Sunday, October 31, 2021

Highlights of last night wines



Highlights of last night wines by @LeDomduVin 2021
Highlights of last night wines
by @LeDomduVin 2021


Highlights of last night wines 



Once again, last night, the restaurant was quite full, the energy was joyful and we opened some seriously good wines, here are some of the highlights of last night.  



La Clarté de Haut-Brion Graves 2011 (Magnum - 1.5L) by @LeDomduVin 2021
La Clarté de Haut-Brion Graves 2011 (Magnum - 1.5L)
by @LeDomduVin 2021



La Clarté de Haut-Brion Graves 2011 (Magnum - 1.5L) (@chateauhautbrion_)

What a beautiful wine! The predominance of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend provides freshness, brightness, focus, incredible balance, and length. Aromas of honeysuckle mingle with citrus, yellow fruits, white and yellow flowers, as well as slightly herbal, vegetable notes. The palate is beautifully balanced, structured and textured, layered, generous and complex, yet light on its feet and elegant. Loooooove it. 




Domaine Lignier-Michelot Nuits-St-Georges 2012 (Magnum -1.5L) by @LeDomduVin 2021
Domaine Lignier-Michelot Nuits-St-Georges 2012 (Magnum -1.5L)
by @LeDomduVin 2021



Domaine Lignier-Michelot Nuits-St-Georges 2012 (Magnum -1.5L) (@domaine_virgile_lignier )



Domaine Lignier-Michelot Nuits-St-Georges 2012 (Magnum -1.5L) by @LeDomduVin 2021
Domaine Lignier-Michelot Nuits-St-Georges 2012 (Magnum -1.5L)
by @LeDomduVin 2021



This wine was amazingly good and still so youthful, I was very surprised and impressed. Lots of ripe dark and red cherry, mineral, generous and complex palate, great balance, full of life, and really smooth. Well integrated. Highly recommended.




Château Angélus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1978 by @LeDomduVin 2021
Château Angélus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1978
by @LeDomduVin 2021



Château Angélus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1978 (@chateauangelus) 

I was a bit skeptical at first when seeing the condition of the label, and more especially the state of the cork, black and dirty on top, soft, soaked, and crumbling in the middle and at the base. Even the first smell inspired something rotten inside. The light brick/brownish color also revealed an advanced stage. However, the taste was ok, so, I served it, and to my surprise, it opened up after about 10 minutes and revealed some interesting aromatics: smoky earth, underbrush, dark fruits, leather, horse saddle, forest floor. The soft and light palate showed some fruits, good acidity, and structure. Fragile, but still very much alive. Surprising. Definitely, a must-taste. 




Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 1978 by @LeDomduVin 2021
Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 1978
by @LeDomduVin 2021



Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 1978 (@chateaulafiterothschild)

Label in good condition. Light green bottle with thinner glass than I remembered and the punt also not as deep as I thought it would be, but still presenting some features from the 70s. I'm always careful when it comes to Lafite Rothschild, counterfeits are always a concern. The cork seemed correct, with expected dimensions and conditions. The nose presented some smokiness and earthiness the like of Haut-Brion, more than a Pauillac. Tasted very young too. Surprising here again. Fake? Maybe not... 

Most vintages of the 70s for Bordeaux wines being quite mediocre overall, I cannot help to think that, either 1978 is an extraordinary underrated vintage, which has somehow developed gracefully over the last decade, after being tight and closed all these years, and, thus, must be discovered at once, prior it reaches its peak, as these two wines above exhibited some really interesting and enjoyable features. 



Château Lafite Rothschild and Angelus 1978 by @LeDomduVin 2021
Château Lafite Rothschild and Angelus 1978
by @LeDomduVin 2021



Or, these two wines are amongst some of the exceptions of this particular vintage, 1978, which, in Bordeaux, was nicknamed "the miracle vintage" due to a beautiful September, which saved the "Millésime", while most producers were expecting the worst, yet, it ended up not being so bad after all, even producing some rather fine wines for some Chateaux. Trying more Bordeaux 1978 should give us the answer.  


Cheers! Santé!

