Some Burgs-Chambolle, Vosne and Morey
I went to Phil’s last night to farewell the MW tasting group I’ve met with every few weeks for some years now. A few students are sitting soon so I wished them luck and goodbye by presenting a few fairly good Burgs.
All the wines had been opened for a few hours before hand. One was terribly corked, resulting in a mad rush at peak out for a replacement.
Sigaut Chambolle-Musigny 2002 Classic Chambolle character with fresh aromas of raspberry and strawberry. Underneath, I smelt coffee and graphite. Pretty good for Chambolle. The palate is fresh and juicy but simple. The lack of structure marks it as a village wine. Drink now.
M. Gros Clos des Reas 1er cru monopole Vosne-Romanee 1998 Clearly a step up. Lifted aromas of dried flowers, cepes, Vosne spice/paprika/five spice, hints of oak and earth. Very complex. I looked hard at this wine and noticed the slightest hint of brett. It adds complexity here, rather than detracting from the wine. Now and for 5 years.
Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays 2001 I was a little worried that this wine would be closed, tight and oaky like a bottle merely 15 months ago. Not so. This bottle was really ready for business. Very Bordeaux like on the nose with black berry fruits, lots of violets, cedary oak and graphite! The palate is structured very much in the fashion I like: lots of fine tannin with the acid present but so intertwined with the fruit that you do not consider it separately. Phil was worried the acid was too low but when we drank this with food it became clear that the balance of the wine simply made the acid seem invisible. A superb wine, worth looking at now if you have a few bottles but which will give pleasure for 10 years to come.
We polished off the remains of these wines at Macleay St Bistro. Very good food if a little salty. Quite expensive though despite cheap corkage. BYO glasses if you’re concerned about such things.
