Two half bottles for a dinner for two:
2002 Domaine de l'Arlot, Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Forêts St Georges: An opulent bouquet of spice (clove and cinnamon), date, dried fruit, burnt cream, vanilla and cocoa notes. On the palate, full-bodied, with velvety texture, accompanied by weighty lush ripe fruit. Though not unpleasant, there was a slight bitterness at the finish.
2002 Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Champans: The classic bouquet of sweet spice, vanilla, cardamom, earthy, wet leaves and cherry stone. Light-bodied. There was evident volatile acidity but not too much to be unpleasant. We should at some point soon taste a full bottle to check the drinking window of this wine.
30 January 2017:
Another dinner for two when we also compared two halves:
2010 Bouchard Beaune-Grèves Vigne de L'Enfant Jesus: the nose was spicy, vanilla, chocolate, violet, cherry stone, with a hint of sous-bois. Medium acidity enough to maintain freshness. Delicious ripe fruit. Can be enjoyed now and over the next 5 - 6 years in this format. Definitely a favourite of mine!
1993 Dujac, Clos Saint Denis: Unfortunately, I found this lacking in fruit and drying out in this format. It still has the structure of an elegant wine, but much less charming than it would have been 8-10 years ago. Worth revisiting another half and a full bottle.
