I am tardy with these tasting notes that Cole assigned me to do. Many apologies.
Cole invited me to a shindig at his place a little less than a moon ago, and, of course, I could not refuse. So, I put on my Saturday evening best, polo shirt and my tight jeans (getting ever tighter ‘cuz of my current diet of Popeyes chickens and Boston Crème Dunkin’ Donuts) and I head off. I knew the weather was going to be a little warm, but I bundled up thinking I could survive a quick jaunt through the DC heat and then quickly cool down in the air-conditioning.
Oh how wrong I was. Chez Cole is about a 10 minute walk away from my apartment, but that’s 10 minutes up hill, and in the tumid 100+ heat of a sweltering mid-summer, mid-Atlantic evening, I was beginning to understand how Kurtz lost his mind sailing down the Mekong.
Channeling my inner Sherpa, I somehow survived the trek, stumbling into Cole’s apartment with my clothing a shade darker and my face a touch moister than when I left, so Cole helpfully gave me a glass of Mionetto Prosecco NV , to help me cool down. Nice, dry bubbly, with a hint of citrus and a relatively fine bead. Eminently glugable, especially considering I was just a pint away from sweating myself into a state of desiccation. There was also a bottle of Pinon Touraine Rose NV , which I did not get to drink, much to my chagrin.
I spend my time chatting with the various guests while shoveling wads of pate and crackers into my mouth. I catch up with Bob S. and Kevin C. until Mary declares dinner ready and we make our way to the table. A bottle of 2009 Rose de Chevalier makes its way round the table. Nice and dry, but a little cumbersome for my tastes.
We then proceed with the fine food: a refreshing Hungarian cherry soup with sour cream. Tart and cooling, it was a great starter for this meal.
Cole proceeds to open a 1989 Trimbach CFE . Cole mentioned he opened it for me since I told him once how I never had one before. Kevin C. takes a sip and says if this is my first CFE, prepared to be ruined, because he thought it was one of the finest CFEs he ever had. I believe him: it is a racy, mineral treat coiled with a crisp apple snap. Delicious.
Then, a bottle of 1989 Luneau-Papin L D’Or soon follows and I fall in love once again. An elixir of saline, liquid stones, it showed beautifully that night. I adore this wine and I always will. Aged muscadet rocks (pun intended). I think I like this more than the CFE.
The main meal commences with a beautiful roasted salmon made by Mary, a really nice beet salad with shredded duck, and greens. Delicious. A bottle of 1995 Tollot-Beau Beaune Greves accompanies the salmon and it is open and fragrant, with hints of tart cherries on the palate. An easy drinking wine.
A 1967 Mouton Rothschild soon follows the heels of the Tollot-Beau, and it is quite a contrast. Intensely flavored and dark fruited initially, eventually evolves and becomes smoky and meaty. It reminds me of a liquefied Slim Jim, and that is a compliment. It was quite startling and memorable. This is my first First Growth and I really enjoyed it.
We finished off dinner with a 1971 Huet Le Mont Moelleux . A deep, amber color in the glass, it is drinking really well. Sweet,but light on its feet. But not quite as good as Mary’s biscotti. That was just tops.
A great meal with all the wines I tried showing very well. Thanks Cole!
Cole invited me to a shindig at his place a little less than a moon ago, and, of course, I could not refuse. So, I put on my Saturday evening best, polo shirt and my tight jeans (getting ever tighter ‘cuz of my current diet of Popeyes chickens and Boston Crème Dunkin’ Donuts) and I head off. I knew the weather was going to be a little warm, but I bundled up thinking I could survive a quick jaunt through the DC heat and then quickly cool down in the air-conditioning.
Oh how wrong I was. Chez Cole is about a 10 minute walk away from my apartment, but that’s 10 minutes up hill, and in the tumid 100+ heat of a sweltering mid-summer, mid-Atlantic evening, I was beginning to understand how Kurtz lost his mind sailing down the Mekong.
Channeling my inner Sherpa, I somehow survived the trek, stumbling into Cole’s apartment with my clothing a shade darker and my face a touch moister than when I left, so Cole helpfully gave me a glass of Mionetto Prosecco NV , to help me cool down. Nice, dry bubbly, with a hint of citrus and a relatively fine bead. Eminently glugable, especially considering I was just a pint away from sweating myself into a state of desiccation. There was also a bottle of Pinon Touraine Rose NV , which I did not get to drink, much to my chagrin.
I spend my time chatting with the various guests while shoveling wads of pate and crackers into my mouth. I catch up with Bob S. and Kevin C. until Mary declares dinner ready and we make our way to the table. A bottle of 2009 Rose de Chevalier makes its way round the table. Nice and dry, but a little cumbersome for my tastes.
We then proceed with the fine food: a refreshing Hungarian cherry soup with sour cream. Tart and cooling, it was a great starter for this meal.
Cole proceeds to open a 1989 Trimbach CFE . Cole mentioned he opened it for me since I told him once how I never had one before. Kevin C. takes a sip and says if this is my first CFE, prepared to be ruined, because he thought it was one of the finest CFEs he ever had. I believe him: it is a racy, mineral treat coiled with a crisp apple snap. Delicious.
Then, a bottle of 1989 Luneau-Papin L D’Or soon follows and I fall in love once again. An elixir of saline, liquid stones, it showed beautifully that night. I adore this wine and I always will. Aged muscadet rocks (pun intended). I think I like this more than the CFE.
The main meal commences with a beautiful roasted salmon made by Mary, a really nice beet salad with shredded duck, and greens. Delicious. A bottle of 1995 Tollot-Beau Beaune Greves accompanies the salmon and it is open and fragrant, with hints of tart cherries on the palate. An easy drinking wine.
A 1967 Mouton Rothschild soon follows the heels of the Tollot-Beau, and it is quite a contrast. Intensely flavored and dark fruited initially, eventually evolves and becomes smoky and meaty. It reminds me of a liquefied Slim Jim, and that is a compliment. It was quite startling and memorable. This is my first First Growth and I really enjoyed it.
We finished off dinner with a 1971 Huet Le Mont Moelleux . A deep, amber color in the glass, it is drinking really well. Sweet,but light on its feet. But not quite as good as Mary’s biscotti. That was just tops.
A great meal with all the wines I tried showing very well. Thanks Cole!