New years eve dinner, started with curried shrimp. Accompanied by Luneau-Papin "L d'Or" 2005 Muscadet. This is rapidly growing into one of my favorite bottles: chalk, citrus, apple, lots of zing and complexity too. You can practically smell the ocean. Fantastic.
With gigot de chevreuil and truffle sauce, garlic potatoes anna, steamed green beans, Beaurenard 1989 Chateauneuf du Pape. This is the regular cuvée, IIRC the "Boisrenard" experiment had not yet begun (although this would have been a good year to try it; 1989 being IMHO the central and best of those 3 now legendary successive vintages.) Why is the Coulon family so successful? Well aside from the marketing vigour, the nose of this wine quickly tells the story. Bright and bursting with plums, seems like a toddler, from a wine that could vote in most countries. In the mouth a real classic, very elegant and not overpowering, but deep black cherry, spice and boxwood, a tarry backbone over perfectly integrated tannins. Long and soyeuse, a fine accompaniment to the wonderful chevreuil.
With cheese and boozy fruitcake -- a great friend and great cook sends these out annually, after a full year of curing -- Heidsieck monopole "Capsule Bleu". I actually bought a half a case of this as a twofer from the supermarket. Heidsieck seems to be dumping as I've since noticed the same deal at 2 other competing chains. We drink less champagne than cremant, and this was a perfect example of why. No great bargain even at 12 EU when there are so many many better bubblies available for less. Good fine mousse, correct length, but a little lemon sour in the mouth and poorly balanced. Will do well as Kir Royal.
Happy new year to all, regulars, newbies and lurkers alike.
-E