WTN: Boozy lunch
Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 6:01 amIt's been a while since I've had a boozy lunch so it was great to get a call from Oscar suggesting one at La Girolle at the start of the work week after the 4 day weekend. Joining us was Edouard Miailhe of Chateau Siran and Johnny. Only 3 bottles for this lunch, a bit less than the usual one bottle per person but a decent amount for everyone.
Champagne Piper Heidsieck Cuvee Rare NV - My bottle. Better than the last bottle I had in August. Bright gold, still vibrant but with good depth and complexity. Medium (+) body. Nuts, coffee, brioche, lemon. Not as oxidative as the previous example. Fully mature and no need for further aging. Probably as good as it will get. Very good with the salmon gravlax starter.
Chateau Siran 2010 - Naturally, from Edouard. We were all familiar with the rather open, fruity 2009 of Siran so he wanted us to try the 2010 which is also considered to be a great vintage. This is still going out to the negociants and is not yet on the market so this preview was a treat for us. Popped and poured. Red-violet. Deep color. Scents of iron and earth. Later, cocoa and coffee. Tannic. A big wine and rather tight. Half an hour in the glass and and the sweet oak comes to the fore. It disappears again after an hour or so and finally the fruit comes out. Cherry, raspberry, currant, blackberry but always in the back is an earthiness that I find appealing. A touch hot on the nose and no wonder as it is 14% abv. A wine for aging. Definitely more structured and deeper than the quite friendly 2009. Drink 2009 while giving the 2010 at least 5 to 10 years.
Chateau Talbot 2000 - Oscar's bottle. Fully mature and probably at peak now. Sweet fruit. Leather, milk chocolate. Should have been tasted before the Siran as it is much lighter. Still, a very good wine.
Champagne Piper Heidsieck Cuvee Rare NV - My bottle. Better than the last bottle I had in August. Bright gold, still vibrant but with good depth and complexity. Medium (+) body. Nuts, coffee, brioche, lemon. Not as oxidative as the previous example. Fully mature and no need for further aging. Probably as good as it will get. Very good with the salmon gravlax starter.
Chateau Siran 2010 - Naturally, from Edouard. We were all familiar with the rather open, fruity 2009 of Siran so he wanted us to try the 2010 which is also considered to be a great vintage. This is still going out to the negociants and is not yet on the market so this preview was a treat for us. Popped and poured. Red-violet. Deep color. Scents of iron and earth. Later, cocoa and coffee. Tannic. A big wine and rather tight. Half an hour in the glass and and the sweet oak comes to the fore. It disappears again after an hour or so and finally the fruit comes out. Cherry, raspberry, currant, blackberry but always in the back is an earthiness that I find appealing. A touch hot on the nose and no wonder as it is 14% abv. A wine for aging. Definitely more structured and deeper than the quite friendly 2009. Drink 2009 while giving the 2010 at least 5 to 10 years.
Chateau Talbot 2000 - Oscar's bottle. Fully mature and probably at peak now. Sweet fruit. Leather, milk chocolate. Should have been tasted before the Siran as it is much lighter. Still, a very good wine.