We had a great time visiting some friends for dinner last night. We drank exceptionally well, too.
Champagne Brut Chardonnay 1996, Pol Roger
A rich, bready nose. Also nutty and mineral. The palate is rich and powerful with plenty of luxuriant ripe fruit. Despite its ripeness it has very good acidity and a fine mousse. Excellent.
Riesling Clos Saint Hune 1973, Trimbach
Just alive on the nose, dead on the palate. This had clearly been kept in our warm flat for too long.
Meursault Sous la Velle 2002, Remi Jobard
The nose is quite linear and direct. It has good lemon fruit and a subtle seasoning of oak. The palate is also quite focused and direct. Perfectly drinkable, but nowhere near the quality of:
Meursault Tessons Clos de Mon Plaisir 1996, Domaine Roulot
A powerful, dense nose that smells a lot like a good Grand Cru Chablis. The fruit is very ripe. The palate shows ripe fruit as well, with fine acidity and real complexity. The finish is very long and stylish. Utterly lovely. This didn’t seem ten years old, it was in very good condition.
Pommard Premier Cru Rugiens 2001, Domaine de Courcel
Lovely, perfumed nose, a lot of fruit here. Côtes de Beaune elegance and refinement. This is quite lovely. Considering how much the vineyard got hailed on during the 2001 vintage this displays a lot of class.
Pommard Premier Cru Clos des Epeneaux 2001, Comte Armand
The nose has some real density and power, but the character of it is like a refined Nuits St. Georges. The palate has some serious tannins, but so much ripe fruit this is very well balanced. A brilliant star of blazing intensity.
Chambolle-Musigny 1997, J et F Mugnier/Château de Chambolle-Musigny
Ripe, pure fruit on the nose. It shows a reasonable degree of complexity and depth too. The palate is very silky, with good fruit and a long, complex finish. A damned good village-level wine.
Hermitage 2001, Domaine du Colombier
A peppery, spicy nose. It also displays a bit of cheap cologne character, but it is far too big and complex to be a Crozes-Hermitage. The palate shows a hint of greenness, but there is plenty of fruit and some earthy complexity there. This does seem to be going through a bit of an awkward middle-aged phase, but I am sure it would come out of that in a few years as a good Hermitage.
