Lunch notes:
2005 Cuilleron St. Joseph 'Le Lombard' - interesting wine that we fumbled about with, understandably, as it wasn't quite like any common varietal (this white is a mixture of Marsanne and Roussanne). Soft mellow nose, with a hint of lanolin and roast nuts (which headed ME off in the wrong direction), medium weight, good length and a minerality on palate that was refreshing. Ready to go - an early drinking wineWith crab and shrimp cake on cauliflower puree, sweet chile aioli and papaya cilantro coulis.
1990 Roedered Cristal - I thought at first this must be a 1985 given the complexity it was showing, but 1990 fit as well. An interesting combination as it was very fresh on the one hand, with excellent mousse, but was also very complex, more so than the Pol Roger that I recently tasted. Champagne doesn't get much better than this. Odd that the bottles have no punt - anyone know why?2002 Felton Road Pinot Noir (NZ) - this came across as very Burgundian with a slightly funky cherry nose, clean, perhaps a tad simple, but it is young. Good showing.
with steak tartare and shoestring potatoes
2002 Cheval des Andes (Arg.) - Cheval Blanc making wine in Mendoza. I had never tasted this before but was impressed. Mint and pine tar nose, medium to full bodied, this cabernet, petit verdot, Malbec wine was not very Bordeaux like, but was obviously very well made and it will be interesting to see how it ages.2001 Vergelegen Cabernet - I was very pleased to find that I had some of this in the cellar after tasting it. Big minty nose, medium body, smooth on palate, with excellent length. This one has a future - great Cape wine.
1998 Santa Duc Gigondas Hautes Garrigues - I liked this a lot and was surprised at its maturity. Medium colour, pure fruit nose, elegant on palate, with exceptional length. This wine is ready to drink, at least based on this bottle. I got the usual anise and cassis in the nose, but the wine seemed less weighty than I recalled and much more refined. Sadly, I do not own any of this, as I loaded up on the excellent 1995.1996 Pesquera Reserva - high toned nose with a bit of vanilla at first, that bloomed into full bore oak assault as it opened up, big bodied wine with a dry finish and good fruit. From magnum.
with lamb shanks
1997 Clape Cornas - I am a big fan of Cornas, but am more used to the traditional sort that comes across as rough and untutored in youth and needs a lot of time to take on complexity and tone down the animal element. This was very approachable and wonder of wonders, could actually be called almost elegant. Dark bright wine with slightly warm fruit and leather in the nose, good midpalate fruit and smooth finish with quite soft tannins. I was disappointed when I gave the group a big hint. I told them that if I had 12 bottles of this, it would be of medical significance. Only one of the crew was able to deduce that in such an event I would clearly have a case of the Clape....1993 Caymus Cabernet - this was the year they made no special selection and all the grapes went into the regular cab, resulting in the best regular cab I can recall from them. The usual big minty nose, and Cal-cab giveaways, drinking beautifully now and no point holding much longer.
1982 Ch. Palmer - oh yes! We usually see quite a bit of Bordeaux at the December lunch as people pull out something just a bit more special, but this year everyone, presumably not wanting to be part of a Claret parade, went for other things. It was great to stick your nose into this glass! The nose was unaccountably funky but certainly Bordeaux, the wine medium bodied, fully mature and drinking perfectly. If anything, it wasn't as big as I'd have expected a 1982 to be, which sent us looking at 1985 or 1983.With cheese
1975 Grahams - a long time since I'd tasted this Port, and in the meantime it has lost some sweetness as well as a lot of colour - it looked like a tawny or an old LBV. It was also showing a bit hot, but a very pleasant end to the meal.