Tuesday, September 27, 2022

LeDomduVin: Food Pairing



Food pairing 


When it comes to private dinner, I (and most Sommeliers I know) prefer to go with food pairing, meaning "one dish -  one wine". 

As, it is usually easier to match the aromas and flavors of the wine with the food of one dish, or vice versa, depending on how you proceed. 

And, for a menu with 5 dishes, for 4 to 6 people, for example, I usually end up choosing a line up of wines including a Champagne to start with, then 1 or 2 whites, followed by 1 or 2 reds, depending if I can keep the same wine for 2 dishes or not. 

However, for this Monday's private dinner with a 5 dishes menu, the host decided to go with only one champagne and one red within a certain price range and amongst his own collection. 

Not an easy task as I was restricted by both choice and price. Yet, I was up to the task and ready for the challenge, and finally picked out: 

@louisroederer_ Cristal 2014, that I had never tried before, and ended up being stellar (always a good excuse to try something new 😁👍🥂🍾), and,

Domaine Claude Dugat Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 2018, which was delightful and versatile enough to gracefully complement the food (both fish and chicken). 

Both wines were a real treat and great expressions of Pinot Noir too (*). The food was apparently really good too (it sure did look good on the plate 😍😋). The host and his guests were very pleased. 

I was relieved and could pat myself on the back for having had the flair, (once again), to have selected wines that paired well with the various dishes, and contributed a little to the success of this dinner.

At the end of the day, this dinner proved to me that, once again, when selecting wine for a food pairing, knowledge, experience, and skills are important, as well as knowing the ingredients of the menu and the various dishes, yet, the Sommelier's understanding and adaptability (to the host's demands) and the wine's versatility (to pair with various dishes) are the essential keys to a successful wine pairing (in my opinion).

Santé! Cheers!

Dom

(*) Cristal is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir 40% Chardonnay.


#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein  #champagne #burgundy #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #louisroederer #domaineclaudedugat



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Monday, September 26, 2022

LeDomduVin: A muse, a boat and a Pomerol



A muse, a boat, and a Pomerol 



This weekend, I was working for a lunch that occurred on a private yacht, where I served a bottle of Château Clinet 2010, a Pomerol that I like a lot, and, even better, in a good vintage. 





I opened the bottle near a sculpture of a muse standing up on a boat, with open arms, as if she was ready to jump into the water.






Not sure why, but I love this little sculpture, simple, elegant, refined, energetic, and attractive at the same time. 

There is an unexplainable sense of determination in that statue, she is concentrated, she is focused, she is ready, she is about to... which gives her a "je-ne-sais-quoi" of character that is very alluring (to me). Love it. 

She is in motion without moving! 







Château Clinet somehow found its place in the boat of the muse, and I couldn't help but take a few pictures while opening and decanting the bottle. 






Outside temperatures being so hot, I had to put the decanter in a bowl with some ice to cool it down a bit and prevent the wine from being too warm.







Chateau Clinet Pomerol Bordeaux France 

Average Market Price HKD 1,200 (Euro 158  / USD 153)

Beyond its dark and deep color, the wine offers intense aromas of ripe dark et red fruits and berries mingling with earthy and woody nuances, as well as notes of dirt and scorched earth, reflecting the heat of this solar vintage. The palate is medium to full-bodied, ripe, rich, and layered with the same flavors, notes, and nuances as the nose. And, despite some slight edges due to the acidity being a tad low, some firm tannins, and noticeable alcohol in the back end, overall, this wine still remains fairly harmonious and balanced, expanding nicely through the palate, with dark fruits and earthy tannins adding texture and a good grip all the way to the lingering finish.

Fortunately, the ice gave a needed refreshing touch to this wine powerhouse, which ended up showing wonderfully after about 2 hours of decanting. Yet, its youthful character could use some taming, as some edges deserve to round up a little to be a little more integrated. To revisit absolutely in the course of the next 5 to 10 years. Highly recommended. Great wine! Yet somewhat too young, but a lot of potential!





