28/01/1996 (TNB)

• Coudelet de Beaucastel Red 86 Good colour, warm red fruits and hints of mushrooms and chesnut. Like a good Chateauneuf, drinking well. 87.
• Chassagne Montrachet Caillertes 89 (J-N. Gagnard) Gorgeous, melons and marzipan, exquisite balance with excellent concentration (from half). 92.
• Leoville Barton 75 Good colour, coming round to drinking, slightly leafy nose, with good cedary flavours in the mouth. As I've noticed before, this is a typical for 75, since there seems to be little of the harshness so often apparent. 91.
• Rabaud Promis 86 Nice fruit and plenty of gorgeous botrytis. Drinking nicely. 91.

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"Noel's Winter Warmers" CF&WS, Noel Young Wines 27/01/1996 (RJB)

• Te Mata, Elston Chardonnay 1994, New Zealand Big creamy malolactic wine with good fruit quality. Good, but not for keeping. (12.29) 90
• Gewurztraminer Steingrubler 1993, Albert Mann This shows promise, but it is wrapped up in its own youthfulness at present. Not overblown, but a big wine with mineral and rose petal characteristics. (14.59) 90
• Thelema, Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot 1992, South Africa Good gamey, light cherry nose, but the palate is a touch thin (this may fill out). (8.99) 88+
• Jade Mountain, Les Jumeaux, 1994, California A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Mouvedre and Syrah. Charming upfront nose with a sweet palate. Perhaps a bit uncomplicated and definitely for drinking soon.(11.99) 86
• Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 1992, Australia One of the best bottles I've had of this winery's Shiraz. Oak and fruit merging well and giving more complexity than I have found in the past. The Shiraz is not too chocolatey and has some Old Worldness about it. (12.39) 89
• Domaine Font de Michelle Chateauneuf du Pape, Cuvee Etienne Gonnet 1990 Probably quite good, although showing a touch more age than I would have expected - in colour, and on the nose. Not that much going on. (17.69) 87?
• Sparkling Merlot 1993, Hollick, Australia Well, I never thought I'd say it, but this was quite good! Not just fizzy grape juice, it actually had some fizzy wine-making flavours. Very refreshing at this stage of the evening. The first time I've actually been convinced it's a style worth making. A bit pricey. (10.49) 87
• Cranswick Estate Botrytis Semillon 1993, Australia From a half. Big flavours, botrytis and waxy Semillon with good acidity and weight in the mouth. Very long. (10.49 per half) 90

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26/01/1996 (RJB)

• Gran Coronas Reserva 1985, Torres Drinking well, but it seems to have lost the tobacco nose it had a year back so I would guess it is past its peak.Soft mature fruit nose. 86

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Trials for the Cambridge Blind Tasting Team 26/01/1996 (RJB)

• Riesling Cuvee Reserve 1994, Martin Schaetzal I thought this was Chenin - closed and restrained although it did open out. Not convinced. 85
• Beuajolais Blanc 1994, Caves des Grand Crus Blanc Closed almond kernal nose, but an excellent oily length. Surprisingly interesting! 86
• Wairu River Sauvignon Blanc 1994, Marlborough As expected, and getting vegetal. Dull. 84
• Thelema Chardonnay 1994, Stellenbosch Creamy and with a yeasty lees nose. Fruit a touch confected - but overall a good effort. If Thelema can continue improving at the rate that they are, then there are going to be some world class wines.89
• Wynns Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay 1992 Buttery and slipping downhill. 83
• Viognier 1994, Domaine de la Condanine, Languedoc Not much to this wine at all - why bother. 82
• Merlot 1994, Domaine de Terre Megere, Languedoc Tannin and firm acidity. Very similar to an average petite chateaux. 83
• Cabernet Sauvignon 1989, Weinert, Argentina Big, warm, rum and raisin nose. Chocolatey and well made. 88
• Morgon 1994, Domaine de Leyre-Loup Quite a guten Morgon if you like that sort of thing, well made with reasonable concentration. 85
• St Joseph 1993, Clos de la Cuminalle, Domaine Pierre Gaillard All the reds in this tasting were too cold, and this one smelt of textbook Pinot Noir to start with! Fascinating how the Syarh gradually became more and more obvious as it warmed up. Spicey and pretty good. 88
• Nebbiolo d'Alba 1990, Il Cumot Bricco Maiolica Slightly oxidised with medium tannins and acidity and some gentle fruit with gummy oak. 87
• No. 2 de Chateau Lafon-Rochet 1990 Leafy and stalky, poor wine. 82

