2005 Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet “les Folatieres” & 2000 Moss Wood cabernet sauvignon

2005 Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet “les Folatieres” 1er Cru, over lunch at Prive (courtesy of Kieron). This is a negociant that often provides better value for money. Popped and poured. Almost limey-green in color. Served too cold initially without adequate aeration, where there was a predominance of limey citrus, quite lively, supported by fairly dense minerality. It truly opened up only an hour later, with much deeper notes of nectar and honey emerging to displace the citrus notes, the minerality becoming better defined with a buttery feel without any oakiness. Excellent.

2000 Moss Wood cabernet sauvignon, over lunch at Prive. Good thing I had double-decanted it for 2 hours prior, for the benefits were readily apparent. Still rather dark red. Open on the nose with predominant red fruits, cinnamon, and a bit of leather, a tad heavy. On the palate, it proved to be much more accessible than a bottle tasted a year ago. Medium-full, fairly soft and rounded, showing excellent depth and concentration, still remarkably fresh and fleshy without any tannic attack nor any trace of its 14.5% alcohol. Drinking very well without any tell-tale signs of the New World, but it just doesn’t have that uniqueness of terroir. My last bottle.