Dom 

LeDomduVin (aka Dominique Noel)     



@ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein #tasting #winetasting #winedescriptions #winenotes #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob 🍷😋


Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2021 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin


DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 by @LeDomduVin 2021
DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014
by @LeDomduVin 2021



DRC life's cycle... 
...in the hands of LeDomduVin



DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 by @LeDomduVin 2021
DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014
by @LeDomduVin 2021



As a wine professional, Certified Sommelier and wine buyer, market analyst, and also, and more importantly as a Wine Quality Control Director, I spent a good part of my career focusing on recognizing and fighting against fake wines and counterfeited wine bottles, with thorough inspections prior buying, awareness via some posts on my blog and even some videos on YouTube on the subject.




DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin by @LeDomduVin 2021
DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin
by @LeDomduVin 2021



More especially, when it comes to some of the most sought-after wines in the world, like Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC), or the like of Henri Jayer, or more recently Rayas, and many others like Petrus, Lafite Rothschild, Cheval Blanc, Latour, Mouton Rothschild, even Le Pin, Lafleur (Pomerol), Jaboulet La Chapelle, and even Dujac, Chave, Roumier, etc, etc... as well as some Barolos and Super Tuscan too, which are probably some of the most counterfeited wines in the world.  




DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin by @LeDomduVin 2021
DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin
by @LeDomduVin 2021



To prevent expensive empty bottles to be found and sold in the grey market, I have adapted "a necessary routine" into my daily job, which consists to:


 

DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin by @LeDomduVin 2021
DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin
by @LeDomduVin 2021



- Always deface or disfigure the label of all the expensive bottles (and others potentially interesting to counterfeiters) that I open, (with a pen or even a cutter).
- Break the corks
- Break and discard the bottles




DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin by @LeDomduVin 2021
DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin
by @LeDomduVin 2021



DRC empty bottles can reach very expensive prices (refer to this screenshot from and courtesy of eBay, below, for example), more especially the old and rare ones, and I cannot and won't let that happen under my watch. 




DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin by @LeDomduVin 2021
DRC life's cycle... ...in the hands of LeDomduVin
by @LeDomduVin 2021



Provenance is the key, and I always check the provenance (usually directly from the producer, ex-Domaine, or ex-chateau, or from a reliable and honest Négociant or supplier with direct allocations) and inspect thoroughly the conditions and history of each bottle, prior to buying these old and rare ladies. 




DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 by @LeDomduVin 2021
DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014
by @LeDomduVin 2021



This bottle of DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 is pristine, coming directly from the estate, via OPTIM (a branch of FICOFI), an irreproachable provider when it comes to DRC and Petrus. 



As you see from the pictures above, I had to apply "my routine" to this bottle too. This is the life cycle of a bottle of DRC in the hands of LeDomduVin. 😉😁👍🍷

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

LeDomduVin (aka Dominique Noel)



#lesphotosadom #ledomduvin @ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #sommelier #sommelierlife #drc #lifecycleofabottleofdrc @_domainedelaromaneeconti


All right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2021 on all the contents above including, but limited to, posts, texts, writings, quotes, tasting notes, wine descriptions, pictures, photos, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graph, and even music (when and where applicable).

Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2008

Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2008 by @LeDomduVin 2021
Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2008
by @LeDomduVin 2021



Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2008


Cos d'Estournel has always been a tricky wine for me, usually boasting high and dry tannins, slight restraint, shyness and austerity in its youth, making it a rather difficult wine to judge, as it usually commands a few years after bottling to start revealing more of its personality and potential. 

Possessing a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), with 13% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, Cos 2008 was the first vintage vinified in the newly built facility, and due to the low yield of this particular vintage (roughly 25hl/h), 78% of the crop was included in the grand vin. 

Ideal growing conditions, low yield and sunny weather conditions during September-October conferred to this wine, solid features and potential, structure and texture, to age and evolve confidently well with time. 

Still a bit closed until a few years ago, the 2008 is now opening up, revealing fresh aromas of black fruits, leather, earth, licorice, flowers, and hints of smoke. The palate offers plenty of fruits, nice density, richness and still boasting a good grip of sweet tannins. The subtle acidity allows a good balance between the fruit and the tannins, which respectively bring substance, texture and depth. Overall fairly elegant, friendly, generous and enjoyable. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

LeDomduVin (aka Dominique Noel)


#ledomduvin #lesphotosadom @ledomduvin @cosdestournel #cosdestournel #saintestephe
#bordeaux #wine #vin #vino #wein  #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob

All right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2021 on all the contents above including, but limited to, posts, texts, writings, quotes, tasting notes, wine descriptions, pictures, photos, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graph, and even music (when and where applicable).

