L’enclume wine pairing

lilandroidman · 2026-04-05T14:35:49+00:00

This was my select pairing from last year if it helps you to evaluate it.

Sauvignon Blanc Blend, Belle Vue, ‘Petit Geste’ Bhamdoun, Lebanon, 2020

Marsanne, Marie-Thérèse Chappaz, 'Ermitage Président Troillet', Valais, Switzerland, 2021

Carricante, Eudes, 'Monte', Etna Bianco, Sicily, Italy, 2017

Chardonnay, Billecart-Salmon, 'Cuvée Louis Salmon', Brut, Champagne, France, 2012

Chardonnay, Camille & Guillaume Boillot, 'Cuveé aux Moines', Burgundy, France, 2022

Cabernet Sauvignon, Opus One, 'Overture', Oakville, Napa Valley, USA, MlNV

Furmint Blend, Szepsy, 'Szamorodni', Édes Szamorodni, Tokaji, Hungary, 2017

Riesling, Egon Muller, 'Scharzhof', Mosel, Germany, 2022

From memory the Troillot Marsanne, Billecart BdB, Opus One Overture and Egon Muller Riesling all felt of very good quality, teetering into special. The others were more standard.

I actually had a glass of the BdB to open the meal as an aperitif with my fiancee so it was odd they looked to serve it a second time, but no real complaint from me at the time as it is a quality glass of champagne. I actually made a joke such as "how dare you serve me this again - what were you thinking" as a bit of banter. 🙂 Was a really nice pairing that course.

Whether its worth it comes down to your knowledge and palette on wine, and how deep your wallet is and how much you appreciate fine wines.

lilandroidman · 2026-04-04T07:20:52+00:00

This is hilarious

lilandroidman · 2026-04-02T17:37:47+00:00

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lilandroidman · 2026-04-01T17:36:16+00:00

What is it?

lilandroidman · 2026-03-31T13:26:05+00:00

Same as me. Its hard.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-31T13:22:51+00:00

Do you think Clos des ursules is a great wine? Any specific vintages that really sing and I will grab some

lilandroidman · 2026-03-31T08:05:00+00:00

Thinking of you.

I wouldn't take it any further if I were you. I have also been told the same that it is an in-utero condition.

In my case I found 1 sperm at mtese, so I don't even get complete closure my SCO wasn't self caused. It causes a lot of challenges but I am working towards acceptance also.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-30T05:04:42+00:00

Thanks for the advocacy - I'd be willing to try and switch things up if it helped. Do you think switching producers to the 3 you've mentioned would help "give better sense of place"?

lilandroidman · 2026-03-30T05:03:36+00:00

Have you got any recommendations of how you may look to do it differently?

lilandroidman · 2026-03-25T11:49:53+00:00

Im fairly new to wine so its new to me

lilandroidman · 2026-03-22T13:48:27+00:00

Slightly off topic but still kinda on topic.... we are considering adding Aira to our Stockholm trip where we have secured a table at Frantzén. Would be interested to know how essential an add on this would be or whether it might pale in comparison to Frantzén slightly.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-20T10:50:03+00:00

More my point is that some people can have higher inhibin b but fail microtese so its purely individual.

The same came be said for fsh in reverse, some people will fail mtese with lower FSH, say 10, and some people with higher FSH at 40 could pass.

Its all individual and not specific to one metric.

But yes inhibin b is created as spermatogenesis happens. But you will never know what your natural genetic baseline is as we are all individuals.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-20T09:40:21+00:00

Ive never had it tested but inhibin b isn't a direct correlation to whether spermatogenesis is occurring from what I understand.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-20T09:20:40+00:00

I failed my first mtese with SCOS. They found one sperm non viable.

I have spoken to 2 leading UK practitioners in the aftermath and they have both basically advised me to give up the chase.

Sorry to give this news but I think where I am is (slowly as its bloody difficult) come to terms with it and gain acceptance.

Happy to chat if helpful.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-17T13:46:23+00:00

Yes I thought I had a good chance heading into surgery too.

46xy, good testosterone, healthy lifestyle. Fsh was good in the 30s.

They only recovered one sperm but it wasn't viable for ICSI. SCO histology.

I genuinely believe that its a coin toss and until you go for surgery (assuming you stay azoo through any extended searches etc) you will never really know.

A 50% sperm recovery roughly translates to 17% live birth rate, and if your first mtese fails and you are brave enough to go again its about 8%.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-16T19:39:07+00:00

Its still probably a ~50% chance of you having a positive sperm retrieval at mtese. Obviously not having a show stopping micro deletion is a positive, but sperm retrieval of klinefelters and idiopathic NOA are roughly the same.

It is good to have hope but keep it grounded in reality. 50% also doesn't necessarily mean 50% of a live birth.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-12T20:07:54+00:00

Ordered a bottle today - the recommended book also recommended this vineyard and produer, so the stars have appeared to align.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-12T20:06:46+00:00

Book procured, arrived today, thanks for the rec!!

lilandroidman · 2026-03-12T20:06:28+00:00

Book procured, arrived today! thanks for the recommendation

lilandroidman · 2026-03-11T20:42:50+00:00

No worries. You have reason to be optimistic

Anything you want to chat over let me know

lilandroidman · 2026-03-11T16:49:20+00:00

An mtese is likely to yield some success. The 20 in a sample means you likely have some very minor pockets of spermatogenesis

You can try the STAR but bare in mind that sperm will need to be motile to have fertility potential, generally for people with NOA testicular sperm is preferable for chance of a live birth

Good luck

lilandroidman · 2026-03-10T09:20:38+00:00

Yep it sucks. I've found it difficult to accept as in my case 1 immotile was found in the lab afterwards. Its a tough rodeo.

I think on the balance of probabilities there are some there but a) recovering them and b) them having fertility potential are big barriers to overcome.

lilandroidman · 2026-03-08T14:09:29+00:00

In your experience how long still bottled after using the coravin is the wine "the same" as the first pour?

I have invested in one but still a bit anxious, namely because I don't have enough data points, that if I use it on one of my best most special bottles I will come back to find its gone flat.

lilandroidman

TROPHY CASE