Alsatian petrol and the elegance of the Rhone

Dinner again last night, more seafood and more French wine.

Started with a Lucien Albrecht Grand Cru Riesling Pfingstberg 2002 which was reasonably dry, subtle oak, clean white fruit yet very petrolly - high octane in fact, enough to get your Citroen over the border. Didn't quite sit that well with entrees, being assorted shellfish, but probably would work better with some cheeses, or sausages perhaps. But it was true Riesling none the less. It seems from reviews, the 2001 vintage was a better wine.



But then to a bottle of J. Vidal-Fleury 2002 Condrieu Blanc, very generously supplied by Phil. A Very elegant and well balanced Viognier, with soft oak and apricot. It had intelligence, and kept itself deliciously distanced on the palate, never intruding, never leaving. I highly recommend this one. Mmmmmm