LeDomduVin: Krug, Jean-Noel Gagnard and Mouton-Rothschild

Krug, Jean-Noel Gagnard and Mouton-Rothschild 

Nice line-up yesterday. Opened for a private lunch on a yacht.

Krug Grande Cuvée 170ème Édition NV

Probably one of the best entry-level cuvées, Krug "Grande Cuvée" is a delicious classic champagne that never disappoints. Sophisticated, rich, balanced, and harmonious, it embodies refinement and elegance, no matter the edition number. A classic in my book. Love it.

Jean-Noel Gagnard Bâtard-Montrachet 2018

I have opened countless bottles of this wine in the last two years (see previous posts), and I love it so much that I could not resist pouring it again for this lunch.

An attractive robe of pale-yellow gold with silver reflects. The nose blossoms with aromas of white flowers, yellow stone fruits, pear, and apple, refreshing mineral nuances, and hints of butterscotch and spice. The palate is fresh, mineral, smooth, dense, powerful, ample, generous, and luscious, yet so elegant and graceful. The long, mouth-watering, mineral finish calls immediately for another glass. Loooooove it.

Château Mouton-Rothschild Pauillac 2014

I was initially skeptical due to the lesser quality of the vintage and the result of previous experiences where the wine was closed and tight. 2014 Bordeaux usually presents green, unintegrated tannins, unripe fruits, high acidity, and some angularities to my palate. Yet, having recently tasted a few good Bordeaux 2014, which are now opening and taste much better than a few years ago, I decided to chance my luck for this lunch.

It was a gamble, but despite being tight and closed initially, the wine showed rather well after about 2 hours of opening (no decanting). Despite the tannins being a bit rustic and not completely integrated, the overall profile of the wine was quite nice and relatively fresh due to its high acidity. Aromas of red cherry and berry fruits mingled with earthy, spicy notes and oaky nuances. Somewhat angular, it still offered a soft and silky texture with a subtle minerality, leading to a full and persistent finish with beautiful freshness. It might get even better with time.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Some lineup!

Some lineup!

The other day, I enjoyed opening some great bottles again. 

Raifuku Junmai Daiginjo Ultra 8 Sake

Light and easy-going, a bit short for my taste. I like my sake with a bit more weight and length. 

Juyondai Akaiwa Omachi Junmai Ginjo (1800ml) 

Brewed with 'Omachi' (often referred to as the ancestor of sake rice) from Akaiwa in the Okayama prefecture, this sake is rich, smooth, medium to full-bodied, and delightfully layered. It boasts distinctive cantaloupe aromas and a rich umami finish.

Louis Latour Meursault 2017

Overall, it is an elegant, light to medium-bodied, well-balanced wine with notes of citrus, honey, and oak and a reasonably long finish.

Jean-Noel Gagnard Batard-Montrachet 2018

I love JN Gagnard's wines, and this Batard is delightful. It boasts fresh and enticing stone fruits, white flowers, and zesty aromas. The palate is crisp, refreshing, and mineral, with a good density and outstanding balance, and the glycerine coating the palate and layered flavors expand till the seamless finish. Now, that's a great wine! 

Denis Mortet Clos de Vougeot 2019

I love Denis Mortet's wines, and this "Clos de Vougeot", although still too young, is another excellent example of this talented and skilled winemaker. Refined, elegant, complex, rich, long, and extremely satisfying. 

Chateau Latour Pauillac 2015

Deep garnet-purple color, it offers lovely aromas of ripe black and red berries, mingling with notes of licorice, red roses, and cigar box. The palate combines red and black fruits with freshness and ripeness, gentle texture, and integrated tannins. It is expressive, generous, ample, layered, structured, balanced, and surprisingly drinkable. 

Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2005

So open and easy to drink right now, aromatic, complex, smooth, and layered, with a long finish. Loved it. 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom 

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LeDomduVin: Stunning Wines

Stunning Wines 

Served this weekend, some of my favorite producers.

Champagne @eglyouriet Millesime Grand Cru 2013

Sophisticated, refined, rich, and opulent without being heavy, vibrant, and lively due to great acidity, perfect balance, and yellow fruits mingling with mineral and oaky nuances. The palate is ample and generous, with a long finish. Loved it. Stunning!

@domaine_jeannoel_gagnard Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2018

The enticing nose combines white flowers, white and yellow fruits, and minerals with delicate, integrated buttery, oaky notes. The palate is gorgeous, generously expanding from the beginning to the seamless finish, with that glycerine sensation coating the palate that makes you want more. It is so well-crafted, balanced, generous, expressive, and charming that it is impossible not to love it. The type of wine that is so good, it makes you melt on sight and love Burgundy white wine at first taste. Loooooved it. Delicious!

@domaine.robert.groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Les Amoureuses" 2018

I have opened several bottles of this incredible wine in the last 8 months, and each time was as pleasurable as the next. Refined, delicate, and almost shy at the opening, it displays inviting fresh aromas of red and dark cherries mixed with floral and earthy notes. It does need to be decanted, but it needs to breathe. It started to develop after about 1 hour of opening: rounder, more affluent, elegant, refined, lively, gentle, and so long. Offering all the elegance and sophistication that the great Burgundian Pinot Noir is known for. 

Loved it. Another stunner!

@domaine.robert.groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Les Sentiers" 2018

For those of you who may not know, "Les Sentiers" lies south of the Grand Cru "Les Bonnes Mares" (eastern part of Chambolle-Musigny, touching Morey-Saint-Denis), while "Les Amoureuses" lies south of "Musigny" Grand Cru (western part of Chambolle-Musigny, touching "Les Petits-Vougeots"). Although they are both "1er Cru", "Les Amoureuses" (Euros 758) sells for about 3 times the average price of "Les Sentiers" (Euros 262). Lighter and earthier, with higher acidity, pepper, and spices. It's not as grand, yet very nice too.

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

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Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, 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: Jean-Noel Gagnard Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2018

Jean-Noel Gagnard Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2018

My experience with Gagnard is that the wines are always expressive, elegant, refined, sophisticated, rich and complex while remaining delicate, fresh and graceful. 

More feminine than some other Chassagne and Batard-Montrachet producers, which I like. 

Nothing surprising when you know the wines are elaborated by Caroline Lestimé, Jean-Noel's daughter, who has been in charge of the vineyard, cellar and office since the mid-nineties and has been joined later on by her husband, Hubert. 

Opened 2 days ago for a private dinner; it was impressive. The nose was a bit shy at the opening, then revealed itself after a few minutes of swirling, blossoming with aromas of white flowers, yellow fruits, pear and apple, mineral nuances and hints of butterscotch and spice. The palate was fresh, mineral, smooth, dense and powerful, ample and generous, and luscious, yet light and graceful. The long finish was calling for another glass. 

A very seductive young wine with good potential to age and offer even more in a few years. Loved it. 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein #whitewine #burgundy @domaine_jeannoel_gagnard #jeannoelgagnard #batardmontrachet #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, 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).