Well done to the pair behind the label, Roan Laborde and his wife, Monique Bailly, and their team of course. Bravo! 







Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein #chateauclinet @chateauclinet #pomerol #bordeaux #france #redwine #muse #sculpture #statue #boat #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob


Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Sunday, September 18, 2022

LeDomduVin: Ponsot on top of the world



Ponsot on top of the world 




Serving Domaine Ponsot Clos de Vougeot 2010 for a private lunch in one of the tallest buildings in Hong Kong...  What else? 






And, of course, I could not help myself from taking a few pictures of the bottle and the magnificent views of Victoria Harbour and TST (Kowloon). Mesmerizing view as you can see in this picture below (better not be afraid of height).  







I also took a portrait of myself too. And, believe me, or not, the first picture was not intentional, it was just a trial (as I took these pictures alone), and I did not position the phone correctly and cut my head off. 

Yet, I really liked the result, as it kind of looked like a picture you could see in a wine magazine (*), as an advertisement for @domaineponsot for example...  ... just saying...😉

NB: don't thank me, just send me the money, I take cash and bank transfers 😉😎😁🤣🤣🤣👍🍷🍷🍷(just kidding)


Let's get back to the wine. 





Domaine Ponsot Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Bourgogne 

Average Market Price HKD 4,340 (Euro 553  / USD 553)

Tight and muted at first (**), the wine opened up and tasted beautifully after about 45 minutes of opening, and was even better after 2 hours. Loved it. Showing a discreet yet charming scent of fresh red cherry mingling with floral and mineral notes and earthy nuances, in both the nose and the palate. Offers a very nice balance, structure, and texture in a delicate and refined mouthfeel from the subtle attack, expanding gracefully to the lingering finish. What a charming wine!  

Given the vintage 2010 was a difficult vintage that ended up being extremely good for those who adopted proper vineyard management and, more especially, careful sorting during the harvest, I was not too sure what to expect. Yet, Domaine Ponsot being one of the top producers, I was not taking much risk there. 

The wine does not have the body and opulence of the 2009 vintage, a much warmer and easier vintage compared to 2010, which experienced heavy frost in December 2009, poor conditions during the flowering in June, then a damp summer, yet fortunately some sun in September in until the end of the harvest in October, which allowed for the grapes to mature nicely and reach full phenolic ripeness, which ended up saving the vintage that was otherwise heading to be a disaster.            






After posting these pictures and a short version of this post on my Facebook and Instagram accounts, I had a few people asking about the plastique cork. Some were asking when Domaine Ponsot does not use real corks to seal their bottles? 

So, for those of you who may not know it yet, Domaine Ponsot has adopted ARDEASEAL thermoplastic/bioplastic stoppers since the 2010 vintage and does not use the real cork anymore.   

If interested, there is an article from www.burgundy-report.com, written in August 2010, that talks about it, with a PDF to download on Laurent Ponsot's point of view on his choice to change his corks for ARDEA. 



Thank you for reading my post. Remember to drink responsibly, and take good care of yourself and your loved ones.  

Santé! Cheers! 

Dom

(*) maybe I should change career and become a model for wine, as long as my face is not in the picture, that's ok, isn't it? I love this first picture. 😁😎👍🤘🍷

(**) Some people asked me if I should have decanted it, to which I answered that I did not decant it, and I do not think that I should have either, even if the wine was tight and muted, as Burgundy reds usually just need a bit of air within the bottle and a bit of time to open up, but decanting them might shock them and they may not react well to decantation. Moreover, I usually do not decant Burgundy reds (Burgundy whites yes, very often, especially the Premier Cru and Grand Cru, but Burgundy Reds never, unless really needed, but that does not happen very often).  



