A visit from some good friends -- and gourmets as well -- from Redwood City gave a chance to taste some bottles that have been languishing for a while.
On saturday, mushrooming yielded nothing but an appetite. We vented our frustration by picking blackberries and hazelnuts, turning former into strained puree and shelling latter, made rabbit roasted on a bed of onions and thin bacon, glazed with blackberry and gooseberry, with slightly sweet hazelnut white wine sauce. Also beans with sesame, cheeses (Jort camembert -- the best -- old Carrouges, young chevre), and fresh picked apple tart to follow.
Wines: '88 and '86 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape.
The '88 opened quickly into a silky and incredibly well balanced wine. Raspberry and herbs (thyme?) in the nose, chewy but elegant, very well integrated. Long, layered and classic. Could use a few more years in bottle, but I can wait.
The '86 opened with a great horrible whiff (you know what I mean) although there was an immediate taste of bright grenache fruit. It then closed up for an hour or so, before showing black fruits, chunkier than the 88, still great structure and herbs. After initially I didn't get any brett on the nose, only a little in the mouth. Less than I expected, honestly. Stood up very well to the cheeses.
Re a recent disagreement on the subject of wood, I'm willing to admit that I didn't get much of any from either of these bottles. Either it was completely integrated or I was mistaken. (I haven't tasted a young Beaucastel in many a year, so that's possible.)
On sunday we were flattered when the butcher, having been told that good friends were in town, took out half of a veal to select the 4 best chops. Grilled these on the fire with rosemary (and smoked rosemary underneath), served with a simple sauté of fresh garden vegetables. (I made a strawberry charlotte to follow, but by the time we got there water was called for.)
Wine: '85 Ch. Gloria. (In honor of friend Gloria we usually try to work this in).
First bottle had leaked, had a low shoulder fill. Still it was sound, a nice sweet approach and decent but not world-shaking length. Tannins fully integrated. Very enjoyable, cassis, coffee and sweet vanilla notes, clove...
Second bottle (high fill) was much chewier and predictably showed much the same but younger. All in all it indicated to me that this is to drink, not hold. The first bottle seemed a bit flabby compared to the second.
An enjoyable weekend. Now it's salad for a week!
-E