5.6.40
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Diary index

Mark and Katherine's wedding reception at the Old Bridge, Huntingdon 28/04/2002 (RJB)

The Edinburgh "Slow Food" dinner and other recent Italians 27/04/2002 (TNB)

Wine group hosted by E.O'N at La Garrigue 21/04/2002 (TNB)

A d'Yquem and de Fargues tasting with le Comte Alexandre de Lur Saluces 21/04/2002 (RJB)

Super Tuscans plus ... 13/04/2002 (RJB)

The Wine Groups "Partners dinner" 09/04/2002 (TNB)

At M.D.'s 02/04/2002 (TNB)

Some Australian wines 02/04/2002 (RJB)

The Diary - April 2002

Mark and Katherine's wedding reception at the Old Bridge, Huntingdon 28/04/2002 (RJB)

It probably isn't the best of form to write up the wines from a wedding, but the day was so enjoyable and the Old Bridge such a pleasant setting with fine food and wine that it seems a shame not to.

  • Champagne Brut Premier (Louis Roederer) One of the advantages of weddings is that you can sometimes taste the same wine from several bottles. This Champagne was consistent from bottle to bottle. Consistently good. (Although one bottle was lightly corked.) Honeyed and with elegance and depth. ****
  • Sauvignon Blanc 2001 (Isabel Estate) Very New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and rather estery to my mind. Not a style I particularly enjoy and, let's face it, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc isn't the most complex of wines. *
  • Riesling Alte Reben 1998 (Brundlmayer) A delicately balanced but fairly big Riesling with good acidity and a touch of residual sweetness. Lovely. ***(*)
  • Reserve Chardonnay 1998 (Shaw & Smith) Good Australian Chardonnay with honey and peach notes and some butteriness and maturity. ***
  • Le Grola 1998 (Allegrini) From magnum. Lovely light-bodied, cherry scented wine with a touch of herbs. *** plus
  • Chianti Classico 1999 (Fontodi) This is drinking very well with depth of fruit (red and black) and gentle bitterness. A very good fullish bodied Chianti. ***
  • Geyserville 1999 (Ridge) This is an excellent wine that is drinking well young but should also age well over the medium term. Smooth and with fine fruit and a hidden structure keeping it all together. ***(*)
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 28/04/2002   Return to top

The Edinburgh "Slow Food" dinner and other recent Italians 27/04/2002 (TNB)

At the "Slow Food" dinner: Other recent Italians:
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 27/04/2002   Return to top

Wine group hosted by E.O'N at La Garrigue 21/04/2002 (TNB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 21/04/2002   Return to top

A d'Yquem and de Fargues tasting with le Comte Alexandre de Lur Saluces 21/04/2002 (RJB)

  • Chateau de Fargues 1995 The wines at this tasting are all roughly 80% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon. Deepish lanolin nose and good depth on the palate. Good length with a closed minerality at the finish. Acidity peering through. Needs time. According to the Count this should last for 50 years, at a gamble 100 and maybe even 150. ***(*)
  • Chateau de Fargues 1990 Sweeter and fuller than the 1995, but simpler on the finish. Rather unforthcoming. **(*)
  • Chateau d'Yquem 1996 So closed on the nose and palate. Lots of oak showing through at the end. What can one make of such a wine. It doesn't seem truly great, but it could just be in its shell. *(***)
  • Chateau d'Yquem 1988 Seems like a stylish, classy dry white Bordeaux on the nose. Real structure and some tannins at the end. Reveals more with time in the glass - a big oak door slowly opening to reveal the Semillon behind. Superb. **(***)
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 21/04/2002   Return to top

Super Tuscans plus ... 13/04/2002 (RJB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 13/04/2002   Return to top

The Wine Groups "Partners dinner" 09/04/2002 (TNB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 09/04/2002   Return to top

At M.D.'s 02/04/2002 (TNB)

  • Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot 1992 (Ch de Maltroye) Honey and minerals - quite stony. Slightly rustic. Fairly high acid - a shade unknit. Not bad though. ***
  • Chassagne Montrachet Ruchottes 1992 (Ramonet) Honey, dry, fine, lemony. Ramonet ginger but I didn't spot it blind. Good acidity. Long and fine - clearly a little better than the previous wine. Scrapes ****
  • Chateau L'Angelus 1990 Dry and a shade austere. As it warms - plum and coffee. Tannic finish. A good drink. ***(*)
  • Chateau L'Eglise Clinet 1985 Green, herbaceous, tannic and austere. Green capsicum character. Irony, herby, quite hard. This started a shade below the best temperature in the glass and it was pretty hard to appreciate. I may even now not be doing it full justice. At least **(*)
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 02/04/2002   Return to top

Some Australian wines 02/04/2002 (RJB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 02/04/2002   Return to top