We had a nice little group get together at La Mangeoire on 2nd Avenue on a warm and rainy night. A nice charucterie plate (pate, mousse, sausage, duck breast, cornichons, celeriac remoulade) was a nice way to start. After tha t, we started our search for the Greenie Meanies in 2004 Burgundy. I'd say on a scale of pyrazine sensitivity of one to ten I'm probably a 3 or 4, and yet have had mixed results, but thought some wines improved lately. So try ing to keep an open mind:
2004 Lafon "Santenots" Volnay 1er This was a perplexing wine. Red fruit and a hint of celery stalk on the nos e but no TCA, but on the palate (unusually) I thought corked or at least mu sty. Later the corkiness seemed to fade to me, but others (who initially di dn't think corked) thought it worse. ?2004 Leroy Bourgogne Green, mean, sour. Someone commented "this is more Lee Roy than Le Roi". C/ C+
2004 Meo-Camuzet "Chaumes" Vosne-Romanee 1er Some green, rather lifted nose, some wood, high acids. I liked this more on revisit. B/B+I enjoyed the roast chicken, frites, and butter lettuce.
2004 Barthod "Beaux Bruns" Chambolle-Musigny 1er Probably my wine of the night. Polished, full fruited, spice and smoke. B+/A- 2004 Potel "Aux Echanges"Chambolle-Musigny 1er A monopole I've never heard of. Pine needle and bell pepper, red fruits, B/ B-2004 Clos des Lambrays Green notes, but more herbal here. Lighter-bodied, mature. Actually as a wi ne I'm ok with this, but disappointing as a 10 year old GC. B
2004 Fourrier "Clos Solon" Morey-St. Denis Herbal, moderate fruit, not so long but good village wine. B2004 Roty "Champs Chenys" Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes The green on this is more pine-needle than herbal, a bit clipped, not my fa ve B-
2004 Ponsot Chapelle- Chambertin Meaty, full, floral. B+2004 Fourrier Griottes-Chambertin Nice package except for a rubbery thing on nose. Nice mouthfeel, good flavo rs, but the reduction keeps it out of favorites (air helped but not a lot) B
2004 Bouchard Chambertin-Clos de Beze Full, some wood, just a hint of green tobacco leaf, red fruits, a little fo rest floor. I like. B+2004 Fourrier "Clos St Jacques" Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Black cherries, spice and herbs, fairly lush on palate. B+
So as a low to moderately GM-sensitive I found some wines to like, but noth ing to really seek out. Others with high sensitivity found less to like.
As we ended with cheese (Comte and Ossua-Iraty) I enjoyed a couple of Champ agnes
Charles Dufour Bulles de Comptoir Champagne Citrusy, low dosage, good. B
Vouette & Sorbee Saignee de Sorbee Rose Champagne Dry, crisp, needs food, full, I like a lot. B+/A-
Fun educational night.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a pa rty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivit y, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.