Last night Andrew selected lamb loin chops for dinner, so Jean settled
on a bottle of this wine to accompany it.

2001 Domaine Font de Michelle Chateauneuf-du-Pape
nose: classic CNdP nose of kirschwasser cherry with an overlay of
something meaty
palate: fully resolved tannins, medium body, silky smooth, no heat from
the 14% ABV

This is the first of the 2001s we've dipped into but this producer
typically makes a more forward wine than many of the traditionalists
that I favor. Made by the delightful and friendly Gonnet brothers, this
is their cuvée normale and doesn't see much new oak AFAIK. Totally
typique in character, it was really a pointe and unlikely to get much
better IMO. Great match for the lamb, too (but then again, what red wine
doesn't pair well with lamb?)

Mark Lipton

On Mar 5, 8:10*pm, Mark Lipton > wrote:
> Last night Andrew selected lamb loin chops for dinner, so Jean settled
> on a bottle of this wine to accompany it.
>
> 2001 Domaine Font de Michelle Chateauneuf-du-Pape
> nose: classic CNdP nose of kirschwasser cherry with an overlay of
> something meaty
> palate: fully resolved tannins, medium body, silky smooth, no heat from
> the 14% ABV
>
> This is the first of the 2001s we've dipped into but this producer
> typically makes a more forward wine than many of the traditionalists
> that I favor. Made by the delightful and friendly Gonnet brothers, this
> is their cuv e normale and doesn't see much new oak AFAIK. Totally
> typique in character, it was really a pointe and unlikely to get much
> better IMO. Great match for the lamb, too (but then again, what red wine
> doesn't pair well with lamb?)
>
> Mark Lipton

Your last comment makes for interesting discussion as I do find that
many red wines don't pair well with lamb. Zindfandel seems to
overwhelm lamb and Cali wines with big oak also tend to do so for me.
I do like CdP with lamb though.

On 03/06/2011 04:10 AM, Mark Lipton wrote:
>
> Last night Andrew selected lamb loin chops for dinner, so Jean settled
> on a bottle of this wine to accompany it.
>
> 2001 Domaine Font de Michelle Chateauneuf-du-Pape
> nose: classic CNdP nose of kirschwasser cherry with an overlay of
> something meaty
> palate: fully resolved tannins, medium body, silky smooth, no heat from
> the 14% ABV
>
> This is the first of the 2001s we've dipped into but this producer
> typically makes a more forward wine than many of the traditionalists
> that I favor. Made by the delightful and friendly Gonnet brothers, this
> is their cuvée normale and doesn't see much new oak AFAIK. Totally
> typique in character, it was really a pointe and unlikely to get much
> better IMO. Great match for the lamb, too (but then again, what red wine
> doesn't pair well with lamb?)
>

Nice! I don't have any 2001 CdP but if I did I'll bet this would be one
of the bottles. So, vicariously enjoyed.

-E

lleichtman > wrote in news:e038b785-7ad8-4db3-
:
>
> Your last comment makes for interesting discussion as I do find that
> many red wines don't pair well with lamb. Zindfandel seems to
> overwhelm lamb and Cali wines with big oak also tend to do so for me.
> I do like CdP with lamb though.

Oh, I am surprised now. I share the idea that most red wines that I drink,
go well with lamb, specially when thinking classic regions (to me, that
means Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Chinon, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toscana and
Piamonte).

Actually, when I want to enjoy a really good bottle of wine from this
regions, I end up with a grilled steak and/or roasted lamb. I even try not
to add anything sweet (e.g. roasted vegetables such as leek, carrots, etc)
because I find it makes the dryer wines taste sour.

There is another category of wines, which are usually heavy on oak and bear
higher alcohol levels, that I think can go better with dishes that have a
sweet component, and plainly roasted lamb can usually be too soft a flavour
for that wines.

On Mar 6, 10:53*am, santiago > wrote:
> lleichtman > wrote in news:e038b785-7ad8-4db3-
> :
>
>
>
> > Your last comment makes for interesting discussion as I do find that
> > many red wines don't pair well with lamb. Zindfandel seems to
> > overwhelm lamb and Cali wines with big oak also tend to do so for me.
> > I do like CdP with lamb though.
>
> Oh, I am surprised now. I share the idea that most red wines that I drink,
> go well with lamb, specially when thinking classic regions (to me, that
> means Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Chinon, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toscana and
> Piamonte).
>
> Actually, when I want to enjoy a really good bottle of wine from this
> regions, I end up with a grilled steak and/or roasted lamb. I even try not
> to add anything sweet (e.g. roasted vegetables such as leek, carrots, etc)
> because I find it makes the dryer wines taste sour.
>
> There is another category of wines, which are usually heavy on oak and bear
> higher alcohol levels, that I think can go better with dishes that have a
> sweet component, and plainly roasted lamb can usually be too soft a flavour
> for that wines.

I could not have said it any better Santiago.