Some delightful wines!
Last week, while serving a private dinner, I was delighted with this champagne and wine.
For those who may wonder how my job works (as a private and corporate Sommelier), well, let's say that I'm lucky enough to have "Carte Blanche" on what I do, buy, and serve.
Generally, I'm told where, when, how many guests, the wine price range, and the menu, and I do the rest (sourcing, buying, logistics, preparing, and serving the wines).
Therefore, as you may understand, the host and his/her guests do not drink what they want, but what I want to drink.
😁👍🥂🍾🍷
As I am the one buying and serving the wine, I never ask myself, "What should I pair with this menu?" Instead, I tell myself, "What would I drink with this menu?"
The answer usually depends on the menu, of course, but also on my mood and my gut's feelings.
Aside from the price, a Sommelier mostly chooses wine based on his/her knowledge, experience, and taste, but, occasionally, also on daring new pairings based on gut feelings.
And that night, that's what I did. The food was Chinese cuisine, and I needed wines aromatic and flavorful enough to pair with the food without overpowering it.
It took me a while to decide as I had plenty of other choices, but that's what I wanted for that night. I wanted to try these, and I was right to listen to my gut's feelings.
I was delighted, and both were delightful!
2016 Bollinger PN VZ 16 Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne
The Bollinger PN cuvée is characterized by its Pinot Noir flavor and terroir-based approach. PN VZ16 presents a fresh perspective on Bollinger's expertise and vineyards.
PN VZ16 is an assembly of 100% Pinot Noir, primarily from the Verzenay cru in the northern part of the Montagne de Reims. It is blended with grapes from other villages on the Montagne de Reims, including Avenay and Tauxières. The base year is 2016, but older wines are also included in the reserve magnums, with the oldest dating back to 2006. Its aging period in the cellar is twice as long as the appellation requires. The dosage is 6 grams per liter.
In the glass, it presents a clear, pale golden color. The nose is fresh, with aromas of yellow fruits like apple and quince mingling with discreet nutty and oaky toasted notes. The palate is clean, rich, ample, and coating, really well balanced and structured between the yellow and exotic fruit flavors and the acidity. The attack is clean and fresh, expanding immediately to the fuller and generous mid-palate enhanced with a rich mousse, leading to the long and saline finish. Lovely and harmonious, the first glass definitely calls for a second one. A great champagne to enjoy with family and friends around a table offering amuse-bouches and starters based on shellfish and fish.
2005 Château Montrose Saint-Estephe Bordeaux
Château Montrose is a prestigious winery in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, in the northern part of the Haut-Medoc, about 62 km north of the City of Bordeaux.
Classified as Second Growth in the official 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines, it is renowned for producing red wines of exceptional quality, often comparable to Premiers Crus.
Château Montrose's history dates to 1815, when Etienne Théodore Dumoulin planted the first vines. After he died in 1861, the estate was sold to Mathieu Dollfus, who completely transformed the facilities, including building new cellars and housing for the workers.
Untouched and undivided, the vineyard area is the same today as during the Dumoulin period. The estate extends over 95 hectares of vineyards surrounding the Chateau and the annex buildings.
Montrose's unique geographic location, influenced by the proximity of the Gironde Estuary and its various terroirs, mainly composed of gravel and black sand with a clay and marl subsoil, contributes to its wines' richness and complexity.
Chateau Montrose produces three red wines: the great eponymous wine, a second wine called “La Dame de Montrose”, and a third, more accessible wine called “Tertio de Montrose”.
Montrose wines are known for their high tannin content and ability to age for several decades. They are usually aged for about 18 months in roughly 60% new French oak barrels, contributing to their rich and complex taste profile.
Château Montrose is an emblematic Bordeaux estate recognized for its high-quality wines and exceptional terroir. It is one of my favorite Bordeaux wines, and this 2005 vintage was a treat.
The cork smelled great at the opening, which is always a sign of a good to great wine. In the glass, it boasts a dark ruby color. The nose is fragrant and enticing, with ripe cassis, blackberries, cigar, and mocca aromas mingling with graphite, soil, and earthy notes. The palate is ripe, dark, rich, and generous, without being heavy due to a good dose of acidity to keep it fresh and balanced. The finish is long, with still present yet integrated tannins combined with that gripy, earthy feeling so characteristic of Saint-Estephe wines. It was even more suave, expressive, and tamed after 2 hours in the decanter. What a lovely wine, still showing plenty of youth and ageing potential. Buy some if you still can get your hands on it.
Cheers! Santé!
Dom
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