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Chevalier Montrachet..... Clos de Beze.....

21-May-95

Tonight dinner for four at our home with our wine-partners. Both Dorit and myself were equally responsible for the great evening. Dorit cooked the dinner but I chose the wines < g >. Hard to imagine a higher sphere of pure hedonism.

Cornet de Crepe Croutee, farci de Loup-de-Mer et des Crevettes
(Crusty "Cone Crepe" with Sea-Wolf and prawns)

1988 CHEVALIER MONTRACHET "LES DEMOISELLES" - L. JADOT
______
Granite de Citron et Menthe
(Lemon and Mint Sorbet)
______
Boeuf Bourguignon
(Beef Burgundy)

1985 CHAMBERTIN CLOS DE BEZE - L. JADOT
______
Assiette des Fromages
(Cheese Assortment)
______
'Kalputi' des Cerises
(Cherries 'Kalputi')


An evening like this is what I might expect at my 100th birthday if I ever reach heaven. As the chances are slim, I'm glad I had it here and now < g >.


Chevalier-Montrachet "Les Demoiselles" 1988 L. Jadot

5/95. Acquired from Beaune June-94 for $81 (imported for $100 net).
Second maybe only to the Ramonet or DRC 'Le Montrachet', this wine from Jadot's famous plot of Chevalier-Montrachet vineyard stands proudly at the top of the world pyramid of white wines.
COLOR: Medium golden 'full' color.
NOSE: Oh my god. The powerful combination of floral, fruity clean aroma with hints of nuts and honey, made us all sniff and inhale again and again before having the first sip. Just the nose should get 20/20 mark.
TASTE: Unbelievable style and finesse, with ever-evolving layers of flavor, all combining to give an immensely satisfying experience. The keyword is finesse. A wine so profound and full of taste, you could almost 'eat' it. We were very fortunate to have Dorit prepare a delicious first course that, exactly like the wine, combined presence of flavors with utmost delicacy.
LENGTH: Not only every sip lasted and developed for ever in the mouth after it was swallowed, even the empty glasses (when it was all gone) continued to produce the fantastic bouquet for the remaining of the evening.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Super structure, all elements totally harmonized. Utmost finesse and elegance. One cannot ask for anything more. Would have lasted many more years (alas only one bottle).
OVERALL: Divine. Simply the best white wine I ever tasted!
MARK: 20/20 (If the one DRC Montrachet 1989 I have, will prove to be better, it will get 20+ < g >). BUY MORE? Yes.


Chambertin Clos de Beze 1985 L. Jadot

5/95. Acquired from Beaune June-94 for $69 (imported for $92 net).
Again, one of the best red wines in the world, from Jadot's old domaine (used to be Clair-Dau).
COLOR: Deep brick red, totally opaque, hardly paling towards the rim. One of the deepest colors I have encountered in (B). And this one is not a youngster.
NOSE: Intense aroma of meat, earth and some fruit, surrounded by an enticing 'Bourgogne nose' that again compelled everyone to swirl and take long sniffs before the first taste.
TASTE: Superb presence on the palate. A "Here I am" wine that is clearly aware of its stature. Some unresolved tannins still felt, though hardly distracting. Neither very fruity, nor totally mature, the wine had so many superb secondary flavors, it almost made you ponder after each mouthful. Went beautifully with the true-to-the-terroir Boeuf Bourguignon and the cheese selection.
LENGTH: Very long multidimensional aftertaste.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Not heavy but 'Fleshy' wine. Very elegant and smooth. Good acidity well counters the alcohol and the (some) unresolved tannins.
OVERALL: Superb+!. I'd say this wine has gone about 75% of the maturity road. In three-four years I am sure it will develop the sweet tones of totally harmonized components.
MARK: 18+/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.


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Jacob "Yak" Shaya.