Fine Wine Diary

Casa Lapostolle 26/03/2002 (RJB)

Sauvignon Blanc Rapel Valley 2001 (Casa Lapostolle) A soft Sauvignon with a softer finish.
Chardonnay Casablanca Valley 1999 (Casa Lapostolle) Simple unoaked Chardonnay on the nose, but the oak comes through more on the palate. A short finish and slightly metallic. (Matured in second fill barrels after a stainless steel production.)
Cuvee Alexandre Chardonnay Casablanca Valley 1999 (Casa Lapostolle) More depth on the nose than the wine above - limes and oaky smoke. That shortish, slightly metallic finish makes an appearance again though.
Merlot Rapel Valley 2000 (Casa Lapostolle) A touch of sulphur (but possibly just because of youth). Plum skins and some soft tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon Rapel Valley 1999 (Casa Lapostolle) A touch leafy, but with sweet vanillin and creamy red fruits. Light to medium weight and with powdery tannins.
Cuvee Alexandre Merlot Colchagua Valley 1999 (Casa Lapostolle) Elegantly made: good fruit; good soft tannin. Lovely balance. Impressive. (There is roughly 10% of Carmenere in this).
Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley 1998 (Casa Lapostolle) A bit stalky initially on the nose, and a touch of mint. More tannic than the merlot. Tight - needs some time. It probably has just enough fruit for balance. plus

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 26/03/2002 Return to top

An Oddbins Fine Wine tasting 21/03/2002 (TNB)

Chablis Terroir de Poinchy 2000 (Verget) Clean, fruity, restrained, fairly simple nose. Similarly on the palate - clean and youthful. Good acidity. Needs a year or so perhaps. Good basic Chablis.
Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 1999 (Verget) Nose a bit more butter and honey - also vanilla (oak), the latter rather obtrusive on the palate. A bit in-your-face "international Chardonnay". Possibly just a youthful lack of balance, but more likely just over-made.
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Champs Gain 1999 (J.-N. Gagnard) Slightly charred, oak-influenced nose. Showier fruit than the Carillon wines below. Dry brazil nut palate. This is all a bit rustic and lacking balance but probably worth
Chassagne Montrachet 1999 (Carillon) Buttered fruit nose - not so forthcoming. Middle-weight, balanced, in fact rather seriously concentrated - but a bit anonymous now. Will open out and be rather good, I think.
Puligny Montrachet 1999 (Pascal) Pale colour. Unforthcoming, slightly toffeed, honeysuckle nose. The fruit quality is a bit flabby even though there is plenty of acid. A bit dusty too. Bare
Puligny Montrachet 1999 (Carillon) A slightly austere, almost Chablis-like nose. Opens out to give a hint of mineral and some complexity with nicely balanced fruit. Not very long term but very drinkable.
Trio Pinot Noir 2000 From Chile. Horribly intrusive blackcurrant nose. A bit of sulphur blows off. Much too much like a child's drink for me!
Pinot Noir 1998 (Kent Rasmussen) Slightly leafy, minty - pinotish fruit in a New World way. Pleasant enough but despite the reasonable price I would not buy it in preference to Burgundy.
Capcanes Mas Torto 1998 Could almost be Port or something on the nose. Big but slightly simple banana fruit. Dry tannins. Huge
Capcanes Cabrida 1999 Fantastically tannic. Slightly cooked fruit. Has a bit of a class about it, but also an air of having been designed to please Robert Parker. I would like to try this again but for now

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 21/03/2002 Return to top

20/03/2002 (RJB)

Puligny Montrachet les Combettes 1993 (J-M Boillot) Rather a subdued nose - grassy, flinty and smoky. The palate, as time in the glass revealed, is closed up and in need of time. Goodish acidity.
Champagne Private Reserve NV (Krug) Probably from the early 60s - fine old Champagne, with strong acidity at the finish, and a palate of aniseed, honey, biscuit and lightly rotten apples. Some maderisation. The bubbles are still going strong.
Petit Chablis 2000 (Jean-Marc Brocard) Toffeed steel on the palate, and with good length. A nose of honey and melons. plus
Chablis 2000 (Jean-Marc Brocard) Well-made with chardonnay fruit balanced with acidity and a good texture. A good value white Burgundy.
Rosso di Montepulciano 1999 (Poliziano) Spicy, plummy red with some tannin and Italian structure. plus
Cuvee Alexandre Colchagua Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 (Casa Lapostolle) A bit unknit at present with a stalkiness rather subduing the fruit. There is a good structure to the wine. ?
Cuvee Alexandre Rapel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (Casa Lapostolle) This is really a rather fine Chillean red - one of the best I can remember having. This has ripe slightly sandy tannins behind a gently maturing cabernet nose. Elegant.

