The first Sunday of the month came around again and for me that can only mean one thing now, Lamont’s first Sunday tapas. Eight amazing wines with five delicious dishes – all for $75. It’s just fantastic, I don’t think you could get anything better in Perth for $75, for the atmosphere, for the enjoyment, location and great range of wines. All prices indicated below were applicable on the night.

We started the tasting with the Tribault Cuvée René, Champagne NV ($59.95) alongside bresola, capers and baguette. Brioche and lemon notes on the nose follow through with a depth and complexity to it coupled with refreshing acidity.

 

Next up was Thierry and Pascale Matrot Bourgogne Blanc, 2011 ($29.50) and Woodlands Wilyabrup Chardonnay, 2012
( $22.50). We had this with roasted sweet potato, warm goats cheese and candied pancetta. Tasting an old world (Burgundy) next to a new world (WA) was not only interesting in terms of the different flavours but also the different levels and complexities. While the Bourgogne Blanc offered a clean, lean wine with steely minerality and hints of oak, the Woodlands Wilyabrup Chardonnay was much more more fruit driven with peach and pear followed by rich oak and cream.

Sylvain Mosnier Chablis 2008 ($33.50) and Laurent Savoye La Cadole Fleurie, 2011 ($16.95) with baked sardine, tomatoes, olives and crunchy crumb. The Chablis is indeed as was described by Lamont’s ‘ lean and flinty’ – Chablis has made its name on this reputation and as well as being lean and flinty offers aromas of apples and lemon. Laurent Savoye La Cadole Fleurie was surprisly great value at $16.95. Made from the Gamay grape from Beaujolais I enjoyed the slight hints of spice and plums on the nose followed by notes of bubblegum, bitter cherries and perfumed notes coupled with silky tannins.

Philippe Livera Côtes de Nuits Villages, 2010 ($29.95) and Aurélien Verdet Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Le Prieure, 2010 ($25.50) with Dave Hohnen’s pork “sausage roll” were delicious. I prefered the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, located just to the west of the Côtes de Nuits on top of an escarpment where it’s a bit cooler and the grapes ripen just that little bit later. The Côtes de Nuits Villages oozed spices, perfumed cherries and many more flavours – I was too busy enjoying the wine to write down them all! The high acidity on the palate was well balanced with the herbaceous notes and subtle Pinot Noir aromas – cherries, berries, green pepper and a slight hint of the ‘terroir’ – very slight barnyard. The Hautes-Côtes de Nuit offered more pronounced flavours on the nose with a richer and more complex finish compared to the Côtes de Nuits Villages.

Lamont’s Muscat, NV with plum and lychee, muscat sabayon finished off the evening, delicious. This sweet wine was delightful; dried plums, caramel, marmalade flavours from the nose followed onto the palate and complimented the sweetness in the dessert perfectly. I can’t wait for the next tapas tasting!