Lunchtime Blues

We said farewell to The Man-None-Other and Souther-girl and welcomed Grunter and Super Sue with a lunch of cheese souffle and salad. Sad to see the former two go.

Of course, a couple of wines. Firstly an odd-ball 2006 Rotier 'Renaissance' Gaillac made from Loin de l'oeil, an ancient white variety given less than a year aging in 15% new barriques. Somewhat linear and lacking satisfaction, but clean and clear. Then a pairing of Ch. Palmer from Margaux. The 1983s was always touted to be better in Margaux than the 1982s - against the general Bordeaux claret trend. And so it would have been with the Palmers. The '83 bigger, fresher, richer and sweeter. But our bottle was plagued by brettanomyces. The '82 was in the same vein as many of the other wines of this vintage we have tasted lately. Faded, dried, dead leaves, with structure and grip remaining. But at least it was clean.

It was a case of the blues with the wine at lunch.