Yesterday was my last night in NC, marking an end to the staggered four month move-out. What better way to dine than with VLM at Rue Cler, as I had done on my first ever trip to the Triangle back in 09.
I opened 2015 Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg GG, as neither of us drink much Weil so it was an interesting counterpoint to our more usual fare. Showed pretty well with deep firm fruit framed by intense minerals. The broad slightly-clunky Rheingau shoulders are not my favorite, but maybe that smooths out with more age. There was also a glossy polish to the wine that I could not explain chemically, but I'm assuming it has something to do with the High-Powered Winemaking at Weil. All in all, not my favorite interpretation, but that's fine, it was certainly nice and there should be many styles of wine in the world.
VLM opened 2010 Barthod Aux Beaux Bruns. The first few glasses were probably the best, as the fruit was full, deep and almost exuberant, while still wrapped in a coiled poised structured structure. Over time, that fruit played hide and seek. At times, I thought it was clashing with the mustard sauce on my salmon. VLM thought it might be corked. Or maybe something chemically in the glasses. In the end, not sure any of that was the case as it continued to change and evolve over many hours. Delicious at times, but maddening as ever. Of course I don't own any, so am not 'burdened' with debates about when to open the next bottle!