With another rendition of the annual wine Pilgrimage known as “The Wine Trip” now little over a month away I wanted to document the first proper team gathering post Covid. This was held at C&B back in late November (Thanksgiving day as the title alludes to). With six of the squad of ten in attendance the next venue could be decided and so it was…you will have to wait until after the trip to hear where we are going/went. Previous trips below:
May 2019 – Germany with a “C” not a “K”
May 2018 – “The King of Spain”
May 2017 – Tuscany “Do you mind if I kiss you””
May 2016 – Rhone Epic – En parallel
May 2014 – Burgundy – A very special trip
Food, menu at the bottom, was courtesy of Clive Greenhalgh as ever. The wine brief for the evening was just to bring something good and so it turned out.
Vina Corrales, Peter Sisseck (2021 Bottling) this was my choice to start us off – taking a departure from Champagne for once. Tangy and mouth watering we rather flew through the bottle (from my experience this is even better or day two – no chance in this company) and on to one and then two bottles of Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2010, Francois Raveneau. Every bit as good as you’d hope, some of that lovely lanolin textured moreishness. Great acidity and drinking, to my taste, perfectly from now.
As Turbot gave way to Taglierini we had a bit of a show stopper in Montrachet Grand Cru 2013, DRC and it takes a bit to stop this show. The 2013 vintage I think is one of the most misunderstood in Burgundy. It was the ultimate game of two halves. Those that were so fed up with a poor season weather wise picked early so as to have something to make wine from and sell. Others either brave or possibly foolhardy waited and they got their reward. The Montrachet here was bold and yet focused and certainly multifaceted. A “gourmand” wine as ever, superb and very long.
As we moved to red the couple of bottles of Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers 2012, Henri Gouges had a rather tough act to follow but they did it well. The intensity of the small 2012 crop being nicely harnessed. A couple of classics followed in Lynch-Bages 1996 and Beychevelle 2000 – Pauillac and Saint Julien in turn. Both were drinking superbly, not too early for either and both showing that wonderfully comfortable structure. Both have been vintages worth the wait. I do love Bordeaux when it is like these were.
We then darted into richer pastures, rich in density with Cote Rotie La Turque 2007, Guigal followed by Insignia 1995, Joseph Phelps and then onto two wines from estates we have visited in previous trips Vega Sicilia Unico 1999 and Lodovico 2012. This foursome were wonderfully diverse from the pungent and persistent hedonistic La Turqe to the inky and slightly clunky Insignia before the more mellow yet saturated class of the Unico then the sweeter fruited youngster that the Lodovico is. The Rib eye seeing them then all down well.
The finale, and perfect with the pear tarte tatin was a couple of Coutet 2003s in half. Succulent and not too sweet whilst unctuous. I love the 2003 and 2005s at the moment and they, as we know, can be picked up for good prices.
It was fitting place to finish a splendid evening…roll on May 2022…nearly there…
Menu
Poached turbot with potted shrimps
White Truffle Taglierini
Pork Rib-eye, green peppercorn & walnut butter potato galette
Pear Tarte Tatin
194KPR 