Wine group at E.O'N's 29/01/2009 (TNB)

• Pinot Bianco 2006 (F. Haas) Dry reasonable fruit, a bit rough. Not as good as I might have hoped.
• Wormeldange Nussbaum Pinot Blanc 2006 (Clos des Rochers) A bit spritzy, quite rich, with some real depth. The group's first Luxembourg wine. Not bad in fact.
• Soave Classico La Rocca 2006 (Pieropan) Sexed up a bit with oak, quite showy and rather good.
• Soave Classico Calvarino 2006 (Pieropan) Very pure - needs time in the glass to open out. Great persistent finish. A wine you have to pay attention to, but it offers rewards you when you do. Top
• Nuits St George 1er Clos des Forets 1999 (De L'Arlots) Quite stalky, medium weight. A bit short on concentration perhaps. Decent but not exceptional. Top
• Chateau d'Angludet 1998 Quite dry, fairly inky. Lacks real depth. This and the next two rather extracted.
• Chateau d'Angludet 1996 Good fruit, nice structure. Firm, needs a bit of time.
• Chateau d'Angludet 1995 Rather dry and inky, possibly faulty, although it is hard to be sure.
• Chateau d'Angludet 1989 Quite classic. Great backbone, fairly mature now. Top
• Chateau Loubens St Croix du Mont 1989 Light colour, nice intensity, touch of botrytis.
• Chateau Lamothe Guignard 1989 Deep colour, large, a bit clumsy. Bare
• Terrantez 1977 (d'Oliveiras) Fantastically good, elegant, penetrating, coffee and something hard to describe. Great acidity. Developing nicely. Bare

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A couple of things that have been long in the cellar 25/01/2009 (TNB)

• Gewurztraminer Kessler 1989 (Schlumberger) Last one of a case bought in the early 90's. Now just very charming, gentle fruit with great balance. I am sure this will be fine in a few years, but this is a good time to have the last bottle.
• Quarts de Chaume 1986 (Baumard) Fairly dry now, a touchy smoky and fairly complex - makes a nice aperitif.

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20/01/2009 (TNB)

• Sancerre Vieilles Vignes 2004 (P & N Reverdy) A rather shockingly fruity nose, yet this has very hight fruit quality and there is a streak of minerality running through it. It is a bit much almost to drink as an aperetif without food, but it is clearly Old World. With some reservations (I must try another bottle) a top

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New Year Fizz at J.M's 04/01/2009 (TNB)

From memory - no notes taken.

• Champagne 1999 (C. Saves) Nice body, good fruit, mainly Pinot presumably, perhaps a touch rustic.
• Champagne 1999 (A. Clouet) Finer than Saves wine (despite I think being 100% Pinot). Nice poise and balance. Top
• Champagne Excellence NV (Gosset) This is a bit confected with that odd grassy character that Moet seems to have these days. A bit sweet for me too. I am not keen. Top
• Champagne Special Club 1996 (A. Jacquart) Very Le Mesnil, stony with that curious suggestion of oxidation. Good concentration and length. Will benefit from a few more years.
• Champagne Cuvee Louise 1998 (Pommery) Very fine indeed with a classy "old straw" nose. (Odd words - how do other people describe this character of youngish top fizz?) Nice weight with that forward, mouthfilling character of the vintage. Top

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