|
I was at a dinner at the Garrick Club on Monday, for a Wine Club called The Post Phyloxera Society. Although I was surrounded by a number of Wine Merchants I was asked to comment on the wines we drank.  Christopher Burr, MW That is absolutely no problem normally, apart from the fact that the first wine I thought was flabby, and knowing the man who kindly gave this wine, I had to be tactful, but honest without upsetting him. Secondly the two clarets, Leoville Barton 1986 and 1990, were printed in the menu in that order the 86 before the 90, but when I tasted them they were clearly the other way around with the 1990 first. I was sure because the more youthful colour, and the round softness of the 90, was immediately more appealing than the structured still quite tannic 86, which clearly needs more time. The sommelier at the Garrick is a charming young lady called Miriam, and when I asked she confirmed (what a relief) that 1990 was the first wine.
So by the last course I was on my feet. I managed to be relatively polite about the Macon 2002 from Verget, a big fruity wine, but lacking enough acidity to be really good, by speaking more about the most excellent piece of Brill we had to eat with it. I was able to emphasize that this fish and the way it had been cooked needed a wine with better acidity. {mosgoogle}
The two clarets, which I spoke of with some enthusiasm for both,contrasting and comparing the vintages, and drawing conclusions as to which was best now , and how they would both develop. I noticed some blank looks, and nods of disagreement, but being slowed down by some excellent Mutton, the Brill, and some truffled brie, I didn’t click till a well known merchant was asked to comment, and it suddenly became apparent that half those present had gotten the wines the wrong way round! What to do, embarrass the poor man, I suddenly came over all panicky, when he suddenly clicked himself, and admitted that on reflection and bearing in mind my comments, he must have got the wines in the wrong glass. I wonder how often people differ about a wine, when they are both talking about something completely different, it could explain a lot!
|
