Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Saturday 14 September 2013

Did the wines of Jerez originate in Chassagne?


1977 Chassagne-Montrachet, Mommessin

The title isn't, of course, entirely serious but... A start to clearing out the garage unearthed a few neglected bottles including this 1977 Chassagne-Montrachet. We must have bought it in the early 1980s. We decided to tackle this first as the level was quite well down and the colour was, as you can see, a pretty deep gold. 

I pulled the cork expecting that the wine would be completely shot and fit only for the sink. On first sniff it was decidedly oxidised but not at all unpleasant, like a Palo Cortado but initially with less fruit. However, with some air the wine opened out and, although far from what its maker had intended back in 1977, it had some buttery, honeyed fruit to go with the oxidation and high acidity associated with the 1977 vintage. Indeed we comfortably finished the bottle in one sitting. 

Only goes to show that wine can be more indestructible than one often imagines!     


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