WTN: 2010 New Year's Eve - Soutiran & Wind Gap

[David M. Bueker]

Dinner with friends on New Year's Eve

Soutiran Blanc de Blancs NV
Chardonnay from the village of Ambonnay, and more full bodied than most 100% Chardonnay Champagnes. Richer on the palate with stone fruit elements to go along with citrus coated minerals. Good conversation lubricant and accompaniment to finger food apps,

2008 Wind Gap Syrah Griffin's Lair
Brooding, dark, very tannic on its own, but more friendly with the richness of medium rare prime rib. I'm still struggling with fruit perception on bigger wines, so can't really comment on whether this has the fruit to outlast its tannins. It sure was mouthpuckering on its own though.

I'm still struggling with fruit perception on bigger wines...

Wow, is that something to do with your nose? Or something else from the fall? Any indication of whether that will get better in the future? (Health can be so fragile!)

[David M. Bueker]

I'm still struggling with fruit perception on bigger wines...

Wow, is that something to do with your nose? Or something else from the fall? Any indication of whether that will get better in the future? (Health can be so fragile!)

It's part of the loss of my sense of smell and the slow recovery process from my head injury. I can smell some things, but right now have an overriding scent that I am sensitive to that masks much of everything else. Supposedly this is not an uncommon stage in the recovery process.

Supposedly this is not an uncommon stage in the recovery process.

That's good to hear. I hope the recovery continues, for general principle and not just wine. Although I'm sure that will be nice too!

Dinner with friends on New Year's Eve

Soutiran Blanc de Blancs NV
Chardonnay from the village of Ambonnay, and more full bodied than most 100% Chardonnay Champagnes. Richer on the palate with stone fruit elements to go along with citrus coated minerals. Good conversation lubricant and accompaniment to finger food apps,

I was happy to read your favorable comments on the Soutiran.

I have discovered that my cellar contains quite a collection of orphans that got moved to the side during the past 25 years. In sorting for wines for the Holidays I discovered a bottle of A. Soutiran-Pelletier Grand Cru Champagne Brut.

I remember receiving this bottle as a gift from one of my wife’s French wine producing cousins. I knew the bottle had some age on it since I had not brought any wine back from France since 9/11. But it also has been properly cellared. This was a basic Gold label. I believe that the house dropped the A. Pelletier portion of the name from the label in 1998 or 1999.

We opened this bottle late in the afternoon of New Years Eve. We really did not know what to expect from an older NV Champagne from Ambonnay. We were in for a fantastic surprise.

On first opening a good, fresh, vibrant yeasty smell was released. I don’t think that the Champagne has changed its color from the day of its release. A beautiful golden hue.

The dual language label on the back of the bottle revealed, in the German only, that the Champagne was made from 70% pinot noir and 30% Chardonnay.

The taste reflected the presence and integration of both grapes but the pinot noir was more noticeable with a touch of both strawberries and cherries. The mousse was extremely fine and lasted to the last drop. I was also delighted with the rich, long finish of this champagne.

I only wish I had a few more bottles hidden in the cellar.

Tom Neman