discovery and euthanasia
A couple of bin ends that fell through the cracks and deep into the
oubliette:
'91 Morgon (Jacques Trichard). No expectations. But actually a big
Morgon nose, black fruit, stone, sous-bois. Pleasant in the mouth like
old pinot (though all gamay I'm sure) with a lively acidity, medium
long. All in all a very enjoyable quaff, and even stood up unexpectedly
to spicy peanut vegetables on the side of the roast chicken. I think
good cellar conditions in Normandie saved this wine, as far as I can
remember it has never traveled (like most of our wine).
'85 Cornas (Delas Freres). Some expectations; Cornas can certainly keep
this long but this is not the highest example of the art. Tired
mushroomy nose didn't promise much. In the mouth muted bramble and tar
with a little leather and smoke. Recognizably old syrah but I wouldn't
ever have guessed Cornas blind. Over the hill, we sent it to the long
sleep over a non-demanding dinner of lentils with pancetta and spring
onions, which it accompanied with all the panache it could muster.
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