I'm not sure I need to write any more, I think the title says it all really. I will though, because I'm nice like that. This was the second meal with my folks last week. Anyway, sorry for the delay, this house-buying stuff is terribly time-consuming...
Bison strip steak: cooked medium-rare on the grill (is there any other way?), served with grilled aubergine, roasted fennel with Parmesan and new potatoes. Sounds good? That's because it was. The bison was incredibly lean, so I would actually be tempted to cook it rare next time, and the star of the show was, undoubtedly, my mum's roasted fennel! Good work fella!
My dad's contribution to the meal was his decision to raid my wine cellar and decide that we should drink a bottle of my 1986 Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande, which, it must be said, was an excellent idea. I had thought we were going to have a 1996 Contino Rioja Gran Reserva, but whilst in the cellar to retrieve the Hugel SGN, he spotted the Pauillac and demanded to drink it. I suppose he did contribute to my existence so I should humour him occasionally...
1986 Pichon Lalande: still a very pure, dark ruby colour, with a lighter rim that showed no hint of browning at all. It had a very grand bouquet indeed, with dark fruit, cedar spice, leather, cigar box, pencil shavings, and tons of graphite minerality - a truly splendid nose indeed, which really revealed itself fully after a couple of hours in the decanter (it was still a little closed upon opening). In the mouth there was very prominent blackcurrant and cassis fruit, much more so than I expected from the nose, with the leather, spice and the beautiful graphite again. It had a velvety texture and still great purity of fruit, with all the other flavours falling into place and integrating beautifully. The tannins were soft, the acidity was well-balanced, and the evolving finish was very long indeed. An excellent wine, which I believe is in its peak drinking window, but will definitely keep for a while yet with good storage conditions.
1997 Hugel Gewurztraminer Selection des Grains Nobles: '97 was a very good vintage in Alsace, and it shows on this relatively youthful SGN from Hugel. It is still pretty light in colour, a mellow golden hue with hints of orange, and it showcases many truly delightful aromas and flavours - lychee, honeysuckle, rose water, honey, cinnamon - and it has a tongue-enveloping texture that fills your mouth with liquid joy. It is rich and sweet, but not overly so, decadent yet elegant, opulent yet refined and nuanced, and a drink that I will revisit in 10 years or so. A splendid mouthful of sheer pleasure. Well done Jean...
Hmmm. It would seem, therefore, that my parents consumed heartily when they were here. You can see where I got it from then. I'm glad they don't come around every night, frankly, as I would be both broke and very fat. And I'd have no wine left either!
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