Notes from a dinner with friends
Jaqueson 731 Champagne – made in 2003 from 52% chardonnay, 32% pinot meunier and 17% pinot noir, this wine was at a nice stage with some development behind it, crisp and clean with good mousse.
2003 Ch. Chamboreau Clos d’Avant Savennieres – I nailed Loire pretty quick but a Savennieres was the absolute last wine I’d guess as this was much lower acid than typical, waxy medium sweet nose, dry finish, pleasant but with none of the focus of what I expect from a Sav.
1998 Dom. La Roquette CNduP – brought back from our French trip, this showed beautifully with nicely balanced earth and black currant fruit in the nose and a very slight metallic note, as well as a hint of anise. Bright wine, very tasty, soft tannins and good length. I’ve worked through almost a case of this and it has always pleased. No point waiting if you have it – drink up.
2004 Dom. Combier Clos des Grives Crozes Hermitage – another sweet spicy anise nose that initially had me thinking we were still in the southern Rhone. Medium body, bright and tasty now.
1998 Montus Madiran – guessed wrong on this, but not too far off geographically – thought it might be a Cahors wine. I love Tannat as done in France and this was excellent with a warm spicy fruit based nose with tinges of blood and iron, soft tannin and great structure and length. No rush on this one.
1995 Roger Sabon Cuvee Prestige CNduP – corked
1999 Clos l’Eglise Cotes de Castillon – a quick stand in for the bad Rhone, this had nice cherry aromas in the nose and was about as you’d expect, soft and drinkable and very decent with cheese.
The bad bottle of Sabon had been mine, so as I often do on the rare occasions when this happens, I pulled another bottle a few nights later.
1995 Roger Sabon Cuvee Prestige CNduP – nice typical slightly funky nose with black pepper cassis, excellent fruit level on palate, soft and also spicy in the mouth. Good now, no rush (which is a good thing as I am just getting into a case of this).
