At the end of what seems an endless summer down in Pembrokeshire, back to serious wine tastings.
Solihull Wine Soc., blind as usual
C-De-Pape, Clos Des Papes 1990. Good extract, herby peppers and spice, good balance but finished short with some bitterness.
C-De-Pape, Cuvee Reserve, Domaine Du Pegau. 1990. Yet another duff bottle from Majestic, (UK). May be storage or just a bad bottle.
Cote Rotie, Cuvee Du Plessy, Barge 1991 Bright and deep, no brown, wonderful nose of marshmallow, almonds and spice. Soft and lingering with gentle tannins. At its best?
Cornas, Verset 1991 Deep viscous wine, hint of brown, herbal cough sweets, soft and very easy tannins and fruit, finished short. Very pleasant easy drinking Rhone for now, needs food.
Hermitage, La Sizeranne, Chapoutier 1991 Big wine, no brown, complex cassis and spice, entrance superb, tannins fruit all there, spice and toothpaste, a stunner.
Hermitage, Les Greffieres, De Valloit 1991 Bright and happy, dumb complex syrah nose, marshmallow, bit of a let down, searing tannins and acidity, enough fruit ? Will it come round? I said, no, the others disagreed.
Hermitage La Chappelle Jaboulet 1988 Black and viscous, a sublime perfumed nose, caramel and sweets, seductive soft palate, spice and gentle tannins. Wonderful. I said this was a real feminine wine ( cf Margaux) It just went on and on., La Chapelle feminine. an oxymoron, read on.
Cote Rotie, Jamet,1988 Bright and huge extract, hint of brown only, a seaweed, iodonic, armpit nose, excellent balance and long spice. This a mascul;ine wine and therefore La Chapelle!! Not ready, I could mix it up with a Pauillac.
Strange to reverse the sexes!
JT