Yak's Home Page
Introducing Yak
Yak's Rating Scale
Yak's Burgundy Primer
Tasting Notes Archive
Wine & Food Adventures

Volnay 'Clos des Ducs'..... Lynch Bages.....


16-May-2002

Pentecost (Shavu'ot) evening dinner at home with my brother in law and his family. This Jewish holiday is meant to celebrate the springtime gathering of the crop, so traditionally the festive dinner is based on diary products and fruits rather than meat.
Everything on the table was homemade by Dorit of course.

Gefilte Fish
______
Chestnut soup
1995 Volnay 'Clos des Ducs', d'Angerville
______
Cheese Souffle
1986 Chateau Lynch Bages
______
Cheese and Jam Crepes



Volnay 'Clos des Ducs' 1995 Marquis d'Angerville

5/2002. Bought in Beaune Nov-97 for $43.
This is my first 1995 Burgundy bottle! I never drink (B) younger than 7 years, and even that is too young for all but the lighter 1er Crus.
Volnay wines are usually the best reds from the Cote de Beaune, and d'Angerville is among my favorite producers there.
COLOR: Medium-light ruby, very slight clearing around the rim.
NOSE: Excellent clean nose of pronounced fresh cherries and a most delicate 'Bourgogne Nose'. The nose is true to the 'feminine' terroir of Volnay.
TASTE: Good but not great. Fruit is there as well as winyness, concentration and depth. But the wine is a bit four-squared with tannins that are not altogether round and soft. Still, complex, tasty and enjoyable.
LENGTH: Medium-long aftertaste.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Medium-full bodied with excellent fruit. Firm backbone and not lacking depth. Could be more delicate for a good Volnay though.
OVERALL: Fine. Perhaps a few more years needed to mellow it down.
MARK: 17.5/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.


Chateau Lynch Bages 1986 Pauillac

5/2002. Got as a present.
COLOR: Really dark and promising color. Some clearing towards the rim and plenty of sediment.
NOSE: Nice, harmonious but minor-key nose. Ripe mature black fruit with some wood notes that add complexity.
TASTE: Extremely elegant and smooth as silk. Fully mature but without any old-wine elements. Everything is wonderfully integrated. This wine is very easy to enjoy. Perhaps too easy. It surprisingly lacked winyness and body.
LENGTH: Not particularly long but very pleasant aftertaste.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Medium-light body. Superbly smooth and elegant and wonderfully balanced. But lacking real concentration and quite short on winyness. This is a rare combination (for me at least).
OVERALL: Very Fine. Really interesting in its contrasts. But good and tasty as it is, this wine is not nearly as impressive as the 1989.
MARK: 18/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.


Reach Me? yak@yakshaya.com

Yak's Home Page
Introducing Yak
Yak's Rating Scale
Yak's Burgundy Primer
Tasting Notes Archive
Wine & Food Adventures

Copyright 1996-2003.
Jacob "Yak" Shaya.