This is still a work in progress as I upload tasting notes and wine labels from as far as 1999... Check back once in a while to get the updates.

September 5, 2008

Burg, Bord-o and Rhône

Dinner at 90 A La Sante (酒食歐風朝) in Taipei.

2005 Vincent Girardin Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrieres - the nose had some minerals, petrol, toasty oak to start, then gradually showed creamy butter and finally lemon and citrus. Sweet on the palate, and obviously a "hot" vintage. As with all the 2005 Girardins, the wine needed some time to open up. Actually I thought this was not a good choice of wine for drinking now - it was clearly too young, unlike the 2005 Chassagnes I have been drinking over the last few months.

1995 Guigal Chateau d'Ampuis - I had high hopes for this as it has been quite a few years since I popped open one of these. Unfortunately I think this bottle has been moved around quite a bit, and we can see signs of seepage on the label as well as the cork. The nose had classic mint, bacon fat, grilled meats that I would expect from a Rhône. The tannins were smooth, and the finish had some length although there was some obviously acidity there.

However, this was supposed to be a big wine - the first vintage where Guigal took a few vineyards and blended the fruit into a product that sits between the famousLaLaLa's (which I so love) and the regular Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde bottling. I didn't get the sense of power from this bottle, so I was very disappointed.

2004 Le Petit Cheval - the second wine of Cheval Blanc. This wine was still very young, with classic sweet fruit, mint and smoky, grilled meats in the nose. The tannins were still very firm and chewy. While it's pleasing to drink now, I would think that the wine could use further aging.

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