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 20/03/2002 Return to top

Recent French reds 18/03/2002 (TNB)

Les Sorceres, Cotes du Roussillon 2000 (Clos des Fees) Forward, ripe cherry and plum nose. Mouthfilling, modern-styled with a peppery finish that stops it being at all cloying. A good
Gressier Grand Poujeaux 1970 I bought a few of these a year or two ago - I remember the salesman trying to encourage me by claiming it came from the cellar of somebody associated with the royal family. They have on the whole disappointed (the bottles that is, not the royals) - I can remember one going down the sink, but were we drinking too well that evening, or is this a better bottle? Once it has been in the decanter a while this one emerges from its shell of acidity and has a pleasant scented nose with a bit of Claret cigar box. Rather classic - possibly even
Cotes du Rhone Reserve Syrah 1989 (Chateau de Fonsalette) Youthful colour. Big cedary nose (yes, I didn't spot what this was blind). In the mouth, huge, liquorice fruit (a bit monolithic still) and lots of quite dry tannins. A very serious wine still a way from peak.
Cotes du Rhone Reserve Syrah 1988 (Chateau de Fonsalette) A bit muted compared to the 89 - a bit less concentration and structure. Quite fine, but a stain on the bottle and the state of the cork make me wonder whether this is in the best condition. Say plus
Larrivet-Haut-Brion 1996 This has one of those funky-gamey-smoky noses that I find hard to describe better than that. Ripe fruit and a backbone of tannins - sexy, spicy, quite modern in style - probably reasonably early drinking. Possibly may deserve an extra star in time but for now a good
Cadet Piola 1988 Fruitcake at first, cherry menthol as it opens up. Nice acidity and tannins, very typical of the vintage. Perhaps overall a shade too rustic to be really good.
Cote Rotie 1985 (Guigal) I take a middle line on Guigal which I feel this wine justifies. On the plus side it is in fine condition (as I suppose it should be since 85 is a fine Cote Rotie vintage), has good raspberry fruit, scented, and with a touch of bacon-fat - in short it has real Cote Rotie quality. On the down side, I think it lacks a bit of elegance - it doesn't have much of the silky fruit or that lovely floral quality that sets the variety-bores off on guessing whether it may contain a small percentage of Viognier. That I suppose is the price you pay for producing what is usually a crowd-pleasing wine.
Chateau des Trois Chardons 1994 This small Margaux property is owned by the Chardon family who made the great wines of Palmer until recently. This is proper claret: dry and savoury, scented, not very showy, good concentration but not over-extracted (or over-concentrated by the technology of reverse osmosis, etc., which is turning many Bordeaux wines into "show wines" these days). This is tightly wound at the moment, nice acidity, just the right sort of tannins, and the complexity is there. Could even be
Syrah Le Fauve Vin de Pays d'Oc 2000 (Terroirs Club) Lots of fruit, quite gutsy, succulent tannins. Not bad.

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 18/03/2002 Return to top

The Wine Forum's Cambridge Off-line 12/03/2002 (RJB)

