Wine Tasting: Pinot Noirs (25th Aug 1997)
A fine wine tasting I presented in Froggies Restaurant, Glasgow.
1. 1991 Green Point Blanc de Noirs
25th Aug 1997 GBP12 Australia Sparkling White
The export label of Domaine Chandon, Moet et Chandon's prestigious Australian outpost.
Bright pale gold with aromas of dry straw and toasted bread.
Full, rich and dry, with strawberry fruit fading into a long, creamy, baked apple finish.
Drinking now.
2. 1996 Glen Carlou Pinot Noir
25th Aug 1997 GBP7 South Africa Table Red
Pale, even red.
Forward and jammy on the nose with aromas of fresh, red berries.
Medium-bodied with attractive sweet berry/black cherry fruit.
Well balanced but probably best drunk over the next couple of years.
3. 1995 Stonier Pinot Noir
25th Aug 1997 GBP10 Australia Table Red
This bottle was out of condition - I'll retaste it soon.
4. 1994 Vavasour Reserve Pinot Noir
25th Aug 1997 GBP13 Marlborough Table Red
Only 400-500 cases were produced by this 11 year old winery.
Even red fading to orangey-red.
Strawberries and cowpats on the nose - that's Pinot Noir right enough!
Full meaty flavours with berries, dry straw and plenty of old oak. Well rounded with fairly high acidity.
Drinking very well now with food.
5. 1995 Fery Meunier Pommard Tavannes
25th Aug 1997 GBP14 Burgundy Table Red
Even, pale, red.
Still quite dumb on the nose but there were lurking barnyardy, alcoholic notes.
Full and fleshy, with rounded, peppery, mouthfilling qualities - I can see where the comparisons with Chateauneuf come from. Nicely balanced tannins but thins slightly on the finish.
Ideal with food over the next year or so.
6. 1995 Jayer Gilles Hautes Cotes de Beaune
25th Aug 1997 GBP14 Burgundy Table Red
Even red colour.
Volatile and dieselly on the nose.
Fat, sweet, burnt-jam fruit with tart acidity and plenty of tannin.
This will be utterly fantastic in 2-5 years.
7. 1994 Jayer Gilles Hautes Cotes de Beaune
25th Aug 1997 GBP14 Burgundy Table Red
Not as impressive a vintage as the 1995 but showing very well now.
Pale, bright red.
Tart cherry fruit on the nose with hints of barnyard.
Light on the palate with sweet berry fruit and undercurrents of oak and rotting straw.
8. 1995 Fery Meunier Pommard Pezerolles
25th Aug 1997 GBP18 Burgundy Table Red
Even, deep red.
Delicate, fragrant aromas of strawberries and cream.
Medium-bodied with sweet, soft strawberry fruit. Clean and well rounded with excellent balance.
Lovely but simple now, really needs a few more years to develop.
9. 1995 Fery Meunier Pommard Epenots
25th Aug 1997 GBP20 Burgundy Table Red
Bright, pale, even red.
Perfumed nose of violets and ripe, red berries.
Full-flavoured, medium bodied, with developing flavours of strawberries and coffee.
Lovely but needs 4-5 years to show its paces.
10. 1995 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
25th Aug 1997 GBP17 New Zealand Table Red
Still young with a deep purple, red colour.
Quite restrained on the nose but hints of raspberries & meaty tones suggest great things to come.
Soft and rich on the palate, with flavours of red berries and coffee, gentle underlying tannins and good acidity on the long finish.
This will really shine in 3 to 5 years
11. 1993 Meo Camuzet Clos de Vougeot
25th Aug 1997 GBP35 Burgundy Table Red
Red fading to tawny.
Sumptuous, ripe, peppery, berry fruit on the nose.
Silky and intense flavours of ripe berries, coffee, chocolate and toasted oak.
Drink now or keep for 10 or more years.
12. 1992 Jayer Gilles Echezeaux
25th Aug 1997 GBP46 Burgundy Table Red
Red fading to tawny.
Sumptuous, ripe, peppery, berry fruit on the nose.
Silky and intense flavours of ripe berries, coffee, chocolate and toasted oak.
Drink now or keep for 10 or more years.
