A guest from across the pond was in Finland, so a friend of mine hosted a dinner. We all brought a wine or two.
We started with a very interesting Champagne, Moutard Cépage Arbanne NV which was sweet and floral, full yet elegant. I really enjoyed this - if this is how good a varietal Arbanne can be, I wonder why so little is made/planted?
Both our host Asko and our guest Wade Hostler are huge fans of Loring's Pinots. This time Wade brought over a surprise, Loring Wine Company Chardonnay Keefer Ranch Vineyard 2005 which surprisingly was rather nice! Loring's Pinots have frankly been too big and spoofy for my tastes, but this Chardonnay wasn't so massively oaked, it didn't taste of buttered popcorn, it wasn't a flabby and alcoholic mess - rather it was citrussy and moderately well structured.
It was really interesting to taste the Californian side by side with a white Burgundy. Bouchard Père et Fils Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières Cuvée Philippe le Bon 2005 had a nose of bitter oak. The palate also was very full bodied, very oaky. The aftertaste was more acidic than the Loring, but otherwise I have to admit I liked the Loring better. The oak just came out too much in the Bouchard (and before anyone asks - no, I didn't mix up my glasses). Perhaps the Bouchard just needs age? But will anything so oaky ever calm down into something I will like?
Then we opened up a Beaucastel CdP Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 2004 which was huge and dark toned in its floral aromatics. It has good grip on the palate though it certainly isn't acidic - is this phenolic grip or what? Tannins? What's the difference? Whatever the grip is, it certainly does its job well since though it is very full bodied, it stays refreshing and moreish. Though Rhone whites should in theory be wines that just don't suit my acid craving, big-body abhorring palate, on occasion I really enjoy them. This was one such occasion.
Wade also brought an Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard 1998 since he tries (and to some extent has succeeded) to prove that there is American Pinot made in a style that I would like. This was bright and red in its aromatics and full of Pinosity. It had a very delectable, almost metallic hint also. Ripe fruit, but no riper than in a good Burgundy, i.e. certainly not over-ripe, good acidity, charming tannins and a long, mineral finish. Quite a delight!
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 2000 started out very toffeed and sickeningly sweet - not at all like the bottle I reported about a while back. It cleared up to become a very ripe and peppery wine and gladly lost quite a bit of its confected character. Nice, but not as good as I remembered the previous bottle to have been.
Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque 2001 was a difficult wine for me. I always tend to find the LaLas too blueberry-like and oaky and that the typical C-R scents tend to get buried under the lumberjack philosophy. This did have some nice dark toned fruit and enough of it and enough structure too that I guess sometime in the future it might even out and become more to my taste. But I really do prefer a more "old fashioned" style of C-R - it so much more drinkable when young.
I brought a slightly corked Penfold's Grange 1983. Yay. It was so little corked that I only noticed because I had tasted it recently. The others enjoyed it.
Château la Clotte 1999 was a charming St.-Emilion - rather violet/floral on the nose, good grip on the palate, dry and refreshing. Shows quite a bit of oak now.
Cave Azé Cuvée de la Saint-Martin Mâcon Villages NV was our funny dessert. It is a sweet and botrytised Chardonnay. It is full and sweet and earthy and fun.
Since we talked too much our host got out a couple more bottles: Raymond Boulard Rosé NV was perhaps the deepest coloured rosé champagne I've ever seen. It had a nose of sweet strawberries and deciduous forest. The palate was crisp but full bodied. It seems to be a very unique style of Champagne and I quite enjoyed it!
Domaine de la Remizières Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Particulier 1997 was delightfully bretty and dark toned. Nice fruit, good acidity, rather rustic, but I liked it!
-O-