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CU Blind Tasting Team - Reds 25/01/1996 (RJB)

• Saint Amour 1994, Clos du Chapitre, Dom. de la Cave Lamatire A bit dully defined at the end. 80
• Los Vascos 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon Has that Sinewy sappy Chilean smell. A bit weedy. 81
• Ch. Larmande 1990, St Emilion Grand Cru Classe 16.99 OFW. Lovely, smokey, plummy, minty nose with a good balance of lightly toasted new oak. Not for the long term, but already drinking well. 90
• Marques de Murrietta 1990 Reserva Rioja This smelt and tasted very similar to their white wine (I think I would have said that if I had been having it completely blind!). An odd bottle, or is it meant to be like this? Lots of tannin, oak and acidity. On first tasting I thought it was probably pretty good, had enough fruit and just needs time, however, I got less sure. 84-89?
• Rothbury Shiraz 1994 Cherry nose with a touch of good (slightly volatile?) acidity at the end. Showing more Old World in style. Pretty good for the price (5.99ish). 86
• Mondavi Unfiltered Zinfandel 1993 Disappointing given its 93 RP points (or was it a different 1993 Mondavi Zin that got that?) Big, but the fruit a bit soft and toffeed at the end. Lovely brambly nose to start with. Perhap I am doing it down. 88

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Rhone tasting - Oddbins Fine Wine 25/01/1996 (TNB)

• Hermitage Chevalier de Strimberg blanc 94 (Jaboulet) I liked this initially, but coming back to it notice the very curious "Fino Sherry" nose others objected to. Flawed? (16.99)
• Hermitage Chante Allouette 94 (Chapoutier) Quite good concentration of peach honeysuckle fruit, but not amazing 88. (17.99)
• Condrieu 94 (Vernay) Nice balanced - good flavours, but not really singing, at least to me. 88. (17.99)
• Condrieu 94 (Chapoutier) Quite good, but lacks the finesse of the Vernay. 86.
• Condrieu Eguets VT 94 (Cuilleron) Very fine, concentrated sweet viognier. Very well balanced, but I'm not sure I find the style so exciting. 91. (35.99)
• Cornas 94 (Chapoutier) Quite tannic, but curiously short of fruit density for what is supposedly a good vintage. Very much in the house style. 84 (12.99)
• Cornas 91 (Columbo) Real wine, showing up the weakness of the Chapoutier. Slightly soft and international in style, with new oak. Could have come from almost anywhere -- it would be impossible to guess it was Cornas blind even without the Bordeaux shaped bottle! I'm not sure I like this style, but 90. (14.99)
• Cote-Rotie 91 (Jasmin) Exudes balance, elgance and class. Taught, quit high acidity. A bit light for a good vintage, even allowing for the style. 90. (19.99)
• Cote-Rotie Mordoree 89 (Chapoutier) More concentrated than Jasmin certainly, but a bit soft, laking focus. Not a very interesting wine. I don't think I believe in this great Chapoutier revival! 88 (55.00)
• Clote-Rotie Ladonne (Guigal) This is fine wine, although no better than the straight Cote-Rotie in a fine vintage. Could well be about as good a wine as could be made in 86though, and easily outclasses the Chapoutier. 91 (75.00)

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25/01/1996 (TNB)

• La Tour de By 85 Still good luncheon claret, and no great hurry to drink it up!

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Rhone Tasting CUWS Victoria Wine Cellars 23/01/1996 (RJB)

• Costieres de Nimes 1994, Celliers du Colombier Cheap (3.39), thin and dull - why bother? 75
• Valreas 1993 Cotes du Rhone Villages, Domaine de la Grande Bellane Bramble and plum pie fruit and leathery tannins. Good balance and lasted well to the end of the evening. Needs a couple of years. (5.99) 87
• La Cuvee Mythique 1993, VDPd'OC, Val d'Orbieu New oak and a New World feel to it. Minty and modern. (5.99) 84
• Gigondas 1994 Les Perdrix Dull plum fruit and rustic. (5.99) 84
• Chateau de Vaudieu 1993, Chateauneuf du Pape, Gabriel Meffre Modern ready-to-drink style which has apparently been boosted by some Carb. Mac. Soft, lacks length and structure. (9.99) 83
• Cote Rotie 1990, Brune et Blonde, Guigal What a relief to have some proper wine, even though it was showing quite closed. good balance and lovely acidity. Difficult to judge the weight and concentration. (15.99) 89+
• Clairette du Die 1992, Grande Tradition Muscat, Cuvee Cysele touch of sulphur, short and lacking zip - Clairette du Dead. (5.99) 74
• Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 1993, Cuvee Speciale, Vigne d'Antoine Soft mandarin and rose petal nose, but short and lacking balance - overweighed at the end by alcohol (but then again so was I). (8.49) 84

