Dinner with another couple at home last Sunday. Lamb chops and sausages on the grill and some good vino.
Started with a lovely bottle of faithful Trimbach Clos St Hune 1997 and a little cheese. The 1997 is ready to rock, with some deeper hues of amber going on and a honeyed personality. Slightly lacking in acidity but still not many other white wines I would rather drink. Good juice.
I have to stop drinking Chave Hermitage. Any vintage is good for me but when you drink 1989, 1990 and 1991, it is tough to go anywhere else. This bottle of 1989 was stellar. Did have a slight rustic/animal touch but otherwise it was as classy as wine gets, with loads or dark cherry fruit, ultra-perfect balance and no sense of heaviness. Still some tannins to be resolved but they are ripe and certainly non-intrusive. Fabulous, sweet 60 seconds finish and a dead perfect match to the chops cooked on a wood fire.
The Rayas was unfortunately another story as this bottle, although with a great fill, had leaked at some point. The nose had a touch of oxidation that wouldn’t dissipate, as it must have been flash-fried a bit at some point in its life. On the palate, it was not off-putting and pleasant but certainly not what it should have been. Still, even with an off bottle, it is a big, smoky, bacon laden, juicy wine. Perfect bottles are obviously awesome. Chave rules though.