Château Lafleur Pomerol 1983


Château Lafleur Pomerol 1983 by @LeDomduVin 2021
Château Lafleur Pomerol 1983
by @LeDomduVin 2021


Château Lafleur Pomerol 1983


Two days ago, a customer brought this bottle to the restaurant and invited me to have a glass, it was a revelation. 

Beautiful wine, love it. Elegant, refined, feminine, bright, crisp, complex and seductive. Dark and red fruits, underbrush, forest floor, leather, forest floor, liquorice, barely perceptible underlying earthy, spicy and peppery nuances. So youthful, this wine could easily age gracefully for another 10 to 15 years. The secret behind it, is the acidity. 

As I like to say, warm vintages in Bordeaux give ripeness, opulence and richness. While cooler vintages bring the necessary acidity and tannins to allow the wine to keep its youthful character and live through time. 

Some of the stellar warmer Bordeaux vintages like 1982, 1985 and 1989, are starting to reach their peaks for some châteaux, while cooler vintages like 1983 and 1986 are still surprisely very much alive and kicking. 

This Lafleur is a great example of an excellent 1983, which shows great vitality and will continue to live and evolve for a little while longer than the 1982, in my opinion. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

LeDomduVin (aka Dominique Noel)

#ledomduvin #lesphotosadom @ledomduvin #lafleur #chateaulafleur #chateaulafleurpomerol #pomerol #nineteeneightythree #wine #vin #vino #wein #oldandrareladies #oldandrarevintages #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob


All right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2021 on all the contents above including, but limited to, posts, texts, writings, quotes, tasting notes, wine descriptions, pictures, photos, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graph, and even music (when and where applicable).

Some of last night wines


Some of last night wines

(Friday October 29th 2021)

Once again, the restaurant was full and the energy was high and joyful. Quite a lot of wines too. Here is a sample of some of last night wines. 




@louisroederer_ 
Louis Roederer and Philippe Starck Brut Nature Blanc 2012
Nice, dry, crisp, elegant and playful, racy and well structured. Lovely. 





@domperignonofficial 
Dom Perignon Vintage Brut 2010
Bigger and richer than the previous one, more complex and layered. Generous and   youthful. A bit young in my opinion, I prefer Dom Perignon with a bit more age. 




Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru "Clos des Bouchères" Monopole 2017
Not my first bottle in the last 3 months, and surely many more to come. I love this wine. Balanced, mineral, racy, great acidity, complex, rich, yet not heavy, elegant and refined, rather feminine. A little restraint, I like to open it about 30 minutes before serving + a quick decanting just before serving to give a boost. 






@domainetortochot 
Domaine Tortochot Chambertin Grand Cru 2012 
Beautiful expression of bright red cherry aromas mingling with mineral, earth, spice. Razor sharp acidity, on the light side, yet focus, structured and textured. Need some air to really express itself, open it about 1 hour before serving. 






#chateaulafleur
Château Lafleur Pomerol 1983
Beautiful wine, love it. Elegant, refined, feminine, bright, crisp, complex and seductive. So youthful, this wine could easily age gracefully for another 10 to 15 years. The secret behind it, is the acidity. As I like to say, warm vintages in Bordeaux give ripeness, opulence and richness, while cooler vintages bring the necessary acidity and tannins to allow the wine to keep its youthful character and live through time. For example, some 1982 Bordeaux reached their peak already, while some 1983, like this one, will continue to live and evolve for a little while longer. 





@pieropanwines 
Pieropan Recioto di Soave Classico "Le Colombare" 2015
Intense dark golden color, rich, opulent, concentrated and very aromatic: ripe stone fruits, honey, quince fruit, spice, mineral. An explosion of flavors. Love it. 





