On a rainy day on the stormy Riviera, we discovered a franco-swedish specialty, the 5 hour lamb. Stuffed with garlic, citrus zest, cinnamon, it is as tender as its more famous cousin, the traditional 7 hour lamb, only better... Bravo Nils and Xina...
Now for the wines.
To start, something I could not identify more precisely than a very northern non-chardonnay white, turned out to be a 1993 Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle, and of course once revealed I thought, what else, a wine from Val d'Aosta... oaky zingy lively thing with lots of fruitiness despite age.
Moved on to Chateau Palvié 2005 Gaillac, rich citrusy south-west wine with more than a hint of residual sugar, maybe a little more than was needed with swedish smoked salmon and an egg; the egg was poached, the salmon was not.
I had brought a red, the Capatosta 2001 from IHV regular Giampaolo Paglia, a coastal tuscan red with lots of body and cherry notes, superb, glad I had the discipline to cellar it a little (the oak was a little excessive when young, now it is perfectly embedded in the wine).
Nils continued with a 1991 Chateau Vignelaure, surprisingly well kept for a Provence wine, very delicate (should have served it first), a hint of leather and spice. Which red went better with the lamb? Hard to say. Can I have another glass?
Conclusion withthe traditional "galette du roi", Xina got the bean, I got the santon so I had to wear the crown... and Nils brings out an Ausbruch, but a RED one from Zweigelt grapes, 2005, by Schmelzer. Rhubarb and strawberry pie notes with raspberries on top, very nice, surprisingly well matched to the almond filling of the cake.
We meet again on Monday in one of our favourite places in Nice, the Vin sur Vin. I'll report later.
cheers and Happy New Year to all
Mike