with the chicken and the mellow earthiness of the lentils. What a pleasant surprise! I can’t say I’d hold on to this too much longer, but I’m pleased I bought a few. Quite tasty.
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