#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein  #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #domaineponsot #closdevougeot #burgundy #redwine #pinotnoir #topoftheworld #ontopoftheworld #dominiquenoel




Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

LeDomduVin: Tasting session (13/09/22) (part 2)




Tasting session (13/09/22) (part 2)



Yesterday, I was doing a tasting session of a few Champagnes and wines to be used for some dinners later on, with a group of people from different divisions of the company I work for. 

It was a wine + food pairing tasting, and I had to make the wine selection for it. Trust me, even with my Sommelier/Wine Buyer skills and years of experience, it is still not that simple to select a lineup of wines that are good and versatile enough to go with various dishes on a least 3 different menus (+ vegetarian options) served over 5 consecutive nights to different people, more especially under a limited budget.  

So, I made things simple for myself, by selecting wines from only one supplier that has a list that is versatile enough to cover my needs, and tried to make my selection based on producers, vintages, scores, and obviously prices, as I had to respect a certain budget.     

And, amongst other things, we tasted these 8 wines: 






Château Rieussec "R" de Rieussec Bordeaux Blanc (sec) 2020

Average Market Market Price HKD 240 (Euro 30 / USD 30)

Not as expected. I was looking for a fairly inexpensive white Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon-based wine, clean, easy, drinkable, and satisfying without being over the top. And, to a certain extent, that is what I got, good enough to serve the purpose of being poured as a white offered during the cocktail, but that's about it. Disappointing? No, but not exciting either.  

In fact, I chose this wine by necessity more than by choice, as the supplier did not have any other choice for a white Bordeaux within this kind of price range. And, I was somewhat reluctant as I was also skeptical about the vintage, as 2020 was a warm vintage in Bordeaux, which usually does not produce great whites (in Bordeaux). Lesser and cooler vintages habitually present more acidity and freshness, which, normally, make for better Bordeaux whites. And, this 2020 was no exception showing a lack of depth, length, freshness, and almost a certain flabbiness.   

And, don't get me wrong, I love the wines made at Rieussec, even if I rather prefer the Sauternes over the "R" de Rieussec, by far. The reason why I was interested to taste this wine in the first place.  However, I was "far" from being impressed, and tasted much better vintages than this one. 

I should have known better as the average aggregated rating/score on Wine-Searcher is a mere 86pts for the 2020 vintage, compared to 92pts for 2019. Some fruit, decently made and good balance overall, yet, drinkable, yes, memorable, no, more especially at 25-28 Euros a bottle.     






Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Cuvée "Les Anges Lots" Loire Valley 2019 

Average Market Market Price HKD 275 (Euro 35 / USD 35)

Coming after the R de Rieussec, this P & N Reverdy Sancerre "Les Anges Lots" felt more like a true and pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc, yet, being wood-fermented and aged, it also felt more fat and rounded than I expected. And although it was rich and quite complex, it could have used a little more intensity, structure, and acidity, which is present but feels muted by the fullness and ripeness of the fruit and the fat glycerin-like sensation coating the palate. Nicely made, yet, lacking a needed "je-ne-sais-quoi" of zestiness and vibrancy that could have elevated this wine to a much higher level and that I would have loved to taste in this wine.        

Here again, don't get me wrong, I love the wines from Reverdy, and this one too, but you know, most Sommeliers (like me) have a tendency to "seek and find" the defaults of the wine before assessing its qualities. Yes, I've said it! Sommeliers are a pain in the a** when it comes to tasting wine as they will usually start by describing the defaults and faulty notes first, then the rest, and if too many of them: Next! 

And, although I always see the glass half-full and try to be as positive as I can, especially when I think about all the hours, efforts, work, and pain endured by the vigneron all year round to produce his/her wine(s), judging by the way I speak and write, you can see that I'm no different than most of my peers, always a little something to complain about (even if I like the wine). 😁😉👍🍷🍷🍷 






William Fevre Chablis 1er Cru "Fourchaume" Burgundy 2019

Average Market Market Price HKD 425 (Euro 53 / USD 54)

Now, people who know me well, know that I'm a traitor to my native region of Bordeaux, as I love drinking Burgundy, more especially the whites. 

