Bastille Day dinner
R&D's
Tasted July 11, 2020 by AllRed with 84 views
Introduction
As the state currently allows for gatherings of up to 50 indoors, and our hosts have ample space so as to not be sitting atop one another, R&D decided to go ahead with the annual Bastille Day dinner with an intimate group of eight. Though we are not usually a part of this event, we are always delighted to fill in when R&D make the call to the B-team.
Flight 1 - Hors d'oeuvres (1 note)
Gougeres farcies au crabe
Roules au jambon et au fromage de chevre
Tapenade de haricots blancs
Torsades as basile et a la moutarde
White - Sparkling
2008 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame
France, Champagne
Two bottles to kick off the Bastille Day dinner . Lot LAA9I 01/2018. Pale straw yellow color with a lingering mousse. Really nice fruit all around. Orchard fruit, almond and hints of toasted brioche with a citrus undertone. Fine bead. Excellent balance. Young but already very good. 93-94 pts.
Flight 2 - Tartelettes aux tomatoes (2 notes)
White
2014 Y de Yquem
France, Bordeaux
Courtesy of R&S. Pale color. Grassy with loads of citrus fruit. Huge blast of acidity on the palate made even more pronouced by the grapefrut profile. I wouls give this some time yet to tame more of the acidity, but it worked well at the dinner table and the bright citrusy fruit is very nice.
White
2008 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
A filler bottle in between courses, courtesy of our hosts. Light straw color opening with a buttery note, along with pear and seawater. Much of the same on the palate. Good, if a bit simple. I'm not sure there's much benefit to holding this longer and since we have a couple in the cellar it was nice to get a read on it. Drink now.
Flight 3 - Main (2 notes)
Roti de la porc a la sauce moutarde-estragon
Gateau croustillant aux pommes de terre
Carottes et curgettes a la vapeur
Red
2003 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Popped and poured from magnum, courtesy of our hosts. Garnet core showing a bit lighter at the meniscus, making it easily distinguishable from the Angelus poured alongside. Notes of dried tobacco and red fruit. Has a rustic earthy quality as well. With time, the herbal elements that are the hallmark of the Chateau emerge. The palate shows more dark fruit than red, along with tobacco and a hint of spice. Still has some tannin to integrate (at least in this format). Finishes with good length. 92+ pts.
Red
2004 Château Angélus
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Courtesy of R&R. Opaque inky garnet color. Lovely perfume of black fruit, incense, violet liqueur and kirsch. I kept this in my glass for a long while before I actually sipped it as I just couldn't take my nose out of the glass. Fairly firm tannins have a sweet edge. Abundant black fruit on the palate. Hints of tobacco and earth as it opens in the glass. Excellent. 93-94 pts.
Flight 4 - Terrine au chocolat (1 note)
White - Sweet/Dessert
1998 Château Suduiraut
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Courtesy of our hosts. Light golden color. Loads of apricot and marmalade with a honeyed quality on the palate. I love Suduiraut's style- so very rich but with just enough acidity to prevent it from being cloying. Lingering finish dominated by ripe stone fruit tones.
Closing
Many thanks to R&D who went through a great deal of effort to make the evening possible, and to the other couples for a terrific night which, for at least a few hours, felt normal again.
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