Night with the boys

Once in a while we have a big wine weekend. Tonight's selection :

My first Salon, vintage is 1976. I had quite high expectations : super old, so don't sweat it, but Salon, it has to be something, right ? On opening: very reduced nose, like a bad Jura Vin Jaune. Mouth : very small bubbles, a pleasant surprise, fresh and very smooth on the palate. I knew after a while it would get interesting. We left it aside to come back later.

Billecart Salmon : fair Ok++ champ', never a bad choice, never a huge delight for me. C.

Roc d'Anglade : didn't know this French south wine. A blend of 2015 to 2019, grapes not mentioned but I suspect a fair share of Syrah. Not very expressive on the nose, a round body with a lack of legnth. B-.

Sassicaia 2013: my first one, I was really excited to taste this one, mostly because of reviews here. Very slightly corked nose, man what a bummer, I knew it wouldn't get any better. The corky feeling and taste was sooo slim you could almost ignore it, but what was left was quite acidic, something I find a bit too common in Italian wine if that ever makes sense (not my most known country I admit, but I have yet to find something that matches my likings). D.

Tondonia 2006. Another wine I've seen reviewed here with comments that hooked me. A typical rather nice Rioja, fruity nose despite the age, a mouthful of a body, long lasting in the mouth and glass after it's gone. Wood is gone because it's 20 years old, but way too much vanilla left for my taste. Not uninteresting, but too expensive, I know much better price/pleasure ratio in Rioja. C+.

Serving cheeses : Comté. Back to the Salon 1976. All the bubbles are now gone, but man, what's left is now the classiest old Chardonnay, a mix between Jura Vin Jaune nut and spices, and old Burgundy. I've spent like 20 minutes with my empty glass because the aroma was so captivating. Very old Champ' never cease to amaze me. A. Way too expensive, though 🙂

Rieussec 1962. I'm generally very fond of Rieussec and don't remember any disappointment with them. On opening : fresh old Sauternes, very appealing, light curry and safran, very smooth on the palate, long lasting, not a single defect. The pairing with a Shipshire cheese was a delight. A+. Would swim in this. Bought this one 60€ on an auction site, wish there was a hundred more to buy.

The cork was very soft and wet, yet I managed to take it all out, to the surprise of the gang. Yay.

To finish the night : Armagnac 1900. Fruits, almond, freshness without the blast of young alcoohol scents. Very pleasing, much more than anticipated. A.

A very nice night, with top friends, I'm truly grateful to be lucky enough to experience this.

Disclailer : English is not my first language so I realize it's quite hard to describe scents, aroma, tastes and palate. Hope I conveyed a bit of it. Cheers !