Tonight, we had over our neighbor frinds Ruben and Janna and their two kids for a night of small plates, wines and camaraderie. Our friends Chris and Alan joined in later. In the end, I opened three wines: the Gysler Riesling and Allram GV about which I've already written, and one other:
2007 Bernard Baudry Chinon "Domaine" nose: initially, leafy and slightly gamey, becoming more cherryish with some sappiness and a bit of minerality
palate: medium body, good structure, initially quite tart but opening with time to become rounder, yet retaining a lean structure. Very fruity with chalky tannins and a bit of meatiness in the finish.
Dale has written about this wine in the not too distant past. It's Baudry's mid-level Chinon, more serious than Le Granges, but not as serious as Les Grezeaux, let alone La Croix Boissée or Clos Guillot. Even though not an exalted cuvée, it is still an excellent example of Cab Franc from the Loire. This wine would ideally be suited for red meat, I think, but did admirably well with the eclectic mix of foods on display tonight. I'm sure that it will continue to get better for another few years and can probably last for another decade at least for those so minded.
Mark Lipton