Dom 

LeDomduVin (aka Dominique Noel) 


#lastnightwines #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein @ledomduvin #ledomduvin #sommelierlife #sommelier #sommlife #ilovemyjob #tasting #tastingnotes #winedescriptions 

All right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2021 on all the contents above including, but limited to, posts, texts, writings, quotes, tasting notes, wine descriptions, pictures, photos, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graph, and even music (when and where applicable).


Tuesday, October 12, 2021

LeDomduVin: Keep Calm and Have Another Glass of Wine


Keep Calm and Have Another Glass of Wine by ©LeDomduVin 2012
Keep Calm and Have Another Glass of Wine
by ©LeDomduVin 2012



Keep Calm 

and 

Have Another Glass of Wine



Keep calm and have another glass of wine 
by @ledomduvin 2012

Just a quick post, as a "Coup de Gueule", as I realized, recently, that, at least, 2 people I know took this logo (my logo) and used it for their own profiles. 

So, I just wanted to say that this logo is mine and has been mine since 2012, and I have been using it as a logo for my Instagram (and occasionally for Facebook and Whatsapp and other social networks and media) ever since.  

I did not necessarily put my alias name (Ledomduvin) on the first version of it back in 2012, as I did not think it would be necessary. 

However, now I feel like I have to, (more like that I'm "obliged to", should I say), add/write my alias name (Ledomduvin) on all my pictures, illustrations, drawings, photos, and all my other visual creations, otherwise, they are (and will be) used by whoever feels like using them for their own purposes without even mentioning or crediting me for it. So annoying.   




Keep Calm and Have Another Glass of Wine Sauvez des Vignerons Buvez du Vin by ©LeDomduVin 2020
Keep Calm and Have Another Glass of Wine
Sauvez des Vignerons Buvez du Vin
by ©LeDomduVin 2020



Keep Calm and Have Another Glass of Wine "Sauvez des Vignerons Buvez du Vin"  
by ©LeDomduVin 2020

This one above, with the banner "Sauvez des Vignerons Buvez du Vin", is also mine and has also been used by some people I know, and again, without even asking me, nor mentioning or crediting me for it, (which is now very typical and common in the social media world we live in, and people don't care about using other people's works and creations anymore).

So please, if you use this logo (my logo), just let me know, and, at least, mention "logo by @ledomduvin or #ledomduvin" (or even mention my real name Dominique Noël), or, even better, do not use my logo (at all) and create your own. 

Don't be a copycat, a wannabe, a thief, or a loser, create your own stuff.  

Thank you for your help and understanding on the matter, and drink responsibly. 

Cheers! Santé!

LeDomduVin (aka Dominique Noël) 



#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #logo #ledomduvinlogo #mylogo #credits #keepcalmandhaveanotherglassofwine #dontbeacopycat #dontbeawannabe #dontbeathief #dontbealoser #createyourownstuff  #drinkresponsibly

All right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2021 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, posts, texts, writings, quotes, tasting notes, wine descriptions, pictures, photos, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, and even music (when and where applicable).

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Last night wines...


Last night wines Oct 2nd 2021 by ©LeDomduVin 2021
Last night wines Oct 2nd 2021
by ©LeDomduVin 2021



Last night wines... 


(October 2nd 2021)

These wines were for a private party in one of our restaurants. 

I briefed the staff about when to open, decant and serve the wines, then was supposed to head back home. Yet, my instinct was telling me to stay and do the wine service to help the team. 

So, I stayed and took care of the wines, and the patrons too. 

What can I say? Even on my days off, like yesterday, I cannot help it. It is part of my DNA. I'm a Sommelier, always have been, always will be. Therefore, how to resist the call of doing what I do best? More especially, when facing such a line up of great wines.... 



Krug Grande Cuvée "169ème Edition" NV by ©LeDomduVin 2021
Krug Grande Cuvée "169ème Edition" NV
by ©LeDomduVin 2021


Krug Grande Cuvée "169ème Edition" Champagne NV  (@krugchampagne)

Surely one the best non-vintage Champagnes I have ever tasted. 
The 169ème Édition is a blend of 146 wines from 11 different years (youngest from 2013 and oldest 2000). Resting around seven years prior release gave this Édition its remarkable expression and elegance.




