I posted on M-G Chaignots recently and I feel the same way about 2004 Clos Rougeard. I took the 2004 Bourg for a spin last night since I haven't tasted it in eons.
Sophie was down from NY under somewhat tragic circumstances, but I did my best to feed her well and drown her sorrows.
We started with Billecart-Salmon Rose, which I haven't tried in a while. It was mostly boring, but it was a warm night, and it was cold and it was a gift, so no need to be overly critical or complain.
We moved to a fantastic bottle of 1999 Knoll Riesling Schutt with a piercing, pungent fantastic nose. I think this wine is ready to go. Given my disappointing recent experience with 1999s (corked or prematurely faded) it was nice to have one of my favorite wines, and I think one of the world's great wines, show well.
When I initially opened the 2004 Clos Rougeard Bourg it was luscious and generously fruited. Really substantial and velvety in the mouth. A few hours later it had gained complexity in the nose and in the mouth, but it had also stretched out and released some structure. As the night wore on It started to close back in on itself. Not a great showing, but showed enough of what is to come to leave me excited by the prospects.
We got involved with some sherry, because, why not? I've had really mixed experience with Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada Nº 10 and this was a better bottle than some, but not the thrill ride of the first bottle from this batch. I'm not really sure I get the fuss about these wines. I've only had 4 or so, and purchased a case of the 10 and half a case of the 18 based on how much Peter and Levi, both of whom know a lot more than I do about sherry, have raved. I also did not expect so much bottle variation from sherry. Should I have?
A Lustau Palo Cortado really didn't do anything for me that Palo Cortado should and generally does from top houses. Just sort of meh.
Following on the theme, a bottle of 2009 Do Ferreiro Albariño Cepas Vellas didn't acquit itself with its normal high standards. It was just sort of boring.
That can't be said for a bottle of 2009 Domaine de Souch Jurançon Sec which was electric razor wire. I don't know what will become of this wine if it ever mellows. It's the most intense wine I've had in years. Really just rips your face off. Brisk, punishing and thrilling. Good with Export A cigarettes.
Anyway, mostly the wine was boring, but my evening was stellar. I guess I'm becoming more like Cowan every day (and he's becoming more monkey-like). Fuck wine, company trumps everything and there isn't much better company than Miss Sophie B.
Sophie was down from NY under somewhat tragic circumstances, but I did my best to feed her well and drown her sorrows.
We started with Billecart-Salmon Rose, which I haven't tried in a while. It was mostly boring, but it was a warm night, and it was cold and it was a gift, so no need to be overly critical or complain.
We moved to a fantastic bottle of 1999 Knoll Riesling Schutt with a piercing, pungent fantastic nose. I think this wine is ready to go. Given my disappointing recent experience with 1999s (corked or prematurely faded) it was nice to have one of my favorite wines, and I think one of the world's great wines, show well.
When I initially opened the 2004 Clos Rougeard Bourg it was luscious and generously fruited. Really substantial and velvety in the mouth. A few hours later it had gained complexity in the nose and in the mouth, but it had also stretched out and released some structure. As the night wore on It started to close back in on itself. Not a great showing, but showed enough of what is to come to leave me excited by the prospects.
We got involved with some sherry, because, why not? I've had really mixed experience with Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada Nº 10 and this was a better bottle than some, but not the thrill ride of the first bottle from this batch. I'm not really sure I get the fuss about these wines. I've only had 4 or so, and purchased a case of the 10 and half a case of the 18 based on how much Peter and Levi, both of whom know a lot more than I do about sherry, have raved. I also did not expect so much bottle variation from sherry. Should I have?
A Lustau Palo Cortado really didn't do anything for me that Palo Cortado should and generally does from top houses. Just sort of meh.
Following on the theme, a bottle of 2009 Do Ferreiro Albariño Cepas Vellas didn't acquit itself with its normal high standards. It was just sort of boring.
That can't be said for a bottle of 2009 Domaine de Souch Jurançon Sec which was electric razor wire. I don't know what will become of this wine if it ever mellows. It's the most intense wine I've had in years. Really just rips your face off. Brisk, punishing and thrilling. Good with Export A cigarettes.
Anyway, mostly the wine was boring, but my evening was stellar. I guess I'm becoming more like Cowan every day (and he's becoming more monkey-like). Fuck wine, company trumps everything and there isn't much better company than Miss Sophie B.
