Wine Tasting: Fine wines - January (21st Jan 1998)
Assorted new arrivals.
1. 1996 Lafort Chardonnay
21st Jan 1998 GBP6 France Table White
[Tasted Blind]
Bright, pale gold.
Forward, rounded nose of sweet butter and new oak [- Chardonnay].
Medium bodied with sweet, ripe citrus fruits, cream and biscuits. Good acidity and a fresh, long finish.
2. 1996 Fuisse Pouilly Fuisse Vieilles Vignes
21st Jan 1998 GBP17 Burgundy Table White
[Tasted Blind]
Pale, clear, bright.
Quite closed and lean on the nose - minerals, flint.
Also quite closed on the palate - Light and fresh with citrus and mineral flavours, good acidity, good finish. Needs time to open out - subtle but impressive.
3. 1995 Villa Maria Merlot Cabernet Reserve
21st Jan 1998 GBP15 New Zealand Table Red
[Tasted Blind]
Deep red to ruby.
Juicy, intense nose with black fruits/mulberries, coffee, old oak and a trace of vegetation.
Juicy, forward Pinot fruit [???] - sweet, black berry fruit, cream, cigar boxes - well rounded with a mouth-filling texture. Long finish.
Very impressive.
[Guess Californian - about UKP 20.00]
4. 1995 Lagrange Bordeaux
21st Jan 1998 GBP17 Bordeaux Table Red
[Tasted Blind]
Dark, almost opaque purple - very young.
Brooding, fairly dumb nose of violets, plums and cedar.
Medium to full bodied with spicy, herbaceous fruit.
A young tannic claret that needs lots of time (4 to 5 years?). Dry and stalky on the finish.
5. 1995 Petit Village Bordeaux
21st Jan 1998 GBP29 Bordeaux Table Red
[Tasted Blind]
Deep, almost opaque purple.
Rich, toasted oak and charred, sour plums on the nose.
Full bodied, with a rich, soft, rounded texture, Flavours of spice, tobacco and rustic, chewy fruit. Soft, dusty tannins.
A big ripe wine that needs lots of time to develop.
6. 1995 Lynch Bages Bordeaux
21st Jan 1998 GBP25 Bordeaux Table Red
[Tasted Blind]
Deep, opaque, blue/purple.
Concentrated, brooding nose of sweet fruit and toasted oak.
Full bodied and powerful with spicy cassis and tobacco flavours. Good ripe tannins and high acidity. Dry finish.
Excellent but needs at least 2 to 3 years
7. 1995 Conseillante Bordeaux
21st Jan 1998 GBP45 Bordeaux Table Red
[Tasted blind]
Dark, young, purple.
Pungent, rounded, inviting nose of violets and ripe, alcoholic plums.
Medium to full-bodied, soft and mouth-filling with flavours of spicy mulberries and pencil shavings. Long finish with dusty, dry tannins.
Weighty and ripe - enjoyable now but a wine for extended cellaring.
8. 1995 Aubuisieres, Domaine des Vouvray Marigny Moelleux
21st Jan 1998 GBP19 Loire Dessert White
[Tasted Blind]
Bright gold.
Forward perfumed nose of nuts, cream and marmalade - fresh and young.
Rich, chewy and rounded. Piercingly sweet but well balanced with flavours of apricots, marmalade, cream and botrytis. Lovely balance and a long finish.