Olivier Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet 2014 by ©LeDomduVin 2021
Olivier Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet 2014
by ©LeDomduVin 2021


Olivier Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet Burgundy 2014    (@olivierleflaive)

Cousin of Anne Claude Leflaive. Together they run Domaine Leflaive from 1990 to 1994, when Olivier left to set up his own Negociants business. His Bâtard-Montrachet is one of the best. Pure, mineral, crisp, tense, intense, generous and beautifully crafted, razor sharp equilibrium, rich and complex in a subtle and elegant way. 




Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet 1996  by ©LeDomduVin 2021
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet 1996 
by ©LeDomduVin 2021


Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Burgundy 1996   (@domaineleflaive)

What an incredible wine where mingle minerality, earthy and fruity notes, buttery,  oaky nuances, wrapped in a silky, ample, generous, beautifully expanding mouthfeel towards the seamless finish. 




Chateau Cheval Blanc Saint-Emilion 2001  by ©LeDomduVin 2021
Chateau Cheval Blanc Saint-Emilion 2001 
by ©LeDomduVin 2021



Chateau Cheval Blanc Saint-Emilion Bordeaux 2001  (@chateauchevalblanc_ )

It has evolved beautifully and showed really well. Classic in its own way. I was a bit doubtful as I personally think that 2001 is not a great vintage, (in Bordeaux that is), yet, the right bank managed to do much better than the left bank on that vintage. Overall, 2001 vintage, from the beginning, has always been dry, tannic, even austere, with some wines showing even some vegetal nuances and green edges, due to a certain lack of ripeness for some wines in some of the Bordeaux appellations. 

In my opinion, the first 10 years, most 2001 were quite closed, timid, rather tight and not very expressive.  However, within the last decade, having the chance to taste many of them in numerous occasions, I was pleasantly surprised that some evolved quite nicely, despite a difficult beginning. And Cheval Blanc was one of them, despite its superior taste and quality compared to many others, it was a lesser version of itself, which yet appear to have gained and benefitted from a long rest in the bottle.  

Last night, the tannins were still present, yet much more integrated than I remember from previous tasting of this particular wine. Overall, the wine showed really, not as rich and complex as usual, rather liner (some may say more elegant and subtle), quite integrated and fairly silky (which surprised me a bit), with some earthy and herbal notes mingling with some tertiary aromas.  

As I said: Classic in its own way.   

PS: Nothing surprising coming from a Bordeaux vintage ending in "1", which are usually bad to mediocre in terms of overall quality of the wines.  And, it looks like 2021 may not be an exception either.  I wrote a post on "my Theory of the decades in Bordeaux" and the pattern of the cycle of the vintage's quality that seems to come back nearly every decade the same way.  If interested, read it here.         




Château Calon Ségur Saint-Estèphe 1982  by ©LeDomduVin 2021
Château Calon Ségur Saint-Estèphe 1982 
by ©LeDomduVin 2021


Château Calon Ségur Saint-Estèphe Bordeaux 1982 (@chateaucalonsegur)
Still alive and kicking at 39. Wow! I was impressed... as I thought it reached its peak, but not just yet..




Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013  by ©LeDomduVin 2021
Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2013 
by ©LeDomduVin 2021


Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013   (@Domaine_Armand_Rousseau)
What an incredible wine! It was the cherry  on the cake. Probably the best wine of the night. Bright red, juicy cherry, mineral, great acidity, texture and structure, fresh, crisp, racy, refine, superbly defined and elegantly crafted, very precise from beginning to the lengthy finish. Looooved it.  



Last night wines Oct 2nd 2021 by ©LeDomduVin 2021
Last night wines Oct 2nd 2021
by ©LeDomduVin 2021



I always feel very privilege when I get to taste and serve such great wines. I love my job.  


That's all folks! Thank you for reading my post and take good care of yourself and your loved ones, and give each other some love, 'cause that's all we got left....    


Cheers! Santé!

Ledomduvin (aka Dominique Noël)


#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #wine #vin #vino #wein #wineislife #lifeiswine #lifeinwine 




All right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2021 on all the contents above including, but limited to, posts, texts, writings, quotes, tasting notes, wine descriptions, pictures, photos, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graph and even music (when and where applicable).