Krug NV
1973 Bollinger RD
2010 Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon
2010 Coche-Dury Aligote Bourgogne
2004 Raveneau Clos Chablis Grand Cru
1998 Louis Lequin Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
2005 Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg Alsace Grand Cru
2005 Arcadian Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Pinot Noir
2007 Dujac, Clos de La Roche, Grand Cru
1998 Henschke Cyril CabSav
1991 Penfolds Bin 389
2002 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva Rioja
1988 Mt Mary Cabernets
1990 Mt Mary Cabernets
2012 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro
1945 Chateau Rabaud Sauternes
We booked in Bistrode CBD which has a good byo policy and is very central for all concerned. Food was really good, bit of old school with a modern twist. I had the Wagyu Corned Beef which was simply the best I’ve ever had (and being of an English background I’ve had plenty), the meat was like butter – and the horseradish and hot mustard accompanying it capped it off wonderfully. I also had the Goose Liver Parfait which was very good as well. Service was excellent and took all our idiosyncrasies in their stride. (our own glasses and decanters, and other bits and pieces all over the table. etc, etc).
No theme, just bring something interesting, although some of us tried to broaden Jonathans exposure to Aussie wines/classics.
Started off with a 2006 based NV Krug, which was a great way to start proceedings. Tight and zingy acidity, rich and full in the mouth, this and the 2010 Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon went great with the oysters. Followed this up with a 1973 Bollinger RD, this was a strange one, yes it was oxidised but it had a real cleanness about it, I almost felt like I was drinking a voile Jura wine, still had good acid and a granny smith apple cider note about it, was disgorged in 1981 to celebrate Charles and Diana’s wedding, I enjoyed it. We then had a horrendously corked 2010 Coche-Dury Aligote, thanks cork… then a 2004 Raveneau Clos was served blind, although in hindsight it wasn’t showing much typicity for Chablis, quite stewy fruit and a somewhat muddled palate, and none of the minerality you would normally associate with Chablis, strangely I enjoyed it more when I didn’t know what it was.
A 1998 Batard-Montrachet by a smaller producer followed. The nose on this was great, buttered popcorn, caramel, touches of brown sugar. The palate initially was nothing like it, yet with time in the glass it blossomed out to become a really great wine (I’ve not seen a wine change so dramatically like this before – it was night and day). Another blind wine in the form of a 2005 Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg, this I pegged as a JJ Prum spatlese in a warm year, (I got the continent correct so that’s something I guess….) I thought it was also older as well, nice honeysuckle, sweet mandarin and marmalade with the acid keeping it in check and fresh.
A nice interesting contribution from the US a 2005 Arcadian Sleepy Hollow Pinot, Jonathan gave us the background on the wine and how it is made, and held back before being released. I called it the bastard child of a New and an Old world pinot. There was a bit of meat and game, mixed with nice aromatics and a clean sour cherry through the length a touch of stalk and whole bunch texture and a dash of oak. I liked it due to its interest and that is was a bit outside the square. The 2007 Dujac Clos de La Roche still stumps me, it’s like they have taken a Kiwi winemaker on board, the wine is so new world for me. Huge aromatics, palate is all blackberry, redcurrant, luscious, moreish, vibrant and pure. I really liked it.
Back to Australia, we started off with a 1998 Henschke Cyril CabSav, this was mine and I really struggled with it, it was just too gamey/meaty, animal-like for me. I got 2nd, 3rd opinions on whether there was any taint in it and no-one could see any. And to make it worse my Zalto Uni seemed to accentuate it all, after smelling from a Riedel it was a lot more muted and palatable. Plums, blueberry, coffee, smoked meats. This was followed by a 1991 Penfolds Bin 389 wonderfully aged Shiraz Cabernet, showing Penfolds can make a wine that ages gracefully apart from Grange, for the ‘rest of us’. Dark fruits, with some herbaceous notes from the cabernet coming through. Really soft and supple on the palate
And then off to Spain a 2002 Vina Tondonia , this probably suffered from only a short bit of air. Classic acid line running down the length of it, black cherry, it took about 30mins in the glass before it started to open up. It’s still in its brooding teenage years stage, still fresh, come back in 10 years.
Probably right up there with my WOTN, the 1988 and 1990 Mt Mary Cabernets (Quintets), lovely, lovely nose on the 88, tomato leaf, tobacco, cigar box, graphite, lead pencil, all the classic Bordeaux traits with a fruit forward front palate a nod to its Australian roots. The 90 was probably overshadowed by it, and came across a bit more refined and elegant and not quite as in your face. Beautifully aged wines.
The 2012 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro probably suffered due to its time of serving (last), being so young the nose was bursting out of the glass. Very approachable even at this early age, raspberry, cherry, rose petal on the nose, with some sweet vanilla. Would have been great the next day. Looking forward to cracking mine in 5 or so years.
To finish the night off with a 1945 Chateau Rabaud was very special indeed. This was almost black in colour, only direct light providing any indication of its treacle coloured hue. It was toffee, burnt caramel, yet still had enough acid to clean the palate. A real treat just to be able to sit there with friends and ponder on what was happening when this was made, what has gone on while this has been sleeping, and how it comes alive for this brief moment.
It's one of the original Mod Brit type restaurants where you could get all the old favs like rabbit, lamb chops, brains, coddled egg, all done with a modern twist. 