Showing posts with label Nick Dobson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nick Dobson. Show all posts

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

Domaine Champagnon Fleurie 2006

Last of the mixed case from Nick Dobson.

Abundant black cherries, chalky finish. Loads of large, bark-shaving shaped sediment, as seems to be the case with relatively old Beaujolais (tartrate crystals? Very little about this online). Very agreeable all round. It is a pity that I can't bring myself to order more regularly from Dobson. Yet to have a bad - or even mediocre - bottle from him. The lack of cheaper superplonk means I don't split orders when I should. If I was loaded I would order more from the likes of Dobson, Yapp etc but still go for Majestic/Wine Society for the bulk stuff.

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Thursday, 15 April 2010

Chateau Dubrand & Domaine du Point du Jour's Cuvée Vieilles Vignes

A pulsating North London derby last night: Spurs fist win for 11 years! What would it have looked like in 3D I wonder - Neil must be jumping...

Two reds were also sampled.

1st up was a 2006 Chateau Dubrand. I bought three of these in the final, fateful order from wineandco. One which was handled with such spectacular ineptness that I vowed to avoid them evermore.

The wine is still young and I think it may be possible to attribute it's somewhat disappointing taste to this feature. I say that because, whilst there was some initial fruit (I'm not able to say what exactly), the experience was dominated by rather strong rough tannins. I read that these should soften with age and that softening process will change the overall flavour into something more harmonious. However, given that I couldn't detect much identifiable fruit (pleasant or otherwise) at this stage, I'm not convinced it will improve a great deal. It may end up like some the the aged Chateau Beaumont's I've drank with my Old Man - smooth but characterless with little discernible fruit. At £9 p/bottle it doesn't disgrace itself. It will be interesting to come back to it in a couple of years (I now have two remaining).

2nd up was an Fleurie of notable distinction: Domaine du Point du Jour's Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (2006) which came in at £12.61 per bottle. Massive depth of flavour here. Could this be the Vieilles Vignes effect at last? Violets and raspberries up front with a oaky, complex finish. Very high quality in every sense and must be considered a real contender to the straight Thivin - certianly as good in terms of value. This a a world away from the Deuboeuf Fleuuries I've had this year, far far more harmonious and interesting. I think the Duboeuf was about £9 a bottle (or maybe £8 on a multibuy from Majestic?) so it it worth the extra £3-4? I would say so.