This was the actual damage today, less than expected.
Nine friends and just 5 bottles of wine (well, two magnums). The damage was in the whisky, rum and grappa department, but that is for another thread.
Brigaldara Case Vecie 2012 to start. This wine is made by Stefano Cesari, my favorite entrepreneur in Valpolicella. His passion is so strong that you can walk on it and learn about wine, thank you Stefano. This bottle was about fruits: apricot and plum. But apricot and plum in a very sophisticated way, like when the fruits arrive to your table, dry, at the end of Christmas dinner. More intense today because I was with very good friends and my mother-in-law cooked for us.
Then Latium Campo Leòn 2014. Made by Eugenio Morini and his family of seven, the seven petals of the flower in the logo. This second bottle caused the discussion about which one was better, about sequence, about order, about universe. I just though all was excellent, because of the excellence of the Morini family. Sip and enjoy with confidence, that is Campo Leòn, always.
And then Due Mori. The perfect wine, something to remember you that everything depends on the reference system.
We were listening to Naim all the time.
Thank you Alfonso, Paquito, Santiago, Vicente, Fernando, Juan, Paco, Mariano.
Three days of intensive jetlag teaching has helped take my mind off things, but down to earth with a bump now and facing a mountain of hassle. But others are facing so very much worse.
Although that makes me feel bad about feeling bad.
Attended a special event today, with two wines served. White was a 2017 Batard-Montrachet, Grand Cru, Domaine Ramonet and the red was a 2013 Ch. Latour, Pauillac.
It was deemed too vulgar to take a pic of the sommelier in action. You’ll just have to believe me. Wonderful.
Really chuffed with this Chenin Blanc from Sebastian Beaumont. Would be really interesting to compare with a Loire Demi-sec sometime as it is definitely stylistically similar but how well it shows when served with a Huet is hard to say - should do it blind to remove the unconscious bias!
Lovely people the Beaumont family. If you are ever in the vicinity of Botriver in Elgin, then you should aim to stay at their guest property(ies) -charming period cottages around the winery and family home.
Seb is a great winemaker. For me the best Pinotage in the country (the « xx Barrels » (normally 30+/-) range. And I don’t much like Pinotage normally. And excellent Chenins)
I very much agree with you on Seb’s touch with Chenin. The Hope Marguerite is always on point and his selections for the Cape Winemakers Guild auction have always been well worth the investment. The Bot River is a brilliant place to visit - especially with Peter Alan Finlayson now at Gabrielskloof and the huge presence of Niels Verburg at Luddite. Would love to do their Beards and Barrels post-harvest festival one year!
Going out for lunch tomorrow with friends , a bottle of red for cheese course is requested .
Lots of teasing in village épicerie fine re the rugby yesterday last night .
Cheeky little half bottle of Pessac-Leognan Château Lafargue 2016.
Not exactly the most famous wine estate, but absolutely on song
A testament to the supreme quality of the 2016 vintage, and entirely approachable, probably because of being in a half bottle.
That is fair value and cheap compared with Stockholm, where we spent the weekend. Not realizing that the Systembolaget is not open on Saturday we ended up going à la carte. Did not regret it though! The white is. Chablis Premier Cru
Cooked melanzana alla parmigiana for the family last night and we drank this pair with it. The Valpol Ripasso from Monte Santoccio was particularly excellent. This is the 2018 which I bought in 2020 but which continues to improve- a delight. The Rosso No 1 wasn’t too shabby either
