Blind tasting lunch notes for May:
2004 Brda Movia Pinot Grigio (Slovenia) - with vines on both sides of the Italian border, but the winery in Slovenia. Hint of lime in the nose, and some pettilance. Tapers off and a bit simple.1962 Dom. Charles Noellat Nuits St. Georges - so what would you expect from a village wine from a producer that no longer exists (bought out in 1987 by Leroy)? It was quite pale in colour and had a lovely complex mature nose, - so much so that I was almost reluctant to taste it for fear that the palate would let the wonderful old nose down. The wine was silky smooth, with all tannin resolved, good length, just a total delight to taste. It stood up well in the glass, not fading as many would. What an over-achieving village wine!
1983 Ch. Cantemerle - good colour, fairly dark, actually, with a decidedly cabernet nose and light tannins, this wine drinks very well now with good levels of fruit.1998 Ch. Rochemorin - this little Graves was very pleasant with a slightly ripe nose, good colour, soft and mellow on palate. Drink now.
2000 Dom. de la Solitude Chateauneuf du Pape - not a producer we often see. chalky fruit nose, sweet entry, mellow in the mouth, low acid and ready to drink. I don't see this precocious wine as going anywhere in particular but it should hold.2002 Planeta Syrah - an Italian Syrah threw us a bit. It was a big purple wine with ripe fruit, sweet nose, almost Australian in size, but not as sweet on palate, decent finish. Great ringer!
I don't always mention the food, but we had one course that was just perfect - a truffle flan with smoked duck - light and so well matched to the wines!
2002 Van Loveren Limited Release Syrah - off to the Cape - a wine with good levels of fruit, dark, velvety smooth in the mouth, with slight pepper. A small lots item bought at Neiderberg Auction.1995 Ridge Zinfandel Lytton Springs - I like Zins with age, the downside being that a significant percentage will fade out on you, with no staying power. This one was good, though, the colour a bit lighter than the last few, also with a somewhat ripe nose, a fair load of soft tannin, and very decent fruit, with good acid on palate and a somewhat sweet end.
2000 Vina Alberdi Reserve (La Rioja Alta) - a Rioja made a change of pace, with lighter colour (looked more like a Burg), a faint whiff of pepper and smooth texture.1998 Vina Tondonia Reserva (Lopez de Heredia) - limpid medium red colour, quite attractive, and smooth and harmonious on palate, perfectly ready to drink. Unusual that we'd get two Riojas in one lunch!
1994 Mount Veeder Cabernet Reserve - nice way to end - a wine that showed a real fruit driven nose, the oak an omnipresent undertone, not obtrusive, full bodied and with lots of terminal acidity. No rush at all on this wine, which should continue to improve.