Solihull Fine Wine Society February Tasting
Serious reds by Mike, blind as usual. All wines same vintage, so we had to spot both wines and vintage, All 1995
Marsannay Les Longeroies Denis Mortet (RIP) Poignant as Denis shot himself on 30 January, he had suffered from depression for some time. Mature burg robe, organic and spice, really opened up after an hour. Soft entry all in balance, a good pinot mouthful, drinking now.
Cornas Dom St Pierre, Jaboulet. Bit dull, nose of paint stripper, a bit stewed, this blew off , but I thought it could be a duff bottle, everyone else plumped for a light Hermitage. I thought it was dried out but was told that was the style....well he can keep it!
Muntada Dme Gauby, Cotes du Rouissillon. Huge depth and extract, a massive attack of menthol and eucalyptus, verry complex. A mouthful of fruit and tannin, but serious undertones. Wonderful in 5 years, yet approachable now. Most thought "boutique" cab fro Calif. The encepage is Grenache and Syrah. Expensive at GBP35
Roda 1 Reserva Rioja, A deep bright wine with a wonderful organic woody pencil nose, restrained. So delicate on the palate, soft spicy fruit, classic claret say my notes.....if this is new style Rioja, lets have more, not cheap at GBP32
d'Angludet, hint of brown ,bright, armpitty margaux nose chocalates and wet paper. Soft fruit and spice yet finishes mean....going over?
Carmenet Moon Mountain Reserve Cab Sauv, youthful purple edge, deep red. Cassis and spice alcohol, complex and very dumb, pure raw cab. Mouth puckering tannin, but so much structure and fruit. Opened up in glass, but will be great. My first try of the wine. Very impressed.
Grand Puy Lacoste, port like with hint of purple. Sublime spice and blackcurrants, pencils minty cedar. Palate of raw fruit and tannin, wonderful but infanticide now. Most of us wanted some for our cellars. A real class act.
Leoville Barton. Lighter than the GPL, with a tighter nose, pauillac I thought, totally unbalanced at the moment, too toung, but I want some, try 5 years. Barton is really on a role and is a true super second now.
This tasting really was difficult, I plumped for 2000 as did most. But the
95 Claret is to die for except the Angludet.Carmenet Moon and the Muntada were really show stoppers and get my big rec.
JT