Marchbanks
Hat and Beard member
I had never tried Clos des Papes before, so when A Client decided in April to dump some bottles of 2011 for £36 IB (=£46) I did a little research. Despite it being an iffy year it seemed to be rated highly, not least by its maker, so I grabbed the three on offer.
I was taken aback at first by how remarkably light and fresh it felt, at least compared to the 2009 Télégraphe I tried last week. It seemed more like a Saint Cosme Gigondas, but also having a distinct leathery/tarry edge to it. Vincent Avril said something like ‘the freshness of 2008 with the structure of 2009’. I may have got that the wrong way round, or even got the wrong dates, but you get the gist - memorable freshness and structure. The only drawback I can see - horribly moreish, but 15% ABV. Eek! I had a wee Leffe as an apéro rather than a Rochefort. Really, really lovely. If you see some more at a similar price, please avoid like the plague and tell me about it instead.
This was matched with Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (again) and now Cornell 1964 (again) because (a) I am boringly predictable and (b) they are both amazing.
I bought a tripod at a braderie yesterday, so this evening set up a shot, put out saucers of milk and cat food and played FMlJ through the Genelecs. This is roughly equivalent to calling out ‘here, kitty’ to the jazz-loving feral cat. Then I sat back for a few minutes and waited to operate the remote shutter via my iPad...