Lee and Melissa are moving soon to Portland, so we got together for a farewell dinner on Friday night. Joining us were Brad and Lesli, Brian C and later on Chaz and Anne.
Nathalie Falmet Le Val Cornet disgorged 5/12 - these wines are the first I've tried from the Cotes des Bar and I have been impressed. I tasted the rose this summer and it was good but the Val Cornet is more complex and interesting of the two. A blend of Pinot Noir and Meunier. Nice combination of mineral, herbal notes and picks up a honeyed flavor with air.
Dauvissat-Camus Le Forest Chablis 1er 2001 - not oxidized but overall a tad disappointing. Nice aromas, salty, and brothy, but in the mouth it finishes oaky and too soft.
Ceritas Charles Heintz Chardonnay 2012 - texturally this is very fine and has nice acidity with cool toned fruit, but there is also a little oak flavor poking out.
Kiralyudvar Tokaji Pezsgo 'Henye' 2009 - sparkling Furmint with the 2002 Azsu desert wine used as dosage. Very aromatic and lovely, demi sec almost and a ringer for a sparkling Loire valley Chenin. It paired well with several of the appetizers and the salad with beets and goat cheese.
Eminence Road Pinot Noir Elizabeth's Vineyard 2012 - soft red strawberry fruits, clean and drinking really well for a young Pinot. Kudos, Kay!
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Bourgueil VV 1995 - more fruit forward then the other two Cab Franc bottles, resolved structure and easy to drink. Quite a nice value and I could drink this a lot.
Jerome Lenoir Chinon Les Roches 1990 - starts out quiet with a bit of bottle funk, but with air really sings. Pure. Understated and for me this is a great definition of Chinon. Great bottle.
Clos Rougeard Les Poyeux 1995 - there is a little wood left but there is a lot of quality here. Layered and complex Cab Franc, lovely texture and length. Another great bottle.
Jamet Cote Rotie 1998 - tannin is resolved and this has some good fruit left, finishes with a smoky, ash note. The fruit comes off as sweet without the tannin to keep it in line. Some acidity left. Brad mentions he feels this is fading fast as he has tried other bottles.
Bernard Faurie Hermitage 1997 - I love this somewhat stern even for a 1997, old school Syrah. Still with significant structure and tannin, it seems young. Thanks Lee for sharing this hard to find Hermitage.
Paolo Bea Pagliaro Montefalco Sagrantino 2006 - this was reportedly open all day. The aromas are gorgeous, layered fruit, mineral, some herb like thyme. In the mouth it has beastly tannin as you would suspect. Pleasure for the nose at this time. Great future I would guess.
Rollin Pernand Vergelleses Ile de Vergelesses 2002 - a nice bottle, well proportioned. Open but still pretty young. Lee thought it needed five more years.
Cazin Cour Cheverny Cuvee Renaissance 2002 - delicious with cheese and apples. A whiff of Riesling like petrol of mid aged Romorantin. I love the tension between the fruit/sugar and lively tart acidity in these. A treat as always.
Nathalie Falmet Le Val Cornet disgorged 5/12 - these wines are the first I've tried from the Cotes des Bar and I have been impressed. I tasted the rose this summer and it was good but the Val Cornet is more complex and interesting of the two. A blend of Pinot Noir and Meunier. Nice combination of mineral, herbal notes and picks up a honeyed flavor with air.
Dauvissat-Camus Le Forest Chablis 1er 2001 - not oxidized but overall a tad disappointing. Nice aromas, salty, and brothy, but in the mouth it finishes oaky and too soft.
Ceritas Charles Heintz Chardonnay 2012 - texturally this is very fine and has nice acidity with cool toned fruit, but there is also a little oak flavor poking out.
Kiralyudvar Tokaji Pezsgo 'Henye' 2009 - sparkling Furmint with the 2002 Azsu desert wine used as dosage. Very aromatic and lovely, demi sec almost and a ringer for a sparkling Loire valley Chenin. It paired well with several of the appetizers and the salad with beets and goat cheese.
Eminence Road Pinot Noir Elizabeth's Vineyard 2012 - soft red strawberry fruits, clean and drinking really well for a young Pinot. Kudos, Kay!
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Bourgueil VV 1995 - more fruit forward then the other two Cab Franc bottles, resolved structure and easy to drink. Quite a nice value and I could drink this a lot.
Jerome Lenoir Chinon Les Roches 1990 - starts out quiet with a bit of bottle funk, but with air really sings. Pure. Understated and for me this is a great definition of Chinon. Great bottle.
Clos Rougeard Les Poyeux 1995 - there is a little wood left but there is a lot of quality here. Layered and complex Cab Franc, lovely texture and length. Another great bottle.
Jamet Cote Rotie 1998 - tannin is resolved and this has some good fruit left, finishes with a smoky, ash note. The fruit comes off as sweet without the tannin to keep it in line. Some acidity left. Brad mentions he feels this is fading fast as he has tried other bottles.
Bernard Faurie Hermitage 1997 - I love this somewhat stern even for a 1997, old school Syrah. Still with significant structure and tannin, it seems young. Thanks Lee for sharing this hard to find Hermitage.
Paolo Bea Pagliaro Montefalco Sagrantino 2006 - this was reportedly open all day. The aromas are gorgeous, layered fruit, mineral, some herb like thyme. In the mouth it has beastly tannin as you would suspect. Pleasure for the nose at this time. Great future I would guess.
Rollin Pernand Vergelleses Ile de Vergelesses 2002 - a nice bottle, well proportioned. Open but still pretty young. Lee thought it needed five more years.
Cazin Cour Cheverny Cuvee Renaissance 2002 - delicious with cheese and apples. A whiff of Riesling like petrol of mid aged Romorantin. I love the tension between the fruit/sugar and lively tart acidity in these. A treat as always.