Lunch notes from Vancouver:
2001 Suavia Monte Carbonare Soave - ripe almond and citrus nose, lots of acidity, refreshing and clean - a much needed reminder about how good Soaves can be.2001 Guilhem Durand Chardonnay - from Domaine de Bastide, a southern French chard that has a lemon and vanilla nose, quite enticing, a mellow smooth presence in the mouth, falling down only in having a bit too low acidity, so coming off a touch flat, but chilled in the summer, few would be as critical of this quaffer.
1976 Ch. La Lagune - I was a bit worried about this one as I hadn't tasted it in 5 years, so I brought a bottle of 1983 as backup, but none was needed. After an initial short period of stuffiness in the nose, all was well, and we saw a very nice mature Bordeaux nose, quite sweet in the mouth, and elegant almost Burgundian in impression.1989 Ch. Beau Site - I was delighted as I have 3 bottles of this St. Estephe myself. Lovely cigar box nose, good balance and concentration, soft tannin, good length, with enough stuffing to last a few years. Tasty.
1988 Ch. d'Angludet - another Bordeaux, obviously, with a darker colour and pleasant fruit based nose. Fair concentration, though lighter bodied than the previous wines, and a sweetness that carried it off well as a luncheon claret.1996 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Merlot - we were pretty sure we had moved out of Bordeaux now, although Michel Rolland was consulting winemaker on this one! Dark, with a quite rich fruit nose, a bit hot, and soft tannins. Balanced and long, this is no doubt at peak now but should hold awhile.
1993 Lindemans Limestone Ridge - a cab/shiraz blend, this did not immediately cry out 'Australia'. Sweet oak n the nose, ripe and hot, and pronounced cherries and dill. Perhaps a slight hollowness before you get to the good terminal acidity, but it needs time yet, and this may be just bottle variation- not that serious in any case. I was glad to see I have 3 of these waiting untouched, and shall leave them that way for a few more years, as this wine needs more time.
1998 Vieux Donjon - I was so chuffed about this wine when I first tasted it I immediately socked away a couple of cases! Blackberries and anise and a sort of pastry note in the nose, which was hot and somewhat peppery, good length, great weight and just a wonderful vin de garde, although it is so tasty right now I'm glad I don't remember where I put my cases, as it would be hard to resist.1998 Eaton Hill 10th Anniversary Cabernet - Yakima, Konnowac Vineyard - from a small Washington state winery. Simple primary fruit nose, medium dark colour, smooth but not complex in the mouth, finishing with another hit of oak.
1998 Joseph Moda Amarone Cabernet Merlot - this oddball Australian wine, made from dried grapes in the recioto style is always interesting. Very pure fruit in the nose, plummy, tarry and minty all at once. Last one I tasted came across like a Bordeaux, while this one was more Burgundian, and lacked the cinnamon I had noted last time. 14.5% alcohol. Wonderful with cheese.2001 Hubert Brochard Sancerre Rouge - we sort of forgot about this one, or it would have been served much earlier, but it didn't work out so badly, as this was a bit of a palate cleanser. Quite light colour even for Pinot Noir, and a warm nose with some spice, soft in the mouth and very friendly. To taste a red Sancerre was quite interesting - if you want to fool someone, this wine would be a good choice as they'd never guess it.