Hello all
Just a few notes from our recent Copenhagen meetup. Hope Mariano arrived well in Helsinki?
*The following notes are my own opinion and does not reflect the opinions of the others in attendance.
@LasseK Thanks for organizing!
@Mariano_Chiaramonte Thanks for taking initiative!
@Claus_Jeppesen and I certainly had a good night thanks to you
Prior to meeting all together, Mariano and I shared my favorite danish hotdog - Johns Deli at the central station. Together with an OK hotdog wine. Labet Fleur Chardonnay 2018. Sure a Trousseau would’ve been better but this would do.
Lasse, Mariano and I all chose some wines we where curious about, and Claus introduced us to his favorite champagne. All went well together and the food was good. Sure we needed some bigger glasses and longer decanting time for many things, but the NR30 team made it a fun and lovely night.
Jacques Lassaigne — Clos Saint Sophie 2015
The thing that struck me the most after having had many cuvees from Lassaigne, is that it’s just very well composed. Every element flows perfectly into each other. Red apple, rhubarb, flowery and a restrained oxidisation. After a while in the glass it opened up and was singing. Would serve with a decant next time and give it at least 10 years from the base vintage.
Domaine Valette — Clos de Monsieur Noly 2009
I think there was a lot of expectations on my side, especially after the Clos Reyssie 2009 left such a mark in my memory. The Reyssie was singing out the gate, but the CdMN needed a lot of time to open. I think only by our last sip two/three hours in was it completely there, and it was so sad to see it go then with just one sip left. I’ll write my short note based on the last glass and not the first two. Orange marmalade, spices and a hint of vanilla and candied nuts. Can stand many more years of age. Next bottle goes straight into a decanter. It’s a wine of emotion and I’m excited to open my own.
Jean Foillard — 3.14 2016
I was very impressed with this. No overdone banana carbonic maceration notes, but just simply a beautiful nose of berries, earth, and spices. The mouth was a streamlined experience of red berries, spice and more plums and weight than the Cote du Py delivers. The acidity and tannins are both restrained but present enough that it could age for another 10 years. Even though I’m very impressed, I can’t say that I’d go and fill my cellar with this at it’s recent price of 60-80€, especially when Cote du Py is following so closely in quality.
Frank Cornelissen Munjebel VA 2017
A wine that balances between being super powerful and very ethereal. Smoky, minerally, and super lush fruits is the dominant scents. It goes a little against the palate which is more heavy as it’s carried by 15% alcohol — which is not really so evident at first when served from the fridge, but after a little while as the wine heats up it becomes a little cloying. However I’m still very impressed by this and I think I’ve been lucky to have a track record of Cornelissen bottlings that hasn’t been faulty.
Huillon/Bruyere — Savagnin 2016
We debated for what seems to be an eternity, and I think in lieu of not knowing all cuvees well enough, we ended up here instead of Chardonnay. I mean, it’s a bottling of spaceship fuel that can last a trip to Mars and back in a Cessna. It’s so packed. Dried herbs, beeswax, ripe stone fruits. Enamel ripping acidity. It’s such a classic example of Ouille Savagnin to me, but it’s stylistically along the lines of the extended elevage cuvees of Labet and Ganevat. Needs a very long decant, and with a serving of cheese on the side it was really doing well. Wow
I’m sure if anyone asks nicely, Mariano will have a picture of us all smiling for the photographer.
Happy to meet again!
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. I’ll add my comments and pics once I can get hold of a proper PC (I don’t like posting from my phone)