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Cambridge blind tasting team 21/01/1996 (RJB)

• Cloudy Bay 1995 Sauvignon Blanc Undoubtedly classy. Nettles and gooseberries, restrained and elegant. 88
• Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Spatlese 1993, Hans Crusius fruit and feel a bit 'sloppy', needs better acid at end for decent balance. 84
• Martinborough Vineyards Riesling 1993, New Zealand Not going anywhere, with a slightly oxadative dull apple fruit. 80
• Gewurztraminer 1993, Pierre Frick, Alsace Textbook medium weight Gewurz. Everything one expects and thus rather lacking in excitement. 86
• Thelema 1994 Chardonnay, Stellenbosch Fruit and oak well integrated to give a ripe melon nose with a yeasty lees background. Perhaps a bit obvious, but classier than many a New World offering. 88+
• Rockford Local Growers Semillon 1990, Barossa Valley White Rioja nose (and colour). Limey and resiny - a biggish mouthful. 87

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20/01/1996 (RJB)

• Chorey Cotes de Beaune 1988, Jaffelin OK light to medium weight strawberry fruit. Probably at its peak.85
• Chateau Branaire Duluc Ducru 1983 Gentle bottle-age, mushroom compost characteristics (more Rhonish than clarety). No great complexity, but pleasant. 86

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Hotel room in Czech mountains 14/01/1996 (TNB)

• Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 93 Imported from a partly drunk bottle in a used mineral water container, and drunk from water glasses in Czech hotel room. Immediately identifiable, exudes class.

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A 'bring a bottle blind tasting' 14/01/1996 (RJB)

• Mitchelton Goulbourn Valley 1994 Riesling Standard cheep Australian Riesling. Dry, but smells sugary. 81
• Macon Lugny La Fontaine 1994, Jadot Apples and wood nose, sharp acidity. No very obvious chardonnay characteristics. 83
• Savennieres 1985, Domaine de la Bizoliere This seemed to be having serious problems with its cork - a low level (an inch and a half down) and a layer of vinegar under the capsule. However, the actual wine was fresh and showing well: very acidic and flinty, but no ripeness and not showing its age. It clearly still needs time (corks permitting), but how much will it open out? 86
• James Herrick Chardonnay 1994 A rather commercial, New World start to the wine, but underneath more obviously French. A powdery texture. 83
• Bickensohler Herrenstuck Gewurztraminer Kabinett 1992, Baden Medium bodied Gewurz with a touch of sweetness but a bit hollow. 84
• Little J Cabernet Sauvignon, NV, La Jota Vineyards, Napa Valley Plum skins (I thought it a merlot) and sinewy, with good 'Italian-style' (I thought it Italian) bitter acidity and tannins. 88
• The Society's Chateauneuf-du-pape 1991, The Wine Society Dirty rustic nose which disappears with time in the glass to leave a smooth ready-to-drink wine. 81
• Cousino-Macul 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reserva A lot of the smokey 'rancio' old fashioned Chillean nose. People who hadn't had a wine like this before were actually quite keen on the nose, but it gets rather overpowering. Not enough fruit.82

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12/01/1996 (RJB)

• Coudelet de Beaucastel 1988 Rather thin, with a sharp ungraceful nose. Signs of some complexity emerging. Perhaps its at a funny phase - I was certainly expecting better. 84?
• Penfold's Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 1991 Soft easy drinking cherry fruit in the usual Penfold's style.Well made, but a bit obvious. 85

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11/01/1996 (TNB)

• Ch. La Rame Reserve 90 Again, less bubblegummy than the first time I tasted it, big, sauterney flavours, but a bit coarse 88.
• Chassagne Montrachet Champ gains 93 (Neillon) Fine, slightly gingery fruit. Good texture and quite a long finish, but not a heavyweight. Fine wine in a dodgy vintage. 87 (OFW 22 quid.)

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06/01/1996 (TNB)

• Gewurtztraminer Herrenweg 90 (Zind-Humbrecht) Large, but at the moment at least a bit closed. From a half. 88.
• Barolo La Delizia 82 (Fontanafreda) Some brown in the colour, but healthy. Quite complex nose. Good warm fruit with plenty of slightly harsh tannins still. 88.

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