One of my friends hosted a dinner on Friday night. He got a real premium quality black truffle from France. In fact, he said it's brought by a winemaker in France, who visited him just a day before. There were just 5 of us, but he sliced and divided the whole truffle to put over the risotto he made.
My friend said this truffle was a black truffle but a summer version which are not quite as powerful as the winter blacks...and its pale color causes the locals in the Drome/Vaucluse to call them ‘white truffles’ to the despair of all italian gastros.
I must say, it was among the best quality black truffles I've had. It was also still fresh and the interior was still quite moist, too. It was just unbelievable!! And it was just an appetizer dish.
We opened some really wonderful wines tonight, too. Here are some of the wines we had.
1999 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils, Champagne, 1er Cru Brut...Aroma of yogurt, brioche, earth, very fine mousse.
2003 Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet, Les Champgains 1er Cru...Candied fruit, apricot, honey, spice, rich texture. Although from the hot vintage, the wine maintained the good amount of acidity and minerality.
2003 Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Meursault, Desiree...This was very rich, too. Dense texture.
2001 Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Meursault, Desiree...This vintage tasted more complete and structured, compared to its 2003. Serious quality.
2001 Domaine de Courcel, Pommard, Grand Clos des Epenots, 1er Cru...Dry herb, spice, dark berries. Complex with dry tannins.
2003 Domaine Michel Lafarge, Volnay, Vendanges Selectionnes...We had it side by side with Courcel's Pommard, and it tasted more wet and fresh. Very aromatic and rosy, like Vosne-Romanee.
1998 Lucien Camus-Bruchon, Pommard les Arvelets, 1er Cru...Dry berries, earth, spices. Very smooth palate and well-structured.
1990 Chateau Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol...Michel Rolland's own winery. When I tasted this blind, I first thought it was from left bank. The initial impression was the cassis and a hint of bell pepper with the mild oak. Then, on the palate, there was the very elegant round texture with minerality (like iron) and a hint of pencil led. The palate was more Pomerol than the nose. Really elegant and beautiful.
Wonderful lineup.