Yet, it is perfectly understandable, as, although, once upon a time, Bordeaux used to produce more whites than reds, in the 19th century roughly up to World War II, predominantly in the large areas of the Graves and the Entre-Deux-Mers, and despite the division of the Graves with Pessac-Leognan (where wines were more qualitative), back in 1987, thus confirming the Graves classification of 1953, in my opinion, and, also despite a few great contenders (e.g. Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc, La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, Chateau Carbonnieux, Chateau de Fieuzal, Domaine de Chevalier, Smith-Haut-Lafite, and, a few more, including Liber Patter Blanc, etc..), yet, Bordeaux has long lost the battle of the whites when it comes to confronting them with Burgundy wines.   

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the wines from Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet, respectively for their chalky minerality and zestiness, as well as for their complexity, intensity, structure and texture and length, and overall appeal.  And, this William Fevre Chablis Fourchaume was no exception, it was really good. More especially, it felt that way as it had the flinty minerality, crisp acidity, freshness, and lasting finish I was looking for but could not find in the previous two wines.    
    
Now, I can hear some of you say that William Fevre is one of the biggest producers of Chablis, yet, he is also one of the Top 10 producers of Chablis, producing elegant and racy wines, often showing great purity and intensity, reminiscent of spring water on rocks, complemented by green fruit (apple, lime,...), citrus, and powdered stone aromas. This 1er cru "Fourchaume" was refreshingly juicy with apple, melon, and lime aromas with white flowers, wet stone, and herbal notes and nuances. Great texture and structure from the attack to the lingering finish. Loved it.  

NB: William Fevre is about twice the price, therefore it would have been really disappointing if it would have shown lesser quality and taste than the first 2 wines.  






M. Chapoutier Hermitage "Chante-Alouette" Northern Rhone Valley 2018

Average Market Market Price HKD 550 (Euro 69 / USD 70)


After 2 Sauvignon Blanc and 1 Chardonnay, I needed something richer and bolder and thus selected a white from the Northern Rhone Valley, a Hermitage Blanc from the ginormous producer Michel Chapoutier. 

And, within this kind of price range, more especially from a renowned producer, M. Chapoutier's "Chante-Alouette" is always a safe bet. The wine showed well, offering plenty of aromas and flavors (i.e. quince, apple, walnut, honey, ginger) and coating texture in the attack and mid-palate, presenting everything upfront for immediate satisfaction, yet slightly vanishing in the back end (IMO). Overall, friendly, enjoyable, juicy and approachable, fairly elegant, harmonious and balanced, and well crafted, with a decent finish, yet, it could have used a little more lingering presence, as it was not long enough for my taste. I still liked it a lot though.      

Once again, I can hear you say that I could have chosen a wine from a more independent or smaller producer, yet, as explained above, I chose the wines for this tasting from only one supplier's portfolio (for practical and logistical reasons), the producer's names needed to be recognizable to a large public, and I was under a slightly restricted budget, so not much choice when you discard lesser or unknown producers and refine your selection by skipping the bad vintages and the prices out of the fixed range.   

However, despite being one of the owners of pretty much the whole hill of Hermitage, (sharing it with Jaboulet and Chave, as well as E. Guigal and a few more), M. Chapoutier produces an array of qualitative wines at various price levels from a wide range of appellations of the Nothern Rhone. 

