Some friends came over for dinner and I cooked dishes with my tagine-style donabe, "Fukkura-san". I love cooking with Fukkura-san so much, because it's so versatile and I can cook so many different styles of dishes with it.
Everybody liked my Kurobuta Pork Sukiyaki, so I was happy.
Here's the list of the wines we had for the night.
2005 Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru, "Les Chenevottes"...From the vineyard just south of Montrachet. Classic-style Chassagne with the stoney minerality. Rich fruit, spice, almond on the nose. Oily texture. Beautifully balanced and long finish.
2007 Jacques-Frederic Mugnier, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru, "Clos de la Marechale" Blanc...It was such a treat to taste the rare white from this monople vineyard (10 ha), especially after tasting the same vintage rouge just a couple of weeks ago. Beautiful aroma of stone fruit, citrus, and herbs. Minerality and acidity are less prominent compared to Cote de Beaune whites. Great structure.
2000 Patrick Javillier, Pommard...He's best known for stunning Meursault, but Javillier also makes solid reds. Unfortunately, this bottle was corked. It would have been a nicely ready wine.
2006 Domaine Henri Boillot, Volnay 1er Cru, "Clos de la Rougeotte"...I poured this wine blind (with no hint), and one of my friends immediately said, "This is a beautiful Volnay. Thank you." Wow, how impressive! It was indeed a classic example of Volnay with the violet, berries, and earth on the nose. Very elegant palate. I new this tiny vineyard (0.45 ha) is a monopole of Bouchard (Volnay Fremiets Clos de la Rougeotte 1er Cru)...I'm not sure if Henri Boillot leases a parcel of this vineyard from them.
2002 Domaine Robert Arnoux, Chambolle-Musigny...The domaine is now 5th generation in Vosne-Romanee. It was a little shy in the beginning but later opened up to be very floral and perfumy. The same friend called it as Chambolle when I poured blind. I thought my original impression was like rosy Vosne-Romanee (even though I knew what it was, since it was my wine). I need to train myself harder!
