Monday, December 4, 2006

A weekend meal



Saturday evening, we had for dinner Peter Sisseck (Pingus), Alain and Murielle, and tasted a wine from Roberto Voerzio Brunate Barolo 2001 (rated 93 by Parker, darling of Bettane-Desseauve and the Grand Jury Européen), a good wine, pleasant, not concentrated or modern enough for my taste. Then we had a Barbera d’Asti Bricco Fiore Riserva 2001, unfortunately corked ; Lascombes 2003 (rated 92 by RP, I prefer the 2001) and the Cuvée du Papet 1998 from the Clos du Mont Oliver (rated 95), smooth, balanced which I really enjoyed. I have a remark to make: for some people who think that Parker only likes concentrated wines, they should taste this wine and they would be surprised…

Sunday for lunch at Murielle’s parents and still with Peter, we opened a Lafont Fourcat 2003, full of fruit, and which prompted Peter to say that only Bordeaux could produce a wine with such balance at such an attractive price. No wood, just ripe fruit and a balance hard to find in this vintage.


Next, Bel Air Ouÿ 1999 smooth and with little tannins, the oak flavors of its youth have completely disappeared.

Back to our dinner on Saturday evening, we served a Blanc de Valandraud No1 2005 which are ready to be labeled and is currently being offered to our customers (2732 bottles produced) and Lafont Fourcat 2004 (100% Muscadelle). Followed by a Pingus 2006 (1st sample, malo finished and sulphite just added), decanted for 20 minutes. It is in my opinion the most complete, the most…of all the Pingus: balanced, purity, concentration…the perfect wine… I would love to see what Peter could make in Bordeaux with our climate, varietals, terroirs. In any case, we were 5 professionals thinking that 2006 is going to please a lot of people…at least the ones who will have the chance to taste it.

After, we tasted this rarity, thanks to the visit of our Burgundy friend: Vosne Romané 1er cru from DRC, cuvée Duvault-Blochet 2004, all in lace…Perfect example why we love to drink Burgundy during a meal.
This weekend…the meal of the Veterans.

As pretext for the release of a book on the 50th anniversary of the Groupe Fayat we had the idea to organize a meal in our home with a dozen of the very first employees of Clément Fayat.
Were present, Clément Fayat, of course, Marcel Andraud (Murielle’s father) and a group of men full of life and youth: the youngest being 74 and the oldest over 90! Although most were a bit intimidated by the presence of Clément Fayat, around 3 pm, after the meal, wine and atmosphere helping, they almost started singing! In any case they recalled stories about their work, anecdotes from their youth when work was not considered a disease, and they had nice salaries compared to their bosses (from single to triple). At this time, employees could work many hours overtime paid twice on Sunday and when work had to be done. Of course, they kept a idealistic memory of their youth, but their enthusiasm really showed how much they were proud to have participated and helped create this powerful international group.
Murielle prepared by herself a meal for 16 people:
Moule Marinières, roast beef filet, creamy mashed potatoes, endive salad (from Mr. Andraud’s garden) and the great Basque cake from Lopez, our favorite patisserie in Libourne.

For the wines: A magnum of Jean Boillot 2004, Puligny Montrachet 1er cru Clos de la Mouchère, 2 bottles of Virginie de Valandraud 1999 (a delicatie), 2 bottles of Château La Dominique 1998 (it is at least what we can do to remind that Fayat is also great wines, and that 98 is typical of great La Dominique) truffles with this Pomerol side, almost 100% Merlot and which sets it apart from his illustrious neighbor Cheval Blanc. And to finish, a wink at our recent purchase in Pomerol: Trotanoy 1989 (our last magnum), one of the favorite wines of many of our friends. And it not Clément, Peter, Bruno, or us who will contradict this statement.


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