It’s only been 10 weeks since the Bay Area shut down for Covid, but looking back on our last excursion anywhere, seems like a long time ago. Fortunately, it was a nice little anniversary trip, with several outstanding meals and wines.
Our first two nights were at Carmel Highlands Inn, dinner at their restaurant, which might have a view as amazing as anywhere on earth
2010 Alain Hudelot-Noellat Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru (3/11/2020)
As with many 2010 Hudelot wines, this was a leaker I found while rummaging through my storage locker. Second one out of three, argh. So time to open it, and might as well be a nice occasion - anniversary trip to Carmel, and a particularly meaningful one, as it’s the last place we’ll go before Covid shutdown the following week.
Good color, even though cork is stained up through the capsule, no apparent signs of oxidation or advanced development. Beautiful deeply flavored medium cherry, just a hint of spice, perfectly balanced, very youthful, and flat out delicious now. In retrospect, probably didn’t need to open it, but also didn’t regret it. (94 pts.)
Breakfast the next morning on the terrace wasn’t a bad way to start the day
Our second day we decided to do something a little different. Normally, we would have cruised down to Big Sur to Nepenthe. But instead we splurged on lunch. The Post Ranch Inn is one of the most exclusive resorts on the west coast, I would guess (when a bridge on Highway 1 was washed out a couple of winters ago, making it the Post Ranch Innaccessible, they helicoptered guests in and out). Above my pay grade to stay at, for sure, and even dinner there is pretty extravagant, beside the fact that driving back from Big Sur in the dark after a bottle of wine isn’t recommended. But lunch is manageable, and proved to be fantastic.
Post Ranch is nestled high on the edge of the Big Sur coast. Looking back to the eastern mountains:
2010 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis - France, Burgundy, Chablis (3/12/2020)
Plucked off the list for lunch at the Post Ranch Inn at a pretty fair price, actually a steal for the quality of the wine. Sitting high on the cliffs, overlooking the Pacific.
Fabulous fresh sea nose, clean tide pool, is it really the wine, or the ocean below? Lovely medium intensity, strong mineral/sea notes, saline umami, nice complexity, great steely/mineral acidity, still quite youthful and probably getting even better with age, punches way over Appellation Chablis. Perhaps enhanced by the fantastic lunch and amazing environment, but just fantastic. (93 pts.)
We retired to the terrace to finish the wine, and enjoy dessert
Days 3 and 4 in next post, since I’ve reached the max number of attachments