Eleven to dinner on Wednesday night, so several wines consumed in moderation with the highlight being a bottle of 1994 MD (Monts Damnés), Sancerre from Henri Bourgeois, which was showing very well with evolved notes of white truffle and delicate asparagus but still very fresh in the finish. Could be kept easily another five years. Interesting that 1994 was a difficult vintage – very humid September with a lot of rot. Served with cheese course.
Started with 2002 Saumur Blanc (some honey but quite austere and mineral) from Château de Villeneuve. Then the bright red fruited 2007 Domaine de la Roncée, Clos des Marronniers – delicious drinking now.
2007 Clos des Maronniers, Domaine de la Roncée, Baudry-Dutheil
2000 Côt Clos Roche Blanche
2005 L'Anclaie, Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu, Château Pierre-Bise
Started with 2002 Saumur Blanc (some honey but quite austere and mineral) from Château de Villeneuve. Then the bright red fruited 2007 Domaine de la Roncée, Clos des Marronniers – delicious drinking now.
2007 Clos des Maronniers, Domaine de la Roncée, Baudry-Dutheil
2000 Côt Clos Roche BlancheThe 2000 Côt (AC Touraine) from Clos Roche Blanche is also showing very well at the moment – still quite youthful with animal and spice notes and good length. An illustration that well made Côt is the best red grape in this part of the Cher Valley and that if the proposed new AC of Touraine-Chenonceaux is to mean anything and be credible for reds wines it should include 100% Côt wines.
2005 L'Anclaie, Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu, Château Pierre-BiseOur meal concluded with the rich, quite deep coloured 2005 L'Anclaie from Claude and Joëlle Papin (Château Pierre-Bise). L'Anclaie with its palette of citric fruits, especially orange peel is always one of my favourite sweet wines from the Papin range. Delicious at the moment but almost infanticide!
