New neighbours suggested they host "getting to know you" dinner at their place friday night. I suggested they do the food, I'd provide the wines. Since they are a french couple, 2yrs out of france in the antipodes, figured they might enjoy a taste of home...
With tuna, red and green capscium, onion and mushroom, grilled satay style.
Jean-Marc Brocard, Domaine Sainte Claire, 1996 Chablis 1er Cru 'Beauregard' Colour darkish olive green with flashes of yellow and red in the lights, like a glass of xv olive oil. Soft lemon/citrus, new mown summer hay, mineral. Excellent balance, a dream wine. A+ If chablis comes better I'd love to be around.
Pan grilled white fish, potato rosti, pureed spinach with creme fraiche I was rather worried about a red with fish but..
Leoville Barton 1996 St Julien Bdx. Purchased en primeur and cellared by me from release. Double decanted back into the original bottle around 3 hours before service. Wonderful fragrance filled room with just removing cork. Dark purple almost black, tinge of brick at rim. Nose cream, black fruits, cedar spice, carries perfectly to palate. Velvet mouthfeel, creamy, absolutely seamless wine, balance, length. Superb A++. Well worth the near 10yr wait. My first dip into the stash of 96 bdx's.
Assortment of cheeses,and a chocolate cheese cake.
Chateau Gaudrelle (Monmousseau)1997 Vouvray, Val de Loire. Deep golden yellow, plenty of acid in good balance with the sweet honeycomb honey taste, otherwise quite bland. Very good with the cheese especially the blue brie, a bit cloying sweet with the cheese cake. B/B+. Our french hosts were surprised with the choice of a white wine with cheese.
Is the sweet white/cheeses an anglo-saxon thing?? (Mike T -help?)
(Very) Impressed with the 96 Barton from friday, I decided sunday, to delve into the 97. At home, with pan seared scotch fillet steak, green beans blanched and marinated in xv olive oil, salty cow milk feta cheese, garden fresh tomatos squeezed so the juice runs into the marinade and dollop of Newmans Own classic dressing, plenty of flat leaf pasley. Tossed.
Leoville Barton 1997 St Julien Bdx. Decanted about 1hr before service Similar marvellous fragrance on opening, deep red/purple. Red fruits, cedar, vanilla, sharpish tannins and hit of acidity. Angular, sharp, lacking the grace and balance of the 96, seemingly lacking the benefit of age, un-integrated. Primary red fruits. C-
Balance of bottle the next night. Still tannic and acidic. Primary red fruits, lacks charm and grace. Leave next opening another half dozen years and cross fingers. It may come round :-( C.
greybeard