TN: LUNCH @ CALLAS

WINE TALK
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LUNCH @ CALLAS - (7/7/2014)

6 of us gathered @ the chefs table of restaurant Callas * in The Hague for an outstanding 8 course lunch.

  • NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Brut Initiale - France, Champagne
    This is the August, 2013 disgorgement. Rich butter and brioche on the nose. On the palate creamy, richly-textured with waves of ripe fruit. A great way to kick off the lunch. (92 pts.)


  • 1995 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
    This MDT was to far … OXED ! NR (flawed)


  • 2007 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
    This wine has terrific concentration with deep, layered flavors of lemon, green apple, with hints of stones and minerals. It’s structured for a slow evolution in bottle. Very nice! (91 pts.)


  • 2011 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
    Quite full bodied, big and buttery in the mouth. The aromas and flavors are forward with wellness fruit and some underlying minerals and acidity. I think this will be best enjoyed sooner rather than later. Delicious! (93 pts.)


  • 2009 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
    More focused more mineral compared to the ’11 Bienvenues. There’s powerful structure with round nice acidity, ripe lemon and hints of tropical fruit. Absolutely lovely for now and the near future. A beautiful, and delicious, monster! (93 pts.)


  • 2009 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
    Different in style compared to the Ramonet. Very young, precise and mineral with more citrus profile, green apples and great acidity. It was incredibly refined and powerful on the very long finish. Really excellent but needs more time to open up fully. A spectacular wine! (92 pts.)


  • 2005 Etienne Sauzet Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
    Terrific extra Montrachet depth and power, nicely balanced, mouthfilling and creamy. Drinking really well right now, but missing a bit of the extra Monty dimension on the finish. There is still a long road ahead for this wine to develop and unfurl. Impressive! (94 pts.)


  • 1998 Domaine Robert Arnoux Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
    This 1998 theoretically lesser year delivered above its weight class. Very Interesting wine, more mature, the Vosne spice is there with raw earth, truffle and concentrated dark fruit and more Suchots terroir. Ending complex deep and long! An incredible 1e Cru! (93 pts.)


  • 2008 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques Vieille Vigne - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
    Second time we had this wine and still disappointing. Tight on the palate, unbalanced, with overpowering acidity, raw tannins and hidden fruit. Perhaps one day it will blossom? (70 pts.)


  • 2008 Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
    This is GC quality with great energy and purity of fruit, with a depth of flavor and a touch of spice popping up. Highly concentrated with power and depth on the finish. Needs more time and is going to be magnificent! (93 pts.)


  • 2007 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
    This is a fantastic wine. With very clean and focused fruit, great length and it’s so beautiful with its sweet red berries. Not overly complex but lovely with classic structure! Stunningly delicious! (93 pts.)


  • 2006 Domaine G. Roumier Bonnes Mares - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
    This is a fabulous sensual and elegant Bonnes Mares with flavors of black and red fruit with a silky smooth mouthfeel. The finish was incredibly deep, seductive and very long. Much better than the 07 we had a few months ago. Brilliant! (95 pts.)


  • 2004 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
    Lovely noble sweetness, with generous acidity, minerality and plenty of ripe apricot and baked apple. Not heavy but very refreshing. A pearl of the Mosel and a great way to end this wonderful lunch! (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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2014 CALLAS 073.JPG
2014 CALLAS 011.JPG

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6 guys for lunch? What did you do for dinner!? :slight_smile: A very nice group of wines!

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At a tad over 2 bottles a piece I’m thinking sleep.

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Great line up and I have a few of them. Thanks for the notes.

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surprising on the 08 fourrier, had it blind last year and was blown away by it. Tons of piercing fruit

My note

A Clos St Jacques kind of night. (Elite Seafood Restaurant): tasted blind. About as primary as primary gets. Just this piercing cherry fruit with tons of acidity and crunchy fruit. A really bright palate that’s hyper active right now and just needs time to settle down, but oodles and oodles of potential on that palate as that fruit is insane on the wine.

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What a great line up. Re the 08 fourriers, I remember trying them during the EP tastings and finding them incredibly tough and screechy. Indeed, those were the wines in particular that initially turned me off the 08 vintage as a whole and I usually buy fourrier across the board as my favourite red burg producer.

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Thanks Barry, excellent line-up and notes.

Best Regards
Jeremy

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Thanks Barry, great wines and notes.

Like others, your comment about the 2008 Fourrier CSJ had me worried. I have a couple, but I will hold off opening them for quite a few years. I opened a 2008 Fourrier Combe Aux Moines, encouraged by the 2007 of that wine drinking beautifully. I found the 2008 totally unapproachable and shut down. Hopefully 2008 Fourriers are just in a bad place ATM and will eventually come around.

Chers, Howard

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No dinner here! We shared bottles with the Callas staff food and service was outstanding! [cheers.gif]

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Love Fourrier’s style in more recent vintages with wonderful purity, transparency and bright vibrant succulent fruit. An ultra-pure style of Burgundy! … And hard to find!