Champagne Reserve Brut (Raymond Boulard) The first of three Champagnes from this house. This had obviously had some bottle age (a look at the cork gave that away, but the nutty caramel mature nose confirmed). Good length, good body.
Champagne Grand Cru Mailly (Raymond Boulard) For me the best of the three on show. Clean medium weight creamy stuff. Good structure. Lovely.
Champagne Anee de la Comete 1986 (Raymond Boulard) It could well be that this was an odd bottle of this. On the night it showed loads of acidity and was a touch vegetal and a touch harsh (odd for something that was recently disgorged) I won't score.
Gewürztraminer Clos Windsbuhl 1992 (Zind-Humbrecht) Fresh, light, medium weight and elegant (don't write that about ZH very often). Softish finish and a bit alcoholic perhaps.
Chardonnay 1991 (Cloudy Bay) Some vegetal age on the palate, but a good aged Chardonnay with good acidity. Good oak, and the fruit is surviving. One of the best mature non-Burgundy Chardonnays. (just)
Roxburgh Chardonnay 1997 (Rosemount) Big, blousy and past it (so young as well!). Oak juice and oxidised fruit was my note from the evening.
Tinto 1998 Emporda Costa Brava (Oliver Conti) Possibly the first Costa Brava wine to appear here (but my geography isn't great, so who knows). Had this blind and wrote highish toned and needing time. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, but seemed a bit more Mourvedre based. Well made - good fruit and structure.
Chateau Leoville Barton 1988 Tannic and austere. Needs time, but I'm not sure that it's a top Leoville Barton.
Chataeu Talbot 1988 More mature than the Leoville Barton (maybe not technically, but in taste). Touch of mushroom, nicely balanced.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1989 Cuvee Reserve (Domaine de Pegau) Oh, the joys of blind tasting. Coming after the two clarets people thought this another claret (I didn't, but then again it was my bottle). Perhaps more sweet than a mature claret would be, but anyone who thinks it's always easy to spot French wine regions especially when the wines are mature should think again. Lovely mature wine but in a simple fashion.
Victoria Cabernet Sauvignon (Dalwhinnie) 1992 Not really showing its age and drinking rather well. This wine hides its size well.
Barossa Shiraz 1991 (Charles Melton) Another Oz wine not really showing its age. Good blackcurrant fruit, but rather obvious.
Lafaurie-Peyraguey 1988 Beautiful wine with time clearly needed before it will be at its best. Lovely balance and with a layered texture.
Rabaud-Promis 1986 Good botrytised wine, although perhaps not as promising as previous bottles have been - the acidity didn't seem quite as good (or perhaps just shown up by the Lafaurie-Peyraguey above which is more classically structured and for the longer term). plus
Port 1963 (Grahams) I remember having this wine at one of the first Port tastings I went to (a long time back - pre FWD). It was in a line up also containing the 1966, 1970, and 1977 all of which I preferred. This is sweet and rather obvious seeming - it's good enough, but lacks grip and texture.

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 12/03/2002 Return to top

The Wine Forum's Edinburgh Off-line 10/03/2002 (TNB)

Sauvignon blanc 2000 (Cloudy Bay) Immediately recognisable as New Zealand Sauvignon - obvious gooseberry and asparagus flavours. As so often, rather vegetal and simple. I can't see the appeal of this.
Weisskirchner Achleiten Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 1994 (Prager) Honey and minerals, hint of black pepper, slight sweetness on the palate, good finish. Very good
Campanaro 1999 (Feudi di San Gregorio) I took against this a bit at first with its fat fruit supported with oak. But the peachy/apricoty fruit is rather attractive and the whole package is not unlike Condrieu. A good
Art Series Chardonnay 1997 (Leeuwin Estate) Very, very in-your-face. I don't much like this sort of assault on the senses - it lacks any sort of subtlety. I can't see it lasting long either. Bare
Chablis Grand Cru La Moutonne 1992 (Long-Depaquit) Old-fashioned - probably not quite clean, mineral, perhaps fading a shade - disappointing for the quality level, but (though widely disliked) I thought it was pretty drinkable.
Gewurztraminer Les Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre 1983 (Trimbach) Lychees and pepper very evident and very fresh too considering the age. Lovely mature wine. A good
Cuvee Columelle, Cotes de Provence 1998 (Domaine Richeaume) Quality, silky fruit, very ripe but not cloying, nice tannins. Probably not for the long term. Solid
Cuvee Marie, Coteaux d'Aix en Provence 1997 (Domaine de Paradis) Toffee blows off the nose, then lots of coffeee and high-toned raspberry/blackberry fruit. I quite like this.
Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Serpentieres 1996 (M. Ecard) Solid colour - very classic raspberry pinot nose. Good balance, structure and length (typical of the vintage). A good
Chateau Musar 1991 Rustic fruit, rather soft, some sweetness that seemed a bit detatched from the fruit. Quite odd and not very typical of the property.
Cote Rotie 1989 (Burgaud) Red berry fruit, quite dry and savoury. High quality wine, but it lacks for me much of a sense of place. A bare
Leoville Barton 1975 Healthy colour, cedary, dry, classic claret - a good mature wine with none of the dry, sandy tannins that disfigure some of the 75's. Just about makes
Barolo Riserva 1971 (Borgogno) Lots of round soft fruit - a bit vague and unstructured, but pretty good colour and freshness for its age. Not to my mind very typical Barolo. At least a good
Annette's Reserve Zinfandel 1997 (Rosenblum Cellars) Moderately sweet, intense blackberry flavoured sipping wine. Pretty good in its way.
Wehlener Abtei Riesling Eiswein, Kloster Machern 1983 (Schneider'sche Weingutverwaltung) Quite light, good balance, not so rich for Eiswein but a good desert wine. Pleasant.
Chateau Suduiraut 1983 A lot of the 83's, including this one, seem to be showing some age now. Good mature Sauternes.
Tokaji Aszu Eszencia Nyulaszo 1975 (Gabor Orosz) Pretty good concentration - lovely brown-sugar flavours.
Banyuls, Mas Blanc Cuvee St Martin 1981 (Dr. Parce) Moderate weight and fairly dry with pleasant chocolatey character. Food-friendly, and a good way to finish a meal - a slightly lighter alternative to port.

