LeDomduVin: Quatuor

Quatuor

I forgot to post my tasting notes in my previous post, so here they are.

Champagne Jacques Selosse VO "Version Originale" Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut NV (disgorged in Nov 2019)

Selosse makes rich and complex champagnes, and this one was no exception. Beyond its dense golden color, it displayed buttery, toasted aromas, with yellow stone fruits mingling with nutty, slightly oxidative notes, like a Sherry. The palate is rich, layered, complex, ample, and generous, with just enough freshness and minerality to keep it balanced and harmonious. Due to its color and nuttiness, some may say it is already too old, but that is not the case. That is just how this champagne is. The finish is long and lingering. I liked it, but some may find it a bit overwhelming.

Jean-Claude Ramonet Bienvenues Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru Burgundy 2018

Ramonet is one of my favorite producers in the Chassagne / Puligny area. The wines, with their zesty fruits, great freshness, and high minerality, have a sense of purity. And it was the case for this Bienvenues Batard Montrachet, a pure delight!

Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg Grand Cru Burgundy 2019

It was way too young, but I could not resist opening it. Nice, bright, ruby color with medium-deep intensity. The nose bosted beautiful autumnal aromas of dark cherry, toasted oak, venison, flowers, and earth, with smoky nuances. The palate was tight at first, with bright red and dark cherry and high acidity. I usually don't decant Burgundy wines, but I had to decant this one to allow it to better express itself. It took a while to reveal itself. Although I loved it, it will definitely benefit from a few more years in the cellar to display its full potential.

Chateau Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux 2016

I have opened this wine a few times lately. It usually shows really well, yet it was in a closed phase that night. For the tasting notes, you can have a look at my previous posts.

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom 

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LeDomduVin: Mise en place!

Mise en place!

When you're a Sommelier, having some classics from Bordeaux and Burgundy on hand in the cellar is essential. 😊👍🍷 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2024, 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: Some exceptional wines! Krug, Marc Colin and Mongeard-Mugneret

Some exceptional wines! 

Krug, Marc Colin and Mongeard-Mugneret

I opened these bottles for a private dinner in a private club. I was excited as I hadn’t tried these bottles for a while.  It is not every day that I open bottles at more than 10K HKD (more than 1200 Euros) per bottle (at least for 2 of them). It would be a Sommelier's dream if I could.  Yet, I’m lucky enough to be able to do it occasionally.

Krug Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blancs 2006

Right after popping the cork, fresh, delicate aromas of apple, pear, and stone fruits mingling with lightly toasted brioche, mineral, and floral notes emanated from the bottle. The palate was rich, ample, generous, and layered, yet silky and sophisticated, with barely perceptible refined bubbles. It had a gorgeous “vinous” quality (as we say in French), resembling more of a wine than a Champagne. Balanced and focused, it expanded bountifully from the attack to the aristocratic lengthy finish. Although beautiful on its own, I recommend having it with rich and creamy dishes. What a magnificent, debonaire, and noble champagne!

Marc Colin Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2018

Beyond its pale golden color, it offered powerful aromas of yellow and stone fruits, combined with floral, mineral, toasted, buttery notes and herbal hints I could not describe (like Tea, maybe?). This Batard Montrachet was rich, ample, generous, and layered like the champagne above, yet it was more concentrated and potent. Fortunately, it has enough acidity to keep it fresh and balanced. I loved its structure and texture, enhanced with that glycerine sensation that coats the palate. Lots of minerality and butteriness with a hint of green tea in the lingering finish. It could benefit from a few more years in the cellar. One of the best Batard Montrachet I have had in a while!

Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg Grand Cru 2019

Beautiful, fresh, attractive nose. The first aroma that came to my mind was “griottes” (a French word for “wild cherries”), then red and dark berries, combined with earthy, herbal, and mineral notes and peppery, spicy hints. The palate is juicy and tangy, offering plenty of freshly squeezed grapes and zesty acidity, with earthy notes mingling with present yet integrated tannins that will mellow with time. Gently concentrated and textured elegantly and refreshingly, it displays a sophisticated structure gaining complexity from the juicy attack and the expanding palate to the smooth, seamless finish. Opening such a young wine with so much potential was a sacrilege. Yet, what a memorable experience!

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2024, 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: Mise en place

Mise en place

Domaine Anne Gros Richebourg Grand Cru 2020

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg Grand Cru 2019

Chateau Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classé 2015 (Dark and Gold bottle, tribute to Paul Pontalier and the new cellar) 

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: A great lineup (again)

A great lineup (again)

I love my job, for many reasons, yet, more especially as it gives me access to rare and unique wine gems (that I cannot afford and would not have access to otherwise).

I always feel very privileged and humble when I open such great wines, and luckily for me, in my 31 years career as a Sommelier/Wine Buyer, I have been working in great places (restaurants, clubs, casinos, hotels...) with wealthy patrons drinking great wines.

And, a few days ago, I had the chance to taste and serve some great wines (again), at a private party, for about 10 people, in our Japanese restaurant.

They gave me a budget per bottle and I made my selection, sourced them, and bought them for the night. It was only supposed to include Sake, Champagne, and a red Burgundy.

So, I decided to go with Juyondai, reputed for the high quality and excellent taste of their Sake, and chose JUYONDAI JUNMAI DAIGINJO TATSUNO OTOSHIGO 十四代純米大吟釀龍之落子. A bold and distinctive Sake, rich and generous, without being too heavy or too sweet, delivering a lot of peachy, melon, and lychee flavors with mineral nuances. Love it.

For the Champagne, in their price range, Krug 2008 seemed like the perfect choice and it did not disappoint, on the contrary, it exploded with richness and complexity, freshness and ampleness. Stunning.

For the red Burgundy, my initial and only choice was the Mongeard Mugneret Grands Echezeaux 2015. Yet, as some guests were asking for some red immediately, I knew that 2 bottles of Mongeard will not be enough.

So, I decided to open 2 bottles of Robert Groffier Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru "Les Amoureuses" 2018 from my hidden stash, a beautifully crafted, youthful, friendly, juicy wine offering plenty of red fruits, great acidity, superb balance and freshness, and a zesty mouthfeel. Way too young, but still, what a treat! Loooooved it.

Then, I served the Mongeard, a much more mature, masculine, and cerebral wine, complex, layered, and rich. Beautiful.

As they were drinking more, I had to return to my stash and bring my secret weapon of late, Perrot Minot La Richemone 2018, another one of my favorite wines. Amazing! (see my previous post for the full description, here) 

A good Sommelier is always prepared!

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

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Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, 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).