Our Sunday roast this week was beef, and as aperitif I opened
Lanson Champagne Brut NV Black Label (France, Champagne)
Lanson Brut is my favourite big brand Champagne and I was given this as a Christmas gift two years ago by someone who knows my tastes. Probably the reason it's my favourite is that it doesn't go through MLF so has more of the 'bite' I like, although I understand that lately Lanson has introduced some MLF.
Good mousse, great taste, lovely reliable champers.
With the roast beef, roast parsnip & potatoes, steamed brussels, carrots, cauliflower and Yorkshire pudding we had
Château Batailley 2014 (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac)
I visited Château Batailley in the 1970s and I have been buying it since, usually an annual case en premieur. It's from my favourite appellation and it's competitively priced for a 5ème Grand Cru Classé, though the price has rocketed recently. I bought a 6 pack of the 2014 en premieur in July 2015 and they were delivered in August 2021 since when they've been stored in my Eurocave.
Now at 10 years old this claret is drinking very nicely. Fruit is to the fore with some floral notes, tannins have faded, and though it's a bit leaner than new world Bdx blends with the benefit of more sun, it's perfect with beef and my sort of wine.
The Pauillac appellation is led by Cabernet Sauvignon, and this 2014 is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.