Last night our supposed Bordeaux group met at La Mangeoire for a night of C hampagne and Burgundy. After a frantic day it was nice to walk in and be gr eeted with the 1996 Vilmart Champagne. Big, full, pleasing apple meets lemo n curd fruit, crisp and biscuity. B+/A-
2012 Gouges Nuits St George blanc Pears, wax, a little hot on finish but fun to try. B2007 C. Moreau "Les Clos" Chablis GC This was very cold on serving, but the cold masked the oxidative notes. As it warmed they peeked through. This isn't shot, but it is advanced. This wa sn't mine, but I have a couple left from a case. first 8 were great (except one corked), then 1 premoxed this past winter, then one more very good one . I should drink last couple soon. B-
Nicely garlicky escargots to start
1996 Henriot Brut Champagne. I liked this more than some. Rising dough, citrus, pear. Good length, full. B/B+Somewhere in here we had a midcourse of sea bass with peas
2004 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brilliant young BdB. White fruits, brioche, chalk, very fresh and very long . This has long future but is damned tasty now. A-2004 Philippe Gonet Champagne Cuvée Belemnita Blanc de Blancs Others liked more than me, I thought nice flavors but a little clumsy, but of course I was comparing to the Comtes. B
We did a votes, Vilmart edged Comtes for group favorite.
I was thinking rabbit as previous night I had ordered at a bistro before be ing told they were out, but the bunny was in a tomato sauce, not something that thrills me for red burgs, so went with chicken instead- actually every one did- we split 3 chickens with fries and salad
1995 Bertheau "Les Charmes" Chambolle-Musigny 1er This was strange, some thought corked, others thought volatile, I didn't ge t TCA but did get some VA, but more troublesome was a little lemon pledge n ote. Actually cleaned up a bit, better at end but still not great. Off bott le? B-1999 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er This seemed a bit muddled, had been bounced around for couple days (not win e I intended to bring) some good black cherry fruit and distinct barnyard f unk, but needs more precision. B/B+
2000 Jadot "Clos St Jacques" Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Tight, needs time, big and brawny. B2000 Dujac Charmes Chambertin Spicy wood, sandalwood and black cherry, smoky. Needs time. B+
2000 Clos de Tart Most a pointe wine this night. Red fruit, cocoa, spice. Lovely and my favor ite red of the night. A-/B+2006 Bouchard Caillerets Cuvee Carnot" Volnay 1er Others liked more than I, very ripe but with green tannins and some overty oak. C+
2002 Chevillon "Les Vaucrains" Nuits St George 1er Young but pretty open and friendly, black plum and cherry, earth. B+/A-2001 Grivot "Suchots" Vosne-Romanee 1er Lovely, elegant, delicious. B+/A-
We did our usual 3-2-1 votes, Clos de Tart had commanding lead (26), follow ed by Grivot (17) Dujac (12),. Chevillon (5) and Bouchard & Drouhin (1 each ). Fun night, good food, great people
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.