Meeting No: 44

Date: November 19th, 2009.

Theme: Vosne Romanee, Premier Cru; Chassagne Montrachet, Premier Cru.

Present: Sir Philip of Travelle, Sir Samuel of Pontifico, Sir Steven of Grammar, Sir Russell of Epicure, Sir Ralph of Plenty, Sir Thomas of Stocks, Sir Murray of Rouge et Blanc; Sir Phillip of Oporto, Sir Ian of Umpirico, Sir Paul of Rousseau, Sir Philip of Politico.

Food:

First Course – Tasmanian salmon tartare with cucumber and cracked wheat, coddled egg yolk, horseradish cream.
Second Course – Warm, air-dried wagyu beef bresaola rolls with enoki mushrooms, garlic shoots and daikon.
Third Course – Pan-fried veal involtini rolled with sage and prosciutto, soft polenta with Colechino sausage, sautιed cavolo nero, BBQ veal sauce.
Fourth Course – Coconut-crusted, poached pineapple, mango sauce, Malibu gelato.

Wines:
(In addition to the group ranking, I give the highest and lowest ranking the wine achieved, together with those who ranked it as such; you get some idea of how much we can differ in our appreciation. I also give the total ranking points after the overall ranking)

IC. NV Smith Woodhouse Fine White Port (PM): Deep tawny, yellow on edge. Nose subdued, perhaps showing a little oxidation. Palate medium-sweet, rich and long, searing, trace bitter. Unusual, and a perfect IC wine. Not ranked;



1999 Pol Roger Extra Cuvee Reserve Champagne (RG): Pale yellow. Fine, yeasty nose, some development. Palate very dry, chalky, good aftertaste, low dosage. Fine, austere Champagne. Not ranked;

1. 2006 Chassagne Montrachet Morgeots (Blain Gagnard) (MM): Bright, light gold. Very fine nose, a little development. Palate young, softish, rather dry, good acidity. Ranked 6th (63). High – 4th (SD, PM, PA); Low – 9th (TJ);
2. 2006 Chassagne Montrachet Morgeots (Blain Gagnard) (PhS): Bright gold, a little more colour. Nose similar but less overt. Good palate, more weight and structure. Identical to1. but showing different characteristics. Not easy, this wine tasting business. Ranked 7th (75). High – 1st (SD); Low – 10th (RC, TJ, PS);
3. 2006 Chassagne Montrachet Clos St. Jean ( Blain Gagnard) (PhS): Bright gold, bit more colour. Perhaps a faint trace of maderisation on nose, breathes off. Palate young, softer but with good weight, long aftertaste. Ranked 12th (131). High – 10th (MM); Low – 13th (IR, RC, SD);

4. 1997 Vosne Romanee Les Petits Monts (Mongeard Mugneret) (PM): Some colour. Nose showing beetroot, trace metallic, trace oxidation, breathes off. Palate rich and quite tannic, still needs time. Ranked 5th (51). High – 2nd (SD, PM, PS); Low – 12th (RC);
5. 1998 Vosne Romanee Les Hautes Mazieres (Arnoux) (TJ): Not a Premier Cru but a very good Villages. Young, less colour. Nose fine Pinot, vinous. Palate rich and long, good weight, tannic and needs time. Ranked eq 8th (93). High – 5th (TJ); Low – 11th (SD, PS);
6. 2004 Vosne Romanee Les Suchots (Cacheux) (SC): Young, little colour. Nose fine and young, no herbaceousness I could see. Palate rich and lush, good weight, tannic and closed. Will make a very good bottle. Ranked 10th (95). High – 4th (PS); Low – 12th (PA);
7. 2002 Vosne Romanee Les Rouges (Desauney Bissey) (SD): Young colour. Nose fine and perfumed. Palate with good weight, quite tannic and needs time. Ranked eq 8th (93). High – 4th (RC); Low – 12th (MM);
8. 1996 Vosne Romanee Les Petits Monts (Mongeard Mugneret) (PA): Some colour. Nose a bit faulty, reduced, comes up gradually with breathing. Palate with good weight and aftertaste. Still needs time. Ranked 13th (134). High – 6th (RC); Low – 13th (MM, PhS, TJ, PM, PS, RG, PA, SC);
9. 2002 Vosne Romanee Les Beaunonts (Dujac) (IR): Some colour. Nose fine and reserved, understated, perfumed. Palate rich but very tannic, needs time. Ranked 1st (26). High – 1st (IR, RC, MM, TJ, PM, PS); Low – 7th (PA);
10. 1999 Vosne Romanee La Croix Rameau (Cacheux) (RC): Some colour. Nose showing some volatility. Palate good but very tannic. Ranked 11th (102). High – 2nd (IR); Low – 12th (TJ);
11. 2001 Vosne Romanee La Croix Rameau (Lamarche) (PS): Some colour. Nose fine, understated, perfumed. Palate big and rich, tannic with long aftertaste. Very good wine. Ranked 2nd (29). High – 1st (PhS, TJ, RG); Low – 6th (SD);
12. 2004 Vosne Romanee La Croix Rameau (Lamarche) (PS): Some colour. Nose very fine. Palate soft and elegant, tannic but more open than the ’01. Very good wine. Ranked 3rd (48). High – 1st (PA, SC); Low – 8th (IR, SD);
13. 2002 Vosne Romanee Les Rouges (Desauney Bissey) (RC): Trace colour. Fine, restrained nose, elegant, perfumed, very Vosne. Palate fine and lush, some tannin, lovely. More open than 7. Ranked 4th (49). High – eq 2nd (SC); Low – 7th (PM);

1976 Ch Sigalas Rabaud (SD): Deep gold, some orange. Nose rich, marmalade-like, to me not highly botrytised but others disagreed. Palate rich, full fruit acidity, tasty, long aftertaste, trace of bitterness. Fully ready. Not ranked.

1963 Kopke Colheita Port (SC): Deep tawny, yellow edge. Nose high-toned, fine. Palate rich, very long and searing. Sir Phillip of Oporto was much impressed. “Wine of the night”, he opined. Not ranked.