A few wines from dinner at The Inn at Little Washington
A few wines from dinner at The Inn at Little Washington
by Spurty
1 Comment
Spurty
I was fortunate enough to dine at The Inn at Little Washington last week. A superb meal that was heightened by the best service I’ve ever encountered. I’ve been fortunate enough to eat at several 3* restaurants and The Inn was the best. A combo of pinpoint attention to detail coupled with a relaxed, friendly demeanor that made all feel welcome.
I was tasked with coming up with 4 bottles for our group, keeping total cost under $1500. Bear in mind that the rest of the group are very much into Champagne/white wine, rather than red, hence the split. Here’s what we ordered:
**Ulysse Collin Les Maillons (2018 base year) $345**
100% Pinot Noir. 36 months on the lees. 60% reserve wines. Quite tight on opening but really flourished through the evening. Lots of plums and red apple skins as it warmed. Very concentrated mid-palate but with a regal elegance that made it perfect as our aperitif. Given the price increases of the Collin wines, this seemed like a no-brainer to open. 93-94.
**Marc Hebrart Rive Gauche Rive Droit 2013 ~$350**
Big fan of the Hebrart wines. I’ve had the Special Club bottle a few times, but never this cuvée which is 50% Pinot Noir & 50% Chardonnay. 4.5 grams dosage. WOW, this was tied for WOTN. Incredible complexity and concentration. Reminded me of some vintage Krug I’ve had in the past, maybe just missing some of Krug’s length. But this was incredible with food. Lots of brioche, roasted nuts, sweet orange, orchard fruits, and baking spices. Must source this. Somm mentioned this was their last bottle! 94-95.
This was tied for WOTN with the Hebrart. Best Chablis I’ve had in a while. I love these wines and they represent a better choice compared to Raveneau when you factor in $$. This changed so much over the course of the evening. First it was all seashell and brine, then tropical fruits like passionfruit and guava. Towards the end it all started to work in harmony.
I’d been eyeing this wine for a while. Very’ Latricieres’ in that it was fine-boned and quite silky. Not a wine that bashes you over the head, rather, sucks you in with its fine perfume and complexities. I got a lot of beef blood and iron on opening, but that shifted to roasted coffee, purple/blue flowers, and smoke. I sense that the fruit is lurking the shadows and may re-emerge with another 3-5 years, but no regrets opening one now. Paired superbly with the duck.
So there you have it. Kept us (just) under budget and all were very happy with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drink and dine at The Inn.
1 Comment
I was fortunate enough to dine at The Inn at Little Washington last week. A superb meal that was heightened by the best service I’ve ever encountered. I’ve been fortunate enough to eat at several 3* restaurants and The Inn was the best. A combo of pinpoint attention to detail coupled with a relaxed, friendly demeanor that made all feel welcome.
I was tasked with coming up with 4 bottles for our group, keeping total cost under $1500. Bear in mind that the rest of the group are very much into Champagne/white wine, rather than red, hence the split. Here’s what we ordered:
**Ulysse Collin Les Maillons (2018 base year) $345**
100% Pinot Noir. 36 months on the lees. 60% reserve wines. Quite tight on opening but really flourished through the evening. Lots of plums and red apple skins as it warmed. Very concentrated mid-palate but with a regal elegance that made it perfect as our aperitif. Given the price increases of the Collin wines, this seemed like a no-brainer to open. 93-94.
**Marc Hebrart Rive Gauche Rive Droit 2013 ~$350**
Big fan of the Hebrart wines. I’ve had the Special Club bottle a few times, but never this cuvée which is 50% Pinot Noir & 50% Chardonnay. 4.5 grams dosage. WOW, this was tied for WOTN. Incredible complexity and concentration. Reminded me of some vintage Krug I’ve had in the past, maybe just missing some of Krug’s length. But this was incredible with food. Lots of brioche, roasted nuts, sweet orange, orchard fruits, and baking spices. Must source this. Somm mentioned this was their last bottle! 94-95.
**Vincent Dauvissat Chablis 1er Cru ‘La Forest’ $275**
This was tied for WOTN with the Hebrart. Best Chablis I’ve had in a while. I love these wines and they represent a better choice compared to Raveneau when you factor in $$. This changed so much over the course of the evening. First it was all seashell and brine, then tropical fruits like passionfruit and guava. Towards the end it all started to work in harmony.
**Domaine Trapet Latricieres-Chambertin 2013 $485**
I’d been eyeing this wine for a while. Very’ Latricieres’ in that it was fine-boned and quite silky. Not a wine that bashes you over the head, rather, sucks you in with its fine perfume and complexities. I got a lot of beef blood and iron on opening, but that shifted to roasted coffee, purple/blue flowers, and smoke. I sense that the fruit is lurking the shadows and may re-emerge with another 3-5 years, but no regrets opening one now. Paired superbly with the duck.
So there you have it. Kept us (just) under budget and all were very happy with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drink and dine at The Inn.