5.6.40
Fine Wine Diary The Bailey brothers have now tasted 12082 wines in 29 years 3 months and 0 days
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Diary index

On holiday in Jersey 28/09/2003 (TNB)

Two Italian Estates 27/09/2003 (TNB)

Recent dry whites 13/09/2003 (TNB)

Wine group at Duggie's 07/09/2003 (TNB)

The Diary - September 2003

On holiday in Jersey 28/09/2003 (TNB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 28/09/2003   Return to top

Two Italian Estates 27/09/2003 (TNB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 27/09/2003   Return to top

Recent dry whites 13/09/2003 (TNB)

  • Riesling Herrenweg Cuvee Speciale 1990 (C. Schleret) Very petrolly nose. Very dry - a bit of an enigma: at times there seemed to be something hiding but more often it seemed a bit weak, whether because of having not aged so well or because it was a bit lacking in the first place I am not sure. *
  • Cotes du Rhone Reserve blanc 1989 (Chateau de Fonsalette) Absolutely lovely - herb-infused waxy (or is it as Jancis says gluey) Southern Rhone, completely fresh with decent length and just oozing character. This was even better on day two and after agonising, why shouldn't I give four stars to a cotes du Rhone blanc if it is this pleasurable to drink? ****
  • Riesling Saering 1989 (Schlumberger) The fruit here has expanded from its tight youth and now fills the mouth with mature riesling and a streak of chalky minerality. Absolutely at peak now I think and very good drinking. ***
  • Chassagne Montrachet Caillerets 1999 (Girardin) I'm getting the hang of Girardin - this is straight-down-the-middle Chassagne, very good, but it doesn't have the grip to make me think it is a very long-term prospect. ***
  • Brauneberger Juffer Auslese 1983 (Licht-Bergweiler) Fresh, reasonably spicy complexity, very refreshing and attractive. Very pleasant easy drinking ***
  • Chavignol La Grande Cote 1991 (Cotat) Fresh, very mineral and with the nose and palate concentrated around a surpriing flavour that our upstairs neighbour pointed out is elderberry. Very attractive wine. Top ***
  • Riesling Le Kottabe 1999 (Josmeyer) My first impression was that this was a bit thin, and while it is appetisingly dry and even has decent length, the feeling remains that it lacks real substance. A top *
  • Pernand-Vergelesses blanc 1988 (Rollin) Lots of bottle stink, most of which blows off to reveal excellent mineral fruit that has aged rather well. But it remains a bit unattractive - almost a suggestion thast it isn't quite clean (or is it just that the 88's are in an odd phase). While I could enjoy what is underneath it is not great drinking right now. *
  • L'Arrivet Haut Brion 2000 Tropical pineapple fruit - rich but finishes a touch flat. Not a long keeper I suspect but could do with a year or two to integrate. *(*)
  • Rully blanc 2000 (J H Jonnier) Really good village wine with plenty of fruit, decent balance and some length. Probably be at its best in a year or so. Not ambitious but well made - I've had worse village Chassagnes! Perhaps even merits **
  • Tokay Vieille Vignes 1990 (Zind-Huimbrecht) This slips down a treat with its luscious texture despite its slight sweetness. Oddly, it seems to have aged very well but on the other hand nothing very exciting seems to have emerged from the fruit. From a half. On this showing a top **
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 13/09/2003   Return to top

Wine group at Duggie's 07/09/2003 (TNB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 07/09/2003   Return to top