Soutard is a favourite of mine and of many of my regular tasting cronies: old-fashioned Claret, somewhat under-appreciated in general. Trying the 85, 82, 78 and 70 at a small dinner didn't raise our admiration. The 85 is excellent but the 82 a bit less exciting. Two halves of the 78 were variable but the better one was pleasant enough. This bottle of 70 too is good rather than brilliant but one of us claimed to have a case of generally rather better bottles.

Earlier, I at least found both a white Priorat from Clos Berenguer and a white Rasteau from Gourt de Mautens rather overwrought and I would as soon drink the excellent and rather inexpensive Cotes du Rhone blanc Vieilles Vignes 2000 from Les Grandes Vignes du Roy.

A bottle of Dauvissat Chablis was predictably excllent as was a 94 from J-M Boillot. The 1990 L'Arrosee was rather elegant and for drinking soon. It's only 12.5% alcohol, which makes a pleasant change.

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