Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Monday Night Dinner & Wine @ Champêtre.


Started working early yesterday, Monday the 10th February 2014, and put in a lot of hours to be able to fully enjoy dinner at Champêtre with The Usual Suspects, called for by longtime wine buddy, Jojo Madrid. There seems to be a lull this morning, so I take the opportunity to quickly write up some notes.



Most of the guys were already there when I arrived (we were 7 in all), already making headway into a bottle of 2006 Deux Montille Meursault 1er Cru Charmes - from J-Lab; no photo, unfortunately. Initially showing off more of Chablis-reminiscent white minerality and fresh, well-focused, crisp apple & citrus; it later on fleshed and rounded out showing moderate butter and hints of nuttiness in a comparatively fleshier, riper, creamier mid-palate. A readily pleasing Meursault.

We then belatedly moved to the Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV - one of the several I picked up from Jojo's Premium Wine Exchange. I've been going through a lot of this notably balanced, fresh, clean, lively, and pure non-vintage blanc de blancs over the past few months (as well as the vintage 2002 blanc de blancs and the basic brut NV). White flowers, precisely ripe fruit, and subtle white minerality make for a solid performance from attack to finish make this my go-to non-vintage blanc de blancs these days.  At P4500/bottle full retail, I don't know of a better deal for a locally available non-vintage blanc de blancs.

With the bubbly and white I had a nice Salad of Greens, Lardons, Chèvre & Hard-Boiled Eggs (para healthy).


Alex, raring to go (as usual), quickly called for the reds to start pouring, so, upon Jojo's suggestion, we started with a couple of aged Burgundies, the first being the 1983 Domaine Robert Arnoux Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes - My bottle (decanted for approximately 45 minutes before serving). 1983 vintage Côte de Nuits generally takes prudent selection because of less than ideal weather then (Volnay and Pommard in the Côte de Beaune are generally more even), so it is better to stick to tried, tested, reliable makers - and Domaine Robert Arnoux is one of such producers in my book.

Deep, dark, medium-bodied, a slight over-ripeness/pruniness to the fruit, interwoven with loam, Burgundy decay, slight mushroom and sanguine notes. Slightly rustic texture. Freshness could have been better, in my opinion, but that is the vintage speaking I believe. J-Lab and Aaron both expressed admiration of its bouquet, the former noting that it smelled sweeter as it sat in glass. Drink up if you have any of this. I had also brought along a 1995 Château Grand Puy Lacoste as a back-up, but, happily, there was no need for it.


The next aged Burg was a 1993 Domaine Jean Gros Grand Cru Clos Vougeot "Grand Maupertuis" - Jojo's bottle. Bigger-bodied and heftier than the preceding red, this was more cleanly ripe, showing better definition and focus as well. Notable typicity too. Its Burgundy decay just on the onset, no sanguine notes detected, this was fruitier/showed more red berries above darkly ripe plum. No rush with this, but it is already quite enjoyable.


Aaron and I had a soup course - an order each of Marc's signature French Onion Soup. Deeply flavored, lots of caramelization in the onion base as always, no trace of burning at all. Aaron and I agree that Champêtre serves the best French onion soup in the country. I've not had one better here, in any event.

My main course: Roast Magret de Canard w/ Pan-Seared Foie Gras.
Several more reds were opened:
1975 Château Palmer - Alex's bottle (a birth-year wine for him). In good form for a wine over 38 years from harvest. Slightly over medium-bodied, the bouquet on the shy side (unlike the bottle's owner), smooth, good typicity, slightly dusty, the middle could be more pronounced, but, that said, it was in good form, its red fruit (cherry and raspberry) showing nice bottle-age-sweetness over a serene, self-possessed asphalt/gravel, whisper of licorice, cedar and pipe tobacco touched blackcurrant base. Medium finish.

1995 Château Angelus - Aaron's bottle. Big, decidedly full-bodied, stylish, strappingly youthful, broad, rich, luxuriously textured, with slight milk chocolate/mocha/vanilla in its ripe plum, cherry, raspberry, and crème de cassis underbelly. Easily and readily pleasing, this may gain in complexity after, I'd guess, 10 more years.


1998 Château Pavie - Gani's bottle. Another modern, stylish crowd-pleaser of a St-Emilion, but even more modern, bigger, riper, with markedly more pronounced oak-related chocolate and vanilla notes in its indulgently rich fruit. Big, broad, long, yet comes off as more advanced than the older 1995 Angelus.

1999 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou - Greg's bottle. Good, clean lines, with a slight minty topnote in its nose of cedar-touched gravelly cassis, slight licorice, and violet flowers. Its scents mirrored in the mouth, on a slightly over medium-bodied frame. I heard some, Aaron in particular, note its St-Julien typicity. Notable focus, definition, and balance. A classy performance from a fine specimen of vintage 1999. I'd say this will age gracefully for many, many more years, and would likely gain more complexity. In any event, I certainly wouldn't mind having more of this as-is.

Three platters of assorted French cheese followed...

