On Tuesday evening I was back to Noble Rot, for dinner with the In Pursuit of Balance crowd: Raj Parr, Jamie Kutch, Jasmine Hirsch, Steve Matthiason, Mark Andrew and Totte Steneby. We ate and drank really well, beginning with the excellent Hambledon sparkler (one of England’s finest), and progressing from there.

The food was lovely: I really liked the slip sole, and I also loved the duck hearts. Duck on lentils was pure comfort food.

One of the wines we had was utterly stunning and not expensive, but Raj has forbidden me from writing about it because he doesn’t want the secret to get out. Suffice to say it was from the Loire and it was one of the best white wines I have had this decade, and it isn’t crazy expensive.

Other wines I can write about. This pair were amazing.

Raveneau Butteaux Chablis 1er Cru 1999 Burgundy, France
Beautifully elegant nose, with citrus, grapefruit, subtle dairy notes and some pear richness. The palate is pure, texture and shows lovely citrus fruit that’s both rounded and linear at the same time. Very fresh for its age and showing lovely development, with a long time still to go. So fine. 95/100

Chave Hermitage 1985 Northern Rhone, France
Iron, blood, fresh red cherries and herbs on the nose. The palate shows iodine, spices, red cherries and plums. So intense with amazing fruit considering its age. Notes of cloves and pepper tell of its origins, and there’s real purity and definition here. Lovely wine. 96/100

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