LeDomduVin: When the opportunity presents itself - Palmer 2009 and Lafleur 2008

When the opportunity presents itself:

Palmer 2009 & Lafleur 2008

The other day, I served a small group of cigar enthusiasts in one of our private rooms. It was an evening of cigars, wines, snacks, and karaoke.

Usually, for cigar evenings, I like to serve aromatic, flavorful, deep, and powerful wines so that the aromas and taste are not masked by the smoky smell and taste of the cigar.

In general, Pauillac and Pomerol wines go well with cigars. Their richness and complexity complement those of the cigars.

However, that evening, I decided to open a Margaux: Chateau Palmer 2009.

Margaux is definitely not my go-to choice when it comes to pairing wine and cigars. Usually, Margaux wines are too fine, light, and delicate; they fade rapidly when paired with the cigar.

But those who know the 2009 vintage from Chateau Palmer know that it is a great wine, harmonious and rich in ripe dark fruit, with amplitude, richness, complexity, and thickness, with an endless finish, which can definitely tolerate cigars or even enhance them.

It was a wise choice, and I was very satisfied with it, and the guests too.

Suddenly, one of the guests asked me if I had a 2008 wine because it was a special vintage for her.

I told her, "I'll check." I ran to the cellar. I didn't have much choice in stock. It was either a bottle of “La Fleur-Petrus” or one of “Lafleur," two beautiful wines from Pomerol. I took both bottles.

Back in the private room, I decided to open the bottle of Lafleur Pomerol 2008. After all, when the opportunity presents itself, why not?

First of all, because I love this wine. And, since the price was apparently not a problem, might as well treat myself and taste a wine I don't open very often.

Although Lafleur 2008 is lighter in taste and texture and slightly more advanced in age than Palmer 2009, it is no less aromatic or complex. It has tertiary aromas and a rustic, earthy feeling that I like. The lingering finish is delightful.

Despite their differences, one is bold and powerful, and the other is medium-bodied and heartier yet refined and elegant; both these wines work wonders with the cigars!

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Karaoke Night!

Karaoke night! 

I titled this post "Karaoke Night" as I served these wines during a private dinner where the host and the guests sang Karaoke songs between each dish, from videos displaying lyrics on 3 big screens on the surrounding walls. It was a relaxed and casual night. A Karaoke Night!   

Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Extra-Brut 2012

Beyond its pale golden color and attractive aromas of yellow fruits, stone fruits, and toasted brioche, it is rich, dense, intense, complex, ample, and layered, with an excellent balance and a long, satisfying finish. What a beautiful Champagne!

Bernard Bonin Meursault Vieilles Vignes 2019

Pale goldenish color. It boasts aromas of lemon zest, apple, and stone fruits mingling with chamomile, gingerbread, buttery toasted oak, and mineral notes. Medium-bodied, Fresh, zesty, complex, and elegant, with excellent structure and good tension on the palate. Focus from the attack to the long and crisp finish. Love it. 

Palmer Margaux 2016

A blend of 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot, Palmer 2016 is a great combination of power, richness, complexity, freshness, balance, and elegance. Deep, inky color in the glass. The nose displays fresh, fragrant, concentrated blackberries, earth, and flower aromas. Beyond its fresh and juicy attack, the palate expands and gains in density, intensity, richness, and complexity, balanced by excellent acidity and framed with present, chewy, yet integrated tannins. The finish is youthful and very long, demonstrating aging potential. Although probably too young, Palmer 2016 is incredibly approachable and drinkable now. A sophisticated and classy wine. 

Bernard Dugat-Py Charmes Chambertin 1996

This bottle was a gift to the host from one of the guests, and although I was very tempted to open it, I did not, so I can't tell you about it. Next time, maybe.😊👍🍷

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

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LeDomduVin: An excellent start to 2024

An excellent start to 2024

The new year had barely started, yet I was already back to work, opening great bottles of wine on the second day of what seemed to be the beginning of a promising year. 

😄👍🥂🍾🍷

Dom Perignon 2013

The 2013 vintage is very dry, crisp, and light compared to 2012, which is richer, more full-bodied, and more complex (IMO). On the nose, the 2013 displays white flowers, lemon zest, and stone fruit aromas mingling with light toasted brioche nuances. The palate is light to medium-bodied, well-balanced, fresh, and zesty, with high acidity. It is an excellent champagne as an aperitif with light appetizers and oysters. 

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Folatieres” 2017

Pierre-Yves Colin and his wife Caroline Morey Premier Cru 'Les Folatières' is typically focused and mineral with nutty and stone fruit overtones. This 2017 vintage is no exception; it possesses excellent minerality and freshness, stone fruit, and zesty flavors flirting with light, oaky, buttery nuances. Nice. 

Château Palmer Margaux 2016

2016 in Bordeaux is a beautiful vintage combining liveliness and richness, generosity, ampleness, and complexity in an exquisite and refined way. This Palmer 2016 is a perfect example of it! It exhibits a deep, dark color. Fresh, fragrant, and inviting, the nose boasts rich and enticing aromas of blackberries mingling with floral and earthy notes. The palate is rich, dense, intense, yet elegant and lively, with a good balance between the ripeness of the fruit, the acidity, and the present yet well-integrated tannins, providing excellent structure and a smooth, almost creamy texture. The long finish immediately calls for another glass. Although it is still young, I highly recommend it as it is incredibly drinkable now. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Mise en place

Mise en place

Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 2012

Philippe Colin Chevalier-Montrachet 2019

Anne Gros Echezeaux 2019

Ponsot Clos de la Roche VV 2019

Palmer 2009

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Alter Ego de Château Palmer 2017

Alter Ego de Château Palmer 2017

Last night, we had a gathering with a few ex-colleagues and friends, as a remembering in the memory of our dear colleague, mentor and friend, Bernard de Laage de Meux, who passed away recently.

Ken Man brought this bottle of Alter Ego, the second wine of Château Palmer, where Bernard worked for 15 years (1999 - 2014). It was a way to have a bit of Bernard with us.

A bottle of Château Le Bon Pasteur would also have been a nice touch, as Bernard was the President of LBP until his passing. We will definitely find one for our next gathering.

As I always like to say: People who passed away only die if/when we stop thinking and talking about them like they were still there. Otherwise, they live on forever in our memories, thoughts, dreams, prayers and discussions.

So, that what we did, we revived our memories of Bernard, while eating some Chinese food and drinking a wine he was related to at some point in his life.

Despite being very young, this Alter Ego 2017 was really opened and approchable, generous, opulent and surprisingly good, for a vintage that is considered to be difficult mostly due to a severe frost in April, which considerably impacted some  producers in some areas. In short, a very  heterogeneous vintage resulting in average to good, bad and ugly wines.

That said, the growing conditions were not so bad after all. As per Jancice Robinson "rain end of June, dry summer, hot August, damp start to September, fine finish", allowing some producers to make some good wines. And, this Alter Ego is definitely a very good example of it.

Dark, inky color. Youthful nose boasting aromas of ripe dark fruits and berries, mingling with integrated oaky, toasted, smoky and earthy notes. Smooth and ample in the palate, without being heavy, generous and textured, focused and well crafted, with a good balance between the fruit, the acity and the tannins. Nicely expanding from the attack to the finish. What a very pleasant surprise! Loved it.

We did several toasts last night, yet, once again, with this post, I'd like to raise my glass to you Bernard. We miss you.

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesphotosadom @chateaupalmer #palmer #alterego #alteregodepalmer #margaux #bordeaux #wine #vin #vino #wein #gathering #remembering 

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