...with which I enjoyed some 1996 Domaine Denis Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St-Jacques - Jojo's bottle. Slightly rustic, decidedly masculine, this is a ruggedly handsome wine. Firm structure, vintage acidity there but not obtrusive. Discreet leather and warm asphalt line the black cherry, dark raspberry and plum, with of whispers of anise and black olive. Good freshness and balance; its balancing acidity appreciated with the cheese.


Only 4 of us ordered dessert, one each of the excellent Grand Marnier Soufflé, with which we enjoyed pours of 2003 Domaine Huet Le Haut Lieu Moelleux - J-Lab's bottle. Bright, vivid, lively, palate-refreshing honeyed-and-spiced quince, peach, lemon. Squarely a wine for desserts, Huet's hallmark thrilling acidity a bit toned down compared to less hot vintages, true, but, for what it is, it is a very enoyable wine indeed.

Excellent evening, guys! Until the next!

5 comments:

oakleyses said...

nike outlet, coach outlet store online, longchamp handbags, michael kors outlet online, burberry outlet online, louis vuitton outlet online, chanel handbags, michael kors outlet online, tiffany and co jewelry, michael kors handbags, prada outlet, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton handbags, kate spade outlet, louis vuitton, ray ban outlet, coach outlet, oakley vault, longchamp outlet online, christian louboutin, true religion, louis vuitton outlet, jordan shoes, coach purses, coach outlet, nike air max, nike free, kate spade outlet online, michael kors outlet store, louis vuitton outlet, tiffany jewelry, red bottom shoes, tory burch outlet online, gucci handbags, polo ralph lauren, longchamp outlet, burberry outlet online, michael kors outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, christian louboutin outlet, true religion outlet, christian louboutin shoes, michael kors outlet online, ray ban sunglasses, cheap oakley sunglasses, prada handbags, nike air max

oakleyses said...

wedding dresses, mac cosmetics, soccer shoes, soccer jerseys, canada goose outlet, insanity workout, canada goose, p90x workout, abercrombie and fitch, longchamp, nfl jerseys, ugg soldes, instyler ionic styler, giuseppe zanotti, canada goose outlet, reebok shoes, ghd, herve leger, nike huarache, ugg outlet, bottega veneta, jimmy choo shoes, celine handbags, ferragamo shoes, ugg, canada goose outlet, babyliss, mcm handbags, uggs outlet, asics shoes, north face jackets, lululemon outlet, north face jackets, hollister, marc jacobs outlet, replica watches, valentino shoes, uggs on sale, birkin bag, uggs outlet, nike roshe, vans outlet, chi flat iron, new balance outlet, nike trainers, beats headphones, ugg boots, mont blanc pens, ugg boots

oakleyses said...

moncler outlet, wedding dress, supra shoes, uggs canada, louboutin, coach outlet, canada goose, air max, ugg, lancel, moncler, converse, moncler outlet, louis vuitton canada, thomas sabo uk, moncler, pandora charms, canada goose, juicy couture outlet, links of london uk, swarovski uk, replica watches, juicy couture outlet, moncler, nike air max, swarovski jewelry, timberland shoes, montre femme, hollister, oakley, moncler, hollister clothing, ray ban, hollister canada, pandora uk, vans, pandora jewelry, baseball bats, ralph lauren, gucci, parajumpers outlet, converse shoes, moncler, canada goose pas cher, iphone 6 case, karen millen, canada goose, toms outlet

oakleyses said...

uggs outlet, christian louboutin uk, tiffany jewelry, nike outlet, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp outlet, prada outlet, ugg boots, longchamp outlet, uggs on sale, kate spade outlet, louis vuitton outlet, replica watches, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, polo ralph lauren outlet online, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton, nike air max, uggs outlet, nike free, christian louboutin, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, prada handbags, tory burch outlet, chanel handbags, oakley sunglasses wholesale, oakley sunglasses, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, ugg boots, longchamp outlet, michael kors outlet, gucci handbags, burberry outlet, nike air max, cheap oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet online, tiffany and co, replica watches, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet online, burberry handbags, christian louboutin shoes, polo outlet

miki said...

0814jejeLes emplois asics baskets basses à Stockport sont en demande populaire, mais le taux d'emploi est toujours supérieur à la adidas zx flux pas cher courir moyenne nationale à 75,5%. La question la plus difficile chaussure sport homme nike presto à propos de Halloween est de faire une célébration dont tous air jordan 1 mid anthracite les participants, jeunes et démodés, devraient se souvenir. Le asics kayano 22 Chaussures VR Pro Cavity est vraiment sur la liste des meilleurs fers chaussures nike roshe run noir anthracite rouge de golf de cavité de recherche sur le marché, chaussure femme nike air max 2017 avec des lignes délicates et une plus petite quantité de boxy Air Jordan 6 Flower Femme et d'encombrement que vous observez simplement occasionnellement de la catégorie d'avancement de air jordan eclipse noir pas cher jeu.