HRH Jancis in Burgundy '08 mode
Hey, guess what?
Right. Another Burgundy 2008 day, this time in the salubrious surroundings of Vintners Hall for OW Loeb. The merchant attracts an enviable array of wine glitterati: Jancis (pictured typing away on her laptop), Steven Spurrier and even the “Lesser Spotted Hugh Johnson”. I interrupt his tasting to probe him about Tokaji, since I had just this morning sent off another 10K treatise for Wine-Journal on the very subject. He seems animated when talking about one of his favourite vinous subjects, which of course, he has a personal interest in courtesy of the Royal Tokaji Company. We had not parlayed for three or four years and I feel rather wary of having to jog his memory by reminding him of where we last met and that I now work for his nemesis over in Monkton. Anyway, his feathers seem unruffled and offers some invaluable insights.
Thank you, Hugh.
I have two other tastings to attend, but to be honest, I just do not have the time and so I catch the tube to Claridges, the venue for my scheduled interview with Philippe and Frederic Casteja for an article I am penning on Chateau Batailley. I sit and wait, watching affluent yummy mummies take high tea and sarnies at £37 a pop. Their children, who must be around Lily’s age, are attired from head to toe in designer appareil and it just looks ridiculous. I feel like going over to her and saying: “Your daughter will grow up to be permanently unhappy because she is so materialistic and by the way, 5-year olds look like hookers in knee-length patent black leather boots.”
The interview goes well. I eschew Dictaphone and touch type the conversation directly onto laptop. A bid à bientôt and walk down to the Japan Centre to buy Tomoko’s outrageously expensive Japanese magazine which seems obsessed with skin products, pop in to Hatchard’s bookshop to peruse their vinous literature, then walk back up Bond Street to “The Square” for tonight’s Chateau Batailley vertical: 20+ vintages back to 1947 no less. The wines are superb, particularly the 1949 and more recently, the 2006. There is another dinner in progress in the main restaurant with vinofriends, so I make a detour on the way to the Mens via a La Tâche 1964, Pichon-Lalande 1982 and an Echézeux 2000 from Henri Jayer. I cannot eat the entire multi-course dinner, delicious as it is, and make sure I catch the 11.15 train home.
It has been another long day.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | burgundy 2008, chateau batailley, claridges, hugh johnson, philippe casteja, the square, tokaji
Great info I adore a few of the articles which have been written, and especially the comments posted! I’ll come back!