At this level, maintaining consistency of taste and quality is both a skill and a talent considering the staggering amount of wines M. Chapoutier produces, (at least, if I did not miss one or two), already 12 different wines from the Hermitage Appellation only: 
  • M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon, Rhone, France (Red)
  • M. Chapoutier Ermitage l'Ermite, Rhone, France (White & Red)
  • M. Chapoutier Ermitage de l'Oree Blanc, Rhone, France (White)
  • M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal, Rhone, France (White & Red)
  • M. Chapoutier Ermitage Les Greffieux Rouge, Rhone, France (Red)
  • M. Chapoutier Ermitage Vin de Paille, Rhone, France (Sweet White)
  • M. Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne, Rhone, France (Red)
  • M. Chapoutier Hermitage Chante-Alouette, Rhone, France (White)
  • M. Chapoutier Hermitage Mure de Larnage, Rhone, France (Red)
  • M. Chapoutier Hermitage, Rhone, France (Red)

For those of you who may not know the difference between "Ermitage" and "Hermitage": "Ermitage" is the original orthography for this word, as its etymologic origins come from the Latin word "eremita" and the Greek "erêmitês"; therefore written without the "H", which was added, at some point during the 19th century, by the English, who had difficulty to pronounce "Ermitage", written on the barrels sent to England, thus creating the new word "Hermitage" and the habit lived on. 

Now, what does it mean for M. Chapoutier wines? Well...  
  • "Ermitage" is used for the "Sélections Parcellaires" ("parcel or plot selections"), meaning from one parcel/plot of vines (within the Hermitage hill), producing wines offering the best expression of the "terroir" they come from (*).   
  • "Hermitage" is used for wines crafted from a blend of various parcels/plots of Hermitage Hill.  

(*) The notion of "terroir" can be quite difficult to grasp when you have no idea what it means. Let me try to explain. On the hill of Hermitage, for example, and despite their proximity, each parcel or plot has its own unique "Terroir", which includes (but is not limited to): 
  • Specific soil and subsoil composition
  • Sun exposure 
  • Natural drainage due to the slope inclination
  • Surroundings that may influence the vine and grape growth cycle (flora, fauna, stone wall, trees, etc..)
  • Micro-climate due to various surrounding factors (height and position on the hill, proximity to the top or the bottom, proximity to the Rhone river, etc..) 
  • Age of the vines (which is different as some vines or even entire plots may have been replanted, and are therefore younger than others).
  • Vineyard management (due to all the above)      
Consequently, when a plot has a very specific "Terroir" and the wine produced from that particular plot has a perfect expression of the characteristics of that specific terroir, M. Chapoutier bottles it under "Ermitage". 

NB: This concept of "Terroir" exist in most wine regions around the world, like, for example, the "Climats", in Burgundy, which define the notion of "Premier Cru" and "Grand Cru".    

The younger vines and grapes that do not make the "Ermitage" wines are usually blended to produce the wine under "Hermitage".  

For example, this "Chante-Alouette" is a blend of three different vineyards: 
  • “Le Méal”, is characterized by a soil of very old fluvioglacial alluvial deposits with a high pebble content. 
  • “Les Murets”: whose soil is clay-gravel. Its red clays give the wines a full, rich character. 
  • “Chante-Alouette”: a high-lying terroir whose soil is a mixture of loess and very finely decomposed granite. It gives the wine freshness, salinity, and acidity
NB: if interested, you can read the full description and more details about this wine on M. Chapoutier's website (here)




Then, we moved on and tasted these 4 reds








There again, choosing some reds from only one supplier's portfolio, from well-known producers, in good vintages, with good scores, yet, within a certain price range, proved to be a little challenging once again, so, same as for the whites, I made a selection based on producer's name, wine, vintage, score, and obviously price. And, I think I did ok, no? What do you think?  Nice little lineup once again.  😁👍🍷






Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur Champigny "Terres Chaudes" Loire Valley 2018

Average Market Market Price HKD 253 (Euro 32 / USD 32)

In truth, I'm a bit biased when it comes to Thierry Germain's wines, as I have been buying them for a long time (the last 2 decades, at least), and I have always loved them.  

I selected this wine for the cocktail as I wanted a different type of wine than the usual (and utterly boring) Merlot or Cab Sauv offered by the glass at parties and events. I wanted something different and I am a huge fan of Cabernet Franc. The tricky part with Cabernet Franc-based wines is they often can be dry, tannic, astringent, earthy, austere, and even green (vegetable/leaf), if slightly unripe.   

