Pensionable Burgundy

Every time you get the Garratts to delve, to satisfy your desire for wines with age no one else seems to be able to supply, you take put your wine adventure into their hands.  Phil will curl his lip and suggest that it may be past it, we will usually partake, knowing his leanings towards caution, but sometimes our adventure is met with a bad un'. He who dares wins (in the majority of cases).

Name                Mercurey Clos Rochette
Vintage             1997
Country             France
Region              Burgundy
Grape               Chardonnay
Maker               Faiveley
% Alc                13%
Price                  ???
Source              Winos






Most of the time, it's a resounding victory, giving access aged wines at great prices. Tonight, a different proposition. When poured into the decanter, the signs weren't good. The cork was soggy, and the liquor in the bottle shared a hue with donkey urine. 

The Mercury it held, was past it to say the least. The perfume was woody and appley, and suggested sherry; a drink welcome in the household, but not characteristics we'd expect in a burgundy. 


Chardonnay fruit was no where to be seen, and there was masses of wax and  honey. A great wine adventure experience, no doubt. But a bottle that was at least half drunk by the drain, and not us. 


Not a good bottle of wine, but for me it is just as interesting, tasting a wine that has gone past it is a mostly rare thing these days in a world of supermarket wine shopping, where moat of the wine sold is too young.  It lets me understand the spectrum of age in wine, when a wine is too young, when it is just about there, and in this case when too old.