TN: Henriot Billiot Vouvray Macon Gruaud Larose 75, 85

Notes from a dinner:

We started with a couple of Champagnes,served with Endive Boats with Smoked Salmon and Leek Parmesan Phyllo Tartlets:

Henriot Champagne Brut Souverain – this was an nv wine picked up at the sales following the end of millennium celebrations so it was probably made around 1995/96 or so. It turned out to be in fine shape with good mousse and nose and clean flavours.
henriot.jpg
Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Reserve – this much more recent wine showed slightly darker colour and some nice citrus elements in the nose along with some baked bread notes. Excellent fruit and clean mineral with medium length finish.
gruaud.jpg
2016 Foreau Dom. Du Clos Naudin Vouvray Sec – served with Butternut Squash and Saffron Soup. Clean fresh nose with some sweetness but crisp on palate and good length. Worked well against the soup.
macon.jpg
2018 Eve et Michel Rey Macon-Villages La Roche Macon Vergisson – with Chanterelles in Tarragon Cream Sauce en croute. A nice apple and spice nose, light gold in colour, with a clen citrus finish.
vouvray.jpg
1975 Ch. Gruaud Larose – both of these were tasted without food and then served with a braised oxtail stew. Fascinating complex nose with fruit and smoke, along with an intriguing herbal component. Good garnet colour to the rim, mellow flavours and slightly high acidity. This wine tayed balanced and drank well for over 60 minutes after decanting.

1985 Ch. Gruaud Larose – Sweet fruit, rich nose of dark fruit and some nuttiness, long smooth finish. To our surprise, we all preferred the 75 to this very presentable 85.
billiot.jpg
1977 Warres Port still very dark with a sweet nose of dark fruit and not much heat, the sweet fruit a delight and tith a long smooth finish. Very good showing of a Port nearing or at peak and with many years to go.
warres.jpg