Yet, I knew that by selecting a wine from Thierry Germain / Domaine des Roches Neuves, I was not taking any risk.  And, as expected, the wine did not disappoint and showed really well. Boasting aromas of ripe dark berries and cherries, plum, with earthy notes complemented by subtle oak and mineral nuances. The palate is lush, ripe, generous, and ample, without being heavy, balanced by the right amount of acidity and a solid grip of present yet integrated tannins, providing backbone and structure to this charming wine combining both intensity and depth. 

To be honest, the complexity of this wine makes it more suitable to be enjoyed with food rather than served on its own for the cocktail, prior to dinner.  I tasted it with some of the various dishes, more especially the "cooked sous-vide" 48 hours US Prime Short Ribs, and it was to die for.  Loved it.  

After the tasting, I brought the bottle home to finish what was left of it over my dinner.  I had a glass with some roasted chicken I prepared, then left some to be tasted the next day, as I felt it could use more opening. And, I was right, the next day, coming back home after work, I poured myself the last glass, and it was even better.  Man, what a wine! Highly recommended.  Moreover, it is a steal at this price!
Thank you, Thierry Germain!                






M. Chapoutier Côte-Rôtie "Les Becasses" Northern Rhone Valley 2017

Average Market Market Price HKD 587 (Euro 75 / USD 75)

I have already written extensively on M. Chapoutier above, with the Hermitage "Chante-Alouette", so, I'll try to keep it short (a difficult task for a guy like me 😅😅😅) and for more details, you can always go to their website which is full of great info on all of their wines (here). 

Frankly, I did not know what to expect as I had not tried this particular wine for years. I only knew that the 2017 vintage in the Northern Rhone Valley was good overall, yet produced early drinking wine with somewhat low acidity due to an unpredictable growing season. 

Following a dry and warm winter that caused an early bud break, armed by severe frost later on that delayed the flowering, followed by some rain in May, then a brutally hot and dry summer causing the acceleration of the ripening of the grapes, while lowering the acidity and juice content.  Saved by the rain at the end of August, bringing back both the acidity and juice, allowing the grape to ripen nicely until the harvest in October. Resulting in nice, ripe, and juicy wine, in general, yet if slightly lacking in needed refreshing acidity.      

And basically, the vintage description above was reflected in the wine. Incentive floral and earthy nose with lavender, scorched earth, black and red berries aromas. Nice and easy going on the palate, nice fruit and overall balance, gentle and soft, almost too simple, pleasant but not complex enough, in my opinion, at this price. Well made though, yet definitely not enough depth or intensity, lacking structure, acidity, and a bit more grip to make it more appealing and interesting, and for anyone to be willing to pay that price for it.  At under 50 euros, why not? At 75 Euros, I need more than what this wine can offer.       






Château Cantemerle 5ème Grand Cru Classé Haut-Médoc Bordeaux 2010

Average Market Market Price HKD 440 (Euro 56 / USD 56)


I have always liked Chateau Cantemerle, yet, I'm, surely, a bit biased when saying that as I'm from Bordeaux. But, that's true, Cantemerle has always been very consistent in terms of quality year-in-year-out over the last 10 years and lately received fairly good scores from the critics and the press. Never over the top, or amongst the best, definitely better nowadays than it was 25-30 years ago.    

So, when I saw it on the supplier's list, and within the price range I had to respect, I did not think twice.  More especially that I had not tried the 2010 vintage for a while, so it was a good opportunity to do so.  

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, beyond its deep garnet color, Chateau Cantemerle 2010 boasts a "Classic Bordeaux" nose with aromas of blueberry, cassis, and plums mingling with earth, pencil shavings, and slightly leafy hints. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is quite smooth and gentle, with juicy fruit, refreshing acidity, and, present yet integrated tannins, conferring backbone, grip, structure, and texture to this crowd pleaser with a bit of a chewy finish. 

