WCC 2006, 2009, 2010 Red Burgundy
Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY, 5/30/2024


My Albany-area group (the Wine Collectors Club) got together to taste red Burgundy blind at the Fort Orange Club in Albany. Dinner began around 7pm and ended around 10pm.

Executive Chef Lou Agostinello is doing a marvelous job of making wine-friendly, delicious food. Every course was outstanding.


Click on any image with a border for a larger view of that image.


Flight 1: 2006
Seared Ahi Tuna in Sesame Herbs de Provence with Mâche, Avocado Crudo, and Fire Roasted Pepper Coulis.
Delicious. Went with the wine better than one might expect. The coulis helped with that.
  1. 2006 Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Volnay 1er Cru Santenots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
    [Opened at 7, tasted at 7:30.] Lovely nose of black fruit and bark mulch. Tart cherry, medium body and length. Tasty. Drinking well now. (92 points)
  2. 2006 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
    [Double decanted at 2:30pm.] Muted nose of red fruit and licorice. Tart, juicy, but somewhat muted. Does it need more time? (91 points)
  3. 2006 Nicolas Potel Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
    [Double decanted at 5:30pm for 45 minutes.] Beautiful nose of sweet black fruit and spices. Long, complex, delicious. Terrific. (95 points)

Flight 2: 2009
Hudson Valley Duck Breast with Orange-Cardamom Blackberry Reduction, Sweet Potato Quenelle, and
Arugula Sprouts. I would have liked this a little rarer, but it was all delicious and wine friendly.
  1. 2009 Faiveley Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
    [Double decanted at noon for 45 minutes.] Big smoky nose of dark fruit. Rich, tannic, still young. Long. Likely to improve for 5-10 years. (92–?? points)
  2. 2009 Domaine de L'Arlot Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de l'Arlot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
    [Double decanted at 5:30pm for 45 minutes.] Unpleasant. A bad bottle. (NR/flawed)
  3. 2009 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St. Georges - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
    [Double decanted at 5:30pm for 45 minutes.] Sweet cherries in the nose. Delicious up front. Long finish of sweet red fruit with a bit of spice. Tasty! (93 points)

Flight 3: 2010
Colorado Lamb Loin Chop in a Collar City Mushroom Ragout with Boursin Dauphinoise and Chervil Creamed Spinach.
This was incredible. A great piece of meat perfectly complimented. Worked really well with this bigger wines.
  1. 2010 Domaine Berthelemot Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru
    [Double decanted at 12:30pm.] Bright red fruit nose. Lovely, but plenty of tannin on the long finish. A Burgundy for Barolo lovers. (93 points)
  2. 2010 Faiveley Corton-Clos des Cortons Faiveley - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
    [Opened at 7, tasted at 8:30.] Rich, smoky red fruit nose. Ripe cherry. Lots of structure. Should have decanted it, but wow, what a wine. My #2 WOTN. 95-??
    Day 2: A bit of cardamom in the black cherry nose. Lots of black raspberries on a long finish. Has an appealing spiciness. Could use another 5-10 years. (95 points)
  3. 2010 Lucien Le Moine Corton-Renardes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
    [Opened at 7, tasted at 8:30.] Gorgeous nose of red fruit and spice. Long and complex. Rich but balanced. My WOTN. (96 points)
  4. 2010 Domaine Bertagna Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
    [Opened at 6:30, tasted at 8:30.] Huge black fruit nose. Big, rich, tannic. Still young, but delicious now with the lamb. Great future. (94–?? points)


Dessert
Chocolate Lava Cake with Strawberry Meringue, Ganache, and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.
I was pretty full, but this was so good. The cake was light and the Meringue tasted like toasted marshmallows.


Summary

A lovely set of wines and food.

Notes posted from CellarTracker.


People Pix

Executive Chef Lou Agostinello was asked to come out so that we could thank him for this brilliant dinner:

Around our table:


WOTN Voting (3pts each for #1, 2pts for #2, 1pt for #3)

RankPts#Wine
1133.42010 Domaine Bertagna Chambertin
2113.32010 Lucien Le Moine Corton-Renardes
382.32009 Henri Gouges NSG Clos des Porrets St. Georges
471.32006 Nicolas Potel Echezeaux
5(tie)51.32006 Bernard Moreau Volnay Santenots
5(tie)53.12010 Berthelemot Beaune Clos des Mouches
743.22010 Faiveley Corton-Clos des Cortons Faiveley
812.12009 Faiveley Nuits St. Georges Les Damodes

 

 

 

All original content © Ken Vastola