Traci and I had some friends over the other night and we served up straight forward bistro fare (my favorite style) that started with a simple, cream heavy Apple & Rutabaga soup that we paired with a N.V. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut. I know this is the whipping boy of overpriced champagne but there was nothing wrong with this bottle and it showed surprisingly rich and toasty aromatics along with a medium bodied, creamy mouth feel. Traci stashes these in the cellar so I’m not sure if this had a year or two on it or if it was just recently purchased. Either way, if the price is right, these are certainly enjoyable (89pts.)

We also paired the champagne with a salad course before moving into the main dish of Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese with crisp Country Ham dish. Simple reduced cream mixed with smoked Gouda, shallots and a pinch of nutmeg gets covered in crisped country ham and it doesn’t get much easier to serve up. We went through a bottle of 2006 Domaine Chante Perdrix Châteauneuf-du-Pape and this blend of 80% Grenache is a gorgeous, upfront and easy drinking wine. The nose shows pure, clean raspberry aromas that blend with subtle spice, licorice and mineral notes and the palate displays the charm of the vintage with a smooth, rich, creamy texture and a harmonious, balanced, drink me now character. This faded slightly over the evening and given the upfront appeal, should be a candidate for drinking over the next 5 to 7 years (91pts.)

The charm and gulp ability of the Perdrix was in sharp contrast to a 2005 Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses. I’ve been through close to a case of this wine and almost every bottle shows a slight spritz at first and takes a good 3+ hours to show its best and this was no exception. Just packed with peppery dark fruit, leather, spice and mineral notes, this is a traditional, medium bodied, masculine wine. The remaining half bottle showed even better on the next day. I like the 2005 a hair more than the 2006 but this can be found for a ridiculous low prices and is a no brainier case purchase for me (90pts.)

We finished the evening up with some Chocolate Soufflés and called it a night.

Thanks for reading!

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