Tetsuya Selection EspecialWe had a very nice dinner last night at Tetsuyas. The picture on the right is of our wines enjoying the cool evening air before the dinner. I am doing the notes from memory so they will be vague and a bit shabby, but better than nothing I suppose.

Diebolt-Vallois Champagne 1999
This is a small maker champagne which the owner insisted was ‘much better than that coarse bubbled industrial swill’ Dom Perignon that is my preferred tipple. Anyway I am not much chop at writing notes on sparkling wine. This one was a creamy full bodied style with fine bubbles and excellent length. Liked it very much - not as much as Dom though. 93 points

Domaine J.N Gagnard Batard Montrachet 2001 - Grand Cru
Nice and open. Citrus, stonefruit, struck match and plenty of lovely spicy oak. Intense rich weighty palate with citrus, apricot and oak flavours. Creamy but with penetrating acidity. Very very long. Really needs time. Drink 2009-2017. 95+ points

Domaine Rousseau Le Chambertin 2000 - Grand Cru
Such a pretty colour - shining limpid ruby. Fragrant with raspberry liqueur and fresh raspberry, spice, roses, some sappy overtones. Smell constantly changing - some licorice later on. Fine raspberry/red fruit palate. Quite crisp. Everthing in balance. Great purity. Long and expansive on the finish. A ballerina. 96+ Points

Chateau Pichon Baron 1995 - Pauillac - 2nd growth
Open. Blackcurrant/cherry, cedar, tobacco and a fairly stong but attractive smoky/horsey smell. Rich fat palate with firm tannins. Not sweet but ripe. Earthy blackcurrant/plum flavours. Good length. Looked a bit shabby after the next wine was opened but still a good performer and an excellent wine.94 points

Chateau Cheval Blanc 1990 - St Emillon - Grand Cru
Joy of joys yet another meeting with my favourite wine of all time. Good colour. Beautiful smelling wine - raspberry, licorice, sweet dried herbs, spice, chocolate, charcoal. Perfect balance on the palate. Smooth and ripe but so elegant. Ridiculously long. Maybe I should give it a 100 points - everyone else did. 99 points

Chateau De Fargues 2001 Sauterne
A single estate wine made owned by the famous Lur Saluces family..and from a great vintage. Sulphur, oak, rich cumquat/apricot fruit. This one is a bit one dimensional at this stage. Needs another 20 years. I am not rating it now. I was an idiot for bringing this.

..and because we were still thirsty we ordered from the winelist.

Domaine Bernard Dugat-Py “Coeur de Roy” Vielles Vignes 1997 - AC Gevrey Chambertin
Smells very stongly of fresh cow poo and then red fruit. Opened up after a while and the fruit came up. Fine minerally slatey palate. Good finish. Hmmmm. I’ll make up a score. 91 points


Print this article
eMail this article