Notes from a dinner with friends –
2011 Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis Tête d’Or (magnum) – lightly and deftly oaked, citrus and herbal nose, good balance and length and a very dry finish.
1999 Clos du Bois Cabernet Sonoma – some mint showing in the nose as well as cassis and cocoa. Very smooth with a slightly lean profile and very claret-like.
2001 Domaine de Trévallon Les Baux-de-Provence – obvious cabernet nose (even though it is half syrah) with black currants and maybe a little dill in the oak, restrained style and tasty. These wines were served blind and I reversed them – very interesting blind comparison.
2000 Château La Louvière – fairly dark wine with clear edges, a nose salty black currant, decent fruit and scads of tannin. Needs time.
2013 Mondavi Moscato d’Oro – a simple muscat with a very sweet orange blossom nose, sweet in the mouth but not heavy with enough acid to decently balance it. Tad simple.