Michael hosted SOBER last night, a fine meal and an interesting array of wines. As usual, all served blind except the opening wine, the Camille Saves Carte d'Or Champagne Brut. I really love the Saves rose, but this is my first time trying this bottling. Hopefully, not the last. Truly delicious bubbly, fuller styled but with a wide streak of youthful acidity down the middle. Deep, yeasty, and long. A-
First course was a "Seafood Panzanella Salad" with salmon, tuna, tomatoes,and bread. Three whites to accompany:
Wine #1- apple fruit, buttery/creamy texture, nice core of fruit but just a bit flat. B/B-
Wine #2 - by far biggest nose of the flight, somewhat exotic with tropical and apple fruit topped with a honied note. Pretty sure Chardonnay, reminds me of the Thevenet/Bongran wine . B+
Wine #3- a bit more acidity than others, mute nose at first. Opens a bit with some apples and chalk. B
1- 2004 Fevre " Les Preuses" Chablis GC (not thrilled to own a bottle of this)
2- 2002 Raveneau "Butteaux" Chablis GC
3- 2005 Carillon "Champs Martin" Mercurey 1er
While I was in Burgundy, if pressed the Mercurey is the one I would have pegged for Chablis. OK, but nothing here I'd buy at normal pricing.
Second course was a warm "Crimini Mushroom Salad with Mussels", which was more a soup, delicious with a hint of sherry. Three more whites:
Wine # 4- clean, clear pear fruit, citrus zest, a bit lighter than other two, pleasant but not as deep. B
Wine # 5- big, ripe, rich. Lovely opulent nose. Nice length. John opined Corton-Charlemagne, he got it. A-
Wine # 6- this seemed a bit more advanced than others to me, just a bit of a nutty note. Ripe, minty, some debate over whether it might be mildly corked. Seems to get better/cleaner with some air. B+/B
4- 2002 Niellon " Clos St Jean" Chassagne Montrachet 1er
5- 2001 Bouchard Corton Charlemagne
6- 2002 Girardin Corton Charlemagne
Third course was raviolo with a veal/walnut red sauce. We switched to reds:
Wine # 7 - some toasty oak. coffee, fairly ripe black cherry fruit. Young, a bit outclassed by flightmates/ B/B+
Wine # 8 - The first word I write is "Wow." Great nose, sandalwood and cherries, flowers and mushrooms, very complex. Fully mature, but not fading, a lovely lovely wine. A/A-
Wine # 9- pretty tight at first, but opens beautifully. Still a bit wound up, but a lovely full-bodied Burg. Black cherries, forest floor, espresso. Fine and long. Might have passed #8 for my WOTN if we had a few more minutes! A-
7- 2002 Roumier "Clos de la Bussiere" Morey St Denis 1er
8- 1985 Roumier "Clos de la Bussiere" Morey St Denis 1er
9- 1990 Roumier Bonnes Mares
Fourth course was cheese (Brie de Meaux, a fine Comte, Leyden, Old Chatham ewe bleu cheese), with 3 more reds:
Wine # 10- lead pencil, a bit of animal, blackcurrants, full but elegant. Good acidity, resolved tannins. A-
Wine # 11 - pretty dull and ponderous next to other 2, though I probably would have been ok with it on its own. A little VA, hint of brett, solid dark fruit, still a bit of tannin. B-
Wine # 12- Sweet dark fruit, a light funky edge, cigarbox, minerally/rock finish. Very nice wine. A-/B+
10- 1979 Chateau Montrose
11- 1975 Chateau Montrose
12- 1966 Chateau Montrose
Nice night with nice wines, nice food, nice people. Nice!
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.