Pessac-Léognan and Lamb for Easter
I have a friend named Julie who loves to cook and treats me with divine meals at the drop of a hat. Last week she invited me over for pre-Easter lamb, so I wanted to bring a special bottle. Hollywood staffer/Bordeaux specialist Jacques and I conferred, and we decided I should go with the 2010 Haut-Bergey from Pessac-Léognan. Julie is from Bordeaux, so I knew she’d appreciate this classic pairing of Pessac-Léognan and lamb. Plus, the 2010 vintage was an absolute blockbuster, so I was excited to try it with 12 years of age—especially at the $44.99 price tag!
Winemaker Hélène Garcin-Lévêque at Château Barde-Haut in June 2021.
Haut-Bergey is made by the amazing Hélène Garcin-Lévêque, who is also the magic hand behind Right Bank wines Barde-Haut, La Poesia, and Clos l’Eglise. She’s a longtime K&L favorite, and I was lucky enough to meet her on our trip to Bordeaux last year. I’ve always loved her wines for their pure sensory pleasure: they are deeply layered with flavors and show silky, elegant texture. The 2010 Haut-Bergey was no exception. Even with 12 years of age, it still opened up slowly in the glass, and provided waves of new experiences as the night went on. There were layers of flavors like tobacco and coffee and dark chocolate and black fruit—each sip revealed something new. Though it’s delicious now, I can tell that this wine will continue to evolve for years to come.
It was a great accompaniment to the roasted lamb chops and spring vegetables. The rest of the meal was equally wonderful. I made fava bean and potato croquettes for an appetizer and paired them with the 2017 Roserock Chardonnay. I adore this wine, and, though we’re out of the 2017, I just picked up a bottle of the 2018 Roserock (Drouhin Oregon) Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay because I liked its predecessor so much. It’s made by Burgundy’s Drouhin family at their Oregon estate, and it showed a zippy acidity and intricate lemon curd palate. For dessert, Julie made Melissa Clarke’s Lemon Drizzle Cake with blueberries, which was simple and perfect, especially paired with the 2017 Husch "Late Harvest" Anderson Valley Gewürztraminer. It’s a dessert wine that manages to remain light on its feet thanks to a bright, radiant acidity and a moderate amount of sweetness. It tasted like a breezy springtime day in a glass, and I loved it. An exceptional meal with exceptional wines and company!
