3 Sep 2010: Dinner at Twyst with Melanie and Claude. I had underestimated the amount of rainfall and probably looked rather miserable on my slightly tardy arrival at the restaurant. Melanie's suggestion to open the Egly-Ouriet that she had brought to toast to my new job was a much welcomed one! Francis and Michel Egly (son and father) own 8.5 ha of grand cru vineyard in Ambonnay, as well as another hectare in Verzenay plus a few rows in Bouzy, all grand cru quality. In addition, they own a plot of old Meunier vines in Vrigny, for single-vineyard bottling. The Eglys probably make some of the finest blanc de noirs in Champagne. The Brut Tradition Grand Cru is a rich style champagne, pinot noir-based, with a lot of honey, acacia, macadamia nuts, ripe pears, citrus peel and toasty character. Creamy, weighty, rich and well balanced with fresh acidity. Good length. 17.5/20
We started our Spanish wine adventure with 2007 Ossian from Rueda. 100% Verdejo, with barrel fermentation and maturation. Complex, well-integrated oak components, showing floral, guava, honey, nutty, subtly smokey with an underlying core of minerality. Medium-full bodied, well structured, balanced, with a fine backbone of acidity, make this a really fine example of white wine from Rueda, showcasing the weight, richness, complexity and depth normally associated with a cool climate classic variety, like Chardonnay, grown in typical terroir. This is very fine indeed and at such an attractive price-quality ratio, I give it 16.5/20
It went very well with the foie gras dish, I could tell.....as Claude and Melanie both praised the wine! It equally paired well with my pasta with anchovy with its fine acidity and slight smokiness.
