Lunch notes:
2006 Scholium Project Farina Vineyards “The Prince in his Caves” – a small production sauvignon blanc that didn’t seem at all like that varietal at first. It had a little initial sulphur, quickly segueing to sweet tropical fruit, and it got more interesting as it warmed, gaining an almost Riesling aromatic profile and filling out on palate. Tasty.
2000 Tyrells Vat 47 Hunter Valley Chardonnay – another wine with tropical fruit nose (mango?) and flavours, darker in colour and with full flavors. Pleasant.
2002 Le Logis de la Bouchardiere Chinon Le Clos – good colour, slightly warm nose with a hint of mint developing and some tobacco and mineral. Medium bodied, mellow and drinking well now. I got none of the green hints of cab franc in this wine so it was a tough one to place.
1985 William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Silver Label (Napa) - a bottle out of my cellar from the early years of this winemaker’s production (I understand he sold out to big business and while the winery goes on, it is now without his input). Very decent nose with some spicy oak, but now getting a bit acidic and lacking in fruit in midpalate. Decent length. Would have been better some years ago, but still quite drinkable.
2000 Malvira Roero Mombeltrano - a Nebbiolo wine from Roero, better known for the whites (Arneis). Dark wine, big nose, slightly sweet, slightly browning edges, good fruit, smooth in the mouth and medium long. Better than the 1999 we tasted awhile ago.
2000 Livon Tiare Mate Merlot – another interesting one from DOC Collio. I got a whiff of seaweed or iodine at first and oak after. Full bodied wine with lots of soft tannin and the only clue to grape, a fair bit of cocoa.
2001 Fattoria Barbi Brunello – dark wine, good fruit in the nose and a high perfumed note as well, good fruit on palate and clean acidity, I expect this will last for many years.
2003 Ch. Pontet Canet – big plumy nose, not too ripe, soft tannins and good acidity with a long balanced finish. Very good wine with many years ahead. Avoids being over the top new age in style.
Ch. d’Orignac Pineau des Charentes – odd amber colour with a pink tinge. I’d have sworn this was a white wine based version, but the back label spoke of red. Quite sweet (made by adding brandy to grape must) ending with peach flavours. I thought some rose petal crept into the nose a bit later. Not a wine as it isn’t a fermented product, but no one complained!
1990 Quady Starboard Franks Vineyard – warm nose and notes of fig and nuts, ripe and smooth in the mouth, this could have been mistaken for Port (I think he had switched to Port varietals by then).