I opened a '96 Gruaud Larose to share with a close friend over a simple dinner of grilled lamb chops and steamed potatoes. On opening, I tried a taste and was very disappointed as it was thin and not at all what I expected . By the time we sat down to eat it had "thickened" appreciably with cassis and a touch of cedar - a classic claret. With the last 2 glasses I served a 3yr old Ontario cheddar. Wow! The flavours of the wine "exploded" in the mouth and it brought out the cheese too. Buy on fruit - sell on cheese perhaps but the at first unpromising wine became memorable. B+
On Boxing Day I tried to repeat the experience with a '96 Montrose. On opening, much more pronounced cassis on the nose and in the mouth, with a touch again of cedar. It did not improve over the evening (it didn't have to) but there was no reaction with the cheddar. B+
Last night with roasted pork fillet I tried a 2004 Santenay, Clos Tavannes
1er cru (Pousse d'Or). Unmistakable pinot nose, cherry/raspberry with some game notes; a bit thin - I was expecting something more substantial and there was quite a bit of tartrate residue. I have enjoyed some NZ and Oregon pinots much more at half the price. BGraham