Our lineup for New Year's Eve:
Champagne 2004 Francis Boulard - these are some of the first wines from the now separated domaine of my friend Francis and his daughter Delphine, they only has about 6 hectare left, mostly certified organic and partly biodynamic. One of his best wines, not quite the extreme character of Les Rachais, nor the elegance of Petraea, plenty of brioche flavours and very smooth bubbles.
Chassagne Montrachet (village) 2007, Morey Coffinet, served with scallops over green pea mash with potatoes that were (here it comes...) scalloped (no milk, just oven baked interleaved paper thin slices of potato and fennel). Managed to time it so the temperature was about 10 degrees. not too fridgey and not too affected by a particularly hot fireplace, already has honeyed aromas plus a superb steely balance.
Gevrey Chambertin 2007, Thierry Mortet "Vigne Belle", served with pigeon roasted with morrels. A little closed at first despite 2h aeration, opened up in the glass to reveal superb aromas of blackberry. Another domaine resulting from a family split, around 7 hectares according to my local caviste.
Maury, Mas Amiel Vintage 2007 with ganache chocolates by Michel Cluisel and home baking: whisky cake, shortbread cookies. Mas Amiel remains one of the very best Maury wines, with well integrated alcohol (no burning sensation), sweet raisin and cocoa flavours.
Three wines drunk way too young yet in very good shape.
There: first AFW post of 2011, have a good one !!!
Mike