It is funny somehow that no matter what wines they can be up against, in general, Bordeaux wines always seem to please the mass. And, when we did this tasting, it was once again the case. Tasty, approachable, satisfying, and definitely pleasing.  Was it the best wine of the tasting? no.  Definitely not.  But, was it the one that everyone liked right away? Yes! It was definitely the one that reconciled everyone unanimously about the fact that we should definitely serve that wine for these 5 up-and-coming dinners. No brainer.  

What can I say? It is Bordeaux! No matter what else you like to drink, at some point or another, you'll always go back to Bordeaux. That's just the way it is when it comes to wine.  😁👍🍷    






Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée Southern Rhone Valley 2017

Average Market Market Price HKD 415 (Euro 53 / USD 53)


Domaine de Pegau was an easy choice, as I have been in love with their wines for decades, and, (like for a few of the producers/wines cited above), I even had the chance to visit the winery and taste at the barrels, back in 2013, which was an eye-opening experience, which confirmed my love for their wines. 

That said, the tasting panel (including myself) did not retain this wine for the dinners, as we found it way too young and too overwelming for the food. 

I must admit that this Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservée 2017 is a very youthful powerhouse that still deserves to spend a bit more time in the bottle to tame its temper and round down some of its edges. The nose boasts some aromas of blackberry and cassis, with earthy, scorched pebbles, and floral and peppery notes. The palate displays flavors of dark and red fruits, as well as ripe fig notes combined with hints of warm earth, herbs, and leaves. Overall, the wine is quite full-bodied, juicy, and powerful with a lingering finish, and definitely promising, yet, it also presents some rough edges like the alcohol, too present in the back end, for now, and a good grip of tannins that will need a bit more time to get integrated. I still love it as it offers a lot of bang for the buck, but needs a few more years of cellaring to be better appreciated.    



As always, thank you for reading my post. Drink responsibly, and take good care of yourself and your loved ones.  

Santé! Cheers! 

Dom

#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #tasting #tastingnotes #tastingsession #wine #vin #vino #wein @chateau.rieussec @domainereverdypn @williamfevre_chablis @m_chapoutier @domaine_des_roches_neuves @chateau_cantemerle @domaine_du_pegau #bordeaux #burgundy #loirevalley #rhonevalley



Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Tasting session (13/09/22) (part 1)




Tasting session (13/09/22) (part 1)


Yesterday, I was doing a tasting session of a few Champagnes and wines to be used for some dinners later on, with a group of people from different divisions of the company I work for. 

It was a wine + food pairing tasting, and I had to make the wine selection for it. Trust me, even with my Sommelier/Wine Buyer skills and years of experience, it is still not that simple to select a lineup of wines that are good and versatile enough to go with various dishes on a least 3 different menus (+ vegetarian options) served over 5 consecutive nights to different people, more especially under a limited budget.  

So, I made things simple for myself, by selecting wines from only one supplier that has a list that is versatile enough to cover my needs, and tried to make my selection based on producers, vintages, scores, and obviously prices, as I had to respect a certain budget.     


Amongst other things, we tasted these 2 champagnes: 





Jeaunaux Robin "Eclats de Meuliere" Champagne Brut Nature NV 

Average Market Market Price HKD 350 (Euro 44 / USD 44)

A blend of 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay, this Artisan Vigneron champagne is a delight for your taste buds, light, easy-going, crisp, fresh, dry, and not pretending to be anything else than a clean, zesty, well-crafted champagne, perfect as an apéritif with some oysters and fishy bites and appetizers. Some of you might argue that it doesn't have enough body, weight, or complexity, yet, at this price, I think that this Champagne is a steal offering plenty of juice, balance, texture, and substance, in a subtle and elegant way. Very enjoyable. 






