The Commanderie made its annual pilgrimage to the Alderley Edge Hotel for its AGM and dinner and enjoyed their first opportunity for some to go into summer plumage with their white dinner jackets and summer frocks (even though the weather hardly justified it!).
We gathered with a good turnout in the bar and sampled a very tasty Chateau Lamothe-Vincent AC Bordeaux 2014 before moving into the Laurent-Perrier Conference Room for the AGM and dinner.
The AGM business was passed quickly (aided by a pleasant glass of champagne with reports from the Vinothécaire, the Maître, some adjustments to the constitution and some key changes to the conseil. The accounts and auditor were also agreed. Particular thanks were noted from the membership for the hard work and quality of the support provided by Margaret Joscelyne and Derek Fletcher to the conseil as the outgoing Maître en Chanson and the Argentier respectively. The presence of Paul Chedgey as the Grand Maître Territoriale for Grande Bretagne was also welcomed.
The meal itself was a delight and accompanied by well matched, high quality and tasty wines.
We started with a Wellington of Loch Duart salmon, with scorched leek and dill ketchup and both this and the Château Bel Air Perponcher Réserve 2014, A.C. Bordeaux Blanc were better for each other’s company, the wine adding to the freshness of the dish and the Muscadelle grapes lifting the sauvignon dominated fresh acitity.
We then had a superb cannon of lamb, with English asparagus and rosemary which was accompanied by the excellent Château Haut-Batailley 2004, 5ème Cru Classé A.C. Pauillac. It was noted that this was even better than the last time we had tasted it at a summer lunch and was thought to still have some life in it. One of the Commandeurs, who had had a particularly demanding day (and leading to his late arrival) described the wine as by far the best part of his day and led to his rapid rehabilitation.
There was then a generous and tasty selection of British farmhouse cheeses and these were accompanied by the Château Giscours 1996, 3ème Cru Classé A.C. Margaux. For some this was the wine of the night and had repaid the modest investment to become an excellent example of a Margaux; thought it may have now reached a plateau in its flavours.
We ended the meal with a broken lemon meringue pie, that had textures of blackberry and sherbet. This was a delicious desert that was accompanied by the lovely Château de Malle 2009, 2ème Cru Classé A.C. Sauternes, that provided sweetness and hone without being at all cloying.
The Commanderie then presented Commandeur Meritant certificates to Commandeurs Joscelyne and Fletcher for their invaluable work and thanked their hosts and departed for their homes with business complete and having enjoyed fine dining and excellent wines – just what the Commanderie is for!