Between Les Clos: Moreau and Droin

Had dinner at home over a weekend and wanted to spice up the meal with a comparison of 2 wines made of the famous and celebrated Grand Cru from Chablis: Les Clos. 2 different vintages and certainly different style of wines. However both share the quality factor.

2013 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is a wine I Coravined since December 29th 2015 and tasted it at least 3-4 times prior and had the last 2 glasses only now. The wine has a pronounced citric fruit and wet stone nose, with fresh and vibrant lemon and grapefruit palate, mouth watering acidity and gun powder like minerality. Medium plus finish with a saline, oyster shell lemon aftertaste. (92/100)

2010 Christian Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is slightly different. There is a riper profile, with more exotic yellow fruit here, color is medium yellow gold. Nose is richer and dominated by white peach, grapefruit and chamomile, with slate and gun powder minerality. Richer on the palate, it mirrors very well the same flavors as the nose with lavish yellow fruit and a more settled acidity that makes it round and appealing. Medium to long finish, with yellow flowers and lemons. (93/100)

Both wines have a long life ahead and in my opinion would both benefit from a short decant to open up properly. I actually enjoyed the Moreau so much I bought all the very few bottles left of 2010 Les Clos from real-wineboutique as it seemed to be the only one with any bottles available.

Four great wines: Pierre Yves Colin Morey, Bruno Giacosa, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc and Duhart Milon

Had a lovely dinner on Monday evening at a friend’s house and four people managed to go quickly through 4 bottles of wines in just a couple of hours. It was not intended as a speed contest but when the wine is that good it just dries quickly from the glass.

2012 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Santenay 1er Cru “La Comme” was a stunning surprise for all of us. It’s the first time I’m buying and tasting this producer and for sure it won’t be the last time. In fact it just opened my appetite for discovering more of his wines. This Chardonnay from a less famous Burgundy appellation needs to spend some time in the decanter in order to reveal its exotic and exuberant aromatic profile. Rich and decadent, it exudes very intense aromas of ripe tropical fruits, yellow melon and mango, with complex shades of toast and vanilla. Again rich and highly textured in the mouth, it shows a perfect balance between sweet tropical fruit, stone minerality and vibrant acidity. Long finish, fresh with sweet fruit lingering in the aftertaste. I see lots of similarities with a great 1er Cru Puligny Montrachet. (95/100)

Second white was 2013 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc that shows good richness of citrus and tropical fruit, with vanilla and honeysuckle nose. It is more supple, with higher acidity typical for a Sauvignon Blanc, but overall a well balanced, rich and complete wine. (94/100)

2007 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco spent about 1 h 30 min in the decanter before being poured. In the Burgundy Zalto glass this wine opens up very nice and quickly. It shows a rich aromatic profile where tar, fresh raspberries and rose petals take the center stage, and as it breathes more profound aromas of savory truffles jump from the glass. Supple and very smooth for such a young Barbaresco, it is full and supple on the palate, with silky smooth tannins, sweet and pure red cherry and raspberry fruit, spices and savory cured meat. Long finish, very elegant and feminine wine. (94-95/100)

2010 Chateau Duhart Milon spent only 20 minutes in the decanter before being poured in the glass, and it is surprisingly open already. It shows sweet cassis and pencil shavings, with refreshing cedar and brett. Full bodied, strong but polished tannins, good intensity of the fruit on the palate that balances the tannin structure. Long finish. (94/100)

Degustare Davino – noile vinuri rosii din recolta 2011 (15 Ianuarie)

Ca de fiecare data spre final de an, Davino lanseaza o noua serie a vinurilor sale rosii de top. Aceasta lansare se intampla si mai tarziu decat de obicei iar asta doar din dorinta producatorului de a matura vinurile si mai mult si a le oferi consumatorilor cat mai aproape de momentul optim la care pot fi baute. Dar asta nu inseamna ca ele nu pot fi tezaurizate inca multi ani de aici inainte. Din contra 🙂

Asadar, va propunem aceste vinuri la degustare aproape in premiera (au fost prezentate doar comerciantilor pana acum), ele nefiind inca disponibile pe rafturile magazinelor sau in restaurante.

In deschidere avem 3 vinuri albe tot de la Davino, pe care le-am degustat deja la lansare, dar care credem ca sunt in continuare interesante, mai ales din prisma evolutiei lor din primavara si pana acum.

Asadar, vinurile:

• Davino Domaine Ceptura Blanc 2013
• Davino Sauvignon Blanc Edition Limitee 2013
• Davino Reserva Alb 2012

• Iacob Rosu 2012
• Iacob Feteasca Neagra 2011
• Davino Purpura Valahica (Feteasca Neagra) 2011
• Davino Domaine Ceptura Rouge 2011
• Davino Flamboyant 2011

Degustarea va avea loc joi, 15 Ianuarie 2015, de la ora 19:30, la Restaurant Dada (Str. Matei Voievod 94bis). Sunt 12 locuri disponibile și fiecare costă 150 lei, sumă care include vinurile, o sticlă de apă și prezența noastră agreabilă. Pentru rezervari va rog contactati-ma pe email la cosmin.grozea@gmail.com sau la telefon 0723 240 102.