Jacquesson "Cuvée 744" Champagne Extra Brut NV

Average Market Market Price HKD 485 (Euro 61 / USD 61)

Now, I'm a bit biased with Jacquesson as I love this Champagne house (to begin with) and Jacques is also the name of my son, get it? Yet, there is everything to love about Jacquesson. All of their Champagnes are meticulously crafted and renowned for their refined and sophisticated profiles. And the grapes are sourced exclusively from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, making their wines complex and richly textured with low dosages and pronounced minerality. And, the "Cuvée 744" is no exception, what a gorgeous champagne! Based on about 70% of the 2016 vintage, it shows a lot of richness, complexity, refinement, harmony, and length, texture, and structure, balanced by sharp acidity that adds both freshness and dimensions to this classy and stylish Champagne. Highly recommended. Love it. 

Santé! Cheers! 

Dom

#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #tasting #tastingnotes #tastingsession #champagne #wine #vin #vino #wein  @champagnejeaunauxrobin #champagnejeaunauxrobin @champagnejacquesson_officiel



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Friday, September 9, 2022

LeDomduVin: Human's Nature





"Humans don't look for solutions to the problems they create; they just adapt to the consequences." Dom








"Les humains ne cherchent pas de solutions aux problèmes qu'ils créent, ils s'adaptent juste aux conséquences." Dom

Voilà... 
Enough said... 

Dom 

#human #humans #humannature #ledomduvin @ledomduvin #domelgabor @domelgabor #lesmemesadom



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LeDomduVin: Scrutinizing Petrus (again)




Scrutinizing Petrus (again)


Recently, a person I follow on Instagram asked me some questions about Petrus.





I answered to the best of my knowledge, yet, to back up the info I gave her, I went to one of our restaurants and gave a closer look at these 2 bottles of Petrus 2007, I found in the cellar.





Nothing wrong with these 2 bottles, fortunately. Yet, it was a good opportunity to do what I used to do best, prior to taking my current position about a year ago.





In my previous job, aside from being a Sommelier, I was also the Wine Quality Control Director for the entire company, for about 9 years, and, thus, spent a great part of my time checking and managing the company stock's quantities, as well as the storage conditions, quality, and security, including doing thorough inspections for all the wines we bought, stored and sold (quantity, quality, conditions, and genuineness).





And, I must say, I was very lucky to have a big boss who was a real wine lover, buying a lot of the top wines in the world, which allowed me to have access to (and even open, prepare, taste, and serve quite often), such beautiful, old and rare ladies (as I liked to call them).





Moreover, while, I gave them all the time and attention they deserved, I have learned a lot about fake and counterfeit wines, increasing my interest, broadening my experience, and perfecting my skills and knowledge in this particular field of the wine industry, which remains rather unknown and obscure, and is only practiced by a handful of people around the world.





I miss those days, sometimes, so, meticulously scrutinizing these 2 bottles of Petrus 2007 made me feel as if I was back in my old shoes as Wine QC Director, inspecting every detail to make sure of their genuineness and authenticity.

To prevent educating the counterfeiters, I cannot reveal everything I know, or, at least, not more than what I have revealed already in the many posts I wrote on the subject on my blog. It is like being a wine investigator or a wine detective, certain things are better left unsaid or to your interpretation. 😁👍🍷

Santé! Cheers!

Dom

#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein  #inspection #wineinspection #petrus #fake #counterfeit #genuineness #authenticity 



Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Cheers your Majesty!

Cheers, your Majesty! 

Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II 

You will forever be remembered as 
"The Queen", the UK's longest-serving monarch, with 70 years of service. 

Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. 

Thank you with my sincere and utmost respect. 

May you rest in peace now. 

My thoughts go to all the people in the UK and the Commonwealth. 

Dom

NB: 📸 Original picture found on Reddit with no credit, and, enhanced by and for LeDomduVin for the purpose of this post in memory of Queen Elizabeth II 

#queen #queenelizabeth #hermajesty  #rip #cheers #farewell #ledomduvin @ledomduvin #respect #uk



Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).