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 10/03/2002 Return to top

A Louis Latour tasting 04/03/2002 (RJB)

Macon Lugny Les Genievres 2000 (Louis Latour) Green slightly dirty, touch of woody apples. Possibly some corkiness so I won't score. (A quick taste of a second bottle seemed marginally better.)
Grande Ardeche 1999 (Louis Latour) Soft toffeed wine lacking finish.
Meursault Goutte d'Or 1998 (Louis Latour) Lightly gummy violet fragrances. Goodish acidity, nicely taut. Palate shows better than the nose.
Corton Charlemagne 1999 (Louis Latour) Excellent. Taut, but with length through the tautness.
Pinot Noir 2000 (Louis Latour) Simple plum skin nose, and similar diluteness on the palate. Just!
Pinot Noir Domaine de Valmoissine 1999 (Louis Latour) Stalky and stinky (apparently due to the clone of Pinot Noir that is used). Dilute, and sweet on the finish.
Beaune Vignes Frances 1997 (Louis Latour) Rather dumb on the nose. Easy and clean with strawberry fruit and acidity. A touch hollow.
Chateau Corton Grancey 1996 (Louis Latour) Again rather quiet on the nose. Rather quiet on the palate also. plus

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 04/03/2002 Return to top

Rhones from Oddbins Fine Wine 04/03/2002 (TNB)

Condrieu Cote Chatillon 2000 (Bonnefond) Pale colour. Floral nose. Vanilla, quite a weighty texture. Decent length. Authentic Condrieu
Beaucastel blanc 2000 Deeper colour. Not unpleasantly vegetal, honied nose. Very big in the mouth, greengage character. Low but adequate acidity. There's a bit of a mid-palate gap - will that improve?. I'm a bit ambivalent. (just)
Rousanne Vielle Vignes 2000 (Beaucastel) Reasonable colour. Slightly tropical nose - a bit closed perhaps. A rather Chardonnay-like character makes this a bit more internationally styled than the standard Beaucastel blanc. Rich but perhaps not really so complex. A slightly ambivalent (again)
Cornas 1999 (Jaboulet) Good deep young colour. Brambley mouth-watering nose. Lots of fruit all through. A bit simple in the end perhaps but good.
Cote Rotie Rochains (Bonnefond) 1999 Deep colour, deep, soft, nose. Velvety, cunningly made. Slips down far too easily for me. I am sure that New World lovers will rate this highly, but I am not that keen.
Hermitage La Chapelle 1999 (Jaboulet) Hints of cassis on blackberry - prominant acidity. Nice palate - characterful but not too weighty. High-toned and peppery. Not a monster La Chapelle but very good.
Cote Rotie Les Jumelles 1999 (Jaboulet) Forest fruits - violets. Succulent balanced raspberry palate. Good length. Fairly forward - drinkable now but will probably be more so in a few years. Classy. Like many balanced wines it will probably last well too. Top
Cornas St Pierre 1999 (Jaboulet) A bit animal - farmyard - interesting. Hints of ginger and Bovril. Slightly austere finish, lots of tannins, at least currently. Meaty on the palate as well as on the nose. There is a lot of character here, less refined than the La Chapelle, and wilder. An exciting glass full.
Beaucastel rouge 1999 Burnt honey - but almost green fruit (in a nice way) on the nose. This sounds incoherent but it does seem an odd mixture at the moment. I find this a bit stalky. It may just be at an awkward stage. Judgment should perhaps be reserved but I'll rate it (with a question mark).