5.6.40
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Diary index

Four French reds and a Californian white 30/04/2005 (RJB)

Gang of Five - Guigal Cote Rotie and others 28/04/2005 (RJB)

An Edinburgh offline 27/04/2005 (TNB)

Wine group at MM's 25/04/2005 (TNB)

A mixed four 22/04/2005 (RJB)

15/04/2005 (TNB)

Three Barossa Verticals 15/04/2005 (RJB)

Some recent things 09/04/2005 (RJB)

In Berlin 08/04/2005 (TNB)

The Diary - April 2005

Four French reds and a Californian white 30/04/2005 (RJB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 06/05/2005   Return to top

Gang of Five - Guigal Cote Rotie and others 28/04/2005 (RJB)

A blind tasting, other than the fizz, which included five vintages of Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde from Guigal.
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 28/04/2005   Return to top

An Edinburgh offline 27/04/2005 (TNB)

  • Champagne Grand Cru Blancs de blancs Extra Brut NV (Selosse) Very vinous - Burgundy with bubbles, to some extent and so a bit much in some ways. I suspect it needs time to mellow - it will be interesting to see how this develops (this bottle was disgorged only last year). If all goes well ***(*)
  • Champagne Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes NV (Egly-Ouriet) All quite refined and delicate, appley pinot fruit, autolytic flavours. Another fairly recent disgorgement after 4 years in cellars (credit the producer for an excellent back label), it just seems a bit lacking in intensity despite the obvious quality. Perhaps this will develop but for now a good ***
  • Eden Valley Riesling 2003 (Mesh) Good fruit - nice acidity. Pretty intense although it seems quite evolved for a young wine - I fear it may go down the Ozzy route of rather early flabby kerosene flavours. Top ** anyway
  • Vouvray sec 2001 (Vodanis - Huet) Curiously Sauvignon-like - quite rich. Odd balance - people were saying this is a vineyard Huet took on and then abandoned. Good wine but it doesn't seem to have the class of their major wines. A low **(*)
  • Pouilly Fuisse 2002 (Cordier) Pretty nice. Clean, rich, yet decently taught. A credit to the appelation. Bare ***
  • Rioja Reserva Especial 1947 (Palacio) A weak cork and a rather oxidised bottle - one sips for a while but then abandons it. I have had much better. Not Rated
  • Rioja Reserva 1958 (Riscal) Very light and delicate - decent but a bit attenuated. I have had better bottles. ***
  • Syrah 1998 (Richeaume) Dry, savoury, quite succulent. Pleasantly high-toned, nervy, and a bit awkward. A wine with a sense of place and hence enjoyable. ***
  • Bandol 1995 (Pradeaux) Curiously quiet, but concentration and fruit quality are all there. Maybe just in a dull phase - perhaps it would have shown better decanted and allowed a little air. ***
  • Lourens River Valley 2000 (Morgenster) Leafy, dry, decent balance. Good wine but I doubt it's going anywhere much. Pleasant, and perhaps it would reward further attention. **
  • Old Vine Grenache, Kangarilla Vineyard 1996 (Clarendon Hills) Quite baked, decent concentration - slightly hot finish. I recall having had better from this producer. **
  • Geyserville 1996 (Ridge) Refined, smooth sweet (to a controlled extent) - very drinkable. Forward fruit but with the balance to hold it - the best of the New World reds, to my palate. Top ***
  • The Armagh 1993 (Jim Barry) Huge monster - alcohol gets up my a nose and in my throat rather. I find this a bit much. Returning to it later it seemed to have mellowed quite a bit and to be a substantial wine in its way, although I find it hard to decide about it. Many will admire this, and I may too given time to consider it - I had it eight and a half years ago and was impressed. I think I'll reserve judgement for now. Not Rated
  • Marquis d'Auberjon NV A bit anonymous in some ways, but very nicely poised fairly concentrated dessert wine - from the South of France somewhere, I guess. I suspect this would repay more attention and on that basis ***
  • Recioto di Soave Le Colombare 2000 (Pieropan) Beautifully refined. Complex, elegant, long with the amazing precision so typical of the producer. Lovely. ****
  • 50 year old Tawny (Yalumba) Eccentric - very rancio - complex and interesting - I need more time with this but for now ***
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 01/05/2005   Return to top

Wine group at MM's 25/04/2005 (TNB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 03/06/2005   Return to top

A mixed four 22/04/2005 (RJB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 26/04/2005   Return to top

15/04/2005 (TNB)

A couple of wines from a big bash at an Edinburgh hotel. It's a good idea once in a while to remember where the baseline is.
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 08/05/2005   Return to top

Three Barossa Verticals 15/04/2005 (RJB)

Each done as a vertical - single blind
Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 15/05/2005   Return to top

Some recent things 09/04/2005 (RJB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 12/04/2005   Return to top

In Berlin 08/04/2005 (TNB)

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 08/05/2005   Return to top