Got together with some great mates last night, to drink some great wines. It was one of those nights where every bottle was right in the zone.
N.V. Jacques Selosse Substance: 2023 disgorged. This is drinking wonderfully well. Complex aromatics of spice, orchard fruits, candied peel and chalk. So deep, rich and powerful with no excess weight. Great presence and drive and a very long, chalky finish.
2008 Domaine François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos : Incredibly youthful, but also quite giving in its own way. The nose draws you in with white peach and citrus, and notes of flint, fennel tops and seaspray. The palate is full, layered and so deep and precise. It has awesome presence and a finish that is focussed and oozes minerality. Wonderful length.
2015 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières : Very tight to begin with, showing but a whiff of smoky mineral reduction. It unfurled in the glass to offer white peach, green melon and citrus fruits and some aniseed spice. It was explosive, yet contained and was cut by a rigid line of minerally acidity. It is a wine of supreme elegance, balance and detail and it has remarkable persistence.
2008 Domaine Louis Carillon Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, Grand Cru : A stunning bottle. Complex aromatics of honeysuckle, Arum lily, white peach, guava and pineapple husk. It had perfect shape in the mouth, with a dense and unctuous mid-palate and wonderful drive and precision. The long finish was saline mineral central.
2001 Domaine Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru : Fully mature and drinking so well. It has notes of dried honey, truffle, lavender, aniseed and preserved lemon. It is layered and voluminous, with awesome power and precision. Whilst acidity is relatively gentle, it still shows Corton grip and structure, and the finish drives on and on.
2008 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin, Grand Cru : Singing from first pour. A highly perfumed nose of rose petal, red and black fruits, earth and smoked meats. It is an elegant and beautifully balanced Chambertin, with terrific volume and latent power. It is velvety and it builds through the palate, fanning out on the incredibly long finish.
1982 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes : A Savour club bottling, that had a recommendation sticker from the Troisgros brothers on the back. Thank you for your recommendation, Jean and Pierre, this was marvellous. It had some sous bois on the nose. It strengthened in the glass and possessed a beautifully cool and stony base. There were cherry and strawberry fruits and some black earth. It was full, lacy and generous and had a fine line of minerally acidity cutting through the long finish.
2006 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux, Grand Cru : A bright and punch nose of pomegranate, cherry, raspberry and dried flowers. The palate had good depth, was textural and quite spicy. It had a sensual, silky feel against the gums and had some stony structure beneath the flesh. It was fine, expansive and left a spice laden calling card.
2021 Domaine Forey Père et Fils Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts : A very pretty nose of red fruits, dried flowers, licorice and earth. The palate is fine and detailed and velvety of texture. There’s excellent fruit intensity and detail and whilst it is young and compact, with plenty more to give, it is quite delicious and cerebral now.