WTN: Santenay Night's All Right

[David M. Bueker]

2005 La Pousse d'Or Santenay 1er Cru Clos Tavannes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Santenay 1er Cru (4/22/2014)
In no way mature, but drinking very well from half bottle. There is still plenty of fruit, and the structure has calmed down such that it is pleasing in its texture. There is still a good kick of acid, but it provides refreshment. Well worth opening while the larger wines continue to mature.

My wife and I stopped in Mon Ami Gabi while in Las Vegas last week. We love to eat and drink at their wine bar. They have a good list of French wines by the glass, the food is excellent and the prices are quite reasonable for the strip. I can highly recommend it to any WLDGers who venture out to Sin City.

We ordered some mushrooms that cried out for a red Burg. When I asked the bartender if he had any decent actual red Burgs to offer by the glass he rummaged around and, much to my surprise, pulled out a 2005 Girardin Santenay “Les Gravières.” Apparently left over from a private party the wine was rich, earthy and went very well with the mushrooms. This wine was drinking great, but I may have been the beneficiary of some extended time post cork removal.

I bet my wife that I would be hit for $25+ per glass. To my surprise it was only $10.95! We went back the next evening and drank the rest of it.

PS: After having some very disappointing Girardin wines in the late ’90’s and early ‘00’s the last couple of vintages (’05 and maybe ’09) I have tasted are much improved.

My wife and I stopped in Mon Ami Gabi while in Las Vegas last week. We love to eat and drink at their wine bar. They have a good list of French wines by the glass, the food is excellent and the prices are quite reasonable for the strip. I can highly recommend it to any WLDGers who venture out to Sin City.

I would heartily agree that Mon Ami Gabi is a real gem. Owned by the same group (Lettuce Entertain You, Inc.)that used to run a Cafe Ba-Ba-Reba further down the strip. Looking at their website, they may have closed that. It was a classic Spanish tapas bar. Very nice. They are a chain that owns about 90 restaurants in major cities in the US. Restaurants have a warm and cozy feel and great French wine lists. One of my first stops when in Vegas, kind of like the Oyster Bar in GCS when I go to NYC.

Thanks Sam and Richard. i will be going to Las Vegas in September for my oldest nephew's wedding and will try to get to Mon Ami Gabi.

[David M. Bueker]

Sam,

I have also been much happier with recent Girardin wines. I have some '99s and '02s that I am dreading however.

Thanks for notes. I don't buy much Santenay, but at usually happy when I do (all I see on my CT is Francois/Denis Clair Tavannes)
I think Santenay is Girardin's home village, and less likely to be wine purchased on market

[David M. Bueker]

Took a look at the Girardin website the other day, and there's not much red wine left.

I have some '99s and '02s that I am dreading however.

Good luck, David. My experience around that time was mixed at best. I picked up four of their '99 Clos de la Confrerie and three were flawed (corked?) according to my notes. The lone survivor was apparently quite good. Fingers crossed.