Meat castles

[Thor]

Set in an otherwise quiet residential area of town, Le Tournedos et H. Le Tassigny isnt the easiest restaurant to find. Not that I think its particularly big with the tourists in any case; everyone stares when we walk in, theres certainly no English being spoken at any other tables, and the English we speak to each other draws a surprised glance from every waitperson that approaches our table.

The name of the game here is meat, and a lot of it. In fact, I cant imagine wanting to eat here except if in search of the namesake tournedos, which feature on the menu in many, many incarnations. I start with a salade de gsirs, itself a massive and extremely filling (but excellent) undertaking, and while waiting for my next course I realize Im really not all that hungry. Oops.

So, when presented with a slab of beef about the size of my head

continued here. Notes follow:

Bertrand Chteau Laville Bertrou 2002 Minervois La Livinire (Languedoc) Good, dark, spiced-berry fruit with earth. But its thin, and hollows further on the finish. Theres some improvement with air, but not enough, and the overall impression is somewhat boring. Id call it a competent wine and leave it at that. (10/06)

Mignard Chteau Mignan/Pech-Quisou 2004 Minervois Les Capitelles (Languedoc) Wan, dark fruit with rough bark and unappealing dust. Mildly pleasurable, but no more. (10/06)

Escande Domaine Borie de Maurel 1999 Minervois Cuve Sylla (Languedoc) Fully mature. Hard, showing whip-strap leather drizzled with meat squeezings, a metallic core, and a finish thats edging towards astringency. Not bad, but drink up. (10/06)