LeDomduVin: Some delightful wines! (part 2)

Some delightful wines (part 2)

I chose these 2 wines to pair with the food of a private dinner and, once again, was really pleased with my choice.

Champagne Henriot Cuvée Hemera Brut 2008

This was my first time trying Henriot Cuvee Hemera. I had heard of it before, but I had never had the chance to try it. 2008 is an excellent vintage in champagne, and I could not wait to try it. Loved it. 

A blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir from 6 different crus, roughly divided equally, Henriot Hemera 2008 boasts aromas of citrus and stone fruits mingling with toasted and mineral notes. The palate displays finesse, richness, and complexity, elegantly enhanced with freshness and zestiness. Focused, mineral, and earthy, the long finish immediately calls for another glass. Exquisite!

Château Pichon Baron Pauillac Bordeaux 2016

Pichon Baron was an obvious choice, as it is one of my favorite Pauillac. I had the chance to visit it many times during the En Primeur in the mid-2000s and even sleep at the chateau most of these times. 

Each visit and meeting with Christian Seely and Jean-Rene Matignon (and occasionally José Sanfins from Cantenac Brown) was a pleasurable learning experience, enhancing my love for this property and its wines. It was my first time trying the 2016 vintage. 

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, aged for 18 months in 80% new barrels and 20% barrels from one vintage, Pichon Baron 2016 is a generous, silky, dense, and harmonious wine. Its ripe dark and red fruit aromas combine with hints of oak, mocca, vanilla, and spices. It displays perfect balance, complexity, and a suave texture. Its chiselled structure is enhanced by lovely freshness and present yet integrated tannins. Rich, elegant, refined, and highly satisfying. Loved it. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Nice lineup again

Nice lineup again

The other day, I opened these bottles for a private dinner. They showed really nicely. 

Dom Perignon 2013

Fresh, crisp, elegant, racy, it is lighter, less rich and less textured than the 2012 (IMO), yet nice density and structure with refreshing acidity, boasting floral and mineral aromas and flavours with yellow fruits and yeasty nuances. Perfect as an aperitif and with light appetizers. 

Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 2019

Over the last 2 years, I have learned to greatly appreciate this producer. I'm very fond of their wines, which combine elegance and finesse in a refined, complex and detailed way, combining fruit and mineral aromas with floral scent and lightly oaky, buttery notes. They are never too extracted, overripe, rich, or buttery, a sign of skilled craftsmanship. And this Puligny Les Referts is a good example of it. It was delightful. Decanting is recommended. 

Château Pichon Baron Pauillac 2010

Pichon Baron is one of my favourite Pauillac wines since I discovered it more in-depth through multiple visits during the En Primeur in the early 2000s. I have even slept at the Chateaux a few times. Over the last 20 years, like many people, I have witnessed its rise from a discreet and underrated wine to the proud and luxurious wine it has become. The 2010 has been drinking beautifully over the past few years, yet has the potential to develop further for many years. Ripe, concentrated, rich, complex, ample, generous, displaying lots of ripe dark cherries and berries with earthy and oaky nuances, it is well balanced, with enough acidity to keep it fresh and a good grip of integrated, yet present, ripe tannins. The long finish immediately calls for another glass. It showed even better after about 1 hour of decanting as the tannins and earthiness mellowed down. Loved it. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Pauillac 2010 collision

Pauillac 2010 collision

I like horizontal tasting as they allow you to compare different wines from the same vintage and preferably the same appellation.

The other day, I put @pichonbaron 2010 against @chateau_pontetcanet 2010.

Chateau Pichon Baron 2010

Attractive ruby color, clear, medium concentration with bright reflects. Charming nose of dark and red fruits, blackberry, licorice, earth, purple flowers, roasted notes, and slight oaky nuances. The palate is soft, silky, focused, ample, complex, rich, and layered, in a very elegant and graceful way, balanced by great acidity, adding freshness and juiciness, with present tannins, yet, superbly integrated, bringing structure and backbone, to this beautifully crafted wine, gently expanding and coating the palate along the way to the lingering finish. Very juicy, palatable and so approachable right now. Definitely calling for another glass. Looooooved it.

Chateau Pontet Canet 2010

Over the last few months, I have bought this particular wine a few times, to be served during diverse dinners, to see how it will evolve, as Bordeaux 2010 vintage wines are drinking quite well lately, and I usually enjoy Pontet Canet. However, that night, compared to Pichon Baron, Pontet Canet appeared darker, earthier, less harmonious, more angular, and more austere too, less together somehow, with earthy tannins that may take time to tame down.

Don't get me wrong, I still liked it a lot, but not as much as Pichon Baron, as Pichon Baron seemed open, confident, radiant, and ready now (despite a strong potential to age for many years to come and get even better). Pontet Canet seemed closed, less ready, and somber, and presented angularities and youthfulness that may take a few more years prior to reaching a more harmonious and more integrated state.

In conclusion, I will say that it was an interesting experience showing how 2 wines from the same vintage and same appellation can be quite different, the former being in an opened phase and very enjoyable now, while the latter seems too young still and in a closed phase of its evolution.

Dom

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