First trip for a while to 67 Pall Mall with a couple of dear friends – “Siddles” and the “C-Dog” – not the name of some dodgy band!

We started with a lovely bottle of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2005 which is drinking so very well right now – open with sweet toned fruit and a little bit of biscuity (shortbread) maturity. Delicious and worth seeking out.

Next up was Gimmeldinger Kapellenberg Riesling Erste Lage 2014 from Weingut A Christmann I am big, if biased, fan of the Christmann wines and especially with just a little bit of age. This is also open, white fruits and a little floral edge to go with a touch of salinity and a persistent but not over-powering spearmint note. Perfect with an assortment of starters from Scotch eggs to Crab to Halloumi.

Moving to red as the “mains” arrived – Vosne-Romanee Villages 2018 from Arnoux-Lachaux was first up, vivid red fruits and that lovely sappy stemmy nose. Whilst young it is no waste whatsoever to drink this now so supple and moreish is the texture. It didn’t last long.

I’d been looking on the list for something interesting, fruited but not heavy and classical but not too much so. Cote-Roti Ampodium 2013 form Rene Rostaing was my choice. I have had several bottles of the 2014 and enjoyed them all. This 2013 is also very good, graphite and dark cool fruit with a lovely sense of freshness, almost a crunch, it is savoury but not dry and worked well after the Vosne…

A splendid evening, there was the odd Whisky and Chartreuse as well I recall…again soon please…