Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Chablis Offline with friends at Cafe Campagne

Thanks to everyone who braved the actuality of spending time with me in an enclosed space. Terrific night at Cafe Campagne with great wines, food and company. Everyone brought a bottle of Chablis (Phil and Damon brought two). I'm sure some purists consider us baby killers but what's a non trust fund baby going to do? I'm a fairly new Chablis-head so this was especially a kick ass experience for me to have the opportunity to drink ten or so different Chablis. I came away even more obsessed than I went in. Here are some brief notes:

N.V. Chauvet Champagne Brut -- yeasty, tasty (brief enough?)

N.V. José Michel & Fils Champagne Brut Pinot Meunier -- Travis picked this out. Pear, bright, energetic, pretty good.

2007 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest-- What a wine to kick off the festivities. Virgin tight but oh so good. Bracing, structured,minerals, citrusy, stone fruits. Will only improve. Can't imagine PC could get much better. Daaaaammmnnnn good.

2006 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest -- A little creamier and rounder than the 07. Nice minerality with a fatness (in a good way) that coats the mouth. Darn good.

2006 Domaine William Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots Grand Cru -- Wow, dense with a great mouthfeel. Tart apple, pear, crushed rocks, even a bit nutty. Damn good.

2006 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vignoble de Vaulorent -- A step below the 07 Dauvissat but very good as well. Minerals, stone fruits, decent acid but just a touch light. Good.

2000 Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles -- Very honeyed in color. Definite smell of creamed Sherry and hazelnut. Damon's call of carmelization was a good observation. Round, creamy with good depth. For me, seemed to be at its peak. Good.

2000 Domaine William Fevre Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnere -- Seemed to have more life than the 2000 Grand Cru. Good verve, minerality, acid. Surprised at how young it tasted. Very good.

2003 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses -- Most everyone was shocked at how good this was. Not that everyone was expecting it to be bad, but with 03 being so hot i think we figured it would be overripe. Not at all. Firm acidity, pear, ripe apple with a hint of creaminess. Pretty good.

2005 Domaine Pinson Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos -- A little toasty. Possessed some oakiness. Tasted kind of like a New World Chard to me. Rich, round, fatty. Good.

2004 Domaine William Fevre Les Clos Grand Cru -- Miles to go for this baby. Just as good as I remembered it from a year ago. Soapstone, iodine, sea salt, lemon peel, and a tasty richness that coats your mouth. So good.

2006 Jean Marc Brocard Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru -- My WOTN. Power packed sucker with nose of exotic stone fruits, oyster shell, minerals, star fruit. Rich and pliant with citrus zest, ripe pear, honey, tart melon. Will continue to get better. So f'ing good.

2006 Dönnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Großes Gewächs Trocken -- Dale and I bought some of these recently so figured it was a good time to try one. Don't remember too much except that it had all the makings of a spatlese on the nose but was very dry on the palate. Loved that. Can't wait to drink more.

2005 Bitouzet-Prieur Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds -- Phil was gracious enough to bring this. A nose that Oregon Pinot could only hope for. I only had one drink of this as two chicks stopped by our table and as I was next to them, I felt obligated to give them my wine. Never make that mistake again! Everyone was diggin' on it and when we found out it was only $45...Red Burg may be worth it after all.

2005 K Vinters Wells Vineyard -- I brought this and was so disappointed. I had been taken aback by this wine a year ago and now it smelled like the back of an airplane in the early 80's -- smoky. So smoky that I couldn't get much fruit from it at all. Not sure it it's done or what.

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