A Study In Mouflon & Mouton

Djuret arranged one of their "A study in..." and I was lucky to get two seats, so me and Peter went there for an evening with stunning food, excellent service and some Mouton...

NV Henriot Brut Souverain
Henriot is one of my, many, favourite houses and this Souverain delivers a fresh, open nose with notes of fudge, minerals and lemon zest.
The taste is young and pure with notes of sweet minerals, dried flowers, white currants and fudge. A fine, persistent finish. Enjoyable, especially with a spoon of Karelian caviar!
88p   (tasted 2015/03)

 

2010 Aile d`Argent
The white Mouton was served with a tartar of the topside of the mouflon with ramson and rye bread - lip smacking good! The wine showed of a nose with notes of sweet flowers, rubber, dried peaches and a hint of soap.
The taste is fine and open with notes of melted butter, plastic, flowers and some smoke. The finish is long and broad. Lacks a bit of elegance.
85p   (tasted 2015/03)

2009 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild
There is nothing "petite" with this wine, its displays a gorgeous nose with notes of fresh blueberries, black currants, cigar smoke and a very well cleaned out stable. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and inky with notes of ripe black currants, blueberries, graphite and coffee grounds. The finish is long and structured. Some very finely chiselled tannins. A perfect compliment to the Mouflon sausage with white beans, sage and Mouflon stock.
90p   (tasted 2015/03)

2001 Château Mouton Rothschild
Time for the real stuff. Having tasted 30+ vintages of Mouton, it is nice to make another mark in the belt, for I haven´t tasted the 2001 before. The nose is very fine and deep with notes of ripe black currants, graphite, fresh stables and that fine Mouton coffee scent. Aristocratic and very fine.
The taste is somewhat mature, pure and restrained in a very positive way, with notes of just ripening black currants, blueberries, pencil shavings and cold coffee. The finish is long, cool and refined. This is gooood! The best wine with the outer and inner filet of the Mouflon with asparagus, nettles, hazel nuts and duck liver.
93p   (tasted 2015/03)

1983 Château Mouton Rothschild
The first bottle was corked, but was swiftly replaced with a fresh one. The nose is beautiful mature with notes of dried black currants, dry graphite, well used stables, dark perfume and sugared coffee. Deep and fine. Perfectly mature.

The taste is mature and tight with a rustic elegance and notes of dried fruits, coffee powder, worn leather and damp earth. The finish is medium long and balanced. I have drunk this several times over the years and it always delivers, although it doesn't perform on the highest level that Mouton can achieve, for example with 1982 and 1986.

91p   (tasted 2015/03)

2002 Château d´Armailhac
This was generously served as an extra wine. The nose is cool and clean with notes of barely ripe red currants and red cherries, black tea, gravel and some wood notes. Good although it is a touch anemic.

The taste is tight and restrained elegant with notes of cool red fruit, cherry pips, gravel and wood. The finish is medium long with a fine acidity. Good with the food, which in this case was a spectacular dish in the shape of braised Mouflon neck with cabbage in a truffled bouillon, and then fresh truffles was generously shaved over the plate. The best dish I have had in a long time - absolutely stunning!

86p   (tasted 2015/03)

 

2007 Brunello di Montalcino, Valdicava
The generosity kept on flowing - another extra bottle was poured. This Brunello shows a deep, powerful nose with lovely notes of ripe black cherries, pipe tobacco, liquorice and expensive soap. Very, very deep.

The taste is big and bold with a touch of maturity and notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco, violets and hot earth. The finish is long, intense and structured. This is good!

92p   (tasted 2015/03)

2002 Château Suduiraut
Last but not least - a very fine Sauternes. The nose is from the textbook, with notes of saffron, hand cream, sweet apricots and peaches, lots of botrytis. Very deep, very focused and very fine.

The taste is intense and precise with notes of saffron cakes, lemoncello, tropical fruits, sweet almond paste and a hint of detergent. The length is counted in minutes. This is yummy!

93p   (tasted 2015/03)