I have a couple of 'golden' oldies down
there somewhere.Three bottles...all different vintages.
In the late 80's I was in Bordeaux with some Americans...and one of the Chateaux we visited was Domane de Chevalier. It is situated in the middle of a forest area on the outskirt of Léognan town, around 17 km south of Bordeaux city. There are 5 ha of "white" vines planted with 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon, and these are 25 years old on average.
Vintages 1970-1982 were made by previous owner Claude Ricard, who sold the Domaine to the Bernard family in 1983. He stayed,however, at the property until 1988, in order to help and teach young Olivier Bernard the art of making white wine. Vintages 1983, 1984 and 1985 were made with increasing influence of Olivier Bernard, and vintage 1986 was the first one Olivier Bernard stood 100% for.
We had been promised a few reds to taste and a white. The reds arrived..all were very good....but then the surprise. Monsieur Bernard served the white at the finish...and it blew the previous wines away. It was the 1984..and I purchased a bottle there and then.
The other two in the photo were acquired..and have all been sitting there (well...lying there..)..feeling lonely and unwanted. Sorry girls..but I just forgot you...anyway...the rule with this white Bordeaux is...let it age....so..again.. sorry girls..I was waiting for the wrinkles to appear.
It was a warm evening but the heavens above were on overtime..a constantly changing cloud formation.
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 1992Graves, Bordeaux
Yellow colour..like a sweet corn.....from then on....not so bright...oxidised nose....receeded with a little work...well...more than a little...twisting, shaking...moving the hips..anything to make this one good. I guess your moves are no longer up to it Barry....hardly a difference...altho the feel on the palate was good...and there is fruit there...one more shake of the butt...nope...nada....
Points.....can't, won't, shan't...the clouds above should have warned me.
A delightful salad had been prepared by Mrs Blogger...Eva-Maria...the one who I have been married to for 32 years...you remember...previous posts...
Some spinach, Rucola and various others salads...a selection of paprikas and goat's cheese in a cloak of bacon.
The clouds looked a little friendlier....
Fritz Haag Brauneberger SonnenuhrRiesling Spätlese trocken 2007
Mosel, Germany
Lightish..delicate....nice bright wine...some pear..and a touch of honey...Spätlese trocken..and it is what is claims to be. Although seeming light and easy..it has depth and a fine reserved acidity...methinks this will develope nicely....
Points 16.25
3 comments:
Barry, that cellar of yours is very special - I truly cannot wait to get to Germany and open something up and listen to some Soul music. While I know these should age, I would never have thought to keep them so long. So why did you open the '92 first? I would have thought that 24-year old is screaming to be opened...
Hi Joe.....I was scared at what I would find in the older wines....
but to be honest..1992 was a weaker year..so thought I'd test the waters..so to speak.
Funny, I would have opened the oldest, then I would still hold out hope that the younger wine would still be good. Now you have nothing to look forward to! That being said, what the heck are these doing sleeping away in the cellar